AEM EMS info?

RedWagon · 05-01-2008, 12:57 PM

Well I hav th option to buy a AEM EMS for a decent price from a local guy($900) that coms with a 3bar map, AIT and coolant sensors, and I was wondering what I should know about this EMS? I asked the seller why he's selling it cheap, and he said he bought the car with it and did't know how to tune the car and decided to go with DSMlink. Someone told me the car is lifeless when you plug it in until its tuned.

DJYoshaBYD · 05-01-2008, 01:16 PM

DSMlink.com

DSMlink is cheaper, and you will get a great tuning tool.. AEM EMS is great.. The best!! But harder than shit to tune.. You need to take it to a pro with a dyno.. and, like you said, its alot more money (900 for you)..

DSM link will give you ALOT of the features that AEM EMS can, and its waaaayy more user friendly... Go to their site and read their features, prices, and requirements.. Then look at AEM's site, compare prices, and features.. I think you will find that DSMlink will probably suit you better...

bling5tatus · 05-01-2008, 01:17 PM

Well, you better go get on the AEM forums and get to reading. It's definitely not the beginner's standalone giant SAFC like the dsmlink is.

DJYoshaBYD · 05-01-2008, 01:20 PM

DSMLink and EMS are way more than just an SAFC (which is a brand's model name).. They control timing, rev limits, 2-steps, A/F ratio, boost pressure.... the list goes on and on.. I will tell you right now, that with EMS, you will spend a bunch of time just trying to get it to work, and not tuning.. lol

bling5tatus · 05-01-2008, 01:34 PM

Not true, you would use a "base map"...

All you dsmlink Nazi's need to read this right now:

DSMLink does NOT allow individual cell based load tuning.

You get "sliders" and "global corrections"... if he can get an EMS for that cheap, and had an inkling of a desire to want it after hearing that someone else couldn't tune with it, why would you want to try to DOWNGRADE him to a dsmlink? Provide the man a chance to progress... he obviously wants to.

When you "tune" your timing with dsmlink... you may get good timing because of a correction that it made on top of the stock map.... under WOT, but now because of the awesome "global" correction your timing is suffering down low....

You want to have full control over all your maps so you can tune your car at each individual load and RPM point... THAT is the way to tune.

Plus, a MAF belongs in the trash, a MAP belongs in a race car.

DJYoshaBYD · 05-01-2008, 01:38 PM

That is how a professional tunes..

All I am saying, is that DSMlink is easier to use.. I NEVER said it was better.. If you have the time and knowledge to use EMS' amazing tuning system, then do it.. Most people get away with DSMlink, and are happy with it...

Alot of people are hitting fast times and putting down mad power with dsmlink, and I will bet that the person that is buying it has no idea what cell based load tuning is..

Read a bunch of posts, reviews, and search for people that are saying bad thing.. Read about all the good and bad for both.. Then make your decision..

bling5tatus · 05-01-2008, 01:50 PM

Yeah, I'm not trying to butt heads with you, but he did ask about AEM, not dsmlink.

A MAF is a limiting thing.... even an EVO or 3KGT MAF will over-run.... and they're expensive as crap, it's still an intake restriction, your system is still vulnerable to boost leaks causing the car to run like absolute crap... you can't vent (this is by far the least important reason) without that dumb GM translator and GM MAF... which is just a tuning nightmare. It's like hack on top of hack on top of hack on top of hack.

tonster · 05-01-2008, 01:59 PM

I run the AEM EMS 1310 box. You should be using your stock coolant sensor or should be able to as I am assuming this is a plug-n-play box? Not the universal one?

I run a GM 3bar and GM AIT sensor (yay for SD). As far as the car being undriveable when first plugged in, that is sort of true and not. It all depends are your setup. The first thing you do after you have it and the sensors wired correctly is to connect to the computer and upload a basemap, go from there and configure all the senors, set throttle range. Start car, get up to temp, set base timing, tune idle, then part-throttle, then WOT.

