Sport Display is an engine ECU software change for the sport power and torque gauges on the car's screen: it makes them work and, after tuning, show values that match the new calibration. There are no ready-made solutions in our database yet, so it works like this: you send the original file with a request, we check the software and tell you what can be done for your ECU.
Where the screen gets power and torque from
Some cars have a screen in the infotainment or the instrument cluster that shows live power and torque. On a BMW this is Sport displays in iDrive, and on cars with the MGU head unit coding selects the set: just power and torque, or also a G-meter, oil temperature and boost pressure. The Toyota GR Supra has its own sport display too.
The numbers on such a screen are not measured. There is no torque sensor on the engine: the ECU calculates torque with its own model from fuelling, boost and ignition timing, and sends it over the bus to other units. Power follows from torque and engine speed: P (kW) = M (Nm) × n (rpm) / 9549. For example, 450 Nm at 4000 rpm is about 188 kW, or 256 PS.
The gearbox receives the same calculated torque. ECUTEK's B58 guide for BMW says it plainly: the torque value sent to the transmission is the one shown on the gauge. That matters for any change, more on it below.
Why the screen is blank or wrong after tuning
Blank screen
- Sport displays were switched on by coding the head unit, but the ECU does not send the values they need.
- BimmerCode warns about such cars too: the gauges appear but do not work.
Shows stock figures
- The extra power comes from a piggyback box: it alters the sensor signals, and the ECU calculates torque as if the car were stock.
- Supra owners describe exactly this on their forum.
Reads low
- Torque reported to the gearbox was understated in the engine file so the gearbox would stop cutting power.
- The gauge shows the same understated figure, and the gearbox applies pressure for the wrong torque.
The third case is the most serious one, because the problem is not the screen. How to raise the gearbox limit without fooling the gearbox is covered on the Torque Unlock page.
What can be done in the file
On a BMW the Sport displays screen itself is switched on by coding the head unit, no ECU file needed. The Sport Display option deals with what the engine ECU sends to the screen. Depending on the software, that means enabling the values the screen needs, where the ECU has that ability, or bringing the torque calculation in line with the new calibration so the gauge shows what the engine makes according to the ECU model after tuning.
The screen is not the only reader of the calculated torque. Change the figure that goes out on the bus and the gearbox behaves differently: ECUTEK notes that on a BMW the difference between 550 and 700–800 Nm is noticeable in the shifts. So a display change is matched to the gearbox file, together with Oil Pressure Optimizations if needed.
One more thing: the screen is not a dyno. The readings are calculated, and after tuning they are only as accurate as the torque model in the file. Only a dyno shows the real gain.
What to check before ordering
- Screen enabled. On a BMW, Sport displays are activated in the head unit (CIC, NBT, NBT Evo), and on MGU the set of values is chosen there as well. If the menu item is missing, start with coding.
- What the ECU sends. Log actual torque with a scan tool or logger and compare it with the screen. If the log shows the gain and the screen does not, the issue is in the values sent to the screen. If the log shows stock torque too, the ECU does not know about the gain.
- How the car is tuned. If the extra power comes from a piggyback box, the screen will not show honest figures while the ECU torque model calculates stock. The better route is to flash the ECU itself (Stage 1): then the ECU controls the extra power and calculates torque from the real boost and fuelling.
How to order
- Read the original engine ECU file via OBD or on the bench with the tool you use.
- Upload it to the portal with a SPORT DISPLAY request. Give the make, model, head unit type and what is wrong: the screen is blank, shows stock figures or reads low. Attach a torque log if you have one.
- Get our answer: we check the software and tell you whether there is a solution for your ECU.
- If there is one, you get the file with recalculated checksums. After flashing, compare the screen with a torque log.
Power screen blank or stuck on stock figures? Send the ECU file with a SPORT DISPLAY request and we will check whether there is a solution for your ECU.
Send a file for Sport DisplayFrequently asked questions
Where does the screen get power and torque from?
From the engine ECU. It calculates torque with its own model (fuelling, boost, ignition timing) and sends it over the bus; power is derived from torque and engine speed.
Why does the screen show stock figures after a remap?
If the extra power comes from a piggyback box, the ECU keeps calculating stock torque. Another cause: torque for the gearbox was understated in the engine file, and the screen shows that understated figure.
Can Sport displays be switched on by coding?
Yes, on a BMW the screen is enabled by coding the head unit. But if the ECU does not send the values it needs, the gauges stay blank.
How accurate are the readings?
They are calculated by the ECU model, not measured. Only a dyno shows the real gain.
Will the change affect the gearbox?
It can. The gearbox receives the same calculated torque and uses it for pressures and shifts, so the change is matched to the TCU file.
Which cars is there a solution for?
There are no ready-made solutions in our database yet. Send the file with a request and describe the car and the screen problem: we will check the software and tell you what can be done.
What should I send for a check?
The original engine ECU file, the make and model, the head unit type and a description of the problem: blank screen, stock figures or low readings.