ECU for NB8C & Recommended installer in Melbourne

[alexbwang]

Hi folks

I'm looking to do an ECU upgrade on a 2004 NB SE, it has ABS, aircon and is currently stock. I plan to upgrade the exhaust and maybe intake in the near future, but that's about it so don't plan to tinker and upgrade much.

Looking for best bang for buck to maximise drive-ability without impacting long term reliability. I have short listed the following features / objectives I'd like to achieve:

- widen torque band and eliminate turbo bog
- raise factory rev limiter
- remove factory boost limiter (1st-3rd gears)
- retain CEL functionality
- tune for 95RON / 98RON fuel
- smooth idle with aircon running
- increase boost pressure to 10psi

optional:
- nice to have: wireless real time reporting to smartphone device
- nice to have: traction control
- nice to have: launch control
- nice to have: automatic blipping on down shift

First off, I've heard it's possible to reflash the existing ECU - for example, FM offers this: http://www.flyinmiata.com/index.php?deptid=4527&parentid=0&stocknumber=07-14005%20%20FI - anyone had any experience with this? Ideally, if I could get away with spending under ~$800 and keep factory hardware, that would be mega and I'd call it a day.

If the above is not advisable, I would like to know your reasons. I would appreciate if you could share with me your long term experiences? And if you could share with us how much you paid as well as recommend a reputable tuner in Melbourne that would be fantastic!

Please, I don't want this to become another thread about MSPnP vs Haltech vs Adaptronic vs Product X vs ECU made by that dude in his garage. I just need to know if it will do what I'm after and I need someone in Melbourne who will do a good job and stand by their work.

Cheers

[sailaholic]

If your only doing basic upgrades, keep the stock one, it's the only legal one in Victoria , handled starts and air con and is great bang for buck.

Blipping on downshift is what your heal is for.


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[NitroDann]

I would honestly take a stock NA6 (with LSD) over a stock SE if I wasn't allowed to sell.

In my opinion the stock SE is a rubbish car.. Sorry guys.

An ecu with a silky perfect tune is what makes the SE a GREAT car.

Dann

[A.Chen89]

Either keep it as is or go all out on a stand alone tune, upgrade anything else you want to do while your at it

ECU's on these aren't easily programmable/feature packed like others (Evo/wrx/etc)

If you go somewhere in between you'll end up buying a stand alone.

[Nevyn72]

For the $$ you're looking at Chip Torque is your only real option in Australia.....

http://www.chiptorque.com.au/mazda-mx5-se-msm/

Even then you'll be looking at around twice your budget.

Personally I'll be going the whole hog with my SE as it's the only way to make the car what it really should be.
This means a standalone ECU (probably Adaptronic, maybe Haltech), Enlarged (and better) injectors and a decent amount of time with a quality tuner on a dyno.
All up this will be in the region of $3500 (+/- $500) but worth it in the end.

[chrisearl88]

I did a turbo conversion and got chiptorque to do mine. They even put bigger injections and a base map in first so that i could drive around on turbo prior to getting the dyno tune. My custom tune only took 2.5 hours and it drives like a dream and made great numbers.

I believe they have a number of tunes from other customers for the SE, you if you sent them your ECU they can put the chip on without even seeing the car. Obliviously its not a custom tune but its pretty bloody close, Lachlan is the man when its comes to mx5's (he tuned the SP's for mazda).

I know that they can raise the rev limiter to 7200 which they did one mine. But traction or launch control is a no go. The plus however is that it retains the factory ECU so good for you poor souls down in victoria.

[davekmoore]

I would honestly take a stock NA6 (with LSD) over a stock SE if I wasn't allowed to sell.

In my opinion the stock SE is a rubbish car.. Sorry guys.

An ecu with a silky perfect tune is what makes the SE a GREAT car.

Dann

True, true and true.

[alexbwang]

Thanks for all your suggestions. Agree that the factory turbo system could use tweaking and in that regard it has plenty of upside potential. However for the reasons mentioned above (VIC regulations and cost) I think I'll look into the factory reflash...

Apart from ChipTorque, does anyone know of any other brands that offers similar service?

As for the turbo boost control, any suggestions whether to go piggy back / interceptor or manual BOV?