ECUTEK ProEcu kit questions
Registered Member
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 357
Likes: 54
From: San Antonio
As far as check engine light goes have you looked into getting some O2 extensions?
Moderador
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 2,626
Likes: 764
From: South Florida
@BigSpoon Seems like you would do better with Uprev. Like you stated the car is mostly stock so why spend the extra money on just that.
I too faced this decision however having friends already with a ECUTEK dongle meant that I needed to choose Uprev to be able to have both types of cables in the case we needed to connect to anyone's car.
So far Uprev has please me.
I too faced this decision however having friends already with a ECUTEK dongle meant that I needed to choose Uprev to be able to have both types of cables in the case we needed to connect to anyone's car.
So far Uprev has please me.
Thread Starter
Registered Member
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 182
Likes: 18
From: Colorado
Sorry and thanks Rochester! You're right! 
Thank you for explaining. Yeah, I am definitely more interested in the Bluetooth version kit then the more that I learn lol. I do want to do my own data logging etc. I wish we could get access to the actual software they use to modify maps/tuning (i.e. Cobb Accessport or HPTuners or SCT et.al.), even if you have to purchase the program... It seems they keep that locked down and under a tight lid and only allow certain tuning shops to have that software to tune our cars for EcuTek.
Taking deep breaths, slowing down lol.... certainly don't think that $1300 quote is much of a deal, especially now that you explain and I understand more about the dongles and licenses... Jesus christ $1300 no sir. Think I'll grab that Z1 deal for $750 and call it a day for now, until I have more mods that I'd like to get dialed in by a local reputable tuner.
I don't think it's an issue as far as O2 sensor location/placement so much as it is an issue with the ECU now getting totally whack AFR readings/input because the OEM cats are gone... I know the tune can fix that.
Yea I looked into UpRev for a minute but decided on EcuTek seeming like a better long term solution and more available tuners locally (I looked)... and even though the car is mostly stock now, it's not going to stay that way forever. I see the EcuTek as not only important for making more power, but also for ensuring the car is running as safely and smoothly as possible.
If you're doing your own data logging, the blue tooth connector to your phone would be infinitely better than the wired cable to a laptop. Using a laptop and a wired cable for data logging is a royal PITA. Keep in mind, you still need the USB Key, a laptop (and USB cable to your blue tooth connector) to use the ProECU software with a valid license applied, so you can upload new maps to your ECU. But it's not like you're driving around while that's happening. However, if you're having a shop do your tune for you, and never plan on data logging, then you simply don't need the more expensive blue tooth setup. There's no point to it, unless like I said you're data logging to your phone.
When they say "shop dongle" what they mean is they use their own cable (dongle), and all you have to buy is the USB key and the license. The only catch is that any time you need to use ProECU, you have to go back to their shop and use that same cable. It's a savings to you, but based on that quote, it doesn't sound like they're passing that savings on. I don't know. The problem (or retail benefit
) of a multi-component paradigm in parts and service is that things get easily obfuscated.
Assuming you go with them and use their "shop cable", well, you can do the math... they're asking big money for just the dyno-tune itself. But hey if that's what they're asking, then that's their ask. No one has a gun to your head. About three years ago I had a reputable local shop quote me $700 for an EcuTek license and an in-house dyno-tune using their "shop cable". FWIW
OP, I strongly urge you to step back, take a deep breath, then research and educate.
When they say "shop dongle" what they mean is they use their own cable (dongle), and all you have to buy is the USB key and the license. The only catch is that any time you need to use ProECU, you have to go back to their shop and use that same cable. It's a savings to you, but based on that quote, it doesn't sound like they're passing that savings on. I don't know. The problem (or retail benefit
) of a multi-component paradigm in parts and service is that things get easily obfuscated.Assuming you go with them and use their "shop cable", well, you can do the math... they're asking big money for just the dyno-tune itself. But hey if that's what they're asking, then that's their ask. No one has a gun to your head. About three years ago I had a reputable local shop quote me $700 for an EcuTek license and an in-house dyno-tune using their "shop cable". FWIW
OP, I strongly urge you to step back, take a deep breath, then research and educate.
