MC Shift with 599 TCU firmware

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bennzwel

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A very lovely forum member mentioned about updating his GTS MC Shift with 599 gearbox firmware , and achieved good results .

I just wanted to know if anyone else has done the same and what are the pros and cons. I’m yet to confirm if my local (NZ based) indie Ferrari mechanic can do such a thing but I got quite excited to discover more about this .

I feel with improved gear changes I’m gonna hold on to my car for few years .

Appreciate any comments or feedbacks :)
 
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bennzwel

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Felonious Crud said:
It’s specifically the 599 GTO software you want, Ben. It’s lightening fast. @fcz360 also had it.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the clarification
I guess the challenge for me is to find the 599 GTO firmware and ensure the local indie has the tool to program the TCU.

Any downsides ? Does it alter any sound or engine behaviour ? Or perhaps faster clutch and gearbox components wear ?
 
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Felonious Crud

Felonious Crud

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Absolutely no downsides at all, Ben. Arguably, the clutch should wear more slowly as it’s opening and closing faster, hence slipping less. But someone’s who knows what they’re talking about might be along to disagree.

@BennyD, what’s the latest with the MC Shift TCU upgrade - any progress and is it ‘shareable’?
 
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bennzwel

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I’m more excited now to find a way to get it on mine and add to the enjoyment !

Hopefully I can get it done locally
 
mjheathcote

mjheathcote

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In theory such mods should be possible for the 42/GS TCU also, say using Ferrari 430 Scuderia firmware, as they use the same TCU I recall.
 
mjheathcote

mjheathcote

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A few years ago researched the possibility of using Ferrari firmware, and discovered that Ferrari guys where buying our Maserati TCU's to flash the CS firmware, and then drop the TCU's into their earlier 360's that had earlier generation TCU's with less memory than our Maserati TCU's, that could not accept the later CS firmware on their earlier TCU's.
So I knew that Ferrari firmware could be put onto our Maserati TCU's, but didn't know if the Ferrari firmware would actually work in our cars, being a different engine.
Sounds like this is actually possible.
So who can do this, and has experience of it? Benny?
And, more importantly, is it actually better, and in what way?
 
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azapa

azapa

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I'd try the strad software first, it's probably quite close to the 599's, but of course matched better to the strads engine. It would be quite a job, probably a low level eeprom reader and writer - lots of little clips and cables all over your expensive gearbox TCU (and the donors). Unless someone already has dumped the code. A friendly dealer with SD3 may be a better bet?
 
Felonious Crud

Felonious Crud

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When I had the 599 GTO build flashed onto my MC Shift TCU it took about 10 minutes. My coffee didn't even have time to get cold.

I'll wake Benny up so he can contribute. I think he has his head wedged up the ar5e of an Audi Quattro lately.
 
Zep

Zep

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azapa said:
I'd try the strad software first, it's probably quite close to the 599's, but of course matched better to the strads engine. It would be quite a job, probably a low level eeprom reader and writer - lots of little clips and cables all over your expensive gearbox TCU (and the donors). Unless someone already has dumped the code. A friendly dealer with SD3 may be a better bet?
Click to expand...

The Strad software is different to the std MC shift as it uses a different actuator. On a MC there are five steps for a gear change I understand. Clutch out, shift out of gear, confirm neutral position, shift into next gear, clutch in. On a Strad the neutral confirm part is omitted and it just goes from one gear to the next, so understand.

I imagine because the hardware is different, the various firmware upgrades are just a rewrite of the standard code with the better numbers from the 360CS / 599 etc.
 
Contigo

Contigo

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The 599 code sometimes has the effect of losing the MC Shift light on the DIS. I believe there is now a fix for this....
 
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bennzwel

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Considering 599 has 3 modes and MC shift 2, would the firmware be in Race or Sport mode in MC Shift TCU when using 599 firmware and in sport mode?
 
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