Any suggestions for sources where to find a Challenge Stradale TCU for a regular 360? Without getting ripped off? Thank you
I'm getting one from Eric (it's on its way). It's from a Maserati re-flashed. I'm going to get the dealer to install if so they can transfer the clutch mileage and set up the PIS. Should I tell them what number to set it at or will they know? Thanks Alan
eric355 can supply TCU's reprogrammed with 196986 firmware. If you want a brand new 196986 then Eurospares are usually competitive for them.
The PIS will be set by the dealership. The last time I had mine set, the dealer increased the setting (due to bucking at take off) then he test drove it, increased it again, test drove it, increased it again and test drove it. It ended up at "5" and he did not want to go any higher. I am planning on switching out my TCU this weekend to a CS TCU and having it reprogramed. I will report back on how it goes.
They will work the same. Same hardware. Once reflashed, same firmware. Sticker on the front of the unit will be different (e.g. F430 TCU), rather than Stradale TCU.
Ok so it looks to me that the Maserati TCU + reprogram will be the more cost effective option with no drawbacks... Any suggestions on what models/years are compatible with the 360 CS reflash? I thought that the 4200 model TCUs would be similar as the cars were built in the same years? Can anybody suggest the Maserati P/N I want to look for? Thank you.
If you put in one of Eric's reflashed TCUs, you can drive it to the dealer and have them reset anything you want reset. Since the reflash comes from a good running CS, the PIS is already set to a usable value. Many owners have not had anything reset after installation. Reflashed by Eric is way cheaper than anybody's new TCU. Many Ferrari and Maserati TCUs use the same hardware. A Maserati 4200 TCU I recently had has identical hardware to the 575M HGTC TCU that will eventually go into my 575M.
Absolutely that's what I plan to do. If he sets the PIS to 4.5 which seems to be a default agreed value it's probably not far from my 4.6 current... I already sent him a PM, let's see...
Below is the master thread for the discussion. In there the hardware versions are discussed. CFC231F is one compatible hardware version (used in some F430 TCUs). CFC201F.05 and CFC201F.50 are a couple of others Eric said he has had success with. https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/360-430/313830-challenge-stradale-tcu-upgrade-4.html Eric may already have some TCUs flashed though. I recommend to anyone fitting a CS TCU to get the PIS set at a garage with an SD2/3. It will optimise the shift performance. I iterated several values and evaluated them on test drives before selecting the final one and I could certainly tell the difference in speed and smoothness. 4.2mm is the factory recommended minimum for the CS and it is what my car is set to (I even tried down to 4.0mm and while the shifts were faster it was less smooth and there was some clutch drag). It's worth taking this final step.
CFC231F is used in the 575M, too. Like I said, the advantage of Eric's reflashed TCU is that you can do the swap yourself and drive it to the dealer for optimization. You will lose your history doing that, though, so if that is important to you, let the dealer do the swap and transfer the history.
I can vouch for Eric, unit worked fine. PIS is set at 3.9 something on his unit which didn't work well on my car, too much kick still and not the smooth transition you expect from a CS TCU but still very very drivable , my tech had to up PIS to 4.7 made all round driving better, but boy even at 3.9 what a difference in changing gears, and I had the latest non CS version of the SW and Hardware before upgrading
I have a brand new Ferrari branded Stradale TCU in stock. It was a customer return. I will sell it today, and today only for $950 + shipping. Call me directly at Ricambi America - 336-499-2500 x101
Sorry if this is a bit off topic, but would re flashing the TCU in my maser gransport with the CS firmware make the crappy shifting in the maser be CS like? Doable? How?
I believe that ncjetskier has a brand new Ferrari CS one that he took back off because of bucking that the tech couldn't eliminate. You may want to PM him. Alan
