I have an opportunity to buy an SF3 for a very reasonable price, but I don't know its capabilities. I know what the X3 can do, and I'm wondering if the SF3 can do all of the things it can.
The SF3 will come with 3 canned tunes from SCT. You will not be able to load additional custom tunes from online vendors such as Bamachips, Tillman, or Brenspeed. That being said, the SCT tunes are pretty decent, and they give you the ability to make adjustments for common bolt on's such as CAI's, gear changes, tire sizes, etc. If you are currently running the stock tune, you will be amazed at what the SCT tune will do for your car. The major drawback is that if you add a supercharger or turbocharger to your car, you will have to either take your car to a custom shop to get it tuned or buy a X3/Diablosport device with the tune on it since you won't be able to use the SF3 device.
I have yet to try out some of the custom tunes from other vendors, but I am sure they are also very good, probably even better. However, if you have the opportunity to buy an SF3 at a low price, I would say go for it.
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The first mods I did were to the back of my car, cause that's all anyone ever sees anyway
I bought my car used and it came with the basic bolt-ons: CAI, LTs, off-road X, etc., and it has a really good tune in it now. I called the previous owner and he said it was dyno tuned with sct software, but he no longer had the x3.
I need a tuner since I plan on adding some stuff before too long. Looks like I'll be turning this one down and going with an X3.
I have the SF3 and have only 1 custom tune loaded onto it. SCT will send you a new tune anytime you like. For that matter bama or brenspeed can to provided you know how to switch them out on the device. The SF3 is a hybrid tuner. There are 2 types: Custom tuners (X3) and strategy tuners (superchips). The SF3 gives you the best of both worlds. You can use the strategy tuner part of the SF3 to make your own adjustments to 10-15 different things like tire size, timing, air/fuel, etc.... OR you can tell SCT or Bama or whoever what you got in your car and they can make a custom tune for you adjusting over 2000 settings and email it to you and it can be put onto your car via the SF3.
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Drive it like you stole it.
2005 GT - Torch Red - Cervini Ram Air - Cervini Body kit w/Cat Side Exhaust - More billet items than I can list - MGW Variable Throw Shifter ----the list goes on......
If you plan on going turbo or supercharged. Then don't get the SF3.
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Drive it like you stole it.
2005 GT - Torch Red - Cervini Ram Air - Cervini Body kit w/Cat Side Exhaust - More billet items than I can list - MGW Variable Throw Shifter ----the list goes on......
I have an opportunity to buy an SF3 for a very reasonable price, but I don't know its capabilities. I know what the X3 can do, and I'm wondering if the SF3 can do all of the things it can.
Any input is greatly appreciated.
The SCT-3015 SF3 Power Flash Device comes pre-loaded with tunes for many Ford gas & diesel vehicles ranging from 96-present. Here is a link to SCT's flyer - http://www.sctflash.com/PDF/SF3.pdf
It will also hold 3 custom tunes if you decide to go beyond the installed tunes capability. Any # of custom tuners can email you a tune, or you can visit someone localy. Adding the custom tunes to the SF3 device will not erase the pre-installed tunes if you decide to swap vehicles later on.
The X3 is a blank device used by custom tuners to load their own tunes on, up to 3 different ones. It also allows some user adjustable paremeters depending on what your tuner allows with his tunes. SCT Automotive Performance Products
Basically, the SF3 does everything the X3 does, plus provides out of the box tunes for many different Ford vehicles.
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Thanks,
Jonathan McDonald
Marketing/Research
Latemodel Restoration Supply
the sf3 is great, since it is a pre-owned tuner find out where they bought it from, mabye it was american muscle, you get free tunes for life ( or rather he does ) tell the vendor of your choice what you have and they will make a custom tune for your application. you will get it a e-mail and you download it to your tuner, then upload it to your car many adjustments can be made with this tuner in your hand, you can also datalog what your engine is doing with the tuner itself or log more data with a laptop.
All right, I ate my words. I've been confused by so many different posts and even SCT's website is unclear about what the differences are so I just called them directly and asked. Basically LRSjmac hit it spot on, there is absolutely no reason why you would want to buy the X3 device directly from SCT as it comes with nothing on it. At least if you buy the SF3, you will get the SCT canned tune and have a place to hold 3 custom tunes.
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The first mods I did were to the back of my car, cause that's all anyone ever sees anyway
It can hold 3. It's so weird, you would figure that the X3 could hold 6 or something since it doesn't have the SCT canned tunes on it. I can't for the life of me understand why SCT would offer the two tuners for the exact same price when the X3 is "gimped" compared to the SF3. Why not just save money and only market the SF3, or offer the X3 at a lower price since it doesn't come with SCT tunes, or let the X3 hold more tunes than the SF3... I just don't get it. I would still not believe that they are the way they are if I had not called them and asked.
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The first mods I did were to the back of my car, cause that's all anyone ever sees anyway
It can hold 3. It's so weird, you would figure that the X3 could hold 6 or something since it doesn't have the SCT canned tunes on it. I can't for the life of me understand why SCT would offer the two tuners for the exact same price when the X3 is "gimped" compared to the SF3. Why not just save money and only market the SF3, or offer the X3 at a lower price since it doesn't come with SCT tunes, or let the X3 hold more tunes than the SF3... I just don't get it. I would still not believe that they are the way they are if I had not called them and asked.
...and if your x3 was manufactured before a certain date (7/2008 I'm thinking) it's now considered an SF3
Quote:
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING X3 & SF3 Power Flash Devices sold prior to July 25th, 2008:
SCT has recently updated the firmware for all X3 & SF3 devices. These devices now have different firmware that will effect all future updates for your device.
X3 devices part #3000 sold after July 25th, 2008 will now only be used for custom tuning and will no longer contain pre-loaded tunes. The SF3 device part #3015 will hold 3 custom tunes and will ship with pre-loaded tunes as in the past.
If you have purchased an X3 device part #3000 or SF3 device part #3015 prior to July 25th, 2008, your device is now considered an SF3 device part #3015, even though the device stickers may state it is a part #3000. When updating your device with any future firmware or tune revisions, you must use the SF3 part #3015 device updates or you will receive an error when updating the device.
Devices sold after July25th, 2008 should use the matching firmware for the part number on the device sticker.
It looks like they recently re-worded that post to be more clear. I got my device about a month ago (though it was originally sold prior to 7/200) and checked their website. At the time, it was very confusing as to what would happen if I updated my firmware. Now it seems there is no reason not to.
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The first mods I did were to the back of my car, cause that's all anyone ever sees anyway
SCT SF3 vs. X3. What's the difference? 
) tell the vendor of your choice what you have and they will make a custom tune for your application. you will get it a e-mail and you download it to your tuner, then upload it to your car 
