so is there a prebuilt version of the MS for the FD?

or do you need to do the DIY version ? also ..


how different is it compared to the power FC ? what benefits / disadvantages does it have compared to it ?

how easy is it to tune?

are there plenty of maps available ? does it work with the stock knock sensor ? do all the gauges work ? is it compatible with a ipad or only with a laptop?

 

No. You would need to make a few minor changes to the board (in these days of MS3, it's just a matter of jumpers) to set it up for the FD crank triggers and ignition outputs. Not hard. Premade boards are available so you don't have to do any soldering. For example, the 3.57 board w/MS3 daughtercard and MS3X expander.

No idea, never touched a PowerFC. But since they are plug and play for FDs, presumably they are easier to set up on an FD than a Megasquirt.

Very, once you've set it up.

It doesn't matter how many maps are available for an ECU because your car is unique and will require it's own unique map. It will read the stock knock sensor just fine with some minor mods, but knock sensors are of limited value. As for the gauges, that's an issue of how the car is wired and not the ECU.

Tuning with an iPad sounds like an exercise in frustration.

 

Power FC is pretty forgiving with electrical noise and grounding. Even though every car is different, there is a larger user base with the PFC and more information out there for someone who is a novice. The Megasquirt has more features and more adjustability.

the world of performance tuning software is rather slow-moving. Don't expect many iOS tuning apps any time soon, even though there are some OBD II diagnostic apps out there.

An AEM EMS is a bit of a middle ground between a Megasquirt and a Power FC. It is plug and play, it has a lot of features and capability, but it is not cheap.