DPs or new tune

[JustinTN]

I wanted to get some opinions as Im admittedly a rookie in the car dept. I picked up a 2015 npp almost a year ago. After a lot of research, i decided to go with a LMS tune (this was just before all the bad rep). I got one of their performance packages....plugs, 160, cai and 3bar. I have had the 93 tune almost the entire time and had very few issues (2nd seams to shift abnormally hard). This is a daily driver so i dont/cant go all out bit debating my next step.
I can stick with LMS, and add DPs and then update the tune. Or Im thinking of throwing in the towel with LMS and going GH. As stated, Im not unhappy with LMS, but from following a lot of you, it seems as though GH is a stronger yet safer tune. I just hate to waste the $ i already put into it.
Advice?

 

[ridered74]

I wanted to get some opinions as Im admittedly a rookie in the car dept. I picked up a 2015 npp almost a year ago. After a lot of research, i decided to go with a LMS tune (this was just before all the bad rep). I got one of their performance packages....plugs, 160, cai and 3bar. I have had the 93 tune almost the entire time and had very few issues (2nd seams to shift abnormally hard). This is a daily driver so i dont/cant go all out bit debating my next step.
I can stick with LMS, and add DPs and then update the tune. Or Im thinking of throwing in the towel with LMS and going GH. As stated, Im not unhappy with LMS, but from following a lot of you, it seems as though GH is a stronger yet safer tune. I just hate to waste the $ i already put into it.
Advice?

Depends what year your car is. If it's a 10-12 you would probably be fine adding downpipes. I ran their tune on my 11 with downpipes til I sold the car with 170K miles. On my 2015 their tune was fine until I added the downpipes, and at that point I had bad fuel pressure drops and what felt like the car going into neutral at WOT on the 1-2 shift.

You can't go wrong with gearhead, but you will kick yourself for waiting to switch to them once you feel how your car drives with their tune.

 

[Lostneye]

After my own issues and seeing how LMS treats people and their cars including BPD I would not give them another dollar. Not to mention their V11 tune is downright dangerous in cold weather. There is a reason no one recommends LMS for this platform anymore. I haven't been to the track with the GH tune to compare but it drives and shifts like a more expensive car now.

 

[bpd1151]

To the OP.....

Besides the comments posted already, the other conundrum you'll find if you choose to stick with that 'L' vendor (can't even bring myself to say their name anymore) is that if you choose to stay with them, they'll strongly recommend you purchase only "their" DP's exclusively.

Not to mention that there's a likelihood they'll refuse to offer you a tune revision if you purchase any other competitors product.

Their DP's will also throw a CEL and this could be problematic if you reside in an area that requires recurring emissions testing.

Also interesting is the fact no one from their company appears to have even logged into the community in nearly 2 months, yet alone post anything of relevance. Abandoning the platform perhaps?

I'd steer clear. Choice obviously is entirely up to you.

Oh, and to answer your thread's title, I'd still say a tune, by far, is your BEST bang for your buck. DP's will further improve/enhance that experience. As will the new and improved IC.

Good luck and happy motoring!

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[SM105K]

I would agree with everything BPD said, and would suggest getting a new tune. I am tuned by AJPTurbo (Brad) and recommend him. However, Gearhead (Matt) is doing incredible things too. I highly recommend him as well.

 

[Lostneye]

Also interesting is the fact no one from their company appears to have even logged into the community in nearly 2 months, yet alone post anything of relevance. Abandoning the platform perhaps?

Abandoning yes but as for why they haven't been on here I think it's more like found out.

 

[JustinTN]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I assumed I would get the answers above, but just hated to start back over. Im sure I'll be much happier in the long run. Looks as though a new tune is coming soon.
As for DPs, any recommendations for the best bang for my buck? Id like to stay with catted. Even though i don't have inspections where I live in TN, i had trouble a while back even finding someone in the area who would install non.

 

[76FoMoCo]

Ppe! And a e30 tune. You will need a 3 bar map and plugs, stat is optional tho

 

[bpd1151]

I'm a new customer to PPE myself.

It's a family business, brother's Paul and Eric.

I've enjoyed my interactions with them thus far, and am looking forward to having their product on my car as the rebuilding process continues.

