Haltech E6X vs MPI Tuner - Help Choose

[jrodhotrod]

Hey Guys,

I am going with engine management of some kind and I am down to 2 choices, the Haltech E6X and MPI Tuner.

Pros and Cons of each unit would helpful along with ease of tuning/installation.

I know we have folks out there running both, help me decide what I should get. Why did you go with the unit that you did and how is it working out for you? Any problems with the unit?

I want something that will be able to run 10-12 psi daily and more at the track on better fuel (in california we have pisswater 91 octane). I will be upgrading internals and possibly going with the Disco Potato Turbo. All my other mods are in the list, but basically I have done everything to support the additional power.

Thanks guys!

 

[YP5 Toronto]

I can't say a ton about the Haltech...but its reliable....tried...tested...and used globally around the world for reliable engine management. Complete control of timing and fuel, with additional features such as NOS control, Boost control (mapable at diff. rpms, psi, etc), turbo timer, fan control, aux. fuel pump control, multiple outputs for other ON/OFF applications. Some might say that the DOS based interface is old....but it works and works well. They have/are coming out with windows based interface with upgraded mapping control. It can control extra injectors...but IMO is not the route to go....

I will eventually (maybe) move to an E6X...but for my goal of 12-14psi...the F10 is more than enough.

I don't know anything about the MPI (to be honest the threads on that topic always get filled with crap and I stopped reading them).

 

[ghost]

Im going haltech. I just about had enogh of the crap going on with the FI threads. Im going with something proven to work.

 

[KzA]

the MPI is proven to work, as there are a number of us who have been running it for sometime. Also, there has recently been a large surge in MPI sales, and you see people with MPI Tuners popping up all over the forums lately.

I know some of the older MPI threads were filled with crap, but if you take some time to gander at the newer ones and the Library, you'll see there is some very good information out there nowadays

 

[Bigg Tim]

I'll second that!!! Not knocking the haltech cause I don't know much about it.

The MPI can control stock injectors, extra injectors, timing and has other options as well. You can have a boost control solenoid, NOS control, larger injector control(no the best IMO) and more that I don't know about. With this unit you can pass emission with NO tuning needed and will not be "seen" by the stock ECU. You retain all the stock ECU's control's so no drivability affected. It is a perfect power product and they have been around for a long time. MPNick works directly with the man at PP and has upgrades done to the SW whenever he wants something else to be done. The support is excellent and the SW is REAL easy to use. There are different tabs to tune from and you can have 2 maps stored on the unit connected to a switch. Flip the switch when you go to the track and are running more boost, then flip it back and drive your normal boost levels. You would of course have to adjust the boost yourself. Here is a screen shot, good luck with your research and I suggest you talke to Juan and MPNick directly on the phone so you get the real info first hand.

 

[Atreyu]

Im going haltech. I just about had enogh of the crap going on with the FI threads. Im going with something proven to work.

Exactly! I stopped reading that BS a month ago and am just trying to compile info from the vendors themselves.

 

[jrodhotrod]

Exactly! I stopped reading that BS a month ago and am just trying to compile info from the vendors themselves.

Which is exactly what I am trying to do. But I wanted some members to reflect on their real world experiences as well.

 

[Atreyu]

Which is exactly what I am trying to do. But I wanted some members to reflect on their real world experiences as well.

That would be awesome but unfortunatley it usually disinegrates into a 457 post pissing contest. For what it's worth between the two units I would have to go with the MPI simply for ease of interface. But I also trust Hiboost alot so I dunno. The news of a seemingly working Emanage unit is another bright spot.

 

[505zoom]

I have no experience with the haltech, but as I have told you on AIM I have had nothing but good things to say about the mpi tuner.

 

[azian6er]

haltech has been tried and true for many, many applications for a long period of time. YOu cannot compare a black box and a haltech unit. I am not saying the mpi doesnt work, and work well for peoples certain applications, but a TRUE standalone is a haltech e6x and that is why i am using it. it may be a bit more complicated than the mpi because it has many more features, but it is race tested and there is tons of customer support available through haltech.

i really appreciate the time and effort NIck offers to the forums and its members and i think he does have a really good unit. I am just more comfortable with the haltech. For instance, if you need help tuning and want to take your car to an experienced shop to dyno tune it or something, im sure the shop would be much more familiar with the haltech software then the mpi tuner.

i may be wrong but that is my take. Pls of course im partial because i have the haltech.

 

[acidbug]

I suggest going w/ the mpi tuner.

It has worked well for me..I have ran upto 8psi on my T3 turbo using the mpi tuner. I am now running 5-6psi and having lots of fun. gonna have an EBC & msd inline fuel pump installed inline w/ the mpi tuner(it's an addon). Will have 2 step. 6psi daily & 8psi. I will be going higher but i am not sure what will happen w/ stock injectors past 8psi on a T3.

