Is TVR Power's MBE Knock ECU a worthwhile investment?

[jrb43]

billynobrakes said:

Stop messing about , get the 4.3 put in and get Powers MBE put in at the same time as it will save you money getting the MBE set up for both engines, you know it makes sense and you will not be disappointed

3 minutes research indicates that a significant part of the cost from TVR Power is the map (with its associated R+D) and setting up. As others have said, you're really only costing yourself money having it set up twice. Most S6 engines are running perfectly well with the original ECU: I'm sure yours can be made to do the same without excessive spending.

[chris watton]

jrb43 said:

billynobrakes said:

Stop messing about , get the 4.3 put in and get Powers MBE put in at the same time as it will save you money getting the MBE set up for both engines, you know it makes sense and you will not be disappointed

3 minutes research indicates that a significant part of the cost from TVR Power is the map (with its associated R+D) and setting up. As others have said, you're really only costing yourself money having it set up twice. Most S6 engines are running perfectly well with the original ECU: I'm sure yours can be made to do the same without excessive spending.

I know - but I may not have the 4.3 for another year. I am wondering if it's worth having now (the MBE), with the benefits it brings with a substantial re-map. Will this increase my enjoyment of driving the car for the next year - if yes, then swallowing the cost for another re-map when I eventually do have the 4.3 isn't so big a price to pay, is it?

Of course, all of this is assuming the new MBE is miles better than the standard, with more options to ensure the engine runs as well as it can.

ETA - I am also wondering if anyone has had this installed on their stock engine (NOT already TVR-Powered)?

Edited by chris watton on Friday 11th July 13:12

[glow worm]

John Ravenscroft wanted to use the more uptodate ECU from MBE but Wheeler wanted to save money, so he opt'ed for one that was 10 years old 15 years ago. Hence why it's no longer supported by MBE. Look how computer processors have progressed in the last 25 years .

Edited by glow worm on Friday 11th July 18:01

[coetzeeh]

Spend your cash on having your 3.6 set up by someone who knows what they are doing. Joolz worked on a 3.6 that made nearly 400 hp stock standard - all the engine bits were optimised though.

[jrb43]

^^I strongly suspect there is quite a bit of fettling that needs to be done to yours before it's even in a position to benefit from remapping. It should definitely start with the throttle completely closed and run smoothly throughout the rev range (mine isn't keen on 95 Octane though). I think Dom achieved this in mine by balancing the throttle bodies - it certainly hasn't been re-mapped. Mine also has Power's throttle body gaskets fitted as it was sucking air round them. There's arguments both ways for whether that's important but Dom thinks it smooths the idle.

[Corsakel]

This man is right!

My car is a 3.6 S6, Original ECU, Sort out the Mechanical's Re-shim it and your 2.5k in the back if you ever need a rebuild.

jrb43 said:

3 minutes research indicates that a significant part of the cost from TVR Power is the map (with its associated R+D) and setting up. As others have said, you're really only costing yourself money having it set up twice. Most S6 engines are running perfectly well with the original ECU: I'm sure yours can be made to do the same without excessive spending.

[chris watton]

OK, for now, I think I'll book the car in for a complete throttle body refurb, including the new gaskets, and see what happens after that.

I guess that's the most sensible thing to do.....

ETA - I get too carried away - I figure if the car's going up there to have that sorted, then why not tag on a few other jobs, and then it gets all out of hand, and a job that was originally a few hundred Pounds morphs into thousands.....

Edited by chris watton on Friday 11th July 21:33

[SergSC]

chris watton said:

OK, for now, I think I'll book the car in for a complete throttle body refurb, including the new gaskets, and see what happens after that.

I guess that's the most sensible thing to do.....

When I had similar issues starting from cold soon after getting the car (it was really really bad in cold weather), I was convinced I needed refurbed tbs, sensors, rebuild and what not... paranoia...
I bought the gaskets and put it in for a tb tune up at the same time (Claire did them at Dreadnought up here in Scotland). The car was utterly transformed, and the tune held (I think thanks to the gaskets)... thoughts about tb refurbs have vanished....
Anyhow, what I'm trying to say is if it aint broke dont fix it. The tbs are probably just fine, I dont imagine they go wrong from one moment to the next, its probably something stupid and cheap, like crap tb tune done at service or lambda sensor.

[m4tti]

chris watton said:

OK, for now, I think I'll book the car in for a complete throttle body refurb, including the new gaskets, and see what happens after that.

I guess that's the most sensible thing to do.....

ETA - I get too carried away - I figure if the car's going up there to have that sorted, then why not tag on a few other jobs, and then it gets all out of hand, and a job that was originally a few hundred Pounds morphs into thousands.....

Edited by chris watton on Friday 11th July 21:33

If your car was running well before this service it will run well again.

If it isn't holding tune it could well be the bodies. The cars are getting on. I had my bodies modified by Andymr2sc and the work is top notch. I was discussing the originals and the common problem with Andy and the fact is these were 40k ish cars not 80k. Something had to give.

Here's an original body.



Here's the bearings.



You can see the original bush isn't going to seal well anymore.

Plus the fresh bodies Andy did me look awesome

I nearly forgot...

Andy also did me a set of gaskets, which line up perfectly and are a hell of a lot better than faffing about with RTV.

Edited by m4tti on Saturday 12th July 20:40

Edited by m4tti on Saturday 12th July 20:53

[chris watton]

m4tti said:

If your car was running well before this service it will run well again.

If it isn't holding tune it could well be the bodies. The cars are getting on. I had my bodies modified by Andymr2sc and the work is top notch. I was discussing the originals and the common problem with Andy and the fact is these were 40k ish cars not 80k. Something had to give.


Andy also did me a set of gaskets, which line up perfectly and are a hell of a lot better than faffing about with RTV.

I have been in contact with Andy. Unfortunately, I am not comfortable taking off and re installing the throttle bodies myself - I will probably mess something else up and may well end up costing me a lot more than I save.

[Madwud]

Does anyone have experience of the effect fitting an MBE ECU has on car insurance? I presume it constitutes a modification--as it boosts performance--and so needs declaring for the policy to remain in force. As such, what kinds of increase in premiums have people found?

[glow worm]

No change with Mannings , after 4.5 and new ECU and bespoke mapping.
DVLA notified of engine capacity change aswell.

[Sagi Badger]

My list of mods on the Tuscan needed more space on the proposal form.... insurance doesn't seem to change no matter what I do. I recently switched and just for comparison got quotes for standard/non mod cars, then when I had the best offer I revealed the mods, 20 quid odd on top.... Even the fella on the phone said it was a very long list but he said the biggest risk is the driver.

The ECU upgrade will transform town driving, you wont get much more power if any. Anti knock is worthwhile as these can suffer from det so the ign timing gets pulled back to combat on the std item. Call Jools for advice, he knows tons more than me.

J

[Getsis]

I dont know the new MBE but I had syvecs S6 fitted to my 4.5, made the car very smooth. I had traction control fitted along with 6 mappings to change it on/off. No idea how the price compares to the MBE but worth a look before going MBE

https://www.syvecs.com/product/tvr-tuscan/