Aftermarket ECU options for Rover V8
Discussion
Mentioned this in my body off thread in the Chimaera forum but thought it worth posting here.... I have a heavily modified 500 currently running MS2 which was installed when I had the engine rebuilt (on a new block) circa 2011. I'm sure there are more modern options available today and was wondering what these might be and what they might offer over and above the MS2 (extra features maybe, easier mapping etc).
Any advice and suggestions very welcome...
TIA, Richard
Any advice and suggestions very welcome...
TIA, Richard
I have commented on the other thread but Megasquirt can do everything and more really.
That's not to be a downer on other systems but it's a perfectly capable package, it gets a bad reputation through poor installs really.
No need to go fiddling with it either if it's been mapped correctly.
Crack on and spend £3k if you want but im of the opinion that if it isn't broke and all that.
Powers do mbe, kits and classics Emerald and Lloyds specialist developments Canems so they all have their favourites.
Usually people will tell you to go for something that your chosen closet mapper can do for simplicity.
That's not to be a downer on other systems but it's a perfectly capable package, it gets a bad reputation through poor installs really.
No need to go fiddling with it either if it's been mapped correctly.
Crack on and spend £3k if you want but im of the opinion that if it isn't broke and all that.
Powers do mbe, kits and classics Emerald and Lloyds specialist developments Canems so they all have their favourites.
Usually people will tell you to go for something that your chosen closet mapper can do for simplicity.
Belle427 said:
Crack on and spend £3k if you want but im of the opinion that if it isn't broke and all that.
Thank you for post but as I said earlier I am simply curious as to what more modern options might be available.. I have no intention of spunking 3k on something I don’t need… I am also of the if it ain’t broke school of thought…You could go and buy another brand ECU, but it wouldn't make the motor run better.
I'm another "megasquirter", I've built 2, one on a Rover V8 and one on a 9.3 litre V8, along with helping another friend with his one, plus have another one "in the works" that'll be an MS3 Pro going on a 4.2 V8 with DBW and CoP. (These days I mostly veer towards the ampefi MS kit, just for convenience)
In my view, it's easy to spend a lot of money on an ECU that has loads of features you don't need or want. In the Rover V8 world, I can't think of much reason to go beyond MS2 or Microsquirt - ie crank sensor only setup, wasted spark distributorless ignition, 2 banks of injectors.
Assuming all wired up and sensors calibrated properly, how well the engine runs mostly comes down to the person behind the laptop knowing what they're doing.
Sticking with the megasquirt range because I know them - you could go with a MS3Pro EVO+ HC ECU that has all the bells and whistles - but it still won't make your Rover V8 run better.
The big change is when you start to want to go (or need) to go firing individual spark plugs and injectors, then you need cam sensors, which on a V8 takes you down the MS3 route, along with many other possible features (for example, on my one it will also be DBW).
But on Rover V8 - latest firmware, latest copy of tunerstudio and you'll be pretty much be able to do anything you can think of on a Rover V8.
I'm another "megasquirter", I've built 2, one on a Rover V8 and one on a 9.3 litre V8, along with helping another friend with his one, plus have another one "in the works" that'll be an MS3 Pro going on a 4.2 V8 with DBW and CoP. (These days I mostly veer towards the ampefi MS kit, just for convenience)
In my view, it's easy to spend a lot of money on an ECU that has loads of features you don't need or want. In the Rover V8 world, I can't think of much reason to go beyond MS2 or Microsquirt - ie crank sensor only setup, wasted spark distributorless ignition, 2 banks of injectors.
Assuming all wired up and sensors calibrated properly, how well the engine runs mostly comes down to the person behind the laptop knowing what they're doing.
Sticking with the megasquirt range because I know them - you could go with a MS3Pro EVO+ HC ECU that has all the bells and whistles - but it still won't make your Rover V8 run better.
The big change is when you start to want to go (or need) to go firing individual spark plugs and injectors, then you need cam sensors, which on a V8 takes you down the MS3 route, along with many other possible features (for example, on my one it will also be DBW).
But on Rover V8 - latest firmware, latest copy of tunerstudio and you'll be pretty much be able to do anything you can think of on a Rover V8.
Belle427 said:
Best of luck with it all anyway, can be quite difficult to get unbiased opinions as people will recommend what they have fitted and generally don`t have to make any adjustments themselves.
I think this is a fair point, but within reason, you just need to choose one that has the features you need, of which there are many. Then it pretty much comes down to just having a usuable interface on the software so tuning it isn't so hard. I originally favoured megasquirt because I built the board myself.Now I favour it because I know the tunerstudio software, but I'd have no objection to going with other brands if they do what I need at a convenient price point.
Bloke, why the change? Will you use any features that 'may' be available? Cost vs any improvement etc? I had MS 2 and it was mapped by (this is important bit imho) Dale at Bailey Performance in Telford. He is a wizard with these things. As it was forced induction he first started by taking it out/apart to put in some plasma heat gasket thingys (don't quote me, not my exact field) for a longer dwell on ign' drivers or summat from memory and that install never ever gave me cause for concern. No problems ever, worked perfectly.
Will any change be really beneficial cost wise for a fancy add one that wont be used?
Will any change be really beneficial cost wise for a fancy add one that wont be used?
Gassing Station | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff