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[phil242]

Hi,

I've been reading a lot around several forums about ECU exchange for the Mini SPI.
I have some knowledge in computer and digital electronic, but I look like a newbie regarding the mechanical questions. I would like start a topic for doing the good choice before buying a wrong ECU.

After compiling all my notes, I've kept 2 ECUs: VEMS and the UMS.

I'm trying to do a sort of "pros & cons":

VEMS pros:

• Old and well known project, reliability proven
• Big user community
• Open source software running on the ECU
• Electronic board designed look like other automotive PCB

VEMS cons:

• Not plug'n'play for the SPI engine
• The enter ticket to the VEMS programing & tuning look like high due to it numerous versatile functions

UMS pros:

• Designed by Mini addicts people
• Dedicated plug'n'play ECU, ready to run & tune
• Easy to jump in the tuning job

UMS cons:

• Young project
• Small user community
• Closed source system, ECU is seen as a "black-box".
• Electronic design look like a DIY project (reliability question)

About the 3 cars where the ECU should go: 2 cars are stage 3 head, big valve, kent & swiftune camshaft, removed catalyser. My next car (need to finish the agreement with the seller) is a simple stage 1 & removed catalyser (but it'll maybe change!). The fastroad configuration is the target, we do not planned to do lane machine.

I know some people here involved in the injection side. My goal is not to criticism a project, but is only to do the righ choice.

Feel free to said me if I following the good way, if I forget something etc.

Thanks,

Phil

PS: I'm fench, it's sometime hard for me to do find the good words