The CO tuning conundrum

[Audimilo]

Gents,

Perhaps I am just overthinking this one.

- but that's why I come to AZ for help.

Here's my thinking- The parts are gathered up, and I am just waiting on a few pieces to return from Ceramic coating by Swaintech.

I'll be going a full Stage 3 F21 swap this Nov.

The last remaining piece of the setup is the Tuning. I have searched, read, and reviewed what i believe to be all of my options. I'm not a tune savvy guy, so I wont be going the netmofo or maestro route, This is not my cup o tea, and I am going to have an experienced tuner do the tuning for me.

That leaves 2 options. Remote tuning, Or Local shop / tuner.

I am located in Colorado, and unfortunately we dont have any 034 Motorsports or EPL types in our state. Most are locals that AZ isnt too familiar with (correct me if im wrong)

I have spoken with 034, and they recommended me to Bluewater performance in Denver. They use United Motorsports software. I contacted them and they quoted me "around 1000 bucks" for the dyno time, and tune. Upon researching them they appear to be a great shop with a good reputation, but they dont even have a fan set up on their dyno. Again correct me if i'm wrong, but i see fault in that, and I'm not about to tune on a dyno without fans and heatsoak the car pull after pull.

We also have 3Zero3 motorsports, Autosport werks, Avalon motorsports, and perhaps a few others. None that really stand out in my mind. Any good tuners in Boulder CO perhaps??

As for the Remote tuning option, First and formost, I am on a Mac. Not a new, dual booted windows running one either. (please spare me from the "oh just dual boot your comptuer and run a windows emulator" talk - not happenin) I dont have a PC laptop either, and dont forsee purchasing one - unless thats the only option and its a must have. I'd just rather not deal with that route.

So remote tuning to me doesnt seem like the best option, but again, I havent counted it out yet, I'd have to buy a PC, learn how to Log, find a tuner that acutally returns emails and phone calls, and has experience tuning at altitude. Not so common with the folks on either coast.

those that come to mind are:
EPL - dont have their fueling so that prob wont happen
JFonz -lotta good reviews, lotta mixed, perhaps the flavor of the month rather than a tried n true option (not trying to start shit correct me if im out of line)
Daz- good things said by many people.
034- said they could remote tune me but havent been timely returning emails or phone calls.

anyways I'm not trying to start a debate the tuner conversation or muddy the waters, just trying to figure out what i should do here. maybe im over thinking this but anyways.. i figure i'd poll AZ and see what you would do if you were in my shoes. Thanks

[McGovs2.7TB5]

Autosport Werks is an EPL dealer iirc. 3zero3 is awesome and who I take my S4 to, but they are spendy. They do Revo tunes there. Gabe and the guys at Bluewater are good too. I've heard great things about Berg Performance as well. Apikol and Autohaus are in Boulder and can probably help you ou. We have a lot of good shops here, start by talking to them and choosing whom you feel comfortable with and are close to home. http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...-Shop-Resource

if BW doesn't have a fan what is that big blue thing in front of the Golf?

[Zba]

I'm soon to be in the same boat except I'll be going with the standard off the shelf 3F tune from epic for the time being.
When the time comes I will either be going with Avalon or Berg or if I can get my act together and log, let epic tweak it.
I currently have a stage 2 tune from epic and I like it. It also depends on what you want out of your car; all out performance via the custom route or decent performance with tweaked ofs software.

I'm just as lost my friend...

[Audimilo]

if BW doesn't have a fan what is that big blue thing in front of the Golf?

Thanks for the input.

from what I read on the rocky mtn regional forum- the pics of fans infront of cars at Bluewater performance were customer supplied fans. That sounded Ridiculous to me, but in all of the different pictures i've seen of cars on their dyno I saw different fans! please tell me that isnt so...

[McGovs2.7TB5]

Where did you read that? I just google image searched BW dyno and all the pics with a fan are the same blue one above. They are doing a dyno day here soon so just go by and check it out for yourself. Or you could just call them and ask about it.

[Tkemp]

Motoza? He's here in Colorado and can tune just about anything from what I've heard. It is a remote tune though...

[seal66]

I'll help ya clear up the fans for BW. They have 3 4k CFM small fans that they use(BW owns them), and the big blue fan is a swamp cooler.... Now I do know that Gabe is going to have a fan installed soon for the next dyno day that you wont have to worry about air flow at all. IT well push plenty of air. I have had my car tuned there and a lot of High HP VW's have been tuned there with no issues at all.

The UM price might be dead on, but it can run cheaper and it typically is done in one day.

Just some info.

[Audimilo]

Thank you very much.

If the fan issue will be resolved I will probably go with the UM and Bluewater route. 034 Motorsports had nothing but good things to say about them and assured me thats who they'd use in the CO area.

thx for the inputs. I think that the one stop shopping method of getting a tune will be the best bet for me.

