Another 2014 370Z Tuned with EcuTek by Sebastian at Specialty-Z
 

Just like Akurei, I also got an EcuTek tune from Sebastian at Specialty-Z. He tuned my car via data logging.

So here comes another effusive and enthusiastic review.

I must say that Seb is awesome. He is extremely knowledgeable, responds promptly to emails, and is passionate about what he does. I wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone who is interested in getting their car tuned.

I downloaded the EcuTek software to my computer on a Friday afternoon, and Seb sent me my first tune file on Sunday, which was a nice surprise. I proceeded to send him data logs, and he sent me an updated tune file within 48 hours. We went back and forth three times until he got the tune just right. Then he sent me three more tune files, each one having progressively more aggressive throttle mapping than the last. Finally, we decided on which maps I wanted to have launch control and traction control enabled.

The entire tuning experience was conducted almost exclusively via email (one phone call), and there was no miscommunication or delay whatsoever. I asked a lot of questions, and Seb was very patient with me, and he always provided me with the info I was seeking.

Seb is a great guy, and the whole team at Specialty-Z is top notch. I am extremely happy with my tune and the service I received.

So how does she drives? Have try out the features?

Well, I have only basic breather mods (catback exhaust and K&N drop-ins), so improving the throttle response was the primary reason for my wanting to get a tune.

The stock car seems to "fall on its face" when starting out from a dead stop. Plus, the lack of throttle response at low RPMs (1200 to 3000) makes it seem like your MAF sensors are dirty. Seb confirmed this by saying that the stock throttle map has quite a valley and is not linear at low RPMs.

So now the throttle response is greatly improved (and I can decide how aggressive I want it to be by changing the tune file). And because the AFR and timing are now optimized, I do feel the car accelerates with a bit more verve and less fuss. Before, in rolling acceleration, I could hear the exhaust getting louder, but the car was not accelerating at the rate I would have expected.

I have tried the launch control once in an empty parking lot, and it worked as advertised. I used 3600 RPM. There wasn't much wheelspin, but the acrid smell from the tires was a nice surprise.

The traction control's intervention point can be controlled via the cruise control toggle switch, and the setting can be viewed temporarily on the oil temperature gauge (higher temps = earlier intervention, and vice versa; 220 degrees is 50%), but I don't really want to mess with that on public roads.

All in all, the tune, much like many of the other mods I've done, makes the car feel the way Nissan should have built it in the first place. In my case, the tune is a relatively subtle change, yet it improves the overall drivability and predictability of the car markedly.

Seb is the man! I cant wait to switch to Ecutek

blake you still haven't switched ??

No still running Uprev I am waiting on a quote for flexfuel from Seb.

Ur gonna love it blake


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TerribleOne, Seb is on sick leave I was talking to him via email last Friday, he told me to contact jonathan to get a quote on the flexfuel kit.

OP, that's awesome! You use a laptop to switch the tunes?

Is there a limit to the number of tunes you get? It'd be nice to have a stock tune and a "valet" tune.

I just anniversaried on my uprev tune so it will be a while for me. He does recommend it over uprev now. Once I get everything else I want done then this will be next. The current tune should tide me over. I find it interesting how everything was done over the phone. Really cool. For a tune up call 818 ... .... Lol.

Yes, I use my laptop and the EcuTek cable to switch tune files. The process takes less than 5 minutes. It involves turning the ignition on and off a few times (not starting the car) in accordance with the on-screen prompts.

Some people have four maps on their tune, but they most likely live in areas where 93 octane pump gas is widely available. So they'll still have three maps for 93 octane, but they will have one additional map for 91 octane in case they drive somewhere and can't fill up with 93.

There is a back-to-stock tune file if you want to take the tune off the car (perhaps for engine-related warranty work). I did inquire about having a stock map along with the tuned maps, as that would offer a nice real-time comparison mechanism to highlight the differences, but EcuTek does not support this since the tune basically overwrites the ECU.

There is a valet map, but it is different from the UpRev valet map in that it does not limit RPM or vehicle speed directly right off the bat. My understanding is that the EcuTek valet map allows the car to be driven normally for the first 1 km, or .6 mile (EcuTek is based in the U.K.), and then the vehicle's speed is gradually reduced the farther the car is driven, to the point where it won't go faster than 2 mph after it travels 3 km or so. I'm not sure of the exact distance, but that's the gist of how it works.

Great review if you can say, about how much did it cost? I also have the k&n drop ins and catback.