Taking deep breaths, slowing down lol.... certainly don't think that $1300 quote is much of a deal, especially now that you explain and I understand more about the dongles and licenses... Jesus christ $1300 no sir. Think I'll grab that Z1 deal for $750 and call it a day for now, until I have more mods that I'd like to get dialed in by a local reputable tuner.
@BigSpoon Seems like you would do better with Uprev. Like you stated the car is mostly stock so why spend the extra money on just that.
I too faced this decision however having friends already with a ECUTEK dongle meant that I needed to choose Uprev to be able to have both types of cables in the case we needed to connect to anyone's car.
So far Uprev has please me.
I too faced this decision however having friends already with a ECUTEK dongle meant that I needed to choose Uprev to be able to have both types of cables in the case we needed to connect to anyone's car.
So far Uprev has please me.
Thread Starter
Registered Member
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 182
Likes: 18
From: Colorado
When I pressed the local tuning shop on why they think $1300 is a fair and reasonable "deal" all things considered lol their reply:
That is the price of an entry-level custom Ecutek tune to be done on-dyno. You pay for the expertise and experience of a tuner that has been tuning at this elevation and on those engine platforms for 20+years.
You are more than welcome to go with Z1 Motorsports for their sea-level tune, usually, they work just fine with basic mods, but that is the price for custom tuning.
Have a great day,
You are more than welcome to go with Z1 Motorsports for their sea-level tune, usually, they work just fine with basic mods, but that is the price for custom tuning.
Have a great day,
Moderador
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 2,626
Likes: 764
From: South Florida
It's been my experience that if you want cheaper pricing you have to get your feet muddy like the folks who are in it.
We help each other out however this also means that what cheaper prices dont include is continuous support like they usually would if I would have paid full price.
This fee should always include some type of insurance in case of some further adjustment is needed. Tuning is unlike other parts of the car, takes quite a bit of time and experience to get it right.
What's worse is the typical community is looking for MAX, burbles/pops/bangs, etc. Many of the folks displaying this types of request annoy the hell out of the tuner.
I've received great feedback from being able to learn/understand and speak in the same language as them, granted most wont or wont have a reason to.
In conclusion, you can only get so cheap until it starts costing you, having the piece of mind of having a point of contact in a specific area of the car that many don't is priceless.
We help each other out however this also means that what cheaper prices dont include is continuous support like they usually would if I would have paid full price.
This fee should always include some type of insurance in case of some further adjustment is needed. Tuning is unlike other parts of the car, takes quite a bit of time and experience to get it right.
What's worse is the typical community is looking for MAX, burbles/pops/bangs, etc. Many of the folks displaying this types of request annoy the hell out of the tuner.
I've received great feedback from being able to learn/understand and speak in the same language as them, granted most wont or wont have a reason to.
In conclusion, you can only get so cheap until it starts costing you, having the piece of mind of having a point of contact in a specific area of the car that many don't is priceless.
The cheapest options will always be dyno tuned sessions. The cost will still vary from shop to shop / tuner to tuner.
I am also tuned by Martin (RS Enthaply). He's from Florida but travels around the States for group dyno tune sessions. When he came to Atlanta, I paid $650 for my tune. Didn't have to buy anything additional, just showed up, handed him my keys, paid him and drove home.
I believe prices has gone up now since my tune 3 years ago. I had 3" intakes, test pipes, exhaust, and 70mm TB during the time of my tune, and I'd consider that a custom tune.
I am also tuned by Martin (RS Enthaply). He's from Florida but travels around the States for group dyno tune sessions. When he came to Atlanta, I paid $650 for my tune. Didn't have to buy anything additional, just showed up, handed him my keys, paid him and drove home.
I believe prices has gone up now since my tune 3 years ago. I had 3" intakes, test pipes, exhaust, and 70mm TB during the time of my tune, and I'd consider that a custom tune.
And by "sessions", what Panda is talking about are things like a "dyno day" event, where they sign up a whole bunch of people to get tuned. Or like when a tuner shop brings a dynamometer on a trailer to a big event.
Moderador
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 2,626
Likes: 764
From: South Florida
The cheapest options will always be dyno tuned sessions. The cost will still vary from shop to shop / tuner to tuner.
