MS noob: MS2x w/VVT box - gains vs. cost ratio going to MS3x ??
 

My 2002 motor is still down and will be for a while as it gets built with rods, pistons etc. I currently have Rev. built MS2x and then I ordered the VVT Tuner box a little while after. Motor blew a little after that again (wasn't satisfied at 12psi on a 2560 - oops)

I know if I sell my MS2x with VVT tuner and upgrade to MS3x that it'll cost me a few hundred. I'm primarily concerned with a reliable running stable ECU and not sure the new features will be required. I am intrigued by the VVT controller being inside the box instead of a separate external card and case.

Sorry for the noob question but I'm trying to compare the cost vs. benefits of doing this and I don't know enough about the new unit. Then again I never had a long time with the old unit. I would love to leave a tablet connected permanently for tuning instead of a laptop but I haven't researched port requirements and that's nor a huge factor.

Opinions for the unlearned?

Two seperate interfaces for tuning sucks, but it's livable. Once you determine the prime VVT table, it doesn't change so you get to set-it and forget it. I still have my severe sync-loss problem with MS2 but there is nothing I can do about it so I just live with it, and it's not bad per say. MS3 makes it much easier and that's the route I'm going on my track car.

It depends on the nature of the car. For daily drivers with a lot of A/C, I still prefer the MS2 over the MS3. In fact, I still have an MS2 on my personal car.

Really? Whats better about the A/C controls on the ms2e vs the ms3x?

Hmm, I do like the point of just leaving it as and not spending any time or money removing and selling aquiring a new one, especially this year. True I just have to set up the VVT once and it's done for a long while. Is the sync. error local to your indivudual box or an MS2x global thing ?
I am trying no A/C and P/S this year so that portion of feature is no longer a huge concern. Money is running out doing a full build. I am assuming correctly that MS3x is about $900 right now and I might be able to get $700 for my old box ??
I can't even remember what safeguards I have now and or would get with an upgrade path. Don't I have knock protection with my curent MS2x ?? It's been 2 years since I drove the car and I've been hunting for engine/chassis parts and haven't studied my MS for a while so I'm weak in that area.

Lots of things...

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1363973614

The MS2 also has a configurable idleup depending on engine temp.

its like 800+shipping for the cool new one that rev just came out with.
ms3 has some nifty new features over ms2 (I LOVE that they did away with the stupid serial-only connection and use usb now) the seperate afr map for idle, integrated vvt, and other nifty new features, etc.

However, if your ms2 works good for you now, and you dont wanna go through the hassle of removing and re-installing and dont wanna pay the extra cash, my honest opinion would be to just leave everything as is and give it a shot tuning with both.

I don't like the added wiring and complexity of using the vvt tuner seperate, but its probably not a big deal.

I'd definitely try it using what you have now and only switch later if you don't like it.

What about those vids you and y8s posted of how awesome ms3 idles your cars, etc.

Is it not as awesome as you both made it seem, or is ms2 EVEN better yet?
Kinda surprises me that an older MS would have a superior feature over a newer one. I dunno

+1 for AC idle on my daily. It's unbelievably good for stand-alone, passable as OEM usually.

I can't idle my car with A/C so good on the MS3 as on the MS2. Or to put it in other words, every single day and night, the A/C works flawlessly on the MS2. On the MS3, you may get it right as some point, but it won't be that good say after two hours, or while the car is still on warmup.

Btw I've never posted an MS3 vid of my own (or any other) car.

Guess that was with MS2. Bummer.
Hopefully ms3 won't be too bad. I use ac a lot.