Part 3: The Quest for the Perfect Tune

[69Mach390]

Extend the ASG wiring harness to reach into the left side lower storage compartment and make an ECU holder that slots in there. That way it will be possible to swap out the controller for stock one without having to disassemble stuff every time.

Of course if the dealer has to go in the trunk then they will find that whole contraption but for general servicing and so on, they won't.

I want that thing.

Would another option be to create some sort of flap/door in the trunk lining to access easier?

Sponsored

 

[prj]

I want that thing.

Would another option be to create some sort of flap/door in the trunk lining to access easier?

That would have to be a massive flap, and on the CT the liner is made of hard material, as it's more structural, so that's a non starter.

I think extending the harness is the way to go:

Marc has gotten started on modelling the connector, then we probably need a small PCB and then pot the entire thing, and make the harness.

I don't think in limited quantities this will be particularly cheap per unit, I'll consider it a sucess if we can manage to keep that under $300 and very glad if it turns out to be around $200.
Of course if we ordered a big run of them from China then it would be a LOT cheaper, with the current volume we'll probably have to 3D print and hand assemble everything in the USA, which has the pricetag to match.

 

[69Mach390]

That would have to be a massive flap, and on the CT the liner is made of hard material, as it's more structural, so that's a non starter.

I think extending the harness is the way to go:

Marc has gotten started on modelling the connector, then we probably need a small PCB and then pot the entire thing, and make the harness.

I don't think in limited quantities this will be particularly cheap per unit, I'll consider it a sucess if we can manage to keep that under $300 and very glad if it turns out to be around $200.
Of course if we ordered a big run of them from China then it would be a LOT cheaper, with the current volume we'll probably have to 3D print and hand assemble everything in the USA, which has the pricetag to match.

Would a low tech version just be an extension harness and some Velcro to hold it in place? The unit itself doesn’t seem super fragile and it’s pretty light.

 

[Mr.Smith]

That would have to be a massive flap, and on the CT the liner is made of hard material, as it's more structural, so that's a non starter.

I think extending the harness is the way to go:

Marc has gotten started on modelling the connector, then we probably need a small PCB and then pot the entire thing, and make the harness.

I don't think in limited quantities this will be particularly cheap per unit, I'll consider it a sucess if we can manage to keep that under $300 and very glad if it turns out to be around $200.
Of course if we ordered a big run of them from China then it would be a LOT cheaper, with the current volume we'll probably have to 3D print and hand assemble everything in the USA, which has the pricetag to match.

Count me in on this

 

[prj]

Would a low tech version just be an extension harness and some Velcro to hold it in place? The unit itself doesn’t seem super fragile and it’s pretty light.

The lions share of the expenses is labour for the loom and creating the custom connector.
Making a slot-in frame that locks into place is cheap, I'd say under 30$, it's literally a couple sticks arranged in a particular fashion with a slot where you can click in the ECU.

But sure, some Velcro stuck to the back of the unit would work in a pinch as well, but I don't really see the point when you can do it properly and it doesn't add much expense.

Ironically your reaction shows very well how the customer sees a frame and thinks THAT is expensive, but a bunch of wires is seen as cheap - it makes even more sense to do the frame then, as the customer feels that they are getting more for their money

Unfortunately custom connector and then terminating like 50 wires to it is what is going to be $$$ unless it's mass produced in China, but we're never going to have that volume, I don't see myself ordering like 1000 units of that (which would be needed to drive cost price sub $50), that said I do expect to hit 1000 cars tuned by MapEV in the not very far future, but I think only a fraction of the customers will go for the extension loom.

We are definitely going to work on it though. Much more relevant for the sport- and cross-turismo customers. It still takes me around 20 minutes to swap the ECU on my CT and I've done it over 20 times. All the little clips and having to take care of them and then re-aligning the trunk seal each time just takes time. Plus on the CT you have the additional torx and the speaker cover.

 

[69Mach390]

The lions share of the expenses is labour for the loom and creating the custom connector.
Making a slot-in frame that locks into place is cheap, I'd say under 30$, it's literally a couple sticks arranged in a particular fashion with a slot where you can click in the ECU.

But sure, some Velcro stuck to the back of the unit would work in a pinch as well, but I don't really see the point when you can do it properly and it doesn't add much expense.

