MSD 340 (500Nm and 340PS)
This calibration works perfectly on a totally standard car and lifts the power restrictions from within the ECU, further enhancing the power output to 500NM and 340PS which really brings the car to life!

This isn’t just headline power either, flexibility and reliability are our specialty so the ECU's incredible torque model is fully retained ensuring factory driveability with no hesitations, surges or hiccups in the power delivery. Naturally, as with all MSD power upgrades, all necessary safety limits and protection strategies are re-profiled and enhanced in order to allow the extra performance whilst retaining a strong, O.E Level of engine protection.

Please be aware that power figures don’t tell the whole story with these management systems, making extra power is easy, but many companies completely disable the torque control and most of the protection strategies in order to do so and this can cause driveability and longevity concerns with often massive boost levels required to make the power. Read our comprehensive "Safety" tab for more details.

 

Additional hardware needed:

• None.
  
  

Optional hardware:

• Turbosmart uprated compressor bypass valve (Recirc or 50/50)

 

Standard Calibration Features

• Factory driveability under all conditions.
• All engine protections remain in place (See safety tab)
• Gear optimised torque curves for maximum traction.
  

Personalisations Available:

• Idle speed setpoint customisation
• Engine rev limit customisation.
• Factory launch control setpoint customisation.
• Decat MIL eliminated (For vehicle with a de-cat fitted).
• Overrun burbles activated.
  
  

Additional fuel programming available. (Ask for further details)

• WMI (water methanol injection) optimisations available on request.
• High octane fuel optimisations available on request. (100+ RON)

Total cost of this calibration installed: £299.00 inc vat.
(Includes diagnostics and test drive to asses vehicle pre and post tune condition)

MSD 360 (520Nm and 360PS)
A calibration designed to utilise sensible upgrades such as high flow air filters and exhausts systems as well as an uprated intercooler. On suitable vehicle hardware this calibration will enhance the power output to 520NM and 360PS.

This isn’t just headline power either, flexibility and reliability are our speciality so the ECU's incredible torque model is fully retained ensuring factory driveability with no hesitations, surges or hiccups in the power delivery. Naturally, as with all MSD power upgrades, all necessary safety limits and protection strategies are re-profiled and enhanced in order to allow the extra performance whilst retaining a strong, O.E Level of engine protection.

Please be aware that power figures don’t tell the whole story with these management systems, making extra power is easy, but many companies completely disable the torque control and most of the protection strategies in order to do so and this can cause driveability and longevity concerns with often massive boost levels required to make the power. Read our comprehensive "Safety" tab for more details.

 

Additional hardware needed:

• Performance air filter
• 3" Catback free flow exhaust system
• Uprated intercooler
• 1 step colder spark plugs

 

Optional hardware:

• Turbosmart uprated compressor bypass valve (Recirc or 50/50)

 

Standard Calibration Features

• Factory driveability under all conditions.
• All engine protections remain in place (See safety tab)
• Gear optimised torque curves for maximum traction.
  

Personalisations Available:

• Idle speed setpoint customisation
• Engine rev limit customisation.
• Factory launch control setpoint customisation.
• Decat MIL eliminated (For vehicle with a de-cat fitted).
• Overrun burbles activated.
  
  

Additional fuel programming available. (Ask for further details)

• WMI (water methanol injection) optimisations available on request.
• High octane fuel optimisations available on request. (100+ RON)

 

Total cost of this calibration installed: £349.00 inc vat.
(Includes diagnostics and test drive to asses vehicle pre and post tune condition)

MSD 380 (540Nm and 380PS)
At this level, the standard fuel system cant supply enough fuel to keep things safe so we need to also add some Bosch 550cc fuel injectors and then free up the exhaust from the turbo back and send the gas through a sports cat. On suitable vehicle hardware this calibration will enhance the power output to 540NM and 380PS.

This isn’t just headline power either, flexibility and reliability are our speciality so the ECU's incredible torque model is fully retained ensuring factory driveability with no hesitations, surges or hiccups in the power delivery. Naturally, as with all MSD power upgrades, all necessary safety limits and protection strategies are re-profiled and enhanced in order to allow the extra performance whilst retaining a strong, O.E Level of engine protection.

