I know I'm late here, but I've also been told the SAFCII isn't the best solution since it doesn't control ignition. I've been recommended the E-Manage + Profec E-01 combo for my Lancer (not Evo) since like I said, the AFC only takes care of air/fuel.

And BadBoy, the Profec is useless without the E-Manage. It's more of a controller/programmer for the E-Manage.

 

The e-manage is good. However, it is really quite expensive if you want all the goodies. The base unit is pretty cheap. But virtually nothing is included with it, not even the timing advance feature. You have to pay extra to get timing advance, the laptop software, the E-01, etc... And that stuff isn't cheap.

If you just want to tune fuel, the AFC is a very good tool.

 

I don’t know why everyone is over looking the Exde option from Vishnu. Exde has more tuning points and E-management and AFC2 put together. It will have the ability control boost in the next firmware update. So full control over boost, fuel, and ing advance in a simple to use (GUI interface is great) unit.

For example the AFC can only change fuel at 8 points across the RPM. The factory ecu might have as high resolution of 36x36. 36 load points 36 RPM points (load is MAF or Mass air flow).

With Exde the load points are exactly the same as the factory ECU. So instead of only changing ever other other load point you are able to have a fine adjustment every were.

Ing. Advance is also based on Load VS RPM. No other piggy back can replicate the exact crank voltage that exde can. So you have perfect spot on Ing control with out hesitation. And the ECU is still active in controlling Knock. If it Knocks the ecu pulls timing so it will not detonate.

S-AFC 8 load point only fuel control 300 bucks
E-manage 16x16 load points RPM VS MAF $300 Plus you will need additional harness, and there EBC to control boost
Exde 36 x 36 Load points with full closed loop boost control $795

Exde also have firm ware just for the USDM EVO VIII. With base maps and always free softer updates. Any shop with a AWD Dyno can tune it.

Some links for the GUI for your reference.

http://www.vishnutuning.com/extra/xede7.gif
www.vishnutuning.com/extra/xede6.gif
www.vishnutuning.com/extra/xede5.gif
www.vishnutuning.com/extra/xede4.gif
www.vishnutuning.com/extra/xede3.gif
www.vishnutuning.com/extra/xede2.gif
www.vishnutuning.com/extra/xede1.gif

 

Frankly, if I were going to spend $800 on a tuning tool, it would not be a piggyback. I'd spend a little more and just get a standalone. Piggybacks just have way too many quirks. For $300, I can live with quirks. For $800, quirks are unacceptable.

For instance, when you mess with the airflow that the ECU sees (as all these piggybacks do), not only do you alter the enrichment, you also alter the base map that the ECU bases its tuning on. There are lots of base maps (timing and fuel) in the ECU, and they are indexed by load. But load is calculated using volumetric efficiency and the airflow that the ECU sees! And the xede, AFC, and e-manage all modify the airflow. So when you try to fine-tune the fuel using airflow, you are trying to hit a moving target.

Also, the ECU still has knock control with all piggyback controllers. That isn't a feature that only the Xede has.

Luckily I have DSMLink (www.dsmlink.com) at my disposal, and V2 is coming out soon.

 

,

Stand alones are also very limited for a daily driver. Just tuning one alone can add up to the price of Exde. There are many things to tune like (cold start, fans, fuel pump and so one) If you were to go the route of full race trim with race gas and NOS then there is no other chose expect for stand alone. But for the average Joe like my self and most folks on this board Exde has more functions then most will use. And tuning is much simpler then a stand alone. And for someone that just spent 30K on a car unless a true die hard like your self would be turned away from a stand alones complexity and intrusion.

Plus if you read any of these posts you will see ??? about e-manage, and S-AFC all piggy back systems. I was just introducing anther option for a piggy back, that should not be over looked. From basic bolts to full turbo upgrades the exde can handle it all. I would not want to drive a stand alone ECU car everyday.

But I have to Say the POWER FC looks really nice!!!

 

I agree with Shape. When I was having my car built I was originally going to go with E-manage, but due to backorders and the large cost for a piggyback (albeit the best solution for the Lancer short of standalone imo) I ended up going standalone (AEM EMS). The flexibility of a good standalone borders limitlessness.

I don't mean to say piggybacks are no good or anything like that. Depending upon your end goal for your car and your budget they may be the absolutely most perfect solution. If you're looking for complete tunability then standalone is the only way to go.

 

interesting history on hks and apexi. HKS use to be runned by 2 brothers. Oneday one of them ( I believe it was the younger brother) went out to a highway in Japan to do a test run and crashed into a car w/ a family of four and killed them. The younger brother was forced to resign so he took almost all the electronic personnel and created Apexi. Anyways what I'm trying to say is when it comes to electronics Apexi is very good. Mechanically HKS Greddy may be better but as far as electronics are concerned Apexi is far more superior. True story!

Mama's evo7

 

Holy ****.. Really?