Just bought 04 VR MSM Looking for ECU upgrade!
#1
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Just bought 04 VR MSM Looking for ECU upgrade!
I currently have stock turbo, manifold, downpipe, 3 inch exhaust, big intercooler, and cold air intake. Looking to get an ECU before getting a bigger turbo so I will be able to run more boost as soon as I get the turbo. So Ive got a few options I have seen. I have Begis Xede which works along with the stock ecu. I have FMs Hydra, full standalone but also close to 2000$..., and then either AEM stand alone or megasquirt standalone. At first i was going to lean towards Begi's Xede to work along with the stock ecu and then later one i would get the reflash and use both of them. because i like the idea of having a rev higher than 6500. But i heard that the xede has a power cap of around 240 whp. is this true? Then there is hydra, where ive heard mixed things. ive heard its good but very expensive. ive also heard its complete crap. but thats about all i know and or have heard about it. and then there are the aem and megasquirt which are standalones like hydra but i also dont know much about them either. so any help would be appreciated. thanks!
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well im going to try and find a used one first because it will be cheaper before i just decide to drop the money on a new one. and since im looking for used, im seeing what people prefer. so im trying to decide. I really like the combo of xede and the begi reflash but i dont know how much power i can make with that. does anyone??
#5
BEGI reflash is about the same price (or more) than any used Megasquirt that you'll find in the classifieds here.
Start saving up now for injectors and one of Reverants MS, keep your stock turbo and crank it to 15lbs of boost. With a real 3" exhaust that will get you right around 240whp and be the upper safe limits of your stock internals with full boost by around 3750RPMs. If you've really got a good exhaust you should already be dealing with boost creep and it can be cured by lots of porting of the wastegate in the turbine. Don't go through all the trouble of putting a whole new hot side(manifold, turbo, downpipe, etc) water and oil lines unless you've already got a built motor.
https://www.miataturbo.net/ms-labs-m...eatures-67869/
It looks like Reverant is still taking offers for his current MS so that is probably an option if you want to order right now instead of waiting for his new one which will probably come out in a few months.
Start saving up now for injectors and one of Reverants MS, keep your stock turbo and crank it to 15lbs of boost. With a real 3" exhaust that will get you right around 240whp and be the upper safe limits of your stock internals with full boost by around 3750RPMs. If you've really got a good exhaust you should already be dealing with boost creep and it can be cured by lots of porting of the wastegate in the turbine. Don't go through all the trouble of putting a whole new hot side(manifold, turbo, downpipe, etc) water and oil lines unless you've already got a built motor.
https://www.miataturbo.net/ms-labs-m...eatures-67869/
It looks like Reverant is still taking offers for his current MS so that is probably an option if you want to order right now instead of waiting for his new one which will probably come out in a few months.
Last edited by slmhofy; 08-18-2012 at 12:40 PM.
#7
Simple and easy: MS2 or MS3x from Reverant.
xede - limited piggyback from the 90's
hydra - overpriced and a royal PITA to work with
begi reflash - is a joke. can't believe people actually pay money for that crap
MS2 from Reverant - you get a very capable ecu, with a ton of features, tons of support and info on this site, about as PNP as it gets, its just a no brainer.
Shoot him a PM, I promise you won't be disappointed
xede - limited piggyback from the 90's
hydra - overpriced and a royal PITA to work with
begi reflash - is a joke. can't believe people actually pay money for that crap
MS2 from Reverant - you get a very capable ecu, with a ton of features, tons of support and info on this site, about as PNP as it gets, its just a no brainer.
Shoot him a PM, I promise you won't be disappointed
#8
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ok sounds good. that is some good info from both 18psi. and slmhofy, ive read all over the place that the stock turbo caps at around 220 tops and around 10 or 12 psi. have you seen anyone run the stock turbo up to 240whp and 15 psi?? because if you have, can you please send me a link to that thread? and 18spi, im glad to hear you say that hydra is a pita. ive heard that from several people but people that like it claim that the people that say its a pain dont know what they are doing. ive seen a few of your threads and it seems to me that you know exactly what your doing.
#9
No problem. The hydra isn't completely terrible, but for $2,000 you just DON'T get your money's worth and some of the features are downright silly. If you want to go with something high end like that I'd go AEM over the Hydra in a heartbeat. But otherwise I'm a big MS fan and will be getting yet ANOTHER one from Reverant shortly.
I think there are a couple guys that hit 240whp. like this guy:
He's on here and used to post regularly, but haven't seen him post recently. I forget his screen name. But that's really pushing the stock turbo, and most don't really feel comfortable doing that.
I'd probably do a solid 12psi tune if I were you and see where I end up power wise. Then upgrade to a larger snail if you're still bored.
