Speed 6 rebuilt - Does the MBE need to be tuned?
Discussion
Hi,
last weekend when changing the watersensor on my T350t (the error 128 one that makes the fans kick in) we noticed when restarting the engine that a lot of white smoke (i.e. water being burned) came out of the exhausts.... We are quite sure the head gasket needs to be replaced but, as the engine needs to come out anyway, I am thinking just having the 4 liter rebuilt to the same spec. I was always happy with the 4 liter and I still have a Sagaris that is first in line for a real upgrade...
Although we have, in Belgium a very good TVR dealer that works with Dom from TVR Power and offers the same packages, he can only do the rebuilt.
Now I have put my T350t on a rolling road before but because the MBE is locked, we were never able to change anything to make my engine run a bit smoother.
My question is, is there any point of having the engine rebuilt if it cannot be properly tuned afterwards anyway? The same goes for my Sagaris which is a 2006 one so the MBE keeps a lot of the horses back to achieve better CO2 ratings....
I really do not want to go through the extra expense to drive it to the UK for a tune up with one of the few compagnies that can write new settings to the MBE.
Any views on this?
Thanks.
Tom.
last weekend when changing the watersensor on my T350t (the error 128 one that makes the fans kick in) we noticed when restarting the engine that a lot of white smoke (i.e. water being burned) came out of the exhausts.... We are quite sure the head gasket needs to be replaced but, as the engine needs to come out anyway, I am thinking just having the 4 liter rebuilt to the same spec. I was always happy with the 4 liter and I still have a Sagaris that is first in line for a real upgrade...
Although we have, in Belgium a very good TVR dealer that works with Dom from TVR Power and offers the same packages, he can only do the rebuilt.
Now I have put my T350t on a rolling road before but because the MBE is locked, we were never able to change anything to make my engine run a bit smoother.
My question is, is there any point of having the engine rebuilt if it cannot be properly tuned afterwards anyway? The same goes for my Sagaris which is a 2006 one so the MBE keeps a lot of the horses back to achieve better CO2 ratings....
I really do not want to go through the extra expense to drive it to the UK for a tune up with one of the few compagnies that can write new settings to the MBE.
Any views on this?
Thanks.
Tom.
Hi,
well we can read everything of the MBE but modding it has not be possible. It requires a 4 digit code. The people at MBE informed us that they do not hand out these codes...
But If I read well what you are saying then is that the old MBE can be modded but mine seems to be locked...
Then I do not understand why it is so difficult to get the code from MBE.
Think I will call Dom at Power to see what he has to say...
Thanks.
Tom.
well we can read everything of the MBE but modding it has not be possible. It requires a 4 digit code. The people at MBE informed us that they do not hand out these codes...
But If I read well what you are saying then is that the old MBE can be modded but mine seems to be locked...
Then I do not understand why it is so difficult to get the code from MBE.
Think I will call Dom at Power to see what he has to say...
Thanks.
Tom.
thanks!
Just a question... a bit off topic. I was wondering if you knew the total weight of your car? As you have done quite a lot of mods I tend to think the car has gotten abit heavier but I could be wrong... Do you know? It's probably nothing substantial but do you keep that in mind when you come up with upgrades? :-)
T.
Just a question... a bit off topic. I was wondering if you knew the total weight of your car? As you have done quite a lot of mods I tend to think the car has gotten abit heavier but I could be wrong... Do you know? It's probably nothing substantial but do you keep that in mind when you come up with upgrades? :-)
T.
Hmm, no idea to be honest.
The brakes have probably added the most weight on the wheels, but that said, I have also been replacing existing components with lighter weight, more modern/robust materials.
My new bonnet for example is estimated to be about a 3rd of its current weight, but a long stronger.
So, yes, probably more heavy as a result overall, but will be aiming to reduce weight with new materials as I go along.
The brakes have probably added the most weight on the wheels, but that said, I have also been replacing existing components with lighter weight, more modern/robust materials.
My new bonnet for example is estimated to be about a 3rd of its current weight, but a long stronger.
So, yes, probably more heavy as a result overall, but will be aiming to reduce weight with new materials as I go along.
The tvr garages can only read from the ecu what the diagnostic software will let them .. sensor outputs, resetting fault codes, resetting the part throttle adaptive trim tables etc. You can not remap anything through the diagnostics.
As you have already found out, MBE's std tuning software doesn't allow you to remap the ecu either. As far as I know there are still only 3 places in the UK who car offer a remapping service for the mbe as fitted to the later tvr models.
If Dom can't help you with remapping the std ecu then you might be better of splicing into the existing loom to use another unlocked off the shelf MBE ecu or another ecu of your choice. The wiring and all sensors are already there, so if you go with another unlocked ecu it allows you to retune at any point in the future too.
