$600 for used FM Link ecu a good deal?
 

Used FM Link for sale w/ a bunch of extra stuff. $600 a good price? I know MS is preferred now but isn't FM's support of the link helpful? For $600 bucks I could ditch my bandaids and have a supported ecu. PNP is important for me. Don't have the guts, knowledge or time to delve too deeply into MS.

Opinions of the Link unit? Price? Ease of use and installation? I'm just getting ready to install bipes and this came up. My 94 is a Daily driver and 1/2 dozen track days a year.

600 is a VERRY good deal, they are 1200 new! Its better than the MS, its a full standalone!

MS is a full standalone...

I'd still go MS. Link is getting outdated.

Yeah considering MS is strongly supported and we all use it. Link is past its prime, hence the hydra.

plus you can change options within the board, don't need to have a key pad, and with MS you can use a palm. SWEET

Can you remove the AFM with the Link?

Looking at FM's site it looks like the AFM can be removed.

600 dollars is a steal. Jump on that deal! The Link ECU is a very capable standalone with a strong user base.

I think the Link with Plink running on a Palm for datalog, tuning and realtime readout is a superb setup. What's the major differences between MS and the Link (at this price)? launch control? map sensor limit? Even though there's a growing MS/Miata user base, I don't think it compares to the support available for the Link.

The real question is what's included with the link? is it an FM link?

That's true. Make sure it's a FM Link and ask what's included. I bought my Link last year for $550. I think Links are still holding their value. This was by far the best deal I came across when building my kit. My deal included the ecu, keypad, injectors, AIT sensor and map sensor. I added the datalog lab, cleaned the injectors and updated the chipped for around 200 dollars more. This was money very well spent.

was it the 96 links that sucked?

I'm not sure. I do know they updated the Link board in 96-97 to a dual processor. I would assume it would make the Link faster. I also think there are a few more options with the 96-97 boards, but I don't know them off them off the top of my head.

It is an FM link. Just bought it. Has the keypad, 4 program chips, knocksensor, boost control, who knows what else. Looked like a reasonable deal on a supported item. FM doesn't get a lot of respect around here but their support of this item is a pretty big plus. Now I've gotta sell off my bandaids and find some bigger injectors.

that's a damn good deal for all that :bigtu:

That is a good deal for that capability

Of course now my install is more complicated. I liked how simple the bipes, fmu, o2 clamp was for install. More parts, more wires, more more more...

At least the ecu is pnp but now I've got to run the boost control, knock sensor, air intake temp sensor, etc. Should be much better long term though. Now I've just gotta find time to install all this crap. Better yet find someone else who could do some of it cheap.

tsk tsk tsk MS is truly PNP

Link is good the obiwan for the 96-97 cars is pretty robust. It is by far one of the easiest installs from what i have read right up there with a MSPNP. The 1.6 link isn't as powerfulll as a MS but it will get the job done none the less. Good job man.

I didn't care much for FM's support when they sent me a busted Link.

As far as install goes, both it and the MSPNP are pretty easy, but I'd give the edge to the MS as being easier. With the Link you have to dick with ecu pins, which is a PITA. Also the MS IAT sensor was easier to install, however the bung has to be welded. With the MS you also don't have to bust open the ecu case or any of that noise.

Capability wise the MS does more. The only place where I think the MS falters to the Link is idle valve activation integrated with A/C control. Not that the MS doesn't control A/C; it just has reactive ICV control vs the OEM and Link's proactive control. The Link also has the option for sequential fuel injection. Otherwise the MS is more configurable, programable, flexible.

The interface is far superior with the MS. It is all common sense, and you don't have to refer back to the manual to look up zone definitions every 3 seconds. The Link keypad is good/bad, but either computer can interface with a Palm anyway. The Link software suite is free to use, where the DLL software is (from memory) an extra $100 for the liscense. The MS also has an on board data connection, where the Link requires a seperate seriallink.

$600 is a good price for a whole used Link set up. I got $1000 for one that I sold (it was in a car I bought). I would still go for an MSPNP over a Link again. The MS is easier to tune and tweak, has extra Ins and Outs (link is maxed out) for additional capabilities, TPS input, and is completely configurable. The Link is only partly configurable.

The 94 unit I have is pnp for the ecu part. The tougher job is wiring/plumbing in an intake temp sensor, the boost controller and the knock sensor. I'm guessing this stuff is useful and recommended with the MS too. My budget build is now officially blown to hell but I went with quality stuff.
I'll have about $2200 into all the turbo parts including the 2.5" ss exhaust, race cat, injectors, gauges, etc. I figure a comparable FM system would be over double. Of course I could have been driving a pressurized car for the last 8 months instead of looking for parts.

Ben,

Yeah MS is the better system but this with all the sensors, controllers and (questionable) support was available for a reasonable price. I could have done better but this looked like a reasonable upgrade from running the bandaids I was going to use. If I ever sell this car the FM product will likely have better name recognition with the wine and cheesers.

I'd say it's a fantastic upgrade! The Link is Leaps and bounds better than your current setup. I'm not sure how you could have done better at that price. Some people spend that much and more on less capable systems. Once its installed and you learn how to tune your car, you'll appreciate this purchase a little more.