How sketchy is a $900 tune?...

"valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option" (valsidalv)
09/18/2020 at 10:30 • Filed to: None

Came across this ad yesterday. Yes, it definitely panders to someone like me who is a bit bored with their car and I know I might be falling for a trap . Living in the city I don’t drive much so the adult within me has voted against dumping money into my aging G35x. I still do my own maintenance but it has been a long while since I’ve done anything performance-oriented to it. The car has a CAI (laugh all you want but the intake sound is amazing), a plenum spacer (this one opened up the power band a bit according to the ol’ butt dyno), and most recently I got Firestone Firehawk tires for it.

I’ve owned this car for 10 years now. That sounds insane to me, but after I got involved with two-wheeled machines I didn’t feel the need to move onto a different car. I plan on keeping it until the rust takes over (likely), the engine dies (it’s been reliable), or I die (you read that part about me being into bikes, right?). My next car will be an EV, but I would still keep the G because it pains me to think about letting it go for a measly $2,500.

With that in mind, a tune actually sounds like a decent idea. I don’t need to shell out a huge amount of money for parts, like an exhaust or headers, that will require an arduous install. I did some research last night and there is some performance to be unlocked with a proper tune on even a stock car with ‘real ’ tools like UpRev and EcuTek.

Hence the question - is this proposition sketchy? The ad promises 20 HP and 20 ft-lb for a stock car. These numbers are possible according to forums, and I might get a little bit more out of it because of the mods. I messaged the guy and he gave me typical Craiglist-style responses, so that bothers me because I don’t trust a shop who can’t take the time to respond properly to my questions. But, there are other shops out there, and I can try them as well.

What do you think... waste of money, potentially detrimental, or a sweet idea?

DISCUSSION (44)

Shoop > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
09/18/2020 at 10:35

I mean, I'd probably get an intake/exhaust first, then tune it.

Just Jeepin' > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
09/18/2020 at 10:35

Maybe it’s because I’m an old fart yelling at the clouds, but I’d never t rust my car with someone who touts “flame options”.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
09/18/2020 at 10:36

I have a car that pops and bangs, if I could tune that out I would. It’s a sign that unburnt fuel is passing out the exhaust, car is running way too rich or is getting incomplete combustion. Once my car is completely warmed up and has run up and down a few times at highway speeds this pop and bang feature pretty much goes away but it’s incredibly annoying to bang down the road in the morning.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
09/18/2020 at 10:38

That’s a lot of money for a remote flash that will destroy your catalytic converter. If it were my money, I’d put it into at least a catback exhaust first.

Isn’t there an accessport for that car? That would be a better option.

DipodomysDeserti > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
09/18/2020 at 10:39

Finding a tuner on CL is the sketchy part, and I doubt you’ll see an extra twenty ponies just from a tune. $900 seems high. I live near a nationally recognized Subie and VW tuner and they charge around $600 for a basic tune.

I wouldn’t waste money tuning an NA car with minimal mods.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
09/18/2020 at 10:42

My Miata crackles and such on decel. It’s annoying as hell. I’m adding the longest resonator ebay had for under $40 to calm it down.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
09/18/2020 at 10:47

Of course, if the pops and bangs get too annoying, you can easily un- tune them by plugging in one of these.

Kinja'd!!!

i86hotdogs > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
09/18/2020 at 10:49

I’m in the market for a crackle tune. I don’t care how much FoST and FiST owners get ripped for it. I’ve reached out to a few companies to see if they would work with the 2.5 Duratec and all were denied.

I’d pay 500-600 for a tune package like you mentioned, but almost a grand for 20 ponies isn’t worth it IMO.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > DipodomysDeserti
09/18/2020 at 10:51

Ehh, Toyobarus benefit a lot from a flash without any mods. But there are better ways to modify an older car than a flash for that money.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > i86hotdogs
09/18/2020 at 10:54

An accessport is $550. If only they made one for rallyvans.

CobraJoe > Just Jeepin'
09/18/2020 at 10:55

Just stating “Pops and bangs” as a benefit of the tune makes me nervous.

Great tunes might have some dumped fuel in the overrun, but that’s a side effect, not a benefit.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
09/18/2020 at 10:58

I’ve never put much faith in tunes for NA engines. Best case scena rio, you gain an indistinguishable amount of HP and Torks.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > CobraJoe
09/18/2020 at 10:58

That first sentence: same here.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > i86hotdogs
09/18/2020 at 10:59

Why do people pay good money to make their car sound obnoxious? Maybe it’s a generational thing, but I don’t get it.

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > DipodomysDeserti
09/18/2020 at 11:00

This is in CAD $ btw. T here are charts on forums of people reporting 15-20 HP with minimal mods like mine so I don’t think it’s 100% snake oil.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
09/18/2020 at 11:00

There is absolutely nothing about this that to me sounds like it’s not a bad idea. In its entirety. (You asked.)

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > Just Jeepin'
09/18/2020 at 11:01

Yea, not a fan of this particular guy and his “under construction” website which is why he doesn’t have any details about his work. But, maybe I can find a different place.

Sovande > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
09/18/2020 at 11:03

It’s just fuel overrun. I would think that is a sign of a bad tune, but what do I know?

My guess is the 20 hp is just more fuel and more timing at higher rpms, the side effect is the fuel overrun.

