To tune OR Not to tune?! that is the question!

2829 Views 18 Replies 14 Participants Last post by trick3d, May 13, 2012

ghostfaceSTikilla

Discussion Starter · May 10, 2012

So I just bought a brand new 2011 EVO MR, and the dealership installed some aftermarket options that basically made it a stage two (minus the tune). All the parts and car are under warranty for 6y 60,000 miles. I didn't get the extended warranty, but the dealership threw it in to sweeten the deal on the car. So I called COBB and asked if the access port would void the warranty and the rep told me that it "could" and that it is not ment to be "hidden" so it was a very real possabilty that it could depending on what the dealership had diag wise. Man!! six years is along time to wait to start moding the car and making it faster...:wallbash: what do you think?

The parts that the dealer put on (performance wise) are:

Borlia Stainless Steel Cat-Back System
K&N 69 Series Typhoon™ Air Intake System

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trick3d

· #2 · May 10, 2012

thats not stage 2 pumpkin

1. Mistsu will deny claims if they see the ecu has been flashed and the failure can be attributed to increased power.
2. Everyone will tell you to tune it.
3. Test pipe and a tune will gain you more power than any intake or catback ever will, to me they seem like pointless mods besides for sound.
4. Im crazy and believe in retaining my warranty cause I cant afford the cost to repair the failure when it DOES happen.
5.I dont believe in deceiving the manufacturer.
6. Its like this with every manufacturer and nothing new.

there have been certain sayings created that apply. "Pay to Play" and "Whats a mitsu Warranty"

Enjoy your new STI killer.

TheBlade

· #3 · May 10, 2012

Tricked isn't happy with his Evo and is usually quite the pessimist, but he speaks a lot of truth.
A regional rep won't care if mods were supplied and installed by the dealer to deny a claim should something happen

1. Flashing the ECU may or maynot be detected. If you use an AP and unmarry it before taking it in, they'll likely never know it was there, even if they use their best equipment. HOWEVER, Tricked is right. It's dishonest to hide that you've had a car tuned. Don't be one of "those" people.

2. yeah, everyone will point out the car is really rich on the factory tune, and tuning unlocks some serious power, even without any bolt-on mods, and even more with.

3. Tricked is right again, TP and tune are big power adders, but I have the K&N Typhoon and a GReddy Ti-C cat-back with no tune and love that I can actually hear the turbo spool now.

4. If you mod stuff can happen. Stuff can happen even if you don't mod. When or if something ever happens will always be an unknown. However:

-Using a quality tuner
-Having realistic goals
-Not driving your car like an idiot,
-Following good maintainence habits
-Knowing how to monitor engine and tune health with WB A/F, Boost, Oil Press, and how to datalog.

will *significantly* decrease the chances of needing to be at the dealer for drivetrain issues.

You pay to play, you pay to own, you pay for a hobby and to have fun. And lastly Tricked is right, whatever you're decision if you're happy with that decision you'll enjoy your Evo.

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ExtremeDSM

· #4 · May 10, 2012

I talked to a Mitsu Tech and they said they are cracking down on cars that have tunes. But it is so worth it!!!

spikester603

· #5 · May 10, 2012 (Edited)

ghostfaceSTikilla said:
So I just bought a brand new 2011 EVO MR, and the dealership installed some aftermarket options that basically made it a stage two (minus the tune). All the parts and car are under warranty for 6y 60,000 miles. I didn't get the extended warranty, but the dealership threw it in to sweeten the deal on the car. So I called COBB and asked if the access port would void the warranty and the rep told me that it "could" and that it is not ment to be "hidden" so it was a very real possabilty that it could depending on what the dealership had diag wise. Man!! six years is along time to wait to start moding the car and making it faster...:wallbash: what do you think?

The parts that the dealer put on (performance wise) are:

Borlia Stainless Steel Cat-Back System
K&N 69 Series Typhoon™ Air Intake System

No disrespect buddy! but you don even have stage 1 upgrades. Someone has been chewing your ear with a load of horse crap!!

For stage 1 you need intake, exhaust and a tune.

Fuck waiting 6 years either... everytime your car should occur a problem... the stealership will find a way out of paying under warranty! you need to trust me and probably 1000's of other X owners. Get modding straight away bro.

Zoomie

· #6 · May 10, 2012

It seems like the benefits of tuning a 2010 or 2011 are less than the original 2008 pig-rich factory tune. I think as Mitsu has gained confidence in the 4b11, they've leaned out the default tune.

Intake and Exhaust do a lot for noise but only a little for performance. TP and tune seem to be the best start if you're only focused on power gain. I knew the intake and exhaust were more for show than go when I had them done, but I had the excuse of also doing the TP, DP, and IC upgrade at the same time. Ultimately it's your car so do it up however you like!

