I was following your threads a while back on your builds. You did well with it. I guess I just got an Atari Game console in an Xbox 360 world! I actually saw what you did with the tuned ECU, so I want to follow your lead. Thanks for all your R&D along the way. I have to personally thank you for that!

 

I think it just comes down to convience. How many different piggybacks and standalones, as well as the ability to reflash, are out there. If there are 10 different tuning platforms, and a good tuner can only tune for two of them, then where are the others left off. I think that piggybacks have honestly outlived their usefulness as far as tuning goes. Maybe they will make a comeback if something new comes out, but the way I see it your either stock ECU or a Standalone. I kinda think of a piggyback as a bandaid.

 

One thing you have to consider is that when the Exede was really popular your choices where pretty much use another piggy back, go stand alone, or have someone (a tuner) reflash your ECU for you. There really wasn't a DIY flash available. I also think it took people a while to be convinced they could flash the factory ECU and get good results themselves. The other thing is I think people have adopted a "Why trick the ECU into doing what I want it to when I just tell it to do what I want it to" train of thought. Which I agree with for the most part.

There are still a few things the Exede does that I don't think you can do with the stock ECU. It does have better resolution than the stock ECU (at least in the VIII's). The no lift shift feature and two maps are nice. I guess 05's and up pretty much have the launch control feature since it is basically a two step rev limiter. I'm not sure it works as NLS on the stock ECU though or only at a stop.

I think a Procede piggy back for the Evo would be a good thing. In the 335 supposedly they (BMW) can tell if you've flashed the ECU even if you flash it back to stock for service. Who knows if the X ill have a similar feature if it even exists. The Procede sidesteps that by not needing to reflash the ECU even to control boost and being invisible to the ECU. In that respect I could see the piggyback becoming popular again.

 

Great points guys!! (WHAT UP HOTROD! ) You are right, when I got mine, back in '03, there weren't many options. I think Shiv would always help those who need it, with the Xede, but he is the kind of guy who likes a challange, hence his interest in BMW's as well. Thanks again for clearing the water for me. I see why now.

 

You mean, bolt-ons not Bolton, right? Who's gonna tune your ECU, Smogster? You're like me as far as not having room for a latop in the Evo.

 

Who is Michael Bolt-on?

 

funny this thread just came up, this past friday me and two buddies went over to west palm beach florida, to meet up with Al from Dynoflash. well one of the guys had an Xede, and had an upgraded turbo , the whole 9 yards but was pulling out for a flash, because well as it was said above, i dont hear of ANYONE on the easte coast even using XEDE, so there would be a answer right there. and also yes i seen numerous people sell those for some crackhead prices. so i think it would be safe to assume, they are no longer worth using nore having.

 

This happened early in 2003 in the subaru world. At that time TurboXS (which is a division of an Australian company as I understand it) was using the Dastek Unichip which was a flashable piggyback. Then they released the UTEC, and overnight the 700 dollar unichip that had ZERO user interface was worth $7. Something comes along that is easier and more interactive and the older product if it doesnt keep up goes away. Its the same reason that the original AFC had one knob. At that time thats all they could get away with, then came the 5 knob (still a personal favorite). Now we have the S-AFC which is digital and 1000x easier and more accurate than a 5 knob AFC.

cliffs-Evolution of technology. Dinosaurs die off.

 

The funny thing is that tuning the XEDE is laughably easy.

I'll probably hold on to mine for a good long while.

I'm using it as an EBC, NLTS, LC, and instant race gas map.

 

Another factor may be that if you use an XEDE in NASA Time Trials, it'll cost you more points +14, while reprogramming the stock EDU is only +10.

 

How can a person argue that the Xede is obsolete? Who else has SMART and the ability to switch between maps on the go in one unit? All this for a reasonable price.

My setup with SMART works perfectly and I can switch instantly back and forth to my alky map on the fly. When I switch on my alky and go to the alky tune map in the Xede I pick up nearly 100 crank hp (3076 turbo, etc.) on 91 Octane. Its just two switches. It is really, really great to have that flexibility. I am adding a fuel cell in the trunk which will enabale me to switch to race gas on the fly too, and therefore I will need the ability to switch between maps all the more.

The way I look at it, the Xede is still ahead of the other setups due to the ability to switch between maps and the SMART feature.

 

a MAft-pro can.^^ And is cheaper and does more.

 

iam using evoscan and the xede and a friend here in the boards is helping me tune it out and i like it more know then before and the 2 maps that you just swith is great cause i use a lot of race gas for 1/4mile runs also we have tried ecuflash and its cheap and great at a time but what concerns me the most is that the ecu stock only handles like 100 flashes then it dies on you while with the xede i never touch the original rom of the ecu.
i think its what best suits you i like playing around with my car and my laptop and there are members here in evom that can help you with it.

 

IMO the ability to switch maps is key here is Calif. with 91 Oct. gas. If you have a big turbo and cannot switch maps you either drive around using race gas all the time, or meth with some risk of meth not working, or you drive around with a 91 octane tune which cuts horsepower drastically with a GT 30 or GT 35 series turbo. I don't see how anyone with a big turbo would settle for anything that only has one map. Just the opinion of a happy camper who loves the ability to switch.

 

HORSESHYTE

Theres no precise number so don't go scaring people.