dsmlink or aem, worth the price difference?

[WILOWNU]

I am looking to get my car tuned this spring, and am wanting to get rid of the safc in favor of a real tuning device. My question is, to go out and buy an eprom ecu and dsmlink, or to go buy an AEM EMS. I can get a smoking deal on an ems (1000 cash) and I know that it would de everything I need VERY effectively. I just dont know much about DSMlink. will it be able to make as much hp, as safe as the ems? keep in mind the car is pretty modified, and I am expecting some high numbers from it, looking to run a safe 14psi for low boost, and 23psi for high boost.

built 6 bolt by SKS motorsports.
greddy fmic with hard ic pipes
obx tubular manifold
PTE Gt30R ball bearing turbo
3" turbo-back catless exhaust
HKS intake
cyclone intake manifold
walbro 255
660 injectors
greddy bov
hks external wastegate
greddy profec b spec II EBC
NGK AFX wideband o2

i think thats everything that would affect tuning, that I have installed on the car.

 

[c4uldr0n]

I only see DSMLINK being a disadvantage if you are constantly running over 8500-9000+ rpm where DSMLINK cannot be altered. AEM is for full out drag, you want to daily drive, get DSMLINK. I have DSMLINK and it is super easy to use and the people on the DSMLINK forum are great people and very helpful.

 

[iziegsx]

aem all the way!!! My friend has dsmlink and its a great system and works good, but its nothing like a aem. My friend has a supra and uses aem and it helped him out more than ever. There are more safety features and options and tuning wise on the aem, and yeah its harder to use but who cares its more fun that way. I was on the fence for a while to because i have a eprom ecu to but I will save up there extra dough to run the aem and will never look back. Plus if you were sticking with those injectors aem will give you a little more fine tuning and overall better end result. People who don't by them are just scared for some reason but if your bringing it somewhere to get dyno tuned just load the base map to get the car started that they provide you, and there forums which is a pretty good site and you will be fine. Sorry dsmlink dudes im just backing aem 100% on this one why settle for something good but not the best in my opinion. If you spend all this money to build a fast car why not take it there the safest and best way possible

You've made great points in your post however. Would you really consider buying an AEM EMS for a 450 max hp car Daily Driver? I personally do not think that maximizes his cash flow. Some bigger injectors and dsmlink and he could start messing around with tunning all on his own. I have DSMLINK and let me just say that the forums will help you get past just about any issue u may encounter while your "learning to tune" All that being said i just dont think it makes sense for """HIM""" get an AEM EMS STANDALONE for his daily driver 450hp you can maximize your money alot better. Now if you were going all out with higher hp figures sure why not (even though the Link has gotten guys into the 8 second class). It all boils down to my perception of your leaning towards going all out Drag car AEM EMS. Or you have an eprom ecu already. Have no knowledge of tuning but want to teach yourself on something which is very user friendly for first time users....DSMLINK all the way man expecially in your case. thats my .2c

 

[WILOWNU]

thanks for all of you input guys. I believe Im gonna rock DSMlink. If for some odd reason after using it for a while I get power hungry to the pioint where Link doesnt work for me anymore I will sell the link and the ecu and get an AEM.

 

[iziegsx]

thanks for all of you input guys. I believe Im gonna rock DSMlink. If for some odd reason after using it for a while I get power hungry to the pioint where Link doesnt work for me anymore I will sell the link and the ecu and get an AEM.