[aysix]

Just install a wideband, make sure your hardware is in order and have daz tune the car. Windows XP Laptops are $100 on ebay.

Oh and lol @ UM. If anything, the guy jeff there would probably refer you to EPL for the B5 S4...since that's where he sends the local guys anyway.

[Audimilo]

Just install a wideband, make sure your hardware is in order and have daz tune the car. Windows XP Laptops are $100 on ebay.

Oh and lol @ UM. If anything, the guy jeff there would probably refer you to EPL for the B5 S4...since that's where he sends the local guys anyway.

Hardware will be in order and a wideband will be installed.

why do you say LOL @ UM? details? any particular reason why?

[seal66]

Just install a wideband, make sure your hardware is in order and have daz tune the car. Windows XP Laptops are $100 on ebay.

Oh and lol @ UM. If anything, the guy jeff there would probably refer you to EPL for the B5 S4...since that's where he sends the local guys anyway.

No fan issues at all man.

Considering they have tuned b5s4's before I doubt they are going to send him anywhere.

[aysix]

tuned b5s4's before I doubt they are going to send him anywhere.

anyone on here? JW

[Audimilo]

They say tuning the B5 S4 is no issue. but given the lack of results or anyone that ive seen here on the boards providing any feedback as to their tune it provides cause for question like their fan situation did for me.

[seal66]

anyone on here? JW

Honestly I don't know. Never asked if they were on AZ. I just have taken drives with them

[aysix]

As a local to CT very close to both EPL and UM. I've heard and witnessed bad things about UM, heard and witnessed good things about EPL. I'm not going into detail since everyone has their own experience. My experience was good with Daz and made really great power with my setup. People also have had luck with ETG.

[Audimilo]

Only heard good things about Daz.

whats his background ?

[SoloMotorsports]

I've had some pretty good success with high altitude tuning. For pike's peak 2012 I tuned the Peak Eurosport b5 s4 on stock motor running e85 and 605's that placed 8th in class.

[Ozo8r]

Check out Apikol in Boulder for tuning and performance mods.

I have dyno'd with Carz Performance in Lakewood. They use superflow dyno with two large fans and hood open. Just dyno'd with them 2 weeks ago to baseline stock before stage 2 tune. $95 for three runs.

[seal66]

They say tuning the B5 S4 is no issue. but given the lack of results or anyone that ive seen here on the boards providing any feedback as to their tune it provides cause for question like their fan situation did for me.

I understand where you are coming from. I have seen the results first hand. Me and Aysix can rattle off things all day but the decision on who you go with is up to you. I like being able to have a dealer where I live. UM and BW have been awesome for me and if I have any issues they are less than a 20-30 min drive for me. I haven't had any issues and I have been running their E85 tune for the B7 for almost 6 months now roughly, and UM tuned for over a year. The fan thing is not a big issue cause 3 4k CFM fans are going to push more than enough air into your car, while not having to worry about heat soaking fast.

As a local to CT very close to both EPL and UM. I've heard and witnessed bad things about UM, heard and witnessed good things about EPL. I'm not going into detail since everyone has their own experience. My experience was good with Daz and made really great power with my setup. People also have had luck with ETG.

See as you stated I have heard the Opposite for EPL. Heard and read many bad reviews of them. Now in all honesty, I have read and heard bad reviews on both EPL, UM, Motoza, SAW, JHM, APR, Uni, GIAC.... you name it. Never dealt with ETG so I can't anything about them nor have I read about them.

Again, It is going to be the ops decision on who he goes with. Good luck man, just trying to throw my 2cents in and help a follow Coloradian out.

[seal66]

Check out Apikol in Boulder for tuning and performance mods.

I have dyno'd with Carz Performance in Lakewood. They use superflow dyno with two large fans and hood open. Just dyno'd with them 2 weeks ago to baseline stock before stage 2 tune. $95 for three runs.

Doug is awesome to work with when He is not busy. He is a one man show and does his best for damn sure.

Carz is a good place to dyno. I think last time I dyno'd there was two years ago and it was $65-70 for AFR and 3 baseline runs. Great guys and car faces out towards street on dyno run as well, so air comes in from outside the shop too. Can be bad on a hot day lol.

Tons of dyno's around the springs and denver area to use so.

[Audimilo]

Seal, Solo, Ozo8

Thanks for the replies.

It seems like remote tuning could be a good option for me pending i got a laptop and correct logging software. what do you fellas recommend as a cheap ass tuning only PC laptop ? thx.

[aysix]

Seal, Solo, Ozo8

Thanks for the replies.

It seems like remote tuning could be a good option for me pending i got a laptop and correct logging software. what do you fellas recommend as a cheap ass tuning only PC laptop ? thx.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Latitud...item51c5ba89d5

[seal66]

I would just do a cheap netbook or even an old laptop like aysix posted