I think there are a couple guys that hit 240whp. like this guy:
He's on here and used to post regularly, but haven't seen him post recently. I forget his screen name. But that's really pushing the stock turbo, and most don't really feel comfortable doing that.
I'd probably do a solid 12psi tune if I were you and see where I end up power wise. Then upgrade to a larger snail if you're still bored.
#10
Ok. I take back the 240 with our stock turbo as I don't have a dyno to prove it. Some of the guys on MS.com got 240 out of modified stock units. But the Big Enchilada from Flyin Miata claims 225 which will pretty much be the same thing if you got injectors and Megasquirt. I ran that setup on my mazdaspeed up to 15psi (IATs were good with a ebay intercooler) which I would imagine is close to or past 225whp and very close to the stock internal accepted limits. I now have a 16G on my MSM and in some ways miss the little IHI. It spools noticably slower and only makes approximately 25whp more at the same boost. Don't have a dyno yet.
I'm just saying it's not worth it to spend another $1500-2000 to buy a whole new hot side for 25whp more and slower spool. At least not until you have a built block.
Stock IHI with big injectors, Megasquirt with good tune and 15psi = kicks ***!
Like Vlad said. 15psi may be on the ragged edge of the IHI turbo and 12psi would definitely be safer, but I'll vouch that it pulls hard way past 12 and my IAT's were still around 100F at 15psi.
I'm just saying it's not worth it to spend another $1500-2000 to buy a whole new hot side for 25whp more and slower spool. At least not until you have a built block.
Stock IHI with big injectors, Megasquirt with good tune and 15psi = kicks ***!
Like Vlad said. 15psi may be on the ragged edge of the IHI turbo and 12psi would definitely be safer, but I'll vouch that it pulls hard way past 12 and my IAT's were still around 100F at 15psi.
#12
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i would never run the stock turbo over 12 psi. i would think it would just blow up if it was higher than that for any length of time. for my plan, i ultimately would like to have a big turbo, injectors, manifold, and downpipe all in by the next 6 months. that is including an ecu. that way, after i have all of that i can build the motor and make really big power jumps. so basically im just looking for what would be easier and more of what i need. MS2, MS3x, or AEM.
#14
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JUST KIDDING.
on my way home from work tonight i got hit by a drunk driver!!! yay. .... >:( so none of this is going to happen as soon as i thought. i was looking to order an ecu this week. i hate drunk driving.
but, he got his, if you know what i mean. AND he got arrested.
this is awful luck. a drunk co worker backed into me 6 weeks ago and caused 1400 dollars worth of damage!!! this car is a magnet for drunk drivers. ive only had it 3 months.
but i did pm reverant earlier today and he got back with me. just sucks this happened. half of his rim is some of the scrap metal i hit. it lodged itself between my wheel and wheel well. it dug into the wheel well and is stuck in my tire. my wheel was unturnable. had to get it towd. flat tire obviously. front bumber got f'd. and who knows what else. it was dark and i was in dress clothes. so i didnt look too much.
very very very very angry.
on my way home from work tonight i got hit by a drunk driver!!! yay. .... >:( so none of this is going to happen as soon as i thought. i was looking to order an ecu this week. i hate drunk driving.
but, he got his, if you know what i mean. AND he got arrested.
this is awful luck. a drunk co worker backed into me 6 weeks ago and caused 1400 dollars worth of damage!!! this car is a magnet for drunk drivers. ive only had it 3 months.
but i did pm reverant earlier today and he got back with me. just sucks this happened. half of his rim is some of the scrap metal i hit. it lodged itself between my wheel and wheel well. it dug into the wheel well and is stuck in my tire. my wheel was unturnable. had to get it towd. flat tire obviously. front bumber got f'd. and who knows what else. it was dark and i was in dress clothes. so i didnt look too much.
very very very very angry.
#15
Sorry to hear about the accidents, Young Lord.
But fear not, for now you are on the ultimate forum for miatas, kitties and overall douchebagginess.
(tell Papu and Yaya I said hello) (tell George he's gay)
Edit: Reverant should be able to hook you up with something seriously nice. He does great work and his product support is insane (search for threads using his name and you can see just how responsive and helpful he is)
Also, you are doing very well at listening to people and taking advice. You will do well here as long as you take criticisms with a grain of salt and don't freak out like you did when you beat the **** out of Chase, lol.
But fear not, for now you are on the ultimate forum for miatas, kitties and overall douchebagginess.
(tell Papu and Yaya I said hello) (tell George he's gay)
Edit: Reverant should be able to hook you up with something seriously nice. He does great work and his product support is insane (search for threads using his name and you can see just how responsive and helpful he is)
Also, you are doing very well at listening to people and taking advice. You will do well here as long as you take criticisms with a grain of salt and don't freak out like you did when you beat the **** out of Chase, lol.
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