95 ecu or EVO 8 ecu with a flash pros/cons

[jazzyjay]

I have 95 ecu and a EVO 8 ecu I am putting together another car and was wondering the Pro/cons of using the different ecu's with either Evoscan or Ecuflash. They would be use in a 95 Talon TSI. If I can do everyting with the 95 ecu that I can do with the Evo 8 ecu I will go the route of least resistance, use the 95 ecu. Help me make the chose

 

[redleader36]

That is a tough call. Initially, evoscan would be cheaper.

To set up for dsmlink, you would have to chip your 95 ecu ($30 or diy free) and buy dsmlink for [currently] $495

To set your 95 up for ecuflash, you would need to buy a tactrix cable for ~$50 [used 1.3] - ~$180 [new 2.0] and you could adapt the rest by re-pinning a few wires on your 95 ecu plug.

the evo ecu seems the cheaper one to get started with.

if cost is not much of a factor, you can get most [if not more] of the functions of evoscan by using dsmlink.

 

[tkelly27]

The open port cable and evoscan can be used to log and find the diagnostic codes on any number of cars as well. Link is limited to the car you currently have it in.

I'd see if you could borrow someone local's cable for a while and try the evo8 ecu. The people I've met that are running it really like it.

 

[delta448]

How do you flash a 95 Eprom? This is news to me.

I believe only the 98+ black plastic cased DSM ECUs are flashable with ECUFlash. To do the same type of hands on tuning on the 95 ECU, you'll need to socket it, buy an Ostrich, chip burner, and learn how to use TunerPro/write code.

You can use the Evo ECU for less money, but the learning curve is steeper too and the install isn't quite as plug-n-play as ECMLink or a Keydiver chip. Functionality wise, if you can write the code or find someone willing to do it for you, you can make the Evo ECU do anything you want. There are a lot of people developing the potential of the Evo ECU, not so many working on the DSM Eproms. The H8 flashable DSM ECUs are starting to gain momentum, but there's still only a few guys working on that as well.

Edit: Just as a sidenote, my old 2Gb AWD ran an Evo 8 ECU. I am still learning, but I will definitely be using it again on my next DSM. The potential and the control available is already at a very phenomenal level and will only get better. For instance, the patch written to allow Speed Density tuning.

 

[knochgoon24]

It's a tough call. Either way, you can sell the other ECU and offset a good chunk of the cost.

The Evo ecu will take a bit of a wiring change, but nothing major. The 95 with DSMLink is a nice option. You'll receive more focused help. When I ask questions on the evom forum, it sometimes takes a bit to get an answer.

ECMLink also supports SD, so there's no gain there.

 

[delta448]

Well said Wes.
Just want to mention that the wiring can be made much easier and much easier to reverse by buying a patch harness. The price seems to be going up on them though. I know I didn't pay that much for mine.

It's easier to swap pins sitting at a desk or table than standing on your head with your hands up in under the dash.

 

[jrohner]

You can sometimes find the harnesses cheap on ebay, making the switch to an Evo ECU easy, quick, and reversible.

 

[knochgoon24]

Yeah, a patch harness would be nice and would make the swap easier. I don't see any reason where I'll be selling my car though. There aren't too many people who want to buy a modded car with 233k on the clock.

Take a look at the ECMLink info pages then take a look at the ECUFlash forum on EvoM. If you can understand what's going on in the ECUFlash form, I'd suggest you look into that option. I'm a bit biased though. I like the more techie side to the ECUFlash stuff.

 

[jazzyjay]

DSMlink is not a option I sold my 1g v2 link months ago and do not see myself ever going that way again. I have a Evo 9 with ecuflash was alot eassyer for me to use. I didn't not know I could not flash the 95 eprom ecu, so there is only one option for me. Anyone wants to buy a 95 eprom ecu Thanks for the info

 

[knochgoon24]

There are still several options for the 95 eprom, but if you want to have the ease of flashing, go with the evo ecu.

This may help you decide: Evo8 ECU in a 1G DSM in the works! - evolutionm.net

 

[twdorris]

DSMlink is not a option I sold my 1g v2 link months ago and do not see myself ever going that way again. I have a Evo 9 with ecuflash was alot eassyer for me to use.

Oh, wow. I'm sorry to hear that. I will say that the newer V3 version is a LOT nicer and a LOT easier to use and may be more of what you're looking for.

v3summary [ECMTuning - wiki]

Thomas Dorris
ECMTuning, Inc.

 

[knochgoon24]

So I completely failed to notice up until my last post that you're putting this in a 1g and that either way, you're going to have to mess with the wiring to run either ECU. So just decide which system fits you needs more.

 

[twdorris]

So I completely failed to notice up until my last post that you're putting this in a 1g and that either way, you're going to have to mess with the wiring to run either ECU.

Actually, his first post clarified that.

They would be use in a 95 Talon TSI.

Thomas Dorris