With your oem injectors..on a T25 turbo you should easily be able to run 10psi. With an EBC (like mine) for track days set to ~12psi.

Pricing was my main concern when i was searching for an EMS. MPI Tuner offered me what i needed for a cost that i was happy with.

Chas

 

[Bigg Tim]

It would be great to all members if all the EMS's available had a side by side comparison to look at, that way you don't have people saying "this is better than that". Maybe you could start one up since your are doing some research, that way you don't get the bickering. I do think that the latest product specific threads have beeing going well.

 

[PaulMP3]

Has anyone successfully got the haltech working on a MSP? are maps available?

 

[jrodhotrod]

Azian6er has it running on his MSP, but I don't don't know about the maps. Have been trying to dialog with Juan via email but it's slow going.

 

[MPNick]

haltech has been tried and true for many, many applications for a long period of time. YOu cannot compare a black box and a haltech unit. I am not saying the mpi doesnt work, and work well for peoples certain applications, but a TRUE standalone is a haltech e6x and that is why i am using it. it may be a bit more complicated than the mpi because it has many more features, but it is race tested and there is tons of customer support available through haltech.

i really appreciate the time and effort NIck offers to the forums and its members and i think he does have a really good unit. I am just more comfortable with the haltech. For instance, if you need help tuning and want to take your car to an experienced shop to dyno tune it or something, im sure the shop would be much more familiar with the haltech software then the mpi tuner.

i may be wrong but that is my take. Pls of course im partial because i have the haltech.

Can you compare any aftermarket ECM with the OEM unit? Not one aftermarket unit can work anywhere as well as the Modern OEM unit. This is why we work with it and get you what you need with spark and fuel rather then remove it and install something that is less then stock. What about being able to pass state testing? As for tech support, I talk to the same customer sometimes four the five times a day. They also e-mail many times a day. Do you think the any big company will spend that much time with anyone on one day. I have went step by step over the phone and with AIM with cutomers. Tuning shop will tune with what they know. If they do not know the system they will have to learn on the fly. Again I have spend a lot of time with dyno tuners helping them tune with the MPI Tuner. Again I would like to see you get the same help from a big company.

Thanks again


Later............Nick

 

[InsidiousMSP]

I'm personally going with the Haltech E6X, largely based on turboge's recommendations -- "I think its the best applicable system with complete control available for the MSP aside from the AEM." -- one of the smartest guys in this community IMO. He has an install guide and says it should only take about 4 hours to have it flawlessly installed parallel with the stock ECU. $1150 for the unit and $60 for a 2 or 3-bar MAP sensor (bye bye MAF). Pick up four 460cc injectors from a ~91 RX7 for about $80 and you're good to go. With the E6X I'll be able to control my fuel and timing, real time datalogging, boost control, set my rev limiter, and it has a ton of neat features including anti-lag (build boost at idle/trailing throttle), launch control, dual-mapping for pump gas and race fuel maps with the flick of a switch, etc, even turbo timer. I can't wait.

 

[azian6er]

I'm personally going with the Haltech E6X, largely based on turboge's recommendations -- "I think its the best applicable system with complete control available for the MSP aside from the AEM." -- one of the smartest guys in this community IMO. He has an install guide and says it should only take about 4 hours to have it flawlessly installed parallel with the stock ECU. $1150 for the unit and $60 for a 2 or 3-bar MAP sensor (bye bye MAF). Pick up four 460cc injectors from a ~91 RX7 for about $80 and you're good to go. With the E6X I'll be able to control my fuel and timing, real time datalogging, boost control, set my rev limiter, and it has a ton of neat features including anti-lag (build boost at idle/trailing throttle), launch control, dual-mapping for pump gas and race fuel maps with the flick of a switch, etc, even turbo timer. I can't wait.

exactly. my thoughts completely.

-B

 

[MPNick]

I'm personally going with the Haltech E6X, largely based on turboge's recommendations -- "I think its the best applicable system with complete control available for the MSP aside from the AEM." -- one of the smartest guys in this community IMO. He has an install guide and says it should only take about 4 hours to have it flawlessly installed parallel with the stock ECU. $1150 for the unit and $60 for a 2 or 3-bar MAP sensor (bye bye MAF). Pick up four 460cc injectors from a ~91 RX7 for about $80 and you're good to go. With the E6X I'll be able to control my fuel and timing, real time datalogging, boost control, set my rev limiter, and it has a ton of neat features including anti-lag (build boost at idle/trailing throttle), launch control, dual-mapping for pump gas and race fuel maps with the flick of a switch, etc, even turbo timer. I can't wait.

