I've recently acquired a full race turbo kit and will be putting it on my daily driver.

I will be running it with a GT3076R. I have a few parts to acquire such as the EMS and am still stuck! I have been researching and using the search here and on google to determine the best EMS but for some reason I can't get a definitive answer. I am on somewhat of a budget and don't have all the money to spend. I would personally rather give more money on a good tune than on an EMS.

Let me make this more simple. What are the differences between the V1 and V2 from AEM. And how is the Haltech different from the AEM V2?



So with that in mind, I've been looking at the Haltech Pro vs an AEM EMS v1 or v2. So with that obviously the V2 will triumph the V1, how does the V2 fare against the Haltech? And most importantly what are the nominal differences between the V1 and V2. I have called a shop around me and I was just told I should get the V2 with no real explanation...

Bottom line I will be running a street car and want to spend less money on an EMS and more on a tune. So would I miss out on a ton with a V1? I know about the coolant temp gauge not working and I will most likely buy the modifry fix. What else am I missing though?

 

First thing is you DONT want to skimp on the ems or the tune. I would find a tuner that is highly recommended in your local area and then go see him and let them know you want to purchase an ems...and ask him which one is the best. He will tell you the differences and which one would best fit your needs/application. He will also tell you to choose the one that he is most familiar with...which is a good thing.

I have had the ems v1 and now the v2. I have had zero issues with either and that would get my vote...seems most tuners have experience with AEM...they have been around for a while and they certainly know what they are doing. Also, they are coming out with if not already the new infinity ems for our cars....I have heard it is sweet!

Good luck with your choice and post up the numbers on your new FR kit...mine is being installed as i type.

 

do you have a tuner who will be tuning the car? if so you should see what they are more comfortable tuning your car on. If you don't have a tuner you should find one and then discuss some of the options with them. Don't want to buy a ems and not have anyone who cant tune it or doesn't feel they can do their best tuning your car

 

Not skimping as previously stated..... I already said I talked to a tuner and he didn't help me. He just wants me to buy the more expensive item, I don't really see how that is exactly beneficial to me. You have had a V1 and you have a V2. I wanted some explanation of the differences as I asked can you please provide this? Everywhere I read there is no definitive explanation.

Yes they all recommended the above stated EMS's.... I need a clarification between the differences of the EMS's.

 

i had v2 in my s2000 and v1 in my evo. I prefer the software for the V2 much more than the V1 and it seems a little easier to navigate thru. However you can scoop a V1 for much cheaper than a V2. I have no experience with the haltech.

Also, I am not sure where you live or what you are going to do about passing inspections but kpro is the only way to go and be worry free.


the MOST important part is choosing the tuner. It doesn't matter if you have a 1200$ AEM EMS or a 200$ Apexi A/FC, if your "toooooner" has no idea what he is doing your car is going to blow up or run like junk.


If they don't have at least 10+ (assuming its a small shop) S2000's successful turbo tunes with your specfic engine management system under their belt go somewhere else.

i Would have absolutely no problem driving 10+ hours for a reputable tuner to tune my car. Would you rather spend 300bucks in gas and $800 on a tune, or $4000 on a new bottom end, and that same $1000 for a new tune again?


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Seeing as I won't really be touching it as much I don't care about the software. It doesn't matter right? I have no need to plug in the serial link to my computer to look at data when I can't touch it. I am getting it tuned and thats that.

Do either of the EMS's support multiple maps?

I definitely agree with the reputable tuner logic. I am debating between AutoWave or Church here in SoCal.

I am in California so I can't even pass visual so I don't care about passing at all.

 

So V1 vs V2 differences ?

 

If you talked to your tuner and he wasn't helpful, then he probably shouldn't be your tuner. If he recommends "the most expensive" one, ask why. If he doesn't tell you, then walk. If he doesn't answer you now, then should you have problems down the road, he definitely won't be answering them then.

I know one difference between the two is that with version 1, the stock temp gauge didn't work and modfry make an inexpensive kit to correct this, but the version 2 software didn't need this.

As for being user friendly not meaning anything to you, you might be data logging more than you think. Should there be a problem or something you want to change, everyone is going to want to see logs. If you want a cheaper tune and if you aren't worried about absolute max power (since you seem to be okay with installing kit and never messing with it again) do an etune with Evans tuning. Send him logs, he tweaks them, repeat until done.

That's my $.02

 

Any of these EMS will work for what you need. The tuner you use is going to be the more important decision rather than the EMS.

 

V2 has more features. V1 is functional, but deprecated. Like others have mentioned, what does your tuner prefer?