Anyone planning/booked in for Power's new MBE ecu?

Anyone planning/booked in for Power's new MBE ecu?

Author
Discussion

MrChips

Original Poster:

3,264 posts

210 months

Friday 25th May 2012
quotequote all
As per the title really, just seen that they are now advertising the new MBE units, with knock control. Anyone yet to take the plunge?
http://www.tvrpower.co.uk/news/slug/new-rv8-speed-...

Nothing on their website yet about some of the other stuff that the alternative Syvecs advertises (Traction control, switchable mapping for example). My understanding was that the new MBE has these capabilities?

I'm still running in my new rebuild but once i've done 3 or 4k I had planned on getting a bespoke map, but not sure if it'd be a waste of money and it's a case of "if a jobs worth doing" etc?

Robertjp

2,281 posts

225 months

Saturday 26th May 2012
quotequote all
Have to say £2300 odd is a lot of money for a 'nice to have!!! '

I would love to have better cold start, and to me, starting like a modern eurobox would be a really nice thing....but i cant justify that sort of cash for that.

Maybe im overlooking that rest of the benefits, like the potential for TC etc....but im struggling with just how much better than standard £2k gets me!

Walford

2,259 posts

166 months

Saturday 26th May 2012
quotequote all
Idle air control is great on modern cars, but most people warm S6 cars up before driving off, to keep wear to a minimum,

add to that, it might not sound the same on overrun

Druid

1,312 posts

181 months

Saturday 26th May 2012
quotequote all
Walford said:
but most people warm S6 cars up before driving off,
Most? I'm in the minority then!

m4tti

5,427 posts

155 months

Sunday 27th May 2012
quotequote all
Walford said:
Idle air control is great on modern cars, but most people warm S6 cars up before driving off, to keep wear to a minimum,


add to that, it might not sound the same on overrun
I'm not sure anyone who knows what their doing leaves their speed 6 to idle away to temperature before driving off.


Basil Brush

5,080 posts

263 months

Sunday 27th May 2012
quotequote all
m4tti said:
Walford said:
Idle air control is great on modern cars, but most people warm S6 cars up before driving off, to keep wear to a minimum,


add to that, it might not sound the same on overrun
I'm not sure anyone who knows what their doing leaves their speed 6 to idle away to temperature before driving off.
+1. I'd guess leaving a S6 idling every time you start it up is the best way to guarantee premature top end problems.

Simon says

18,957 posts

221 months

Sunday 27th May 2012
quotequote all
Yep, that includes most flat tappet (RV8) and rocker arm/finger valve gear aswell.

richtvr

467 posts

226 months

Sunday 27th May 2012
quotequote all
Wonder why they haven't posted hp gains? As the 4.5 rv8 they have put it on is 30bhp at the rear wheels up

Simon says

18,957 posts

221 months

Sunday 27th May 2012
quotequote all
richtvr said:
Wonder why they haven't posted hp gains? As the 4.5 rv8 they have put it on is 30bhp at the rear wheels up
30hp up at the wheels? I find this most unlikely unless the car had big fuelling issues or retarded ign timing prior to the install scratchchin obviously not having a pop at you RichTVR wink

Robertjp

2,281 posts

225 months

Monday 28th May 2012
quotequote all
I feared it would be just me that thought it was quite a lot of money for a nice to have, but not seen anyone on here ready to jump right in and splash the cash...


Mattt

16,661 posts

218 months

Monday 28th May 2012
quotequote all
Unless the car has issues, I doubt you'd see too much in the top end figures - it should be the mid range and drivability that improves.

The Syvecs sounds better to me though, this still seems a bit old-tech.

