Emira ECU Flash Tuning is Now Possible (~510HP Turbo)

[VF Tuner]

So what was your approach then @VF Tuner its been very silent from your end except he SC lid

I have been silent because currently we do not have a way to flash it except on the bench.

You must open the ECU and read it through NBD, disable the RSA on the file, and then flash the disabled file back to the ECU on the bench.

It's not cloneable, and even so, cloning it would do nothing anyway.

Bosch ECUs are entirely different. My guess is Ryan @Boomgear just wasn't aware of what's in the V6 ECU when it was mentioned about cloning.

 

[Milk242]

I have been silent because currently we do not have a way to flash it except on the bench.

You must open the ECU and read it through NBD, disable the RSA on the file, and then flash the disabled file back to the ECU on the bench.

It's not cloneable, and even so, cloning it would do nothing anyway.

Bosch ECUs are entirely different. My guess is Ryan @Boomgear just wasn't aware of what's in the V6 ECU when it was mentioned about cloning.

I don’t blame you for not mentioning it after reading through the thread of the supercharger lid

 

[F1 SML8R]

The cloning approach is nothing new. This is how ECU's were being flashed for the Alfa 4C. and it was done very efficiently and with brand new "spare" ECU's. Multiple tuners just bought them in bulk and flashed them for commercial sale. @docron and @Kaz can all attest to this when we all had Alfa's.

I suspect, there's probably more to this story and why no one stateside has taken this experiment on. In any case, I'm rooting for everyone and anyone that can get us a finished product. Btw, like the Alfa, the ECU for the i4 is easily accessible from the engine bay! So someone, figure it out!

 

[Milk242]

The cloning approach is nothing new. This is how ECU's were being flashed for the Alfa 4C. and it was done very efficiently and with brand new "spare" ECU's. Multiple tuners just bought them in bulk and flashed them for commercial sale. @docron and @Kaz can all attest to this when we all had Alfa's.

I suspect, there's probably more to this story and why no one stateside has taken this experiment on. In any case, I'm rooting for everyone and anyone that can get us a finished product. Btw, like the Alfa, the ECU for the i4 is easily accessible from the engine bay! So someone, figure it out!

The difference is they are cloning to old ecus (I believe Mercedes 2022 and below model years that use the m139 engine) that are unlockable by the Mercedes tuning community. The cloning seems to be getting around the lock that Mercedes places on Lotus. Once cloned you can potentially have Weistec flash with their maps or any other Mercedes tuner

 

[F1 SML8R]

Makes sense, but here's the problem. Superficially, going to an older ECU isn't ideal. Just think laptops or other electronics. There's a reason the technology evolves. I'm guessing running an older ECU, probably has a lot of unknowns (but maybe not...).

Ideally, we'd want someone to clone a brand new "blank" ECU with an updated map. In any case, I hope using the older ECUs work out for whoever gets them and maybe eventually someone figures out how to do this with "newer" hardware (i.e., a current new spare ECU).

 

[675430VME]

I have been silent because currently we do not have a way to flash it except on the bench.

You must open the ECU and read it through NBD, disable the RSA on the file, and then flash the disabled file back to the ECU on the bench.

It's not cloneable, and even so, cloning it would do nothing anyway.

Bosch ECUs are entirely different. My guess is Ryan @Boomgear just wasn't aware of what's in the V6 ECU when it was mentioned about cloning.

It's funny you are assuming Ryan only deals with Emira and AMG, but in fact his knowledge in JDM are much deeper.

 

[675430VME]

The difference is they are cloning to old ecus (I believe Mercedes 2022 and below model years that use the m139 engine) that are unlockable by the Mercedes tuning community. The cloning seems to be getting around the lock that Mercedes places on Lotus. Once cloned you can potentially have Weistec flash with their maps or any other Mercedes tuner

There will always be some naysayers no matter what so just save your breath.

Remember Ryan could have kept this secret (I never said it is rocket science but hey nobody thought of this approach) and charge a huge fee for oversea buyers, but instead he is willing to share how it can be done so the Emira platform can grow together as a whole.

 

[675430VME]

Makes sense, but here's the problem. Superficially, going to an older ECU isn't ideal. Just think laptops or other electronics. There's a reason the technology evolves. I'm guessing running an older ECU, probably has a lot of unknowns (but maybe not...).

Ideally, we'd want someone to clone a brand new "blank" ECU with an updated map. In any case, I hope using the older ECUs work out for whoever gets them and maybe eventually someone figures out how to do this with "newer" hardware (i.e., a current new spare ECU).

Sure, let's wait another five more years...

 

[Milk242]

Makes sense, but here's the problem. Superficially, going to an older ECU isn't ideal. Just think laptops or other electronics. There's a reason the technology evolves. I'm guessing running an older ECU, probably has a lot of unknowns (but maybe not...).

