do i really need a AP?

[ms3jose]

whats up guys well 2 months ago i got my ms3 im really excited about it.. its a really fun car to drive.

well im not really into mods and all that but i decided to go with some of them

i will get the cpe tbe,cobb sri,cobb inlet,and im thinking on getting a fmic. and if i get one it will be cobb. and some prosport gauges

well guys this is my list for now. but i got one question in order to max out the power of these mods i need to tuned it right or the car could go boom.

the closest place is efi logics. but i went to their web page and it says that they do it on a pro tune that means on a Accessport. so i dont really want the AP( and in order to get the cobb fmic you need to get the ap). so i can get another tuned without the accesport. if you you can can you tell me a good place. i live in boston. i hope u can help and if got and advice your welcome..

im just new on this kind of things..

thanks

 

[08cosmic3]

Not sure what you are asking but an AP is an awesome tool. If you are going to do alot of modding you want a tune to be safer. There is CPE standback but slot of the guys using that tune have switched to the AP now that Access Tuner Racer is out. I run an Off the shelf map and love it. I will probably get a custom tune one day when I get a DP and FMIC. The AP is the best tuning option at the moment.

 

[essejkcamraw]

for those mods AP is a good idea, not only for tuning abilities but to monitor as well (if you dont have a dashhawk already) and since youre going with those mods, look into some step colder plugs like some NGKs. read up on everything before you go throwing mods on the car so you know EXACTLY what youre getting into. cause along with those you will also need to go upgraded fuel pump or internals most likely also. you gotta pay to play.

 

[ms3jose]

im not eve planning on going with internals .. well i think ill only going to get the tbe and the cobb sri thats all and eve with that do i need a AP?

 

[mazdaspeed32007]

if you get plugs which i reccomend use denso since they are install ready. the gaps are perfect from the box. i think you should get an ap if you plan on getting a fmic as well as already having your other mods. you dont need one because people run the stock map but its great with access tuner now for minor or major tweaks and as a monitor for a/f, engine knock, injector pressure (just in case you need fp internals or a fp) and so on. anyway, good luck with your modding! just installed my fmic today....worth it for real.

 

[dizzin9]

u will not go

boom

 

[BrianFiebig]

Im seriously on the fence about an AP as well. Most of the reason I dont have one yet is I'm happy with the dashhawk, and I REALLY dont want to spend ~$700 for something Im going to plug in, flash it once, then unplug and have it collect dust for a year or more. Other reason is that ive been checking out the maps and what not, and they mostly seem to be based on exhaust upgrades. I live in a smog control zone, and none of the shops around me will even touch doing a downpipe. So unless there are seriously magical gains to be had, Im giving real thought to finding someone around me who has one and sliding them some cash to let me use thiers for a one time flash and be done with it.

 

[mazdaspeed32007]

Im seriously on the fence about an AP as well. Most of the reason I dont have one yet is I'm happy with the dashhawk, and I REALLY dont want to spend ~$700 for something Im going to plug in, flash it once, then unplug and have it collect dust for a year or more. Other reason is that ive been checking out the maps and what not, and they mostly seem to be based on exhaust upgrades. I live in a smog control zone, and none of the shops around me will even touch doing a downpipe. So unless there are seriously magical gains to be had, Im giving real thought to finding someone around me who has one and sliding them some cash to let me use thiers for a one time flash and be done with it.

you have to marry it to your vehicle. cant do a one time flash and thats that. you can get one used for 400-500 im sure.

 

[coyfish]

Im seriously on the fence about an AP as well. Most of the reason I dont have one yet is I'm happy with the dashhawk, and I REALLY dont want to spend ~$700 for something Im going to plug in, flash it once, then unplug and have it collect dust for a year or more. Other reason is that ive been checking out the maps and what not, and they mostly seem to be based on exhaust upgrades. I live in a smog control zone, and none of the shops around me will even touch doing a downpipe. So unless there are seriously magical gains to be had, Im giving real thought to finding someone around me who has one and sliding them some cash to let me use thiers for a one time flash and be done with it.