I am also tuned by Martin (RS Enthaply). He's from Florida but travels around the States for group dyno tune sessions. When he came to Atlanta, I paid $650 for my tune. Didn't have to buy anything additional, just showed up, handed him my keys, paid him and drove home.
I believe prices has gone up now since my tune 3 years ago. I had 3" intakes, test pipes, exhaust, and 70mm TB during the time of my tune, and I'd consider that a custom tune.
I am also tuned by Martin (RS Enthaply). He's from Florida but travels around the States for group dyno tune sessions. When he came to Atlanta, I paid $650 for my tune. Didn't have to buy anything additional, just showed up, handed him my keys, paid him and drove home.
I believe prices has gone up now since my tune 3 years ago. I had 3" intakes, test pipes, exhaust, and 70mm TB during the time of my tune, and I'd consider that a custom tune.
From my personal experience alone, I praise the man (Martin @RSenthalpy). Especially his humility and willingness to help all the time. I own a much of my tuning knowledge in Nissans to him so though costly at times, the piece of mind, again is priceless.
I speak with him on a regular and these are average $numbers for his UPREV tunes. Unsure what his ECUTEK prices are.
From my personal experience alone, I praise the man (Martin @RSenthalpy). Especially his humility and willingness to help all the time. I own a much of my tuning knowledge in Nissans to him so though costly at times, the piece of mind, again is priceless.
From my personal experience alone, I praise the man (Martin @RSenthalpy). Especially his humility and willingness to help all the time. I own a much of my tuning knowledge in Nissans to him so though costly at times, the piece of mind, again is priceless.
Moderador
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 2,626
Likes: 764
From: South Florida
Thread Starter
Registered Member
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 182
Likes: 18
From: Colorado
Welp guys, I pulled the trigger on the Z1 setup I linked to and discussed previously.
Knowing full well this isn't going to be the best, most dialed-in custom tune for me *for now,* is fine by me. Once I have more mods (and more money), I'll invest in a local pro-tune. But with just aftermarket exhaust as my only mod pretty much, I think the Z1 EcuTek kit is fine for now and will hopefully at least allow me to monitor engine data and log. And maybe even clear my CEL from running non-cat test pipes.
For $750+shipping, it is probably the most affordable way to get started with the EcuTek platform.
My hope is that once I am ready for a shop to tune it that since I already have the kit and license that the tune itself will just be a flat rate or whatever any given shop charges for whatever 1-2-3hrs of dyno tuning, maybe $500 or something. Really kinda pointless to spend that kind of money until/unless I have more mods to make it worth it.
Just rescuing this 120k mile car from the prior owner has been one fun headache after another :P
Knowing full well this isn't going to be the best, most dialed-in custom tune for me *for now,* is fine by me. Once I have more mods (and more money), I'll invest in a local pro-tune. But with just aftermarket exhaust as my only mod pretty much, I think the Z1 EcuTek kit is fine for now and will hopefully at least allow me to monitor engine data and log. And maybe even clear my CEL from running non-cat test pipes.
For $750+shipping, it is probably the most affordable way to get started with the EcuTek platform.
My hope is that once I am ready for a shop to tune it that since I already have the kit and license that the tune itself will just be a flat rate or whatever any given shop charges for whatever 1-2-3hrs of dyno tuning, maybe $500 or something. Really kinda pointless to spend that kind of money until/unless I have more mods to make it worth it.
Just rescuing this 120k mile car from the prior owner has been one fun headache after another :P
Registered Member
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 29
Likes: 6
Welp guys, I pulled the trigger on the Z1 setup I linked to and discussed previously.
Knowing full well this isn't going to be the best, most dialed-in custom tune for me *for now,* is fine by me. Once I have more mods (and more money), I'll invest in a local pro-tune. But with just aftermarket exhaust as my only mod pretty much, I think the Z1 EcuTek kit is fine for now and will hopefully at least allow me to monitor engine data and log. And maybe even clear my CEL from running non-cat test pipes.
For $750+shipping, it is probably the most affordable way to get started with the EcuTek platform.
My hope is that once I am ready for a shop to tune it that since I already have the kit and license that the tune itself will just be a flat rate or whatever any given shop charges for whatever 1-2-3hrs of dyno tuning, maybe $500 or something. Really kinda pointless to spend that kind of money until/unless I have more mods to make it worth it.