Like someone suggested, go to AEM and click on the forum tab up in the right corner. Download the Instruction manual on how to use the EMS. READ THIS OVER MORE THAN ONCE! It will definitely help you get everything inline to tune properly.

DJYoshaBYD · 05-01-2008, 02:10 PM

Doesnt DSMlink have the ability to read speed density as well?

bling5tatus · 05-01-2008, 03:06 PM

^^Hahaha, hell no... they WISH they could be speed density.... or wait.... Maybe it's coming out in version three in 2025 when Mitsu releases the 8g eclipse.... hahahaha.

91eagle_tsi_awd · 05-01-2008, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bling5tatus

^^Hahaha, hell no... they WISH they could be speed density.... or wait.... Maybe it's coming out in version three in 2025 when Mitsu releases the 8g eclipse.... hahahaha.

Actually V3 is closer then you think....

RedWagon · 05-01-2008, 03:36 PM

Well I have used DSMlink in my older GST I use to own and will admit that tuning was just easy. I only ask about this AEM EMS since I dont have a Eprom ECU for DSMlink and after I buy an ECU+DSMlink I just as well spend the same price that this local guy is selling his AEM EMS for $850 with AEM warranty. Im only trying to weigh th pros and cons. I also may have an Eprom+dsmlink lined up if the other seller backs out for 750. So DSMlink may be the route if its available.

fostytou · 05-01-2008, 03:58 PM

I believe that speed density will not be immediately functional in V3, but its being worked on very seriously. Tom and Dave are great developers, and it seems like V3 is all but up and ready to go short of working out getting the hardware together so they can sell it.

bling5tatus · 05-02-2008, 06:34 AM

....rrrrigggghhhttt.... and how long has v3 been "in the works" or "fixin to come out". Why would they release it when there's still people that are so quick to jump on ANY post and say, "you're gonna need a 'Link' to meet your goals", or "a Link can do that".... their "version 2" is being sold like hot cakes by people that don't know much about tuning or even about cars because it's so easy and you can go on the forum and people will just tune your car for you..... what have you learned? Not much.

The fact of the matter is, by the time you've paid for a wideband, and dsmlink, you've spent about $800 or $900 dollars... for something that still uses a MAF and does not allow LOAD SPECIFIC TUNING. It's an genius product, but I compare it to every honda kid in town that has "hondata" on their car.... well that's sweet, but someone else tuned it for you.

To the OP, you will be light years ahead of 90% of the gomers if you buy the AEM and learn tuning for real. Look at it this way, it's the difference between being someone that makes your car work yourself, or the person that runs to the forum everytime their car hiccups asking questions about what happened.

DJYoshaBYD · 05-02-2008, 07:01 AM

Why does everyone who drives a honda have to be a kid? And I have tuned an s200 MANY times on Honda's; most of which were all motor 12 second DD's.. These cat's were younger, but for sure not kid's.. Respect da force.. haha

And from what I understand:

Quote:

The fact of the matter is, by the time you've paid for a wideband, and dsmlink, you've spent about $800 or $900 dollars...

AEM EMS cost's around 1000 or so brand new, right? And it doesnt come with a wideband.. Isnt that another 150-300 bucks extra? The real choice for most people is made by money.. Do you have enough to spend on the top of the line, best you can possibly ever get type system?

bling5tatus · 05-02-2008, 07:45 AM

^^For a 1g though, there is a VERY cost effective option that puts you right in the neighborhood with the AEM... and still costs less than Link... and is way better.

I know the OP isn't 1g, but still, I suggest getting the AEM because then you have WAY MORE POWER over the car's tune than a link will allow. If you don't have an eprom ecu, then this is honestly the best bang for your buck, and it's the best bang for your buck even for someone that cannot afford it.

Also, check this out, on "the best tune" a dsmlink can offer for a car, I bet my bottom dollar that more HP can be squeezed out of the same hardware safely with an AEM.

DJYoshaBYD · 05-02-2008, 08:07 AM

Quote:

If you don't have an eprom ecu, then this is honestly the best bang for your buck, and it's the best bang for your buck even for someone that cannot afford it.

