[LouK]

I live fairly close to National speed, they seem to do good work. They installed my secondaries this past summer and I was very happy with the process.
Spoke with them on doing a custom stage 1 and this is what they came up with.
Recommend doing new plugs (which is due in 3K miles anyways)
Plugs, BM3 license, two custom maps (one slightly enhanced over stock, and another full power for a stage 1)
Said for safe DD they like to keep wheel tq just under 700.

Has anyone had tuning done by them?
How much am I gaining by doing custom dyno tune over BM3 ots?

[pbonsalb]

I’d guess 5%. BM3 license comes with 1 free OTS tune. Run that for a while and then decide if you want to spend another $1000 or whatever they charge for a custom tune for a little more power. I certainly would not pay for a custom tune for “slightly enhanced over stock.”

[LouK]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

I’d guess 5%. BM3 license comes with 1 free OTS tune. Run that for a while and then decide if you want to spend another $1000 or whatever they charge for a custom tune for a little more power. I certainly would not pay for a custom tune for “slightly enhanced over stock.”

They wouldn’t be charging extra for that tune. I had some apprehension about going full stage one so he said they could put two tunes together one a little more power, and the other full stage 1.
All together between bm3 license,plugs and dyno after tax it was 2400. Seemed somewhat reasonable to me with the plug change added in there.

[pbonsalb]

BM3 is $895 with 1 OTS tune. Plugs are about $110 and maybe 2 hours of labor to install them. I don’t know your labor rate but you are paying at least $1000 for the custom tune to get probably 5% more power. That may be worth it. I ran a JB4 for a year, now run a BM3 OTS tune with the JB4 controlling just meth, and am happy but always modding and am thinking about a custom tune from HCP or Utku Noa.

[LouK]

Good point 1K just for that little bit extra power doesn’t sound like too good of a deal.

[pbonsalb]

It is ok if maximum power is the goal — it all adds up. Intakes cost $300 to $2500 and add only about 2-4% power; secondary downpipes cost $300 to $1200 plus the same again for labor if you cannot DIY and add only about 2-4% power. Post downpipe exhaust sections cost $500 to $8000 and add only about 0-2% power.

But if $1000 matters and you are not a power junky, think about gain per dollar ratio. I can’t stop modding so a custom tune is on my list though I have been happy with the BM3 OTS Stage 2 for 93 for the past couple of years.

[LouK]

I am not looking for highest numbers, just an increase over stock. Car still feels plenty fast in stock form. Don’t want to begin to sacrifice reliability for crazy power.

[imperfectluck]

On the topic, the value added to the custom tune is how the power curve comes in as the OTS map has to be a catch all, the custom dials in more for your specific setup.

Granted as mentioned if not stage 2 and beyond, the stage 1 does a fairly decent job as it doesn’t have to account for the variables that stage 2 would ask for.

Of course it’s up to you, just wanted to point out at least with the custom tune you can have one specifically dialed in for track and another for more DD’ing.

[LouK]

Great point on having it dialed in for a specific car. Still haven’t made up my mind yet, custom tune “ appears” to be the best for reliable power and not over doing it.

[pbonsalb]

There is one member who ran stock primaries and catless secondaries with a custom HCP tune, I think for E30 or E40 and other mods who trapped around 140 in the quarter. Pretty impressive. But if you just want a noticeable bump, a stage 1 OTS tune does a lot.