best DSMlink alternative

[Sinister96]

ok so i almost bought a apex-i safc, then i almost bought a elmscan 5, then read about OBD link, then read about tantric, and EVOlink, wth i dont have the money nor the real need for DSMlink not now anyways. but i would like something functional, that i can log with and do some tuning. i have a gsx A\T getting a 16g soon (was told its a small but it looks like a big), and a EVO3 mani with a full 3" exhaust. i dont plan on going larger than that anytime soon.so whats got the most function for the price to mildly tune a DD.
Oh i got a 96.

 

[MY1GDSM]

$200 is a lot of savings And I would always recommend a 1g cas over the 2ga cas.

My buddy just bought v3 full. It's not better than evoscan or ecuflash.

If you want support then get an evo8 ecu and the cheaper 1.3 cable and you'll have the support of the whole evo community. It's almost plug and play for 2g's.

This ^

You can also turn around after the car is tuned if your not like me and a lot of other people and want to be constantly adjusting things just because. And sell the Openport 2.0 for another nice chuck of change back... . Or there are some other options out there as well

Honestly I would make the switch to ecu flash, I had the evo8 ecu swap in my 1g for a while before I made the jump to ecmlink. First off the support isn't there yea sure there is some guys out there running it but they don't offer support like you would get on the ecmlink forums. Personally I didn't like the whole ROM stuff you had to do, ecmlink does all those things for you. I hope that helps!

I disagree, While it is a bit more work to make some changes 90% of what you need to do you can do in EvoScan with a log right in front of you yes some things have to be done in Ecuflash but still it's less expensive (IE $25 for Evoscan that anyone with a 2g should already have and Ecuflash is free)... . It gets even more Appealing if you have a H8 or Evo already... as the only cost would be around $150-200

Also I don't know how you can say the support isn't there... Maybe not people handing you everything. But there certainly A Lot of people who Flash Evo Ecu's and just because your Ecu was in a 1g doesn't mean the EVO support doesn't apply to you Hell IIRC I offered to tune it at one point when you contacted me...

Saving a Rom to the ECU is no different then Clicking on Copy all to ECU in v3 Ecmlink.

In the end it doesn't really matter what you get as long as you get it tuned or Know how to your self already...

 

[daren_p]

ECMLink alternative? ECMLink Lite

 

[10's or bust]

Basically it's all opinion based for the most part as many have used all of those parts named with varied results. Truthfully any type of fuel management you can get a hold of will help u but the more advanced of the methods just iffers more tunability. First of all you really check out the upgrade path section in this site make sure you've done alll the free mods first and a fuel pump rewire is definitely mandatory as in the factory configuration the pump never sees more than ten volts at wot!!! Many have pushed envelope using the latter but cost and adjustmentsstibility really pave the way the factory fuel system is more than sufficient with a small 16g but the fuel pump rewire and 190lph upgrade are mandatory unless you opt fir the 255 high pressure then the adjustable fuel pressure regulator becomes mandatory but realistically you need to be serious about the amount of power and gials you have for the car and then put then upgrade accordingly for example if any point or time intend on making more than four hundred horsepower then the 255lph and adjustable fuek pressure regulator become mandatory but four hundred or less the stock one is more than sufficient so see its about cost and adjustability the stock 13g and t-25 will never make enough horsepower to tax the the stock fuel system to the point where 650hp capable sized injectors are the standard upgrade. Granted link may be one of the better of the tuning options available but not the only one capable of getting the job done on a budget.

 

[92AWDHX40]

Link was my tuning device sold the maft, and i wish i would have bought link when i first started, could have helped out with so many things. When i first swapped my turbo in a wideband, and link should have been bought. Upgraded to full link to take advantage of all options including speed density, installed on the 2g. A all around tuning tool. Price wasnt a option i knew what i wanted and bought it. A alternative?

 

[Sinister96]

ok update got on the evo3 mani small 16g, maf-t with 3" GM MAF, just picked up a wide band, and a 99 ecu. So thinking going tantrix now, anyone got something better for around the same price? could have went link but still would have to buy a different ecu or have my eprom-ed and tantrix is cheaper than the link.

 

[92AWDHX40]

Any other device, what do you want your tuning device to do? First of all, then look around on here for other ways to tune your car. Again its going to come down to you, and what you want to do, and spend, something better for the price link lite, and get your ecu changed over, or sell you ecu now and find a ecu that is eprom, is there a time constraint, you can do one thing at a time. I never used a ecu flash or hear of tantrix.

 

[jrohner]

98 ecu + tactrix cable is cheaper than dsmlink(which also requires a different ecu)

It's $400 for everything to run ecuflash.
or
It's $600 for everything to run dsmlink

EDIT: well saw that you already went for ecuflash. Awesome. You will need a different cas sensor. Either a 1g (adjustable) or a 2gb(fixed base timing)

Just noticed that most the people saying dsmlink have 1g's.

How can you get link new with a socketed ECU for 600? People always go low on the price of link and high on the price of anything else.

Not much savings and a lot more hassle

And what's such a hassle about ECUFlash & Evoscan? It's actually like 1/2 the price or less, how is that 'not much?

You can get a whole tuning solution, a wideband, and cheapo 3" exhaust for probably less than the price of just link & the eprom ecu. How is that decision anything but a no-brainer?

There are cars with over 1000awhp tuning with ECU flash, I think that should make it a proven setup.

 

[Leo_99]

engine management is something you should not cheap out on. I did the bass ackwards I upgraded to ecmlink last and blew my motor. If i was to start all over my i would by wb and ecmlink first. If you take short cuts you will be spending lots of repairs

 

[Tyeler18]

There is no cheap alternative to a taCtrix. Either spend the $190 on a new one or search around for a used one. You've got to pay to play, don't cut corners. I have both the 2.0 and 1.3u and use flash all the time. I also use link to tune my 1gs. I prefer flash because that's what I learned on.

 

[ed1380]

How can you get link new with a socketed ECU for 600? People always go low on the price of link and high on the price of anything else.

I've seen v3 with ecu sell for around 550 on the forums

 

[GoCanes777]

Dsm v3 Lite will take your set up where ever you want to go, and if you go bigger you can always get the full version.

 

[MY1GDSM]

ok update got on the evo3 mani small 16g, maf-t with 3" GM MAF, just picked up a wide band, and a 99 ecu. So thinking going tantrix now, anyone got something better for around the same price? could have went link but still would have to buy a different ecu or have my eprom-ed and tantrix is cheaper than the link.

This is as cheap as you will fine an Openport 2.0 New to flash a H8 Ecu But you still need the software to log See Here $25 You will also need This free software and it wouldn't hurt to use This cable instead to log as the 1.3 cables are twice as fast but you can't flash a H8 ecu with out a 2.0

Why don't people just help with what they chose? rather then try to change their mind after the fact? It's their choice and they already made it... . Telling them to buy V3 Ecmlink isn't helping them at this point anymore come on.

 

[92AWDHX40]

Well its going to come down to more threads about what should i use to tune my car, when you ask about advice your always going to get opionons about what to get or what to use. Carry on.

 

[fran_drivertsi]

The only EMS that is an alternative to DSMlink for a dsm is AEM EMS. It is roughly 2x more $$$ and 3 times more complicated.