Please be aware that power figures don’t tell the whole story with these management systems, making extra power is easy, but many companies completely disable the torque control and most of the protection strategies in order to do so and this can cause driveability and longevity concerns with often massive boost levels required to make the power. Read our comprehensive "Safety" tab for more details.

 

Additional hardware needed:

• High performance cold air induction kit.
• Full turbo back 3" free flow exhaust system with sports cat.
• Uprated intercooler.
• Bosch 550cc Injectors.
• 1 step colder spark plugs

 

Optional hardware:

• Turbosmart uprated compressor bypass valve (Recirc or 50/50)

 

Standard Calibration Features

• Factory driveability under all conditions.
• All engine protections remain in place (See safety tab)
• Gear optimised torque curves for maximum traction.
  

Personalisations Available:

• Idle speed setpoint customisation
• Engine rev limit customisation.
• Factory launch control setpoint customisation.
• Decat MIL eliminated (For vehicle with a de-cat fitted).
• Overrun burbles activated.
  
  

Additional fuel programming available. (Ask for further details)

• WMI (water methanol injection) optimisations available on request.
• High octane fuel optimisations available on request. (100+ RON)

 

Total cost of this calibration installed: £399.00 inc vat.
(Includes diagnostics and test drive to asses vehicle pre and post tune condition)

MSD 400 (560Nm and 400PS)
Well into seriously fast car territory now!
Take the MSD380 components and add a few more airflow enhancements such as an uprated intake manifold, boost hoses and a higher flow capacity fuel pump and we have the hardware for MSD400 which should see the engine producing a power output of 560NM and 400PS.

This isn’t just headline power either, flexibility and reliability are our speciality so the ECU's incredible torque model is fully retained ensuring factory driveability with no hesitations, surges or hiccups in the power delivery. Naturally, as with all MSD power upgrades, all necessary safety limits and protection strategies are re-profiled and enhanced in order to allow the extra performance whilst retaining a strong, O.E Level of engine protection.

Please be aware that power figures don’t tell the whole story with these management systems, making extra power is easy, but many companies completely disable the torque control and most of the protection strategies in order to do so and this can cause driveability and longevity concerns with often massive boost levels required to make the power. Read our comprehensive "Safety" tab for more details.

 

Additional hardware needed:

• High performance cold air induction kit.
• Full turbo back 3" free flow exhaust system with sports cat.
• Uprated intercooler.
• Uprated Plenum.
• Bosch 550cc Injectors.
• 1 step colder spark plugs
• Uprated higher flow capacity fuel pump.
• Turbosmart uprated compressor bypass valve (Recirc or 50/50)

 

Standard Calibration Features

• Factory driveability under all conditions.
• All engine protections remain in place (See safety tab)
• Gear optimised torque curves for maximum traction.
  

Personalisations Available:

• Idle speed setpoint customisation
• Engine rev limit customisation.
• Factory launch control setpoint customisation.
• Decat MIL eliminated (For vehicle with a de-cat fitted).
• Overrun burbles activated.
  
  

Additional fuel programming available. (Ask for further details)

• WMI (water methanol injection) optimisations available on request.
• High octane fuel optimisations available on request. (100+ RON)

 

Total cost of this calibration installed: £499.00 inc vat.
(Includes diagnostics and test drive to asses vehicle pre and post tune condition)

MSD 420 (560Nm and 420PS)

Well into seriously fast car territory now!
This one is a slight but very significant tweak to the MSD400 specification.
Instead of utilising a standard pressure but higher flow capacity pump, we instead use a new pump unit that is both higher PRESSURE and higher flow. This increased fuel pressure enables us to run more manifold pressure safely without disrupting the fuel atomisation from the injectors. With this hardware spec we can now stretch the power output to 560NM and 420PS.