They're even welding on new, replacement bungs for my Autometer Pyrometers, and then they're also drop shipping them to JET-HOT for ceramic coating before they will eventually arrive in my hands.

But I see now why so many others have spoken so highly of them. Completely agreed with everyone's expressed experiences.

Definitely PPE. Great people.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[76FoMoCo]

I do feel bad to put them under my car as it's like dragging art work through the muddy world

 

[ridered74]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I assumed I would get the answers above, but just hated to start back over. Im sure I'll be much happier in the long run. Looks as though a new tune is coming soon.
As for DPs, any recommendations for the best bang for my buck? Id like to stay with catted. Even though i don't have inspections where I live in TN, i had trouble a while back even finding someone in the area who would install non.

If it makes you feel better, I had trouble finding anyone to install my catted DP's. Went to 4 different places in person, and called a few others. Ended up spending less time doing them myself than I spent looking for someone to do them. I guess a lot of places don't want to deal with aftermarket parts these days unless they can purchase the parts themselves and mark them up like crazy.

 

[76FoMoCo]

If it makes you feel better, I had trouble finding anyone to install my catted DP's. Went to 4 different places in person, and called a few others. Ended up spending less time doing them myself than I spent looking for someone to do them. I guess a lot of places don't want to deal with aftermarket parts these days unless they can purchase the parts themselves and mark them up like crazy.

it's more the catted part this is an IM issue shops don't want the deal with the epa side of this

 

[SM105K]

The swap is pretty easy.

 

[JustinTN]

Yeah I found a good shop in Nashville that will do the swap for about $300. The shop that did my muffler delete wanted to do it for about 450....per pipe....lol They'll never see me again

 

[JustinTN]

Ppe! And a e30 tune. You will need a 3 bar map and plugs, stat is optional tho

I already have the 3bar, so shouldn't be a problem. GH can do the e30 tune, right? I remember seeing specs in other threads, but what's the ratio on gas that y'all normally run?

 

[ridered74]

I already have the 3bar, so shouldn't be a problem. GH can do the e30 tune, right? I remember seeing specs in other threads, but what's the ratio on gas that y'all normally run?

The mix ratio is dependent on the E content of the station that you use, and most only guarantee a range. For example, near me it says on the pump it can be anywhere between 70-85% E. If I do a 2 parts 93 octane to 1 part E85 mix, that puts me at 35% if it is E85 and at 30% if it is E70.

I have an ethanol content sensor so I can see real time the exact percentage in my car, but a lot of people run E30 without the sensor. Below is a good website for figuring out mixes once you know the gas station's E content.

http://www.georgebelton.com/E85Calculator.php

 

[limited02]

LMS tuned here with no issues, but on the fence of switching as well to either GH or AJPturbo. After I move into the new house and the dust settles, we’ll see how much money I have left to burn.

One thing I’ve gathered from those who have dyno’d and switched from LMS to GH or AJP is they’ve picked up more power throughout the curve that it was like adding down pipes. So, a tune only change to GH or AJP could be like adding DP’s if you stayed with LMS.

 

[High on Ethanol]

GearHead E30 tune is the best daily tune as well as the most thorough tune IMHO.
You may think I'm a fanboy for them, and you'd be correct. I have no downsides or regrets, only positive things.
I've had other tuners and they were also great and I would recommend them as well.(unleashed:Torrie never sleeps!, AJPTurbo:Brad does fantastic work!)

GearHead makes the transmission feel like a much higher end car. They also have seemingly more top end pull, but slightly lower low end. That's purely opinion based on my experiences.
I don't track my car beyond airport flashlight style drags when they run them. But I do run it hard almost every stoplight that I can and the occasional high speed on open highways.

GearHead seems to be developing more for this platform than any other tuner. I support that heavily.

One final note: the incredible shifting is the first and last thing on my mind every single time I drive. I'd say this and the Auto Octane feature are two GearHead exclusives.

 

[DARTHSHO]

Does anyone use sct tuner

 

[ridered74]

Does anyone use sct tuner

Almost everyone uses an SCT device to load their tunes....or do you mean the canned tunes that come on the SCT device? I don't think many people use those.