Dream Science iMap install & First impressions

[9designs]

I spent a long time contemplating what route to take, with Mountune normally being my preferred option, M400 was my intention.  Mixed comments and what seems the mandatory fitting of all the hardware, Exhaust/CAT and cooler held me back.   Trying to keep the balance between modified and warranty friendly.  My current fitted hardware probably takes that to the limit.  Full FPM375 kit, but with added hard pipe and hoses.

Now the 375 I think is a great improvement, the proverbial “no brainer”,  fills in the much needed mid band that felt asthmatic and bit lifeless as standard.   It does seem to fall away at the higher revs.  Basically you make a good initial progress then the VAG cars just pull away…

While I do actually have a MT Intercooler and HJS 200 cell sports cat ready to fit, I was planning on waiting till warranty ends, plus not so sure how many more mods my insurance company will tolerate.

The DS maps have good reviews and seem more flexible in the cars state of tune.  Maybe it’s down to the marketing, or could be technical. No idea which, but I didn’t need to fit all the hardware yet.

I bought the controller from a fellow owner, advertised with 4 lives remain. £310 delivered.

All in excellent condition.  I started by plugging it into the laptop, to check it was up to date.  It did want several updates, one that scrolled through was new firmware.  All updated without a problem.   Checking back through devise info it now reported 5 lives remaining – unmarried.  Result it’s reset itself to as new.

Always nervous about flashing ECU’s for the first time.  Especially as my car hasn’t had the BCM update done as the 375 was done first and there is a known issue with it clashing and wiping it off on earlier cars and is PITA to get it back on so my dealer told me.

I had charged the battery overnight and put the Ghost in valet mode.

Plugged in and started the pairing process, which after some flashing lights and messages popping up it completed. A few instructs for key off key on, then a prompt that further updates/files were required, use Wi-Fi?   Being in range of my router I gave it access to the network.  After the next updates I then could see the map options, no messing straight to Ultimate2+

All updated smoothly, while in the menu I also opted to up the idle RPM from 750 to 800. Something I always thought was a bit low, sitting with either foot on brake or a/c on drags the rpm rather low.  With a roll restrictor it was a little more noticeable, so hopefully this will compensate.

All fired up as normal, it was late, dark and cold, so first test drive was a little tentative.  Allowing it to warm up gently, it drove pretty much as normal.  Then I gave a bit of prod, pulled strong, may be a little stronger, then another go, a bit more, pulled well, then Woowww here she goes, now I got the kick and extra wallop of torque/power at around 4K onwards,  like a second stage, whereas 375 just bleeds away this steps up for more.

Tried out a few B roads, car felt good,  pulling strong, I was being smooth and progressive with the throttle, not needing high revs, now with the PDC also off no fighting the wheel, just needed a fingertip touch to stroke it along.

Then second drive in the morning, damp in places, few roundabouts this time and more open roads.  Yeah it kicks in strong as the revs rise. Sometimes felt a small moment of pull on the wheel, feels just like good old fashioned torque steer, but within a fraction of second felt the LSD neutralise it and it then pulls hard true and straight.

No idea what the improvement would be against the clock, but the feeling is it’s a lot more torque through a much wider range, with big chunk of upper end performance.

Nice that all the previous mods are now being made more effective.  Just an awesome car that’s got better and better.

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Magnetic Grey with all the best bits

FPM375/COBB/MSD-  Quaife LSD,  DSC+Tractive  Suspension,  HJS200 cell sports cat and MT Cooler. Sync3 upgrade.

Was UK seller for DSC & Tractive  Active suspension !!!

    

[faber]

Merci pour ton ressenti.

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Gel DMB / Pieces carbone AWMODS / Frein a main carbone RS / Bouton carboneRS / Peinture noir mat pavillon + coques rétroviseur + clignotant séquentielle black / Feu arrières séquentielle black / Antenne courte sparco / Protection ceinture RS / Roue forgées avec sigle RS / Pneus Michelin pilot sport 4s / Bandeau Ford Performance / Garniture carbVone tableau de bord / Vérins de capot moteur / Ligne Scorpion embout inox / Système télécommande de soupape JPperformance / Kit induction Mountun / Kit secondaire Mountune / Durite noire Moutune / Filtre Moutune v2 / Chambre d’insonorisation Moutune / Valve Mountune / Kit durites d’échangeur Mishomoto / Plaquettes freins Ferodo 2500 / Garde de boue Mountune / Stage2 BRPerformance 397 cv et 617 couple / Bougies NGK Iridium / Bras de changement de vitesse Mountune / Vase d’expansion Mishimoto noir /plaque denumérotation n°16417/lampe d’eau couleur blanche RS/plaque feu de frein arrière Ford performance/échangeur Mishimoto +durite Silicon Mishimoto/plaque Ford Performance immatriculation

[smokingkills]

I found the cold running cycles poor with DS imap & not as refined as the stock map.  Once oil hits 75c it smooths out but annoying hesitation on light throttle until then.

[peters]

Dam you sir !!!! 🙂

Do i go Dreamscience or M380………….

 

 

 

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Its back !

 

[9designs]

@ smokingkills……   What map did you run?

I did think the idle smoothness was perhaps not quite as good, at any temperature. Not noticed any hesitation or cold running issues though. A subtly easily outweighed by the gains I would say.    I run a roll restrictor so it’s more probably more noticeable.