Good luck with your set up. We are hoping to see some of the aftermarket systems at our dyno day. I wil be nice to see if any of these systems run as good as the MPI Tuner cars. I know of other members on this forum who have "complete control" with the systems they run. Not one of them seem to be without some type of problem and none of them can pass OBDII testing.

Do you think it is a good idea to run 15 year old used injectors in a wel tuned street car? Can you get used injectors to work at all. I would get them rebuilt before I would install them my car. Where are all of the great running cars with these aftermarket systems? How come we never have any of them post on how great the system is running for them?

This is a quote from another thread, check it out.


TurfBurn vbmenu_register("postmenu_966353", true);
Yellow Dragon!



Car: 2001 Mazda MP3 Yellow
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Madtown, WI
Posts: 293

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigg Tim
I think MPNick tried bigger injectors in the MSP but was not happy them. I believe there was a cold start issue.(I believe Turfburn had some over the winter with the microtech) It's what ever floats your boat. Nick also gets more SW updates as time goes by to help better the unit and will send it to you as he gets it, so there will always be better features added to it.
Uh.. that's to say the least with my issues... I have a "cold start" issue in 60 degree weather.... and I'm not rich!! LOL... I'm working on that now. But yes big ass injectors and cold ass weather don't seem to mix all that well. But if you can deal with turning the car over a couple of times... letting it idle for 5-10 minutes before you go anywhere... then the "cold start" issue isn't a big deal. If I find a tuning solution for it (I'm playing with timing, lean and rich mixtures and the like) I'll certainly be happy to share it.

I've worked with both the microtech and the MPI. And I have to say the MPI is easier to tune and in a lot of ways easier to work with. The microtech interface is a bit more advanced, but the MPI gets the job done and is very straight forward. The microtech can actually be run as a piggy but I'd take the MPI over it any day for that.
__________________
2001 Yellow Mazda MP3: Spool Stage 4

16G turbo, tubular manifold, IC, 8x550cc injectors, Inline fuel pump, custom secondary fuel rail, custom Beavis heat shield, custom Beavis gauge plate, Profec B-Spec II, PLX M-300 wideband, J&S Super Safeguard w/Turfburn custom gauge, Microtech LT8 EMS, stainless steel turbo piping, Spool Racing Seats, Spool Lowering Springs, Rota Tarmac 17" rims, Greddy 60mm EGT, Autometer 52mm boost, Clutchmaster Clutch, custom 3" turboback exhaust, magnaflow high flow catalytic. Magnaflow Race Series muffler, welded MazdaSpeed LSD.



Previously dynoed by SpoolinMp3 at 253 whp at 13 psi with slipping clutch.

Thats just one of the very happy people with the stand alone and all of its "complete control"

Thanks again

Later........NIck

 

[azian6er]

of course tuning with the haltech is going to be far more strenuous and time consuming not to mention more difficult, but in the long run i believe it will be worth it.

i had my car running with the haltech off of maps braden (turboge) made for me for a 3 bar map sensor. the car ran so smooth it wasnt even a joke. Boost needed a lot of tuning but in idle and while cruising the car felt awesome. This was with the stock injectors. i have 440s waiting for me when i get the new turbo on but i cant touch them until my manifold comes in.

I think that for the average user who wants control over timing and fuel the mpi is a good purchase. It is just the fact that it isnt as wide spread as the haltech and no one would be familiar with the unit other than nick himself. Im sure nick is as committed to his product and customers as he says he is, but there is only one nick. Haltech has an entire forum devoted to tech support where there are tons of threads on past issues users had. There may not be anyone there to answer the phone but there is tons of info there.

I like the mpi tuner a lot and i think it is good for the average user who doesnt want to go all out with their car. The sheer functions associated with haltech far outweigh those of the mpi tuner (look at insidious' list) but it is true that the average end user will not need all of those.

One thing i definately like though is getting rid of that damn maf sensor. with the gm map sensor you can pretty much throw that maf in the trash. I dont think the mpi tuner has this function either.

i will inform many people of my progress here in the next few weeks as to my turbo install and haltech tuning. My mani should be here by thend of this week and then next week the turbo will be in and it will be off to the dyno.

-B

 

[jrodhotrod]

Keep up the good posts guys!

Nice to see one of these threads not totally fall apart.

I am a novice to tuning (have never done tuning of any kind) but I am willing to learn and I want my car to run the best it possibly can. As I understand it the MPI is based on a Perfect Power box. And there seems to be dedicated community on the Perfect Power website. I know the Haltech has a great number of folks using it and there is an extended community online of users and lots of tuning shops familiar with it. I just wish they would get their Windows software running.