If you're seriously looking for a bit more power then I have two suggestions:

1. Find a good tuner and be honest and realistic about your goals. If you want a car that looks and sounds cool to pick up chicks then say so!** If you're truly interested in performance, figure out what your goals are and ask how much it's going to cost. A drag Evo is a completely different beast than one for AutoX.

2. Don't skimp. It's better to get moderate gains with a few quality parts than to buy a ton of cheap parts for the sake of a long "mod" list. My personal opinion is that you shouldn't spend money upgrading the car until it's paid off and you can afford to do it right. Many of us on this forum will go on and on about how slow the stock Evo is, or how much of an upgrade their new coils or brakes were. Just know that you can also make the stock X much worse if you're lazy with your upgrades.

** If you bought an Evo to pick up chicks then you're SOL. This thing is a dude-magnet.

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spikester603

· #7 · May 10, 2012

** If you bought an Evo to pick up chicks then you're SOL. This thing is a dude-magnet.[/QUOTE said:
I disagree... its more of a teenage boy magnet lol.... shit I need to sell this car lol

Natek

· #8 · May 10, 2012

I think most people buy them cause there fun to drive!!!!!!!

zikizira

· #9 · May 11, 2012

Get a tune, and make your car a Stage 1. Install a Test-Pipe and a better InterCooler, and make it a Stage 2.

WraithX

· #10 · May 11, 2012

Dont fucking tune it.

sxng9

· #11 · May 11, 2012

I'm sure the Access Port will void the warranty. If the car is running without issues, just leave it alone. You will screw yourself should anything bad happen. Break in the car properly, since you've bought the Evo brand new.

After a few months or a year down the road, then if you want to mod the car, do so. Why ruin a perfectly brand new Evo without getting a chance to know it better?

If you really have money to blow, spend it on:
1) A two-way alarm system (with remote starter).
2) Coilovers.
3) A new set of wheels.

ExtremeDSM

· #12 · May 11, 2012

Yes, coilovers and some new wheels would be great. Get some nice light weight ones though. Don't skimp out on rims!!!

SnipeUout

· #13 · May 11, 2012

Just get the the Cobb AP and get pro tune or etune. You be glad you did. The K&N system required some ECU trickery if I remeber correctly and IMO is probably more risky to run without a proper tune.

People who are telling to leave it stock for a bit are correct. Yet your abit too late for that.

sxng9 said:
I'm sure the Access Port will void the warranty. If the car is running without issues, just leave it alone... .

How is going to know if its running without issue with that intake? He cant read the knock index.

TheJFactor

· #14 · May 11, 2012

The extra 40kws gained with a tune is worth it.

MikeM

· #15 · May 11, 2012

I am not happy with my stock X. I am going to do what makes me happy. I will get a TP and Cat back with a tune by RRE. Also not beating the shit out of your car will make it last and be that much more enjoyable.

ExtremeDSM

· #16 · May 11, 2012

^Agreed. I hate having cars that I am not happy with. Make it the way you want it.

ghostfaceSTikilla

Discussion Starter · #17 · May 11, 2012

sxng9 said:
I'm sure the Access Port will void the warranty. If the car is running without issues, just leave it alone. You will screw yourself should anything bad happen. Break in the car properly, since you've bought the Evo brand new.

After a few months or a year down the road, then if you want to mod the car, do so. Why ruin a perfectly brand new Evo without getting a chance to know it better?

If you really have money to blow, spend it on:
1) A two-way alarm system (with remote starter).
2) Coilovers.
3) A new set of wheels.

That sound like the best course of action im going to let it ride for 6 ~ 1yr and give it a nice long break-in period. Then I will see how I feel about it then. thanks for all the suggestions

riceless:

toaster.evox

· #18 · May 11, 2012

i would think more of what your going to use the car for rather then to get a tune or not , if this is you dd and you have failures your going to be sol. if its not i wouldnt waste time waiting on warrenty, i have 2500 mile on my 2011 and little over 4k in part im in the process of installing will be tune shortly after. i started small mod with less then 500 mile on my car.

why did you get 6yr 60k or that was free? i was told since it was a performance car they only give 3 year 30k which i laugh and though they were joking but thats all they gave me.

trick3d

· #19 · May 13, 2012

toaster.evox said:
why did you get 6yr 60k or that was free? i was told since it was a performance car they only give 3 year 30k which i laugh and though they were joking but thats all they gave me.

Must be nice not to care about reliability

Read your warranty manual of you wan the real answer.

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