The engine is a straightforward straight 6 with no funny firing intervals or anything like that , and if you go with an unlocked mbe it can already read the titania lambdas fitted to the early engines too if you have those.
As you have already found out, MBE's std tuning software doesn't allow you to remap the ecu either. As far as I know there are still only 3 places in the UK who car offer a remapping service for the mbe as fitted to the later tvr models.
If Dom can't help you with remapping the std ecu then you might be better of splicing into the existing loom to use another unlocked off the shelf MBE ecu or another ecu of your choice. The wiring and all sensors are already there, so if you go with another unlocked ecu it allows you to retune at any point in the future too.
The engine is a straightforward straight 6 with no funny firing intervals or anything like that , and if you go with an unlocked mbe it can already read the titania lambdas fitted to the early engines too if you have those.
spitfire4v8 said:
The tvr garages can only read from the ecu what the diagnostic software will let them .. sensor outputs, resetting fault codes, resetting the part throttle adaptive trim tables etc. You can not remap anything through the diagnostics.
As you have already found out, MBE's std tuning software doesn't allow you to remap the ecu either. As far as I know there are still only 3 places in the UK who car offer a remapping service for the mbe as fitted to the later tvr models.
If Dom can't help you with remapping the std ecu then you might be better of splicing into the existing loom to use another unlocked off the shelf MBE ecu or another ecu of your choice. The wiring and all sensors are already there, so if you go with another unlocked ecu it allows you to retune at any point in the future too.
The engine is a straightforward straight 6 with no funny firing intervals or anything like that , and if you go with an unlocked mbe it can already read the titania lambdas fitted to the early engines too if you have those.
Hi, thanks for this... regarding the three places that can change the standard MBE; it's he same number I have been told that could help me but as said, it's a long drive and quite an extra cost to come over to the UK just for a remap. As you have already found out, MBE's std tuning software doesn't allow you to remap the ecu either. As far as I know there are still only 3 places in the UK who car offer a remapping service for the mbe as fitted to the later tvr models.
If Dom can't help you with remapping the std ecu then you might be better of splicing into the existing loom to use another unlocked off the shelf MBE ecu or another ecu of your choice. The wiring and all sensors are already there, so if you go with another unlocked ecu it allows you to retune at any point in the future too.
The engine is a straightforward straight 6 with no funny firing intervals or anything like that , and if you go with an unlocked mbe it can already read the titania lambdas fitted to the early engines too if you have those.
So I asked Dom if he can at least supply the code to his Belgian Power counterpart. Without this code, I wil not have the engine rebuilt and just have the head gasket changed and all the things that need to be done. It's quite a bit cheaper and I do not see the point in paying the extras if it cannot be remapped.
Tom.
m4tti said:
I havent looked closely at the software on the mbe, but is the code held on the hardware or on the eprom? If its the eprom you cuold simply obtain an unlocked one.
it seems that the MBE's used by TVR contain an extra table with soem specific numbers in... it is this table that is locked (by MBE on TVR's request). When buying an unlocked MBE this second TVR table is not part of the MBE and cannot be used. At least that is what I have been told. Just to add my recent change of Eprom from Dom or Power was a quite a suprise. I have a Power 4 litre unit in my 350 fitted by them back in 2005 as a warranty job for the previous owner. It was listed as a having a chip to match at the time but it was mentioned that Dom had recently put some time into develping a new one after some dyno time.
At first felt flat as I expected a gob full of top end power but in fact felt slower, actuallty took it back to get my money refunded! Now shifting lower down to get at the torque has proved a revelation. Stonking controlable slides and a ton of grunt is my reward for parting with £150 through Torque RVT during my 12k service and Ian thought it felt a bit lacking in midrange and rough lower down. Ticks over perfectly from cold and up to full temp and instant throttle response on original wobbly throttle linkage, believe fuel economy is better (like I care with a 4 litre TVR!)
Like a new car and worth every penny, and some. So I suppose my advice is that for a small extra price and plug and play fitting, fettling that 4 litre lump is worth a punt I'd say.
At first felt flat as I expected a gob full of top end power but in fact felt slower, actuallty took it back to get my money refunded! Now shifting lower down to get at the torque has proved a revelation. Stonking controlable slides and a ton of grunt is my reward for parting with £150 through Torque RVT during my 12k service and Ian thought it felt a bit lacking in midrange and rough lower down. Ticks over perfectly from cold and up to full temp and instant throttle response on original wobbly throttle linkage, believe fuel economy is better (like I care with a 4 litre TVR!)
Like a new car and worth every penny, and some. So I suppose my advice is that for a small extra price and plug and play fitting, fettling that 4 litre lump is worth a punt I'd say.
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