NOVITEC UPGRADE

I haven't done Novitec's ECU - but I am the only one in the states to do the N-Largo build. We utilized Fabspeed's ECU flash on the vehicle with more gains than the Novitec unit and can tell you it definitely is an absolute night and day difference in the way the car performs for a fraction of the price.


Ferrari California T Performance Products
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Can you link to your solution? Is it a harness and device or is it flash current ECU. Example: https://www.vividracing.com/catalog/ecu-tuning-tuning-box-kits-c-4348_11401.html?filter_id=1104&manufacturers_id=1104&osCsid=g1dbgk0qia96tn0kvsi7v3lvm1

Does this void warranty? With the additional horsepower can or will you blow the engine. The 488 I assume has larger crank, larger piston rods etc.

 

The Novitec unit is a harness/box that plugs into factory sensors and "tricks" them. It feeds the sensors different parameters to allow for more power to be released. The problem with that is the car is not actually being "tuned", it's just asking sensors to draw different readings so the factory ECU will call for more boost/fuel/etc. So you'll see more power (not like a ECU flash), but at a riskier cost. There is no real "fail-safe" with this method as it again is just fooling sensors, not actually hard coding itself into the cars brain.

 

I can tell you from upgrading several cars over the years that you will most likely feel the difference in power and you might also appreciate whatever else they are doing- maybe making the engine map more aggressive or fun. But it won't ever turn your car into a 488. It could make it a more appealing version of what you already have.

 

So how is it installed? Does one have to do soldering or is it truly just plug and play?

 

I have used piggybacks on both my M5 and my 991tts. I would not advise this for a Ferrari. The car is exceedingly well tuned and all this can do is foul up what Ferrari has done. The piggyback on my M5 was crap and it was from Dinan, it failed to deliver as promised, just made the car burn more rubber and after putting it on, I had all kinds of problems with the car. It came with a warranty and BMW sold it to me so they supported all the fixes to the piggyback. None of the problems I had with the car were blamed on the piggyback but it was less than worth the money.

On the 991tts, the piggyback provided a significant extra performance improvement and it wasn't expensive. Later I switched that out for a Cobb Accessport and I had that car at over 700hp when I traded it for the Cali T. Once I started driving the Cali T I realized how much better tuned the Cali is from the factory than either the Porsche or BMW was. In addition, the maps on the Porsche tended to be less smooth and I did have some issues with them from time to time. Power delivery just wasn't consistent across the performance range.

What you are going to get is more torque in places you might not want it. I find this car has plenty of torque in the right places. If you drive it in manual mode with the manettino on sport, the car is really strong and responsive. I am planning to take it to the drag strip to see what it can do but won't be adding anything to it other than maybe race gas.

 

You mean you aren't grinning now? LOL! If you do it, let us know how it is.

 

I was searching threads about Novitec plug and play simple tuning,wanted some real user feedback and because my car is brand new Lusso T , i wanted to make sure it would not mess up the car,
grateful for further guidance on this topic
Thank you,
Mike

 

Equal to a 488? I'll have what he has. Must be good...

 

I have a Portofino on the way and will do some exhaust parts for sure - either Capristo or Novitec mufflers but interested if anyone has done middle pipes or cats on a Portofino but that's probably a discussion for a separate thread.

I talked to someone at a dealer and he said they have a number of cars with Novitec plug and play boxes and no issues. For those of you that have a piggyback solution - are you taking it in for service with the box on and what is Ferrari's policy on warranty and service relative to these upgrades?

 

Bryan FYI regarding the exhaust - I pick my Portofino up on Friday from workshop. I previously had a the Capristo back boxes fitted but wasn’t happy. Have sports cats (100 cell) and x pipe being added. Will report back for those interested - see separate thread

Btw - I am wary of doing ECU flash - concerned it may impact long term engine reliability

 

Karl,

Congrats on the car and the exhaust upgrade. Very interested to hear your thoughts. I'll bet it is going to sound great. if you can, post some video!

 

Which cats and x pipe did you go with?

 

Will do! My girlfriend is pissed off as she thought it was already too loud

 

Novitec do sports cats but they are very expensive. So I went with Kline Innovation - they are making the sports cats and x pipe for a reasonable price (around £2.5k together, excl. install).

 

I have the same situation. The reason I'm going with a Portofino and not a Tributo is I want my Wife to drive it. We bought a Cali T to drive until the Portfino comes in but it sounds pretty tame. The Captisto exhaust has valves right? Big question for me is not if the set up will sound good. I'm sure it will. The question is if it will be civilized with the valves closed.

 

Yes Capristo has valves. With them closed it is fairly quiet (I think actually quieter than stock). When they open it’s loud, but to my ears more of a blare rather than nice sound... hence my further mods

 

Generally the Capristo boxes are fairly close to stock when closed. If you add an X pipe, you'll combat a lot of droning as it smooths out the sound.

If you're worried about the WAF, get a Forza exhaust controller, not the Capristo controller. What's really neat about the Forza constoller is that it has three modes vs. two for Capristo and Novitec. It has normal ECU controlled valve mode, it has fully open all the time, but also a fully closed mode all the time. Put the car in the latter mode, and it will not be loud on cold starts, it will not bark during slow city driving and so on.

 

New exhaust is fitted to the Portofino... sounds great! Capristo back boxes, sports cats (100 cell) and x pipe. Sounds guttural and angry, and at high rev more of a scream!

I tried to upload video (Mov format) but it won't let me. If anyone knows best way to upload, let me know. Otherwise PM me and I can email it to you.

 

I have a piggy back on my T, it actually makes more power than the Novitec, and I have an Capristo exhaust. My unit can be controlled by an app to get different levels of power. Unless I have a spare ECU with my original tune, I will never have a ECU flashed again. I will use piggy backs (like Dinan does these days), and I could not tell the difference in my 4C between my piggy back unit and spare ECU, so I don't buy that there is any. I have handheld tuners for a bunch of my cars that allow me to tune (but it always holds my stock tune in the unit) and go back a forth between different tunes and stock. Each person had their own experiences but the T is pretty amazing when tuned, but then again I drive a 650 hp 997S with no traction controls that weighs less than a 4C, I like things that scare you.

 

997s with 650hp and no traction control....I’m scared

 

Yes please !! Interested to see what it does. Right now my stock Porto sounds a bit drone-y but want it to sound like a screamer !