This isn’t just headline power either, flexibility and reliability are our speciality so the ECU's incredible torque model is fully retained ensuring factory driveability with no hesitations, surges or hiccups in the power delivery. Naturally, as with all MSD power upgrades, all necessary safety limits and protection strategies are re-profiled and enhanced in order to allow the extra performance whilst retaining a strong, O.E Level of engine protection.

Please be aware that power figures don’t tell the whole story with these management systems, making extra power is easy, but many companies completely disable the torque control and most of the protection strategies in order to do so and this can cause driveability and longevity concerns with often massive boost levels required to make the power. Read our comprehensive "Safety" tab for more details.

 

Additional hardware needed:

• High performance cold air induction kit.
• High performance hard pipe kit 
• Full turbo back 3" free flow exhaust system with sports cat.
• Uprated intercooler.
• Uprated Plenum.
• Bosch 550cc Injectors.
• 1 step colder spark plugs
• Uprated High Pressure and capacity fuel pump unit.
• Turbosmart uprated compressor bypass valve (Recirc or 50/50)

Standard Calibration Features

• Factory driveability under all conditions.
• All engine protections remain in place (See safety tab)
• Gear optimised torque curves for maximum traction.
  

Personalisations Available:

• Idle speed setpoint customisation
• Engine rev limit customisation.
• Factory launch control setpoint customisation.
• Decat MIL eliminated (For vehicle with a de-cat fitted).
• Overrun burbles activated.
  
  

Additional fuel programming available. (Ask for further details)

• WMI (water methanol injection) optimisations available on request.
• High octane fuel optimisations available on request. (100+ RON)

 

Total cost of this calibration installed: £499.00 inc vat.
(Includes diagnostics and test drive to asses vehicle pre and post tune condition)

MSD 450 (560Nm and 450PS)

Time to change that turbo!
The standard turbo is no use to you anymore, its time to get serious!
For this conversion we need all the MSD 420 upgrades, but will also add the Focus RS Loba Stage 2 Turbocharger and a set of even larger Bosch 650cc injectors. With this hardware spec we can now stretch the power output to 560NM and 450PS.

Unlike many companies out there offering similar power conversions, we are retaining the factory boost control. This ensures we retain the flexibility and reliability that are our speciality. The ECU's incredible torque model is fully retained ensuring factory driveability with no hesitations, surges or hiccups in the power delivery. Naturally, as with all MSD power upgrades, all necessary safety limits and protection strategies are re-profiled and enhanced in order to allow the extra performance whilst retaining a strong, O.E Level of engine protection.

Please be aware that power figures don’t tell the whole story with these management systems, making extra power is easy, but many companies completely disable the torque control and most of the protection strategies in order to do so and this can cause driveability and longevity concerns with often massive boost levels required to make the power. Read our comprehensive "Safety" tab for more details.

NOTE:
We are still utilising the factory ECU's incredible boost control here. We do NOT need an aftermarket boost controller.

Additional hardware needed:

• Suitable spec forged engine internals.
• High performance cold air induction kit.
• High performance hard pipe kit 
• Full turbo back 3" free flow exhaust system with sports cat.
• Uprated intercooler.
• Uprated Plenum.
• Focus RS Loba Stage 2 Turbocharger
• Bosch 650cc Injectors.
• 2 step colder spark plugs
• Uprated High Pressure and capacity fuel pump unit.
• Turbosmart uprated compressor bypass valve (Recirc or 50/50)

Standard Calibration Features

• Factory driveability under all conditions.
• All engine protections remain in place (See safety tab)
• Gear optimised torque curves for maximum traction.
• Factory ECU boost control retained.
  

Personalisations Available:

• Idle speed setpoint customisation
• Engine rev limit customisation.
• Factory launch control setpoint customisation.
• Decat MIL eliminated (For vehicle with a de-cat fitted).
• Overrun burbles activated.
  