Not sure what you mean. You flash it once but its on your car for as long as you like. Not to mention with a good map you will be running better AFR's, LFTF, boost, etc. On top of that you get power gains. Most get around 20whp or better with the tune. More or less the same gain you get with a downpipe.

You can't flash mutliple cars with it. COBB is smarter than that lol . . .

 

[BrianFiebig]

I still cant justify 500+ for something im gonna plug in, mash a few buttons, then unplug it and plug my DH back in. Getting a shop to do a custom tune would be half that most likely. And in that case I can tell them exactly what I want and not risk the thing blowing itself apart the first time I hammer on it in the cold.

 

[mazdaspeed32007]

I still cant justify 500+ for something im gonna plug in, mash a few buttons, then unplug it and plug my DH back in. Getting a shop to do a custom tune would be half that most likely. And in that case I can tell them exactly what I want and not risk the thing blowing itself apart the first time I hammer on it in the cold.

i use access tuner and do tweaks myself. do a little research on what i need to change....make some changes, data log some things, and re tweak until its perfect. my ltft's are at +1%, my a/f at wot is at 11.5, my boost is at 19 from start to finish and i get no KR. this all was tweaked by myself as a street tuner and i dont concider myself all that knowledgable compared to some of the folks on here. idk....the access port is probably one of the most useful tools ive even bought for the car. multiple people have both the ap and dash hawk. do as you please...i stated why you should get one and if you feel its not worth it then dont get one. i couldnt care less. i have one and thats all that matters to me. haha.

 

[coyfish]

I still cant justify 500+ for something im gonna plug in, mash a few buttons, then unplug it and plug my DH back in. Getting a shop to do a custom tune would be half that most likely. And in that case I can tell them exactly what I want and not risk the thing blowing itself apart the first time I hammer on it in the cold.

You can't just "tune" your car. You need some type of ECU management. For our car the only management out there is the COBB AP, CPE standback, XEDE or the mysterious paisani tune.

Its not like they can just hook your car up and mess with ECU parameters.

That and tuning is not cheap. At any reasonable shop your looking at at least 300+ bucks IN ADDITION to the management system.

Think about it. Tuning will take at least an hour. Dyno sessions alone cost about 100 bucks for 3 pulls using the sensors. And dyno takes 30 min tops.


I don't understand what you are even trying to say. Do you know what a tune does? I think its nice that you can plug in your ap and then remove it without having it in your car. That way you can use your dashhawk. Wouldn't it be annoying if it had to be plugged in all the time ???

 

[prenedo]

I don't have an AP, but I think it would be the TBE that would constitute needing one. Do you want to replace the downpipe and back? If you do go turbo back you should definately be monitoring + be able to tune out any problems your car may have with that many mods. You sure you wanna replace the DP? or you just looking for exhaust?

 

[mazdaspeed32007]

I don't have an AP, but I think it would be the TBE that would constitute needing one. Do you want to replace the downpipe and back? If you do go turbo back you should definately be monitoring + be able to tune out any problems your car may have with that many mods. You sure you wanna replace the DP? or you just looking for exhaust?

honestly....you dont NEED a tune if your parameters are correct. you could possibly need a tune if you change any major part. intercooler, exhaust, even an intake can alter the MAF readings enough to require a tune. but now that i read what he posted....im not sure it made sense like stated....(boom07)

 

[prenedo]

honestly....you dont NEED a tune if your parameters are correct. you could possibly need a tune if you change any major part. intercooler, exhaust, even an intake can alter the MAF readings enough to require a tune. but now that i read what he posted....im not sure it made sense like stated....(boom07)

True. I think it's the TBE vs CBE that may be throwing him off; but yeah, a tune could be needed with any mod. Monitoring all of the different parameters is key when modding.