SCT vs LME

nickwalter4 · April 02, 2016, 10:27:15 AM

So as they're local to me, i went and checked out LME, amazing top-notch facility, but most of the work i want to do i can do myself i was more interested in their tuning there was a post from about a year ago on here that never had any resolution on who can edit more parameters and whatever whatever. I know i will need to tune my computer to make the most of my DPs i have on the way, I just can't decide.

LME is local so thats a plus, but their tuner doesn't do much but set and forget, it holds 4 tunes and cost 600 with an option to update if i make future mods included in the price.

SCT X4 i can pick up for just over 400, probly less if i do enough digging. It will log data if i want it to (i probably won't), and display parameters from the pcm on a nice large screen. I like to tinker and I'm leaning towards SCT but
the "we will update your tune if you decide to throw on a catback or bigger turbos" from LME is also nice but i think? some places do this if you get the SCT from them.. LME definitely knows their stuff, but the little two line dot matrix mycal flasher they have, im just not sure warrants the extra $200.. them being local if something were to go wrong i could see being priceless.

other options? opinions? is the "less flashy flasher" worth the extra $200?. i can't decide so i'm asking here.

AJP turbo · April 02, 2016, 10:40:23 AM

There isnt really any extra tuning to do based on having down pipes...maybe you could more safely add another pound or two of boost

There will never be a way to tell which software has more functionality.....i do know that there is nothing that cant be done with sct and advantage software....lms used to claim that they could do things with mycal that other companies couldnt...id say that was likely due to inexperienced tuners as the ecoboost and speed density tuning was a new concept

I have seen data in a couple livernois logs that left me scratching my head and seemed to be odd on how the throttle was closing at wot when u clearly dont want that....not sure if it was a lack of understanding or lack of functionality...may never know or get an honest answer....i do personally know how easy it is to give an answer to sway someone or some people that dont know how to tune or havent seen software...based on what tuners have told me in the past before i now know what i know

Dont sweat sct or lms...plenty of good examples of both...you wont need to tinker much with your sct tune..not much you will need or want to do

BiGMaC · April 02, 2016, 01:47:23 PM

ajp's analysis is spot on...Disregarding the fact that the quickest and most powerful SHOs on the planet are tuned by LMS... (Custom dyno tunes, which you could have being close).... The changes they made for my DPs did make a noticeable difference in performance. They have also made minor tweaks I asked them to do... Fan settings to decrease noise, etc.

Bottom line... It's a personal decision based on your vision of the car and what you want to do as its owner...

If you want to datalog and tweak a lot... Go SCT... Livernois (Dan Millen) does not modify his tunes for data logs sent from a distance as policy. Torre at Unleashed will.

If you want to drive your car mostly, getting 95% of what it will do... Then go MyCal....it's a personal choice based on what you want to do... My 0-60 is sub 4 sec on a "canned" tune from LMS and I don't race. With a custom dyno tune done at LMS... And they will give you great one that way which will be safe for a DD as well as a hot one that they tell you will likely break the car in relatively short time if you use it other than at the races... But you can't tweak it.

A thought on tuning in general: The 3.5TT GDI has a lot of head room... But we all know there is an undefined point where tuning exceeds the engineering parameters of the car and its drivetrain... And even within those parameters ...the hotter we run, the more stress and wear we put on the components. I love being tuned... We all love our tuners... And we all have different reasons for choosing the one we did.... So you decide.

panther427 · April 02, 2016, 02:29:28 PM

I have two small points to add. Unleashed is not picky about what water meth kit you choose to add to your car. LMS basically only supports the version of w/m kits they sell.

The second point is that if you get an unleashed tune its really worth your time to do at least a few data logs and revisions to the tune. The one you get at first is a mild safe tune.

nickwalter4 · April 02, 2016, 03:29:06 PM

I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with SCT, that's what I was set on before I checked out the facility. The price is better, I can use it to monitor boost or a/f until I get some guages, and with the comment about LME being picky about wmi, I've done some research on wmi kits as well where I know if I decide to run that sometime down the road I'm about 97% sure I'll go with a snow kit. Who is this torrie? Does he/she offer the 'I'll change/tweak your tune after future mods" ?

panther427 · April 02, 2016, 04:42:30 PM

Torrie is the guy that runs unleashed. He was and still is doing unlimited tune revisions I believe. So any time you add something like the 3 bar sensor. Thermostat ect. He will adjust your tune.
As a bonus he usually has freaky fast tune turn around time. Same hour. Sometimes in under 30 minutes.

Either way your getting knowledgeable people handling the tune.

nickwalter4 · April 05, 2016, 07:50:00 PM

just accurred to me.. has anyone verified either platform on a 16?. last i read about was sct on a 14. that could very easily sway my decision if one won't work and the other will.

FoMoCoSHO · April 05, 2016, 08:03:43 PM

Nick, have you posted any pics of your bronze fire sport?

I haven't seen one yet and I've become a big fan of BFM.

nickwalter4 · April 05, 2016, 08:12:49 PM

Quote from: FoMoCoSHO on April 05, 2016, 08:03:43 PM
Nick, have you posted any pics of your bronze fire sport?

I haven't seen one yet and I've become a big fan of BFM.

i made a post after I dropped the fascia to install my hellas.
http://www.ecoboostperformanceforum.com/index.php/topic,5971.msg93835.html#msg93835

and this when she was new.

AJP turbo · April 05, 2016, 08:36:28 PM

Im not a fan of suv's or fords..even though i own 2.....but that color is sweet and im really starting to like the xsports.....if torrie has the strategy then im going to go out on a limb and say you will be fine

FoMoCoSHO · April 05, 2016, 08:39:54 PM

Quote from: AJP turbo on April 05, 2016, 08:36:28 PM
Im not a fan of suv's or fords..even though i own 2.....but that color is sweet and im really starting to like the xsports.....if torrie has the strategy then im going to go out on a limb and say you will be fine

BFM changes alot depending on lighting.

nickwalter4 · April 05, 2016, 08:41:49 PM

Quote from: FoMoCoSHO on April 05, 2016, 08:39:54 PM
Quote from: AJP turbo on April 05, 2016, 08:36:28 PM
Im not a fan of suv's or fords..even though i own 2.....but that color is sweet and im really starting to like the xsports.....if torrie has the strategy then im going to go out on a limb and say you will be fine
BFM changes alot depending on lighting.

most of the time mine looks like a brownish or almost purple. love when the sun hits it though.

Ryan02Stang · June 03, 2016, 08:23:12 PM

I went with SCT from Unleashed and couldn't be happier so far. Torrie seems to respond to emails very quickly, which definitely gives me peace of mind....

nickwalter4 · June 04, 2016, 07:19:22 PM

I'm about 94% sure I'm going with the x4. I have plugs, a 170 t-Stat and 3-bar MAP to go with it sitting in a box. Waiting on the funds to be right that's all.