What will be interesting is to see is how much fuel it uses.

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Magnetic Grey with all the best bits

FPM375/COBB/MSD-  Quaife LSD,  DSC+Tractive  Suspension,  HJS200 cell sports cat and MT Cooler. Sync3 upgrade.

Was UK seller for DSC & Tractive  Active suspension !!!

    

[smokingkills]

@9d

I have tried Ultima, 2 &2+ map (3 maps).

My daily commute is only 6 miles each way so I have returned to stock.

[9designs]

6 Miles …..  never gets hot I guess, not good for any engine….   I’d drive the long way around 😉

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Magnetic Grey with all the best bits

FPM375/COBB/MSD-  Quaife LSD,  DSC+Tractive  Suspension,  HJS200 cell sports cat and MT Cooler. Sync3 upgrade.

Was UK seller for DSC & Tractive  Active suspension !!!

    

[Dreamscience Flash]

Thank you for the review, it’s a great read.

For the queries around cold running it’s in the maps to protect the hardware until temperatures have reached a desired threshold, this may be annoying to some but  it’s essential in ensuring you don’t risk damaging your engine.
Once warmed up, and after a couple of Wide Open Throttle pulls the map will offer its full potential.

https://www.dreamscience-automotive.co.uk/dreamscience-xmas-sales-2018/

Enjoy

TeamDS

 

[peters]

@ dreamscience

 

Got any dyno charts to see  for each of the maps?

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Its back !

 

[white-rs2]

@9Designs

Good read tempted for more power but resisting the dark side until next year as power corrupts ………………….hahahaaaaaa

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RS Edition.

FPM375 Rocks

The rest of the “M” maps suck

[9designs]

@white-rs2   I think I can talk you around 😉

Plus you already have more hardware done than me, so will get a bigger bang for your loose change 😀

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Magnetic Grey with all the best bits

FPM375/COBB/MSD-  Quaife LSD,  DSC+Tractive  Suspension,  HJS200 cell sports cat and MT Cooler. Sync3 upgrade.

Was UK seller for DSC & Tractive  Active suspension !!!

    

[Hammy]

<p style=”padding-left: 30px;”>Glad to see more folk using this. its amazing for the price.</p>
 

First two things to do as a newbie MK3 rs owner

Dreamscienc IMAP

And

A set of spacers

 

So much bang for your buck.

 

IMAP plenty of mid torque that pins you in your seat. And spacers to give you more track which gives you way more bite in the corners.

 

????????????

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• Magnetic, Forge wheels, Edge Protectors , Lux Pack & Recaro Shell Seats
• Dreamscience Imap Ultimate 3+
• Dmb Gel Badges Nitrous Blue
• Rallyflapz Kaylan Black 
• Team Heko Wind defectors Dark 
• Dreamscience turbo back exhaust with race car.
• Airtec SSC Black
• Airtec Stage 2 Air Intake Black & Nitrous Blue 
• Airtec Rear Diffuser Black 
• ST suspension 12.5mm spacers
• Forge recirculating valve
• yellow fog lights 
• Airtec Nitrous Blue rear diff cooler 
• 10% tint on rear lights 
• Satin black window louver vents
• Airtec short shifter set @ 40%
• Valve delete mod
• Bonnet struts 
• Solid shifter bushes 
• 1 step colder spark plugs NGK 
• Engine dress up screw kit
• body colour coded washer jets 
• Airtec intercooler
• Airtec boost pipes
  
• Clubsport 4 point roll cage in nitrous blue
  
• 3 point securon harness x2 
• Driver side JCR lowered seat rail 

[9designs]

Let me correct that for you 😉

First three things to do as a newbie MK3 rs owner

DS iMap

DSC  Suspension Controller

MT Springs.

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Magnetic Grey with all the best bits

FPM375/COBB/MSD-  Quaife LSD,  DSC+Tractive  Suspension,  HJS200 cell sports cat and MT Cooler. Sync3 upgrade.

Was UK seller for DSC & Tractive  Active suspension !!!

    

[Hammy]

Sales pitch like your thinking ???

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• Magnetic, Forge wheels, Edge Protectors , Lux Pack & Recaro Shell Seats
• Dreamscience Imap Ultimate 3+
• Dmb Gel Badges Nitrous Blue
• Rallyflapz Kaylan Black 
• Team Heko Wind defectors Dark 
• Dreamscience turbo back exhaust with race car.
• Airtec SSC Black
• Airtec Stage 2 Air Intake Black & Nitrous Blue 
• Airtec Rear Diffuser Black 
• ST suspension 12.5mm spacers
• Forge recirculating valve
• yellow fog lights 
• Airtec Nitrous Blue rear diff cooler 
• 10% tint on rear lights 
• Satin black window louver vents
• Airtec short shifter set @ 40%
• Valve delete mod
• Bonnet struts 
• Solid shifter bushes 
• 1 step colder spark plugs NGK 
• Engine dress up screw kit
• body colour coded washer jets 
• Airtec intercooler
• Airtec boost pipes
  
• Clubsport 4 point roll cage in nitrous blue
  
• 3 point securon harness x2 
• Driver side JCR lowered seat rail 

[craigyp]

I also thought the cold start on ds map was very hesitant and the car felt very jerky.

Once warmed up it was fine.

I’ve since moved on to Litchfield.  No other reason than I wanted to try different maps and the use of the cobb unit.

[Author]

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