Until just a couple of days ago, I was unaware that there were any piggyback tuning options available for the car. I like the idea of a piggyback on a potentially unreliable car far more than shipping the ECUs out for flashing and this car needs more power, so I need one ASAP. hah. Is anyone using one of those options? I was about to pull the trigger at DTE/chiptuning.com with a claimed +50hp, but it seems that TDI Tuning also has a similar offering and are showing +80hp gains. Thoughts? Reviews?
Anyone using piggy back tuning options?
Hocky
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I agree with all of the above:grin2:
Winters are tough though, so leaving for South FLA in 10 days......
Hey there, Giulia QV owners! Did you all happen to see, very shortly here in February, that Madness Autoworks is releasing an “Engine Control Module” for the QV?! I am pretty excited about it myself, as I have been very pleased with Madness and their quality products and overall dedication to Alfa Romeo aftermarket parts and service. Here is a link to the module, which, in essence, is a piggyback tune:
https://madnessautoworks.com//alfa-...ulia-quadrifoglio-qv-29l-engine-control-module-maxpower-pro-by-madness-pid11001
I inquired with Madness on a private message using this forum, and I was able to speak at length over the phone with the Sales Manager here in SoCal at their Signal Hill location. He was great and spent time going over with me the module and its expectations. Sounds like up to +80hp and potentially even more torque can be generated with this tune. Since my pride and joy, a 2017 QV, is out of warranty come January 2022, I thought this may be a great add-on in the interim. Anyways, just wanted to share and ask if anybody else had done any research on this unit.
I do know there are some great ECU upgrades out there, and I simply wanted to share what I had read and learned regarding this Madness option. Thanks for your time, and be safe out there (but have a blast in the driver’s seat)!
https://madnessautoworks.com//alfa-...ulia-quadrifoglio-qv-29l-engine-control-module-maxpower-pro-by-madness-pid11001
I inquired with Madness on a private message using this forum, and I was able to speak at length over the phone with the Sales Manager here in SoCal at their Signal Hill location. He was great and spent time going over with me the module and its expectations. Sounds like up to +80hp and potentially even more torque can be generated with this tune. Since my pride and joy, a 2017 QV, is out of warranty come January 2022, I thought this may be a great add-on in the interim. Anyways, just wanted to share and ask if anybody else had done any research on this unit.
I do know there are some great ECU upgrades out there, and I simply wanted to share what I had read and learned regarding this Madness option. Thanks for your time, and be safe out there (but have a blast in the driver’s seat)!
Did this piggyback really need 2 units for the QV, or does one connect to all the sensors? Any pictures of the wiring, plugs, etc. that come with the TMC box? There is basically 0 information around on this box specific to the QV it seems.
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When we were first doing development for a QV piggyback, we were using a dual-box setup with two harnesses - that's just what was necessary at the time with the two ECUs. Eventually we were able to consolidate that to one harness.
Since late last year, we've been able to offer a consolidated single box, single harness setup.
Short answer: at one point, this piggyback did need two units for the QV.
Hoooper, if you'd like, send me an email and I can forward you over the install .pdf for our piggyback, if you'd like to check out the process.
Thanks for the offer. I've read through the madness install and that's the one I would prefer to get but I just can't bring myself to spend almost $900 after tax and shipping on a piggyback tuner. Any coupons or sales planned in the future?
Hey, who doesn't like to save money? But man, ~80 hp for $900 isn't a bad deal, IMO. Easy/cheap power with turbo cars has us all spoiled!
I certainly cant argue with you there. The issue for me is that at that price point youre up to where ECU flash tunes start and in my experience its a no brainer that if youre going to pay the same amount youre better off with a flash tune.
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DM'ed!
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The price is getting close to an ECU swap, but the ease of removal on the piggyback is worth something as well.
Also, don’t need to remove the ECU, mail it, wait for it, not drive in the meantime, get it back, reinstall......
If your getting clone ECU’s they are closer to $4000 not $900.
I will see where the ECU technology and price are in 3 years when my warranty expires.