  

Additional fuel programming available. (Ask for further details)

• WMI (water methanol injection) optimisations available on request.
• High octane fuel optimisations available on request. (100+ RON)

 

Total cost of this calibration installed: £599.00 inc vat.
(These calibrations will ONLY be available on our dyno and the price includes the dyno cell hire and 2x professional dyno operators / calibrators labour plus test drive to asses vehicle pre and post tune condition)

MSD 480 (570Nm and 480PS)

Time to change that turbo to an even bigger one!
For this conversion we will utilise the Focus RS Loba Stage 3 Turbocharger instead, which will see us reach a power output of 570NM and 480PS.

Unlike many companies out there offering similar power conversions, we are retaining the factory boost control. This ensures we retain the flexibility and reliability that are our speciality. The ECU's incredible torque model is fully retained ensuring factory driveability with no hesitations, surges or hiccups in the power delivery. Naturally, as with all MSD power upgrades, all necessary safety limits and protection strategies are re-profiled and enhanced in order to allow the extra performance whilst retaining a strong, O.E Level of engine protection.

Please be aware that power figures don’t tell the whole story with these management systems, making extra power is easy, but many companies completely disable the torque control and most of the protection strategies in order to do so and this can cause driveability and longevity concerns with often massive boost levels required to make the power. Read our comprehensive "Safety" tab for more details.

NOTE:
We are still utilising the factory ECU's incredible boost control here. We do NOT need an aftermarket boost controller.

Additional hardware needed:

• Suitable spec forged engine internals.
• High performance cold air induction kit.
• High performance hard pipe kit 
• Full turbo back 3" free flow exhaust system with sports cat.
• Uprated intercooler.
• Uprated Plenum.
• Focus RS Loba Stage 2 Turbocharger
• Bosch 750cc Injectors.
• 2 step colder spark plugs
• Uprated High Pressure and capacity fuel pump unit.
• Turbosmart uprated compressor bypass valve (Recirc or 50/50)

Standard Calibration Features

• Factory driveability under all conditions.
• All engine protections remain in place (See safety tab)
• Gear optimised torque curves for maximum traction.
• Factory ECU boost control retained.
  

Personalisations Available:

• Idle speed setpoint customisation
• Engine rev limit customisation.
• Factory launch control setpoint customisation.
• Decat MIL eliminated (For vehicle with a de-cat fitted).
• Overrun burbles activated.
  
  

Additional fuel programming available. (Ask for further details)

• WMI (water methanol injection) optimisations available on request.
• High octane fuel optimisations available on request. (100+ RON)

 

Total cost of this calibration installed: £599.00 inc vat.
(These calibrations will ONLY be available on our dyno and the price includes the dyno cell hire and 2x professional dyno operators / calibrators labour plus test drive to asses vehicle pre and post tune condition)

MSD Bespoke calibration solutions

MSD 480 - 600

We recognise that there are many hardware specifications out there and sometimes we need to calibrate to suit your own bespoke hardware build. From MSD480 onwards we tend to be dealing with a variety of different turbochargers.

 

Example hardware specification:

• Suitable spec forged engine internals.
• High performance cold air induction kit.
• High performance hard pipe kit 
• Full turbo back 3" free flow exhaust system with sports cat.
• Uprated intercooler.
• Uprated Plenum.
• Garrett GTX3076R / Etc.
• Bosch 750cc Injectors.
• 2 step colder spark plugs
• Uprated High Pressure and capacity fuel pump unit.
• Turbosmart uprated compressor bypass valve (Recirc or 50/50)
  
  

Standard Calibration Features
As with all our calibrations, full torque control and safety features will be retained.

• Improved idle stability
• Factory drive-ability under all conditions.
• All engine protections remain in place (See safety tab)
• Gear optimised torque curves for maximum traction.
  

Personalisations Available:

• Idle speed setpoint customisation
• Engine rev limit customisation.
• Factory launch control setpoint customisation.
• Decat MIL eliminated (For vehicle with a de-cat fitted).
• Overrun burbles activated.
  

Additional fuel programming available. (Ask for further details)

• WMI (water methanol injection) optimisations available on request.
• High octane fuel optimisations available on request. (100+ RON)

 

Total cost of this calibration installed: £900 inc vat.
These bespoke calibrations will ONLY be available on our dyno and the price includes the dyno cell hire and 2x professional dyno operators / calibrators labour.