CobraJoe > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
09/18/2020 at 11:06

$900 sounds like a lot of dough for a 20hp gain, and a lot of dough for a tune.

If you could upload a tune yourself, you can probably find someone who is willing to do an email tune for you. I put an email tune on my 05 LGT when I had it, it was a pretty straight forward process. Only questionable part was that I needed a straight and flat road to do a 2nd gear and a 3rd gear pull for logs. BTW, I paid $175 for my email tune and $100 for a cable to install it.

But, if you’re just wanting to find some new love for a car you’ve had for a long time, I’d say there’s a lot better ways you could spend that $900.

Fix a little annoyance that you have been living with

Pay for a full wash/wax/detail

Upgrade the exhaust for a different sound

Replace or rebuild the front seats

Replace the rubber bushings with polyurethane

Or, just go find a track day.

There are tons of things you could do to revitalize or improve or just to enjoy the car for $900

Nom De Plume > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
09/18/2020 at 11:14

Not being 100% snake oil on paper is far from being any percent reliably performed beyond the absolute 110% chance they charge you $900 or more.

Thisismydisplayname > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/18/2020 at 11:15

I don’t know, but I’ve always liked my Dakota with a 40 series flowmaster. It’s nice and loud, but it suits the truck. Those Nissan 6s sound pretty good if they don’t go overboard. I just laugh though at the people who put a loud exhaust on the 3.6l pentastars. They do not sound good.

Nom De Plume > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
09/18/2020 at 11:17

Buy you know what you’re talking about and aren’t

DipodomysDeserti > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
09/18/2020 at 11:19

Way too rich is usually accompanied by a large flame. Lots of fun when kickstarting a motorcycle. I know my bikes are tuned perfectly when I can hear rice crispies in my exhaust while downshifting.

Nom De Plume > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
09/18/2020 at 11:20

Followed by an inscrutable amount of repair bills and maladies.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Nom De Plume
09/18/2020 at 11:20

I like my neighbors, I don’t think they like the car going pop, pop, pop, pop down the hill.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > DipodomysDeserti
09/18/2020 at 11:22

I don’t have flames so I think it’s just a cold running thing. I’m also not going to ever touch my carbs. Twin SU’s are notoriously difficult to tune well and mine are spot on synced and the engine revs well to 7k .

i86hotdogs > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/18/2020 at 11:26

I like hearing my car. I’ve never owned anything that can shake windows and set off alarms, but some sound would be nice. It’s another aesthetic to go along with the non functional tow hook and spoiler the van already rocks.

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
09/18/2020 at 11:43

COBB used to make something but discontinued it.

A c atback would make the car obnoxious... want to avoid that if possible.

DipodomysDeserti > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
09/18/2020 at 11:46

From someone who has tuned their own car before, dyno charts on the internet mean absolutely nothing. You could run the same car on a dyno on two different days and see a 10% difference in power numbers without touching anything.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
09/18/2020 at 11:53

Eh, not necessarily. I know VQs are known to be quite obnoxious when loud, but not all of them are loud. I think they sound decent with just a resonator delete.

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > DipodomysDeserti
09/18/2020 at 12:03

You never know until you try, right? But the general feedback is that it’s not worth trying.

shop-teacher > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
09/18/2020 at 12:21

How much of a gambler are you? I wouldn’t touch it!

avalonian > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
09/18/2020 at 12:52

Try Z1 performance they're like the people for anything Z/G related. And they sell a tune for waaayyyy less. And are a American company with a huge following. If I remember its something like 450 bucks.

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
09/18/2020 at 13:12

Oh right, I remember now. Finding an exhaust for the pre-facelift sedan AWD car is almost impossible. If you have an 07 and up you’re ok. If you have a RWD sedan you’re ok. If you have a coupe you’re golden. But my 2006 x did not receive a lot of aftermarket love.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
09/18/2020 at 13:19

Right, but you could just go down to your local exhaust shop and give them a hundred bucks to chop out a resonator

DipodomysDeserti > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
09/18/2020 at 13:51

Yeah, if you have $900 to throw at someone to mess with your car, go for it. In my area, legit tuners do not advertise on CL.

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
09/18/2020 at 13:52

....hmmm. I’ve actually never even considered that. I guess I have a) no trust in shops, and b) am actually scared about taking it to a shop that’ll end up charging a huge rate. But I will think about that.

DipodomysDeserti > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/18/2020 at 14:00

Definitely not generational. Plenty of old hotrodders can attest to that. I have this patch. Pretty sure it is from the ‘70s.

Kinja'd!!!

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
09/18/2020 at 14:00

You could always just get an appropriate size pipe, some slip clamps, and a sawzall and have at it in your driveway, too.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > DipodomysDeserti
09/18/2020 at 19:59

But still not to my taste.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > i86hotdogs
09/18/2020 at 20:00

I like hearing my car also, whick I cannot if it sounds like the exhaust has fallen off.

Dr.Jeckyl > i86hotdogs
09/18/2020 at 22:26

I kinda want the pops and crackle as well. I'm sure I'd get tired of it but with my GTI they are on in sport mode and off otherwise.

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
09/20/2020 at 10:23

As someone who had a VQ G37 , do NOT cut out the resonator. Get different mufflers, but the resonator is the only thing keeping it from sounding like a blender on steroids

S65 > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
10/26/2020 at 12:59

Why not get a Z1 or Stillen intake or something instead?