What brand of aftermarket ECU or dash do you run in your cars?

[Gripless]

Doesn’t have to be a Subaru but what’s everyone running?

 

I'm adding canbus options to things and every brand has different options so need an idea of what’s worth doing first.

 

[McMatty]

On 18/12/2025 at 1:20 PM, Gripless said:

Doesn’t have to be a Subaru but what’s everyone running?

 

I'm adding canbus options to things and every brand has different options so need an idea of what’s worth doing first.

 

I've got a Link G3 and was wanting to run a digital dash, need an ECU upgrade for that though. I quite liked the look of Ghost Digital Dashes

[Gripless]

On 11/01/2026 at 9:01 PM, McMatty said:

I've got a Link G3 and was wanting to run a digital dash, need an ECU upgrade for that though. I quite liked the look of Ghost Digital Dashes

What did link say about canbus on g3 with g4 firmware?

[boon]

1 minute ago, Gripless said:

What did link say about canbus on g3 with g4 firmware?

AFAIK (G4 owner) the CANBUS support came along with the G4+.

 

G3 could be software upgraded to be largely G4, G4 can't be upgraded to G4+ sadly.

[Gripless]

I saw this, which is why I asked… https://forums.linkecu.com/topic/17552-linkplus-g3-canbus-modificationenable/

and this…

https://forums.linkecu.com/topic/14013-g3-with-g4-firmware-dash-compatibility/

 

A digital output or serial port could drive a canbus controller if the software allows. 

 
You can get both controller and transceiver on a custom board for about $10 these days if you don’t need fault tolerance FD. 

Edited January 14 by Gripless

[Gripless]

Seems the canbus mod is reasonably simple. It is only removing a few resistors and having the g4 firmware.

 

The catch is resistors are physically small. I’m guessing 0602 sized which is 1.6x0.8mm. A couple are also in a row packed together so access is a bit restricted.

 

Link obviously recommends you use soldering tweezers or two irons to heat both side at the same time so it has less risk in ripping the thin copper pads off the board. 

They also recommend static protection which is normal.
I’d note that usb powered soldering irons are also extremely dangerous for this a kind of work. Battery ones that are USB charged are fine, just not any that are connected to the wall socket while in use.

[boon]

Man air soldering or nothing when it comes to SMC. Especially small ones. Way too easy to f up the board or lift a trace.

[Gripless]

34 minutes ago, boon said:

Man air soldering or nothing when it comes to SMC. Especially small ones. Way too easy to f up the board or lift a trace.

Tweezers are fine since they heat both sides at once, and won’t heat the plastic connectors nearby.

 

 

But the fact it’s only a few parts to get canbus support on those old ecus is pretty good. 

Apparently link may have done it for no cost (other than shipping maybe) when the G4 firmware was released.

It has some limitations like it doesn’t support canbus for wideband 

[Rossobianconero]

we usually run links ecus, G4X, if it is a 08+ it will run the stock Subaru can bus and the link one (that you can customize). A few emtrons in the same way.