Ecmlink is the best mod you can do to it even if your stock. Its a tool that you monitor everyhing and help with diagnosis

It was my first mod when I got my stock 1g DSM a few years back. I'd say it's worth it.

Like the above post states, you can monitor everything and improve on the factory tune once you get a wideband.

In my mind, look for a good maintenance before upgrade.
And after all the dirty work buy Link, you don't regret it

ECMLink can be justified as a diagnostic tool as it can be used for tracking down issues, not just for "tuning".

It was a good way to justify the expense to the " better half".

Yes absolutely. Specially if you're 5 speed. Launch control/2 step and invaluable.

Not to mention its best to learn on a near stock car. Far more forgiving. Plus you'll get to see how mods effect your tune.

It never hurts to have full control over timing and fuel of your car in addition to the other features it offers. I ran my car on 16G on E85 fuel using just a SAFC. Talk about walking an fine line. Car picked up ALOT from ECMlink. The stock car will to and it will run better.

I think it defiantly depends on what your looking to do with the car. If your looking to keep it 95% stock, I'd probably find someone to burn a chip with a few key mods on it. (pk elim, 2 step and nlts, lean out the afrs, and raise fuel cut). Car will run like stock but make a bit more power and be funner to drive, yet be safe like the stock stuff.

If you want to do some basic small mods/stay on the 14b, and set it and forget it, I think buying link is a waste. I'd find a guy that can burn a chip, buy some used evo 560's, 2g maf, and a fuel pump. That would be similar to the cost of ecmlink, and give better performance.

If you want to go bigger and want to tune all the time, then yes ecmlink is a great investment.

TravisB said:

It never hurts to have full control over timing and fuel of your car in addition to the other features it offers. I ran my car on 16G on E85 fuel using just a SAFC. Talk about walking an fine line. Car picked up ALOT from ECMlink. The stock car will to and it will run better.

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Remember with great power comes great responsibility. you can just as easily torch a motor if you don't know what your doing.

Honestly all I'd ever want is a properly running, reliable(is it possible to use this word in the same sentence as a DSM) 300 HP manual, boosted car.

The stage 1 upgrade path doesn't mention the DSM link to my knowledge

The staged upgrade path is severly out of date. When that was written ecmlink didn't exist. In those days a vpc or safc was the tool.

have someone burn a chip for you is my vote. Why have $500 tied up in something your not going to use? With the car being stock, you'd need to do a lot of other things before it starts becoming more useful.

i started my latest project with dsmlink for inital startup and it has significantly improved diagnostic issues. i don't scratch my head wondering what is wrong, ecmlink helps show you what is wrong.
i made 260 hp at around 15-18 psi on the stock setup using link with the stock 1g airbox and still had some injector left. then i upgraded intercooler and am at 300hp using sd and 660cc injectors. ecmlink made everything easy as you can monitor what is happening and control what is happening. it has a bit of a learning curve and i still don't know it all yet but if you plan on upgrading things get link first and you won't fight to get the tune right.
plus it sure is fun seeing how much power is hiding in your 4g63.

My vote hands down is ecmlink. So easy to learn and has so much support when you need it. While finding someone to burn you a chip is all fine and dandy, and I'm not dissing it at all (I have all the equipment to do them). You will have no control and ability to add on when needed and can only really monitor what's going on. Who really ever keeps there DSM stock for very long. Plus with the burned chip if you want to change the setup you can't. Unless you send the chip back to whoever burns it and have them change it for you. Or find the necessary equipment to do it yourself. With ecmlink you have full control and can tweak the tune as you learn link. Have the ability to change injectors at a click of a few buttons. Change the fuel and timing maps and so much more. Can add other useful options like a widband, map and iat sensors with ease. Honestly it should be every new dsmers first upgrade along a wideband. I use it on all mine and love it

What do you need to add on? You buy it, put it in with what you had it setup for and forget it. The tuning is already done, the car runs great and like stock.

You get to enjoy the car instead of worrying about playing with the tune all the time.

It's no different that taking your mostly stock evo or something to a shop for them to flash a tune on it.

I can promise you that No one has ever complained about having a Jeff O chip being a waste of money.

Like I said, why have $500 wrapped up in it, if he's not going to use it.

I remember one of my buddies having one in his 1g. 14b, 15-17psi, fmic, evo560's, pump gas, n/t engine. Car ran 12.90's like clockwork, and I don't think we ever even hooked a logger up to it. This was in 2008, and the car still runs like clockwork.

Of course you always have to argue . And wow cool dude, Everything is 10 years ago for you. My buddy did this and that. The guy obviously wants the ability to tune the car himself and learn or he wouldn't be asking about link. Who wants to pay a shop or someone else everytime they want to add (wideband, map or iat) or tweak the tune. That sounds like a huge waste of money when you can buy link once and do it all yourself. And also set it and forget like you say. There are many other options out there and maybe cheaper. But they just don't have the support You get with link. Do your research and make a choice. A lot of what you say is just funny guy. Stop trying to argue with me in every dang post guy, no ones talking to You. It's getting really old! Act your age guy!

The benefits of using a chip are cost and ease of use (because you don't have to tune it). ECMlink is superior in every other way, but you're going to pay for it.

IMO, ECMlink is worth the $500 bucks whether you plan to use it or not. After all, when's the last time you saw someone pay $500 for ECMlink and sell it for $350? Worse case scenario, you check codes with it a time or two and get your money back. Win win.

Ugh. I can't believe I'm actually saying this, but I agree with Bastard up there. You could even just grab an Ostrich, and pay someone like Dave Katz to hook you up with a solid tune. People buy link buy the boatloads these days, but people who actually tune themselves are so few and far between it's actually funny to me. On everyone's list of mods you see "FP Turbo, Magnus this, Tune by soandso". Honestly for a 1G that you plan to keep simple and not shoot for the stars, Ostrich over Link all day. Jackal SD will get you to 400whp just fine, and it's got a solid logger interface and it's easier to use than Link is.


If I was setting up a car to be stock-ish or just wanted a supported 16G with no worries, I'd absolutely get a chip burned to match my supporting mods, and never worry about a thing. $550ish for link by itself nothing else, or just $550 ish for go fast goodies and a chip? If I planned to go more than a 16G or something that was finicky, I'd buy Link all day. For a simple cruiser? Better investments to be made.