Just rescuing this 120k mile car from the prior owner has been one fun headache after another :P
Knowing full well this isn't going to be the best, most dialed-in custom tune for me *for now,* is fine by me. Once I have more mods (and more money), I'll invest in a local pro-tune. But with just aftermarket exhaust as my only mod pretty much, I think the Z1 EcuTek kit is fine for now and will hopefully at least allow me to monitor engine data and log. And maybe even clear my CEL from running non-cat test pipes.
For $750+shipping, it is probably the most affordable way to get started with the EcuTek platform.
My hope is that once I am ready for a shop to tune it that since I already have the kit and license that the tune itself will just be a flat rate or whatever any given shop charges for whatever 1-2-3hrs of dyno tuning, maybe $500 or something. Really kinda pointless to spend that kind of money until/unless I have more mods to make it worth it.
Just rescuing this 120k mile car from the prior owner has been one fun headache after another :P
Way late to post this but figured it might help others. Seb @SpecialtyZ offers an off the shelf tune EcuTek package for $950 (phone flash, includes bluetooth OBD2 adapter), and is one of the best OTS tunes you will find for basic breather mods. Price did go up a little, IIRC it used to be $850. He is heavily recommended by everyone I’ve talked to on this forum and the370z. Very fast service too, extremely helpful. He does not cut any corners with his tunes-always puts reliability first. For $200 more I’d say it’s worth it over the Z1 tune…heard a few not so great things about their off the shelf tunes. But that’s just my personal opinion based on hours and days of research on the forums.
He’s based in Cali and I was located in NC when we flashed my ECU, which I wondered about before going through with it. His phenomenal customer service makes you forget how far he is, if you aren’t in Cali. I’m still on the OTS tune myself until my AAM resonated high flow cats get installed shortly, then he will make a custom map for me for $200 more via data logging. Solid deal in my eyes. My car really does drive and feel so much better after his tune.
He’s based in Cali and I was located in NC when we flashed my ECU, which I wondered about before going through with it. His phenomenal customer service makes you forget how far he is, if you aren’t in Cali. I’m still on the OTS tune myself until my AAM resonated high flow cats get installed shortly, then he will make a custom map for me for $200 more via data logging. Solid deal in my eyes. My car really does drive and feel so much better after his tune.
Registered Member
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 760
Likes: 358
From: Chicago, IL
Welp guys, I pulled the trigger on the Z1 setup I linked to and discussed previously.
Knowing full well this isn't going to be the best, most dialed-in custom tune for me *for now,* is fine by me. Once I have more mods (and more money), I'll invest in a local pro-tune. But with just aftermarket exhaust as my only mod pretty much, I think the Z1 EcuTek kit is fine for now and will hopefully at least allow me to monitor engine data and log. And maybe even clear my CEL from running non-cat test pipes.
For $750+shipping, it is probably the most affordable way to get started with the EcuTek platform.
My hope is that once I am ready for a shop to tune it that since I already have the kit and license that the tune itself will just be a flat rate or whatever any given shop charges for whatever 1-2-3hrs of dyno tuning, maybe $500 or something. Really kinda pointless to spend that kind of money until/unless I have more mods to make it worth it.
Just rescuing this 120k mile car from the prior owner has been one fun headache after another :P
Knowing full well this isn't going to be the best, most dialed-in custom tune for me *for now,* is fine by me. Once I have more mods (and more money), I'll invest in a local pro-tune. But with just aftermarket exhaust as my only mod pretty much, I think the Z1 EcuTek kit is fine for now and will hopefully at least allow me to monitor engine data and log. And maybe even clear my CEL from running non-cat test pipes.
For $750+shipping, it is probably the most affordable way to get started with the EcuTek platform.
My hope is that once I am ready for a shop to tune it that since I already have the kit and license that the tune itself will just be a flat rate or whatever any given shop charges for whatever 1-2-3hrs of dyno tuning, maybe $500 or something. Really kinda pointless to spend that kind of money until/unless I have more mods to make it worth it.
Just rescuing this 120k mile car from the prior owner has been one fun headache after another :P