Beware:
All ECU "calibrations" are not created equally...

There are many ways to calibrate a modern vehicles ECU but the sad fact remains that a huge percentage of the tunes we see have had all the safety strategies and drive logic features removed from them. These ME9 PCM's have exceptional engine load control strategies built into them and these systems are a key reason that as standard, these vehicles drive so amazingly well. Smooth, linear and powerful to the rev limiter. And safe too... the protection strategies are incredibly complex and work alongside a very comprehensive load model in order to deliver what the driver asks, but keep the engine in one piece should things go wrong.

To recalibrate an ME9 PCM properly, from scratch as we do, takes many hundreds of hours of development on our in house dyno. But the results are worthwhile.

Rest assured that when we calibrate a vehicles PCM we retain:

• Full load model remains intact. (This is what makes the vehicle drive so well)
• Knock control system is left intact and working (Guards against detonation)
• Over-boost limits. (Protects against over-boost due to fault)
• Under-boost limits. (Protects turbo against air leaks)
• Full Engine speed limits. (Raised if the tune would benefit)
• Exhaust temp load profiling. (Takes over if EGT exceeds limits)
• Fuel flow limit air control. (Takes over if you run too lean)
• Coolant temperature limits. (Never raised)
• All the ECU Limp home strategies. (These are what get you home!)
• All of the 300+ fault codes are retained so your ECU can report faults.

The above may look and read like common sense?
You are right... retaining everything above is desirable, but to do so requires an understanding of how these load modelled systems work so that we can actually "recalibrate" the various sub-systems to work the way we want them to, whilst targeting higher airflow and power levels.

Sadly, because all of the above strategies will, by their very nature, fight our efforts to create extra airflow, many amateurs find ways to just disable the limits, often by "de-calibrating" the system so it will allow extra airflow.

We regularly see calibrations with various anticipation and prediction systems switched off, load limits flat-lined, air load limits totally disabled, fuel flow limits deleted, knock systems de-sensitised, the list goes on, its quite disappointing to see.

How would you know?
That’s a good question, and it depends just how bad they have de-calibrated the system.

Lets face a simple fact here... if you have a vehicle with a virtually standard engine and turbo that drove perfectly well before a re-calibration, extending its headroom wont make it drive or perform worse during normal driving. Why would it? No reason at all. Same engine, same air path, same hardware. So it should drive the same, but be faster at big throttle openings.

Now, if they have "only" removed all the safety limits (running more boost than a 3bar map sensor can see for example) then the vehicle will still drive perfectly well if the rest of the system has been recalibrated to properly request the load needed for the torque the conversion makes. That kind of calibration will just have no safety limits in place should anything go wrong. hopefully it wont, so all is well.

However, if you start to disable the load targeting system, or make a mess of recalibrating it then you end up with all manner of horrible drive-ability problems. Aggressive throttle, unpredictable or surging power delivery, doesn’t want to just cruise along at a set speed, these are all very common when a confused ECU tries to deliver closed loop airflow control with a broken model.

And if that wasn’t bad enough, some of these de-calibrated strategies are of course firing out fault codes so we see some with all 300+ codes just deleted so the ECU cant report them. This in turn disables all the limp home strategies designed to take control and get you home in the event of component failure.

Sadly, this is the reality of modern tuning... Take care out there!

Further reading:

If this has wet your appetite to know more about how your Ford Focus RS MK2 ME9 management strategy in the PCM works, you may well enjoy my series of 3 blogs about a quite similar system.

Blog 1 of 4. Understanding Ford Ecoboost Torque Control

(There are more located in our main technical info section with Stus other 70+ magazine articles)

Graphs Coming Soon...

MSD 475 on the dyno making a cool 570Nm!

Purchasing Options:

This OBD calibration can be purchased via any one of our professional Installers:

Owners looking to have their Focus RS MK2 tuned can have it done by us here in Blackpool, or via any of our approved calibration installers across our Evolution Chips network.

Click the image above to visit our approved installer map.