flatso

How many are in the same boat as me? The car idles nice, has plenty of power, always starts quickly, never floods and I just got 22.7 mpg going to Mohegan Sun Casino.

I have an Aug build and I don't know what the M does but will it do anything better then this not doing that? Hmmmmmmm

mysql101

my car was made in december. i too had no problems, but upgraded to M anyway.

I don't see much diff in power or idle or anything else, but the car got 18.7mpg where the previous fillups had around 17.

6mm

I've heard too many stories to create my own opinion. I've not pursued the new flash - due to the conflicting and purely subjective opinions.

I do have the occassional difficult start, but a heavy right foot fixes that problem.

MPG I have not yet measured and don't much care.

SikRedRX-8

I have a way rougher idle with the new flash, but I also had it with the L flash. I do however have the new plugs, if that makes a difference. I have a july build date

Aratinga

I have a very early-build car... I bought her in July. I went ahead and had the M flash done since Mazda stated that all 8s should have it, not just those with "issues". My car always started easily, always idled smoothly, and ran great before the flash.

After the flash, everything's just as good if not better -- with the very minor exception of a slightly rougher idle. My boyfriend feels that she definitely has more pull through the gears than she did before, but I honestly can't say that for sure...but I don't drive her as hard as he does. I don't need the ticket!

I'm still waiting to see if my gas mileage improves... I haven't gone through a full tank yet since the flash.

mmmdowning

I think the changes are more noticale in the autos than in the MT. In the auto it corrected the rubber band feeling of winding up and then springing you forward. Now its a stead flow accelerated. I think its great. My mileage is the same at 21-22. I don't think the flash will effect your mileage.

flatso

I still wonder how much is real difference on these ECU updates and how much is the placebo effect. As it sounds like the change is subtle I am in no rush to get it.

SMigneco

I have a very early build car. Just got flashed last week from the original flash. Prior to the flash I would have to fill up between 180 & 190 miles. Now I am getting 230 per tank!

YEAH flash!

SikRedRX-8

I just took a road trip and was getting about 27-28 mpg. I got the flash like 2 days before the road trip. Before the flash I was getting under 200 miles on a full tank, and during the trip I got up to 380.

flatso

wow if that is true, and I have no reason to doubt you, that is fantastic mileage for a car of this type.

jtimbck2

Like the old adage goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

SikRedRX-8

I drove from ND to NM and the first fill up was bad, very poor gas milage. Then I remembered to reset the ECU, and then got back on the freeway and that is when it started to double the mpg. I swear I was getting that milage. It really was a beautiful thing to not have to fill up at every city.

*side note, it got the best milage when my wife was driving. Don't know why but it did.

kbull

I just got the flash yesterday, and I'm really, really hoping my mileage improves. I've been getting about 16 with pure, mostly traffic-free freeway driving. Not so good. If it doesn't, maybe I'll try sikred's ECU reset and see if that doesn't help.

Winning_BlueRX8

I had decent MPG before the L flash, but now it seems it has worsened. I was getting ~19-20 MPG, now I'm getting around ~16-18 MPG. I didn't notice an increase in power or smoother shifts, like everyone else. Mine idles exactly the same. The car doesn't buck as hard in first and second gear. That's about it for me. Imo, if it ain't broke...don't fix it! Keep your K version.

Winning_BlueRX8

Having received the flash, I definitely agree that many are experiencing the placebo effect. If anything, I ruined my nice MPG with the update. Although I did read someone saying something about resetting the ECU. I haven't tried that....

flatso

reminds us how do you reset the ECU?

kbull

I thought the 20 tap test was the ECU reset....

L8tr

What info gets dumped when you do an ECU reset. Can it really improve MPG.

mikeb

I got the m flash
and MY car seems more aggressive and smoother
It was worth it for me

the car turns over better

flatso

still don't understand why you would get better mileage if you reset the ecu...so does that mean over time the mileage will get worse again?

fxdsconv2000

The ECU reset, resets what it has "learned". I don't know exactly what it learns, but for those of you who don't get great gas mileage it might be worth it to run a couple of tests.

1. reset the ECU then take a long highway trip (one when traffic will not be an issue) at least 200 miles. Check your mileage over the next week or two.

2. reset and drive it like you stole it around town. check your mileage for a week or two.

See if the mileage is different. For me I have driven my car like I stole it from day one (I did not baby it for "brake in"). and I get 17-18 around town and 22-23 on long highway drives.

The above mileage is the same as before my L flash.