^^true that...

Quote:

^^For a 1g though, there is a VERY cost effective option that puts you right in the neighborhood with the AEM... and still costs less than Link... and is way better.

OOOO!!! Details?! What is this witchcraft you speak of?

2gGSX · 05-02-2008, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bling5tatus

....rrrrigggghhhttt.... and how long has v3 been "in the works" or "fixin to come out".

Don't speak about what you don't know. Do you talk to Tom or Dave? Have you asked them? No? I didn't think so.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bling5tatus

it's so easy and you can go on the forum and people will just tune your car for you..... what have you learned? Not much.

Not everyone does this, and I can say that the vast majority of people on the forums ask for HELP not "hey someone give me some settings that will work".

Quote:

Originally Posted by bling5tatus

The fact of the matter is, by the time you've paid for a wideband, and dsmlink, you've spent about $800 or $900 dollars... for something that still uses a MAF and does not allow LOAD SPECIFIC TUNING.

How important is load specific tuning to you? Is it nice? Yeah, of course it would be nice. Does it make or break a product? That's debatable, and apparently we have different views. As far as the MAS vs. MAP discussion, they each have their benefits and detractions. You have to slave over a VE map if you change anything, and I have a mild intake restriction. Am I suddenly going to gain 50 whp by removing my MAS and increasing my peak VE by the amount I would gain from removing the MAS?

Quote:

Originally Posted by bling5tatus

I know the OP isn't 1g, but still, I suggest getting the AEM because then you have WAY MORE POWER over the car's tune than a link will allow. If you don't have an eprom ecu, then this is honestly the best bang for your buck, and it's the best bang for your buck even for someone that cannot afford it.

Way more power? Prove it. Running DSMap does not mean you have experience running a standalone, so do your research before suggesting something like this.

bling5tatus · 05-02-2008, 09:16 AM

I did not claim to have experience with a stand alone, but I think dsmlink is trash along with MAF sensors.

I did not say that you gain a bunch of hp from removing the MAF either, it is an intake restriction. Nobody "slaves" over VE tables, it's actually very easy to use once you ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

If you're going to offer the point of having to change ve tables every time you upgrade something in your motor's ability to flow more air.... I'm going to ask, "how often is it that you upgrade before you reach the highest amount of air your car will flow". What I mean by that is... who upgrades every weekend? Not really anyone. And if they don't know how to tune their car then maybe they shouldn't be messing with something "difficult" and they'd be better camping around roasting weiners waiting for "The link v3" to come out.

It's been in development for years now... really, it takes that long to develop a product? Is it going to brew beer and cook breakfast for me? I hope it prints money too, for people besides good ol Tom and Dave.

And yes, the people on the link forums tune cars for others. Wow, my car is fast, but I don't have any idea how it got that way, those people on the internet did it for me and I understand nothing about what's going on. What's an ignition map?

The point of this thread is for the guy to get AEM info... AEM blows dsmlink way out of the water, the fact that you are even trying to defend the precious link is ridiculous. You're talking about a big shot aftermarket ecu manufacturer here and comparing it to an aftermarket ecu HACK that is only specific to one make/model of car.

bling5tatus · 05-02-2008, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2gGSX

Way more power? Prove it. Running DSMap does not mean you have experience running a standalone, so do your research before suggesting something like this.

Wow, man, and this really tops the cake. I didn't say more power, but that does apply, I'm sure a car makes more power properly tuned on AEM because it is a FINER tune. It's not compensation on top of stock tables that have been modified for a certain injector size. You have NO CONTROL over your fuel and timing tables except for your "sliders". Yes, AEM offers MORE POWER over controlling your car than DSMLink does. Argue that, and you're arguing with yourself.... haha.

bling5tatus · 05-02-2008, 09:36 AM

DSMLINK Version 3

Hahaha, check the second to the last reply (and the last reply requesting concrete info). Of course Link v3 is coming out... soon.... cough cough. That's what I would tell you all to keep you hanging on too. Clutch your money in your sweaty palms waiting for version three....