ECU Tuner

Well, I know the owner is a member of our local FCA chapter, that is the Desert Region. However, I have NOT had my Ferrari tuned.

 

"Custom" ECU tuning is difficult and requires an investment in software, hardware and education. There are companies claiming to be able to tune many different models from many different marques; I'm skeptical about those claims. I know nothing about the vendor mentioned in this thread.

 

See if they will back up their product. YOU do the before and after dynos. Agree on a "target increase" and and where the power and torque are made. To be worthwhile the power and torque increases need to be made through the power band not just at the top. Please let us know if you do it. I may be interested if you have a good experience.

 

Manufacturers are punished for low gas mileage (gas guzzler tax), required to hit emission targets, and need to factor in that some areas don't get good fuel.

Likewise, manufacturers don't know what mods you've made to your car after your purchase.

All of the above leaves room for HP improvement (many times, significant room for improvement) by a good custom tuner (of course, not all tuners are good). But do keep in mind that you are increasing the risks to your car by grabbing for the HP that Ferrari left on the table. Advance the ignition timing too far for your quality of fuel, for instance, and your knock sensors (if any) may signal the ECU too late to prevent catastrophic damage.

On the other hand, tuning an ECU is a reversible mod in that you can always put the factory OEM code/data back in...and it is a "no bolt turned, no parts welded on" way to boost your HP.

 

I have heard nothing but good things about Veloce. I know a guy who had his Murci done and he is very happy with the results. Maybe he will chime in.

 

I'm considering having the S65 done

 

Yes he is! I own the company that we are talking about (www.veloceperformance.com). Feel free to contact me with any questions. There are a number of our clients that are on here and I am sure that a few of them will show up and chime in.

 

Your website says you can achieve up to 50 hp gains on the 575. At what rpm's are the hp and torque gains? Is there any sacrifice in everyday driveability? Is this based on a car that is otherwise stock (exhaust, etc.)? Do you have any dyno test results before and after?

Any additional information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

As a general rule, I set up the cars for improved drivability and better mid range, as well as removing speed limiters (MB), etc. My guys have worked pretty hard to make this happen. Because every car is set up individually, rather than generic software, we work with the client to try to achieve what is possible. Long story short, the power is made across the power band, rather than at 8000rpm. I am a track guy, and we work to make the car's performance more accessible...to improve the performance, not just numbers.

I hope that makes sense.

 

To me, that doesn't sound like a good idea. As the owner of the company just mentioned, every car is individualized and will make individualized numbers. A tuner can force more power out of a car at the expense of reliability, either immediate or down the road. It would be more to your benefit to find previous customers and get an idea of there satisfaction. Max numbers aren't important, as the tuner stated, its overall power, as well as smoothness, throttle response, etc. that make a good tune just that.

 

I never said to get "max" numbers". I said "Agree on a "target increase" If you are going to spend 3-4K for a tune you should have some assurance of what you are getting.

 

Hi Ingenere,

can you comment (or explain) how your ECU upgrade differs from the other 348 ECU upgrades currently on the market (both in terms of functionality, performance and the substantial price difference)? I ask as I too was researching this mode for a possible upcoming 348 purchase. Thanks for your time,

Sonny

 

You missunderstood me, I did not mean the maximum number possible given the car and modifications, I meant the max number on a given dynograph, the max number being your "target". What I was originally trying to say is it isn't best to set a "target increase". What if you set a target increase and the car simply won't allow that kind of power without going into the danger zone (of reliability)? The tuner could obviously push the envelope and get to your preset target number, but obviously that wouldn't be worth it. Just because a tune hasn't reached a specific target does not mean it isn't a good tune.

 

To tune your LP640 (assuming that it is stock), we would have you pull the ECUs and send them to us. We generally turn them around in 2-3 days. The process is pretty painless. Becaue there seems to be some variations in the Lambos, you could have a dyno done prior to sending the ECUs, and include the results of that dyno. That will show my engineers where your car sits now. It isn't necessary, but not a bad idea.

Sonny:

I can't really comment on other people's products, but I can tell you about our work and what we have been able to do with my own 348. The power band is much broader. The mid range is vastly improved, as is the overall drivability. My car is also running a Tubi w/test pipes, and has been put on a diet (~200 pounds). I am in the neighborhood of 350hp. The car stays with 355s and 360s on the straights.......and it sounds pretty good too!

There was another comment on tuning that I thought was spot on. The manufacturers have left alot of power on the table, and our job is to find it, improve in the areas that are possible, AND maintain the car's reliability. There are always comprimises, but I feel that we achieve some great results that make the cars more usable, more fun and keep them reliable.

 

If the tuning process is supposed to be individualized, how do you maximaze that with the ECU out of the car? Would it not be better to tune the car onsite to match the ECU with the engine you are tuning?

 

Thanks for the reply. In your tuning, do you just alter ignition timing or fuel maps aswell?

Sonny

 

We don't have a distributor in BC at this time. You would send us your ECUs.

We have experience with what settings work with specific cars, and specific mods. But even then, with modded cars we may have to do the tune a second time, in order to dial in for what the client is looking for. When we work at a distance, it can be good if the client has his car dynoed, and sends all the information that was generated, so that we know what that particular car is doing and how it is set up. My guys have been at this for a long time, and have worked for major manufacturers (AMG, BMW M, Ferrari for example), so there isn't a situation that we haven't been able to tackle.

We work on timing, fuel maps, A/F ratios among a range of parameters. Our focus is on improving the car's performance, to what is possible given that car's design envelope...and maintain the car's reliability.