Ideally, we'd want someone to clone a brand new "blank" ECU with an updated map. In any case, I hope using the older ECUs work out for whoever gets them and maybe eventually someone figures out how to do this with "newer" hardware (i.e., a current new spare ECU).

Newer Mercedes ecus have not been cracked yet by the Mercedes tuning community so you would have to wait until that happens.

 

[F1 SML8R]

There will always be some naysayers no matter what so just save your breath.

Remember Ryan could have keep this secret (I never say it is rocket science but hey nobody thought of this approach) and charge a huge fee for oversea buyers, but instead he is willing to share how it can be done so the Emira platform can grow together as a whole.

I don' think anyone is being a naysayer (i'm certainly not). People are simply calling out the details. Like I said, I'm rooting for anyone and everyone that can get this solved. I'm even rooting for the few that might get the older ecu clone.

However, I'm also saying, people should understand what's being done. If you do, then you will understand why most others aren't doing this (i.e., older ECUs likely harder to come by?). Again, the bench cloning approach has been around forever, but all tuners in the US did it on blank new spare ECU's or they found how to get past security features and cloned the OE. Sounds like this latter approach, still isn't possible and likely why no one else is pursuing Ryan's older ECU approach. I will say, backtesting older ECU's was clever. Not sure I've heard of that before.

In any case, good luck to any and all, people want it solved for sure!

 

[VF Tuner]

It's funny you are assuming Ryan only deals with Emira and AMG, but in fact his knowledge in JDM are much deeper.

It was just an assumption, because I can say with certainty that "cloning" the V6 ECU makes no sense and doesn't fix the "non-tuneability" of the V6 ECU.


The mercedes ECU cloning and BMW cloning (AKA Bosch MED ECU cloning) is nothing new. This is how FEMTO and others get around new BMW ECUs that are untuneable.

The v6 ECU is not bosch whatsoever.

I literally have a V6 ECU on my desk that I've already cracked...
Wanna see the maps?

I'm not saying this to be arrogant whatsoever. I want to push the platform like everyone else, although we get criticized much more than any other vendor... . I'm hoping to say this now so people don't rush out wasting money trying to buy an ECU and sending it off somewhere.


We'd also be happy to provide you guys i4 ECU services here stateside, we will even warranty it. Tuning on the i4 was always going to be better than the V6. I said this before that the i4 and that merc ECU has *way* more potential than the v6.

Older Merc M139 ECUs shouldn't be too hard to come by, however they may not be too cheap.

 

[VF Tuner]

I don’t blame you for not mentioning it after reading through the thread of the supercharger lid

Emira guys are a tough crowd.
we've been called snake oil salesmen, liars, etc etc etc.

 

[dbjames]

Where exactly is the ECU on the i4 to remove - is the location the same as V6? Thanks

 

[VF Tuner]

Where exactly is the ECU on the i4 to remove - is the location the same as V6? Thanks

if you open the rear hatch, its the big shiny silver rectangle with many black wires on it. Right at the top under the cover. Super easy to get to

 

[F1 SML8R]

Specifically, top left corner and sitting on top of the air filter. It actually has to be removed (unscrewed and set to the side really) to swap out the air filter.

 

[docron]

 

[VF Tuner]

Question for you guys, would you guys be interested if we communicate with boomgear, see if we can collaborate and we will offer this for you guys stateside?
We will get the ECUs, cloning, do the whole service for you and make it easy + warranty it.
I'd see this as a win for everyone. Since I know that shipping to and from china is actually very difficult. We have a few companies we work with in China and shipping stuff into china can be a big hassle.

 

[Milk242]

Question for you guys, would you guys be interested if we communicate with boomgear, see if we can collaborate and we will offer this for you guys stateside?
We will get the ECUs, cloning, do the whole service for you and make it easy + warranty it.
I'd see this as a win for everyone. Since I know that shipping to and from china is actually very difficult. We have a few companies we work with in China and shipping stuff into china can be a big hassle.

Yea I’d be interested but I still need to get through break in procedure. I still got 800 miles to go

 

[VF Tuner]

Yea I’d be interested but I still need to get through break in procedure. I still got 800 miles to go

you can get through that in a day! LoL. I remember a good friend of mine driving his Nismo Z 900 miles in one day just to do that hahaha

 

[Rapture]

Emira guys are a tough crowd.
we've been called snake oil salesmen, liars, etc etc etc.

Actually, for the most part, one thing I've enjoyed about this forum community is that generally people have been nice to each other and trying to help/benefit the platform. There are a few threads where folks have become a bit snarky but it's not the norm IMO. I was not a fan of some of the comments directed at you when it's pretty clear you are trying to provide significant enhancements. I've participated in other auto forums where people are jerks most of the time.

I'm looking forward to what you offer in this ECU space and realize that may take some time.