Great choice thats how everyone does it and DSMLINK isnt very hard to sell good luck man

 

[blackgst256]

iziegsx you do make some valid points. But have to disagree with aem ems being for a drag car. Plenty of people use it on there daily drivers. Its just a lot easier because with dsmlink you have to buy maft and all that mess and aem eliminates thats, and gets rid of it all together. c4uldr0n if you were running that high of an rpm you could still be using dsmlink so i dont think that effects anything really. Well you will be happy with dsmlink its definitely a good tuning tool. But just for the extra safety and tuning you get out of it why not just get the aem now and not worry about buying dsmlink, tuning it, taking it back out shipping it and then getting aem and doing it all over again? just my .02

 

[GVR4592]

iziegsx you do make some valid points. But have to disagree with aem ems being for a drag car. Plenty of people use it on there daily drivers. Its just a lot easier because with dsmlink you have to buy maft and all that mess and aem eliminates thats, and gets rid of it all together. c4uldr0n if you were running that high of an rpm you could still be using dsmlink so i dont think that effects anything really. Well you will be happy with dsmlink its definitely a good tuning tool. But just for the extra safety and tuning you get out of it why not just get the aem now and not worry about buying dsmlink, tuning it, taking it back out shipping it and then getting aem and doing it all over again? just my .02

You don't need a maft with Dsmlink, you don't need anything to run it. With AEM you need a map sensor, intake air temp sensor, (a 2g knock sensor if you have a 1g), and a wideband o2 sensor.

Dsmlink doesn't have any fuel or timing control over 8000 rpms, it continues using the 8000 rpm settings at all rpms above 8000.

 

[iziegsx]

iziegsx you do make some valid points. But have to disagree with aem ems being for a drag car. Plenty of people use it on there daily drivers. Its just a lot easier because with dsmlink you have to buy maft and all that mess and aem eliminates thats, and gets rid of it all together. c4uldr0n if you were running that high of an rpm you could still be using dsmlink so i dont think that effects anything really. Well you will be happy with dsmlink its definitely a good tuning tool. But just for the extra safety and tuning you get out of it why not just get the aem now and not worry about buying dsmlink, tuning it, taking it back out shipping it and then getting aem and doing it all over again? just my .02

You don't need a maft with Dsmlink, you don't need anything to run it. With AEM you need a map sensor, intake air temp sensor, (a 2g knock sensor if you have a 1g), and a wideband o2 sensor.

Dsmlink doesn't have any fuel or timing control over 8000 rpms, it continues using the 8000 rpm settings at all rpms above 8000.

Thank you for clearing that up for him and for the record i think he mis-interpreted what i said about AEM EMS being for a drag car. Im just saying in this guys case what sense does it make for him to get an AEM EMS when he already has a an eprom ecu he is half way there and he only wants damn there 450whp he could spend the rest of the money on something that he needs more. All that said thanks again GVR4592!

 

[V8notENUF]

Its just a lot easier because with dsmlink you have to buy maft and all that mess and aem eliminates thats, and gets rid of it all together. c4uldr0n if you were running that high of an rpm you could still be using dsmlink so i dont think that effects anything really.

Why would "he" have to get a maft and all that mess? For 450 hp a 2g mas has proven to work just fine. I never knew dsm link required a gm mas. Even if he did decide to go with the gm mas it's still under the price of the aem. Also keep in mind the next upgrade for dsm link (3.0) is set to come out sometime..... and is rumored to include the ability to run the gm mas without needing the maf-t. Just my .002.

 

[funcar]

I had dsmchip for my set up and gm maf with translator and was running meth injection. I got rid of the meth and got aem ems and had buschur tune it. I say it is atleast as fast as it was with the meth but the power band is sooo much smoother. I could not belive how much smoother it pulled through the rpm's. Hugh differince. But at the same time I had shep buid my tranny to a stage 4 so the closer gears probly helped a little. But damn does it idle so much better. It would make for a great dd, no prob. And anything else I change or add to the car I can tune in really well. But it wasnt to cheap, I got the 1g kit $2200, ouch. But worth it to me.

 

[WILOWNU]

Having buschur tune it would be great, too bad they dont tune the link. however, for anyone else in the ohio area for and are wanting to buy an EMS give the guys at Showdown motorsports a call, not trying to be their sales bi***, but 9times out of 10 they have HELLA deals on the AEM EMS. If I bought one it was going to be from them.