Ironically your reaction shows very well how the customer sees a frame and thinks THAT is expensive, but a bunch of wires is seen as cheap - it makes even more sense to do the frame then, as the customer feels that they are getting more for their money

Unfortunately custom connector and then terminating like 50 wires to it is what is going to be $$$ unless it's mass produced in China, but we're never going to have that volume, I don't see myself ordering like 1000 units of that (which would be needed to drive cost price sub $50), that said I do expect to hit 1000 cars tuned by MapEV in the not very far future, but I think only a fraction of the customers will go for the extension loom.

We are definitely going to work on it though. Much more relevant for the sport- and cross-turismo customers. It still takes me around 20 minutes to swap the ECU on my CT and I've done it over 20 times. All the little clips and having to take care of them and then re-aligning the trunk seal each time just takes time. Plus on the CT you have the additional torx and the speaker cover.

Ah that makes sense. Didn’t realize the connector/wires used a custom/unique setup.

And I have zero interest in splicing 50 wires with longer wire!

 

[Emm]

I'd go for this solution as well — I have already made a switch once for a service visit, and since I don't do it myself (I visit a local shop for help), it takes both time and costs money every time I need to leave the car at the PC for service/upgrades/repair.

 

[okkotonushi]

I go for this solution as well. Put me on the list

 

[2ManyCodes]

Interested as well.

 

[freinando]

Not sure if captured somewhere, but, say you want to take the car to the dealership for a fault you want them to check. You swap back to the original ASG, but then have to clear the codes because swapping generates a few engine control errors logged (lost comm to accelerator pedal module, low voltage, etc) you prolly don’t want them to see (my assumption). But that means the fault you want checked is gone because you can’t clear only those specific DTCs, it needs to be a global clear. How do you deal with such scenario?

 

[prj]

Not sure if captured somewhere, but, say you want to take the car to the dealership for a fault you want them to check. You swap back to the original ASG, but then have to clear the codes because swapping generates a few engine control errors logged (lost comm to accelerator pedal module, low voltage, etc) you prolly don’t want them to see (my assumption).

1. Plug the plugs in order of Black, Blue, Gray and there are very few DTC generated if the car was asleep at the moment of the exchange.
2. The lost errors happen even on a bone stock Taycan so they are not indicative of anything.

But that means the fault you want checked is gone because you can’t clear only those specific DTCs, it needs to be a global clear. How do you deal with such scenario?

Just don't clear them, that's what I did in conjunction with the above and it was fine.

 

[GTkarr]

https://newsroom.porsche.com/en/202...gt-manthey-kit-record-nordschleife-42424.html

“For the first time, the Manthey Kit also includes adjustments to the powertrain: optimisations to the high-voltage battery, control unit and pulse inverters increase the maximum discharge current while driving from 1,100 to 1,300 amps.”

Wondering if they gimped the power of the Turbo GT from the factory so they can sell their kit with “full power”.

 

[Mr.Smith]

https://newsroom.porsche.com/en/202...gt-manthey-kit-record-nordschleife-42424.html

“For the first time, the Manthey Kit also includes adjustments to the powertrain: optimisations to the high-voltage battery, control unit and pulse inverters increase the maximum discharge current while driving from 1,100 to 1,300 amps.”

Wondering if they gimped the power of the Turbo GT from the factory so they can sell their kit with “full power”.

I was just going to ask about this 1300amps as well.
I've confirmed it's all software related

 

[whitex]

I was just going to ask about this 1300amps as well.
I've confirmed it's all software related

How did you confirm it is software only? It could require changing out battery pyro fuse for example - similar to how Tesla sold the Ludicrous upgrade for P85D, where battery had to come out, new fuse had to be installed, then software limits were changed. Just changing the software on a P85D would probably blow the non-resettable pyro fuse on your first 100% SoC launch.

 

[Mr.Smith]

How did you confirm it is software only? It could require changing out battery pyro fuse for example - similar to how Tesla sold the Ludicrous upgrade for P85D, where battery had to come out, new fuse had to be installed, then software limits were changed. Just changing the software on a P85D would probably blow the non-resettable pyro fuse on your first 100% SoC launch.

The spokesperson for Taycan told me.

It could be what is being done through the ASG upgrade

Sponsored