In the meantime, very happy with the Madness MaxPower Pro
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468 Posts
I believe Flash Tunes are around $1300 at a couple of sources. That said, the piggyback is 2/3rds that, doesn't involve pulling/installing the ECUs and currently holds the fastest QV 0-60, so depending on what you want out of the car, it's pretty viable and pretty reasonably priced. That said, I think that 10.75 quarter mile QV is a flash. 
Odds are, in a few years, more QVs will have been crashed and 2nd hand ECUs should come down in price... and a clone setup may be more viable.
Though it all comes back to the one question I've yet to hear answered. How come the dealer can flash my ECU but no one aftermarket can? I'm pretty sure they didn't pull my ECUs for the last update. I get that there's encryption involved, but when did that stop anyone? Pulling encryption keys out of memory on a running system is borderline common these days. Bribing someone with access to the keys is even more common. But I digress. I think my point was $900 for a piggyback vs. $1300 + time (every time you get a dealer flash update...) is pretty reasonable. All the way up until someone with an ECU flash crushes that 3.49 0-60, and suddenly the "value" for that $1300 flash goes up.
I love the fact that people are pretty exhaustively embracing all the options out there, as it allows the rest of us to make more informed decisions later.
Odds are, in a few years, more QVs will have been crashed and 2nd hand ECUs should come down in price... and a clone setup may be more viable.
Though it all comes back to the one question I've yet to hear answered. How come the dealer can flash my ECU but no one aftermarket can? I'm pretty sure they didn't pull my ECUs for the last update. I get that there's encryption involved, but when did that stop anyone? Pulling encryption keys out of memory on a running system is borderline common these days. Bribing someone with access to the keys is even more common. But I digress. I think my point was $900 for a piggyback vs. $1300 + time (every time you get a dealer flash update...) is pretty reasonable. All the way up until someone with an ECU flash crushes that 3.49 0-60, and suddenly the "value" for that $1300 flash goes up.
I love the fact that people are pretty exhaustively embracing all the options out there, as it allows the rest of us to make more informed decisions later.
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I brought in my QV for the distance controller recall today. It took me 20 min to uninstall the Madness unit. Driving around without it all day, the car felt slugish and like I needed to give it more gas to get going--both off the line and in the mid-range. It was raining all day so I didn't get to play with the top end to compare it to what I am now used to.
I just put my baby daughter to sleep and went straight to the garage to re-install it. Once you get use to the throttle response and its eagerness to go there is no going back. a word of caution though, when there is a traffic gap, make sure you have enough space before you punch it as it is like getting shot from a slingshot and you will be standing on the brakes when that bumper you thought was so far away is not right in front of you.
I sure a flash is slightly faster but for the increased throttle response and power, I am happy with my piggy-back as it is more power than can be reasonably used in spirited driving. Also, when the turbo hits it is a lot more harsh so if you are not looking for that "push you into your seat" acceleration, than it is not for you.
I just put my baby daughter to sleep and went straight to the garage to re-install it. Once you get use to the throttle response and its eagerness to go there is no going back. a word of caution though, when there is a traffic gap, make sure you have enough space before you punch it as it is like getting shot from a slingshot and you will be standing on the brakes when that bumper you thought was so far away is not right in front of you.
I sure a flash is slightly faster but for the increased throttle response and power, I am happy with my piggy-back as it is more power than can be reasonably used in spirited driving. Also, when the turbo hits it is a lot more harsh so if you are not looking for that "push you into your seat" acceleration, than it is not for you.
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has anyone tried fabspeed's option yet? I like them as a company and have lots of Porsche history with their products.
I ended up getting the Madness Maxpower pro, installed yesterday and about 50 miles on it so far. Not sure if there will be much of a difference between here and the end of the 80 mile (roughly) adjustment period but so far so good. Definitely the biggest gains are in the midrange, I would love to put it on a dyno and see what the comparisons are between the two but from seat of the pants the estimated gains of 80hp seem plausible. It does change the way the car builds power, its not quite as linear as it is stock since the midrange seems to come in stronger and presumably there arent as big of gains to be had up top. That might bother some, but Im coming from a diesel car with 600 lb ft at 2000 rpm so to me this still has a pretty linear power delivery.
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