For a few months, I've been looking for an ECU upgrade especially after I got the Fabspeed 200 cell cats. I couldn't really decide on the Softronics, GIAC or Evomsit. They all seem equally good and priced similar where Softronics seems to be an easy DYI upgrade and popular. I have friends with both Softronics and GIAC, they all like their own.

Anyways yesterday, I saw a new sponsor popped up “ECU Tuning Group” or ETG, and specializing in ECU high performance upgrades only. I’d clicked onto their site to take alook myself; did some light reading and saw a few dyno reports; but not on the 997, yet. I couldn’t find much on them with google; with only a few reviews but they said they are established and have been doing mostly high-end dealers and tuners work in the LA area for years. After that, I send them an email, requesting some more info on the upgrades and my concerns. I wasn’t even sure if they were the “send in your ECU” type or the “laptop flashing” type or upgrades. The quick email reply I got was “Is it ok that I call you?” from Jags, the owner of ETG!

He called and we spoke on the phone for a while, telling me, the company’s background, what customers and dealers they work with and how they are different but not bashing any other products at all. They upgrade all sort of exotic and super exotic cars then refer me to check ETG out with the owners of the two elite tuning shops in my area which I personally know plus a bunch of top shops’ name in LA, of course, that I didn’t know. I asked “How come I never heard of your company?” He said “We never did forum ads until now and always just servicing their local customers, exotic dealers’ and tuner shops’ oem work.” He also said “He will not hide behind an email and that I could contact him directly.” He seems like a stand up, no BS type of guy.

Any LA guys around and upgraded from the car dealers, tuners or direct from ETG?

So (Why not?) after some thought, I decide to give it a try and hopefully beat out some of my other friends on the tracks next season. As a bonus, with my Bosch ECU, he could have his local guy (in my area) to upgrade my Carrera S’ ECU right at my house. Appointment is next week…

I’ll let you guys know how it went and what I think after. Cheers!

 

Mikli,

Will look forward to your review. The claims seem a little far fetched but I hope it works out.

thanks for keeping us in the loop.

 

Just completed the ECU tuning this morning.

My local ETG rep arrived 10 min earlier to my house to start the upgrade appointment. After he setup his bench and everything else, he explained that he will remove the Bosch ECU unit from my car and perform a bench flash upgrade. I’d asked him about the OBD port upgrades; he explained that this was the best way to do it, right at the ECU. He took off his shoes, climbed in and started working right away. He carefully removed the Bose, all the bolts and the covers to access the ECU. From the bench, the ECU was hooked up to his computer via an adaptor and read the original file info then was send to ETG’s head office. We chatted and waited for about 30 min for the file to come back to us. The new software is loaded back to the ECU, reassembled and reinstalled everything back to the car. He starting the car and did some more testing and an OBD scan. No CEL, codes or problems. He said the ECU will take about 100 miles for it to learn the car, new program and will perform even better.

We went for a test drive, came back, shook hands and went back to my office. The whole process was about 2.5 hours. (Longer for a cab because of the ECU location)

Nothing wrong so far and my review:

1) Feel smooth, more powerful and pull through the rpm range in all gears.
2) The car feels lighter than before, maybe because of the increased power.
3) Power comes earlier at 2500 rpm then after 3000 rpm
4) Idle smooth and cruising speeds in 5th or 6th are normal
5) I feel confident and safe about this ECU tuning.
6) A plus to have a local guy for the good service! I am happy so far!

Thanks Jags and George!

I’ll update again after 100 miles or so. Here are some photos during the install but not much to see. : ) But I know photos are always good.

 

If you know the owners of two elite tuners in your area why didn't you use one of them to do the tune your car ?

 

I'd rather buy from the source, wouldn't you? They both use this company and call it their "In house tuning" and charge extra.

 

thanks for the update....like to hear more once you reach 100 miles

 

Curious.. Did you dyno your car before the reflash?

 

Nope, I didn't want to pay any extra. I definitely feel the extra power. The car feels like to pushing me to go faster. I'm feathering the gas to stay within the speed limit. It is definitely different.

 

Some is asking me about the prices. Check out the price list on their site and their 6speedonline special ending this week. Btw I have softronics on my Boxster S but this upgrade cost less and I feel more of an improvement.

 

Thanks for the kind words! Glad you're loving the tune.

 

There is not much info on the site. What is the claimed HP gain for a C2 or C2S? Is it documented?

 

Gains achieved from both the 3.6 and 3.8 engines are 22-24hp & 16lbs tq.

As of the moment, we do not have the dyno sheet available.

In comparison, here is a dyno sheet from our 996 3.6.

 

Hi,

Any dyno sheets available yet? I see you will be in the Tri-State area, any chance of you visiting the Washington, DC area?

Thanks.

 

Hi,

How has the car been treating you 1 month later? How many miles have you put on it since?

Thanks.

 

Ok. I've put on about 200 miles since the upgrade. No problem at all, all gear start ups are smooth without shaking what so ever (those who experienced this know what I'm talking about). Power is great and no hesitations. I've try the Sport button and it still work great. I can feel the difference between the modes. My fuel consumption is now lower by 1.8 MPG.

I'm happy so far and it's the best dollar I'd spend on the Carrera.