2004 16 bit ecu vs 2005+ 32 buy
 

Hey all,

Just wondering, from a tuning perspective, is there a substantial difference between ecus? I'm looking to buy a project rx8 with a supercharger in mind (eventually) and I'm wondering if buying a 2005+ car is worth the extra cost over an 04, which is a good bit cheaper in these parts.

Thanks in advance!

There are ECU differences but IIRC the change was made in 2006, not 2005. There are really no differences other than options and packages between a 2004 and a 2005.

Really? Hm, the year-by-year changes thread said 05..

In any case, I just don't want to find out down the road that it's going to be harder to tune for a supercharger because it's 16 bit. I don't even know if it matters (thus the thread) but if the tables all have lower resolution or something it might make things difficult.

Also, the only diy tuning experience I have to date is a megasquirt and an STi with an accessport.

The only significant difference for tuning between ECUs are between 2004-2008 vs 2009-2011, or geographic (USDM vs JDM vs EUDM, etc...)

The two reflash tuning options we have are the AccessPORT (for 2004-2008 only), or MazdaEdit (all years). An AccessPORT or MazdaEdit for a Series1 USDM ECU will work with all 2004-2008 ECUs the same way, and with almost entirely the same tables. Any table changes are just table additions, and none of those have anything significant to do with the power-related tuning.

Aside from that, most forced induction RX-8s are 2004s or 2005s, so that should tell you something (other than that they are the cheapest, have gone through the most engines, and their owners are more likely to have them paid off)

Your concern isn't a concern.

Nice. That's good to hear, thanks a bunch!