Simon says

18,957 posts

221 months

Monday 28th May 2012
quotequote all
Mattt said:
Unless the car has issues, I doubt you'd see too much in the top end figures - it should be the mid range and drivability that improves.
^This wink

RedSpike66

2,336 posts

212 months

Monday 28th May 2012
quotequote all
I would imagine most would only consider the new ECU as part of a complete upgrade package, like 4.5, or FFF, with Syvvecs or the new MBE.. I've got lot's of other things to spend 2k on before a ££££ engine upgrade/rebuild (fingers crossed)

nrick

1,866 posts

163 months

Monday 28th May 2012
quotequote all
Mine won't be getting it, it idles fine, and I am still not sure about this whole not driving off until it is warm/don't let it idle argument. Why is that exactly? I don't thrash it to death from the off but just treat it normally, i.e. with sensible respect. Am i going to burn in hell?

Tvr Power

1,076 posts

206 months

Monday 28th May 2012
quotequote all
Mattt said:
Unless the car has issues, I doubt you'd see too much in the top end figures - it should be the mid range and drivability that improves.

The Syvecs sounds better to me though, this still seems a bit old-tech.
The recent turmoil at TVR have resulted in many of these projects lying dormant and rather than let these projects fade into memory, MBE and "Powers Performance" in conjunction with John Ravenscroft have decided to blow the dust away and let TVR drivers experience some of the features that only that original TVR mentality would have produced.
The features that were near to production were:-
Enhanced Logging capability
Euro 5/6 emissions compliance including sequential port injection
Encompassing Drive by Wire
Wide band Fast Light Off Lambda Control
Variable CAM control
Knock Control
Throttle body Production variance compensation strategies
ESP/Traction Control
Automated Transmission
Knock Suppression Strategies
Intelligent cooling Fan Control
And………
LCD Dash/Display
Flatshift
No EPROM
Plug In existing harness

Obviously some of the above enhancements are not practical for retro fitment to existing supplied engines and the primary purpose of those enhancements were for emissions compliance. These features include drive by wire and variable CAM control. Other features lend themselves to retro fitment and have an immediate and direct benefit. These include….

Wide Band Lambda Control
Knock Control and Knock Suppression Strategies
ESP/Traction Control
Intelligent Cooling Fan Control
Sequential port injection
Multi pulse sequential port injection
The Engine Management System is capable of Dual Channel Drive by wire, we decided, however, to retain the original Throttle mechanism but utilise the Engine Management System’s features to enhance Idle Quality especially during the warm up phase.

Dom

Walford

2,259 posts

166 months

Monday 28th May 2012
quotequote all

Euro 5/6 emissions compliance

Sound great,




Edited by Walford on Thursday 31st May 20:28

dvs_dave

8,612 posts

225 months

Wednesday 30th May 2012
quotequote all
I find these new ECU's interesting but I'd also like to see a before and after comparison, including dyno plots. 3 grand (incl. VAT) is a big chunk of money and in my mind is about a grand over what I was expecting it to cost.

It's hard to convey the benefits of such an upgrade to anyone who isn't knowledgeable about engine management systems so a before and after video of the system in operation would go a long way toward showing how it performs.

Don1

15,939 posts

208 months

Wednesday 30th May 2012
quotequote all
To be fair, these new systems allow for just more than 'power' - it's about safety of the engine, and the ability to run more and interesting things within the car.

(Glad you're back Dom).

PascalBuyens

2,868 posts

282 months

Thursday 31st May 2012
quotequote all
dvs_dave said:
I find these new ECU's interesting but I'd also like to see a before and after comparison, including dyno plots. 3 grand (incl. VAT) is a big chunk of money and in my mind is about a grand over what I was expecting it to cost.
To be fair, I think it isn't far of the Syvecs' price, and seems to be doing pretty much the same...

dvs_dave

8,612 posts

225 months

Thursday 31st May 2012
quotequote all
I'm aware that the price is similar to the Syvecs, but does it include a dyno set-up and bespoke map? Are better injectors fitted? Is TC an option? Does the the ECU have switchable maps? How is idle control achieved given that there doesn't appear to be any fitment of an ICV?

Other than checking the ECU serial no. does anyone know any other obvious differences to identify if you have the later "E6549" ECU and wiring loom? Is it all cars fitted with the 3 plug ECU like this one and the unused "knock sensor" connectors zip-tied to the fuel rail?