big name tuner with best drivability?

[newkidnik]

Mind posting up that video/picture of the places he's having you check?

It's probably one of these two:
[ame]
[ame]

Gibbo, I had false knock after the exhaust install on my S197. The sensors are very sensitive when they aren't dumbed down. The smallest stuff can set it off. I'm sure you'll be able to narrow it down with a little time.

EDIT: Gibbo beat me to it! They're on his Youtube channel.

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[Gibbo205]

Just got back from garage, we thoroughly went over everything in the videos, exhaust is absolutely spot on, zero issues.

So it has to be something within the engine bay. If I hold revs at 4000rpm in neutral and then blip the throttle hard a couple of times, I get knock in neutral from revving hard.

Tonight I am going to remove the CAI and re-check throttle body, because when I removed the blowfish adapter when swapping TB's over one of the small screws from the blowfish adapter fell in the engine bay, could not see it on the floor so that little screw if has not fallen out must still be somewhere in the bay.

But could such a tiny screw set of the knock sensors?

 

[ManBearPig]

Thanks for all the input It sounds like guys like Rob Shoemaker and Shaun at AED offer a more "tailored" tune than Lund, livernois, etc. I know none of these guys like to have their tunes referred to as "canned, but it looks like some are more than others. When I talked with Shaun, he said his process is to get a datalog before even sending a tune. Makes it sound like each tune truly is built specific to each car. Is that better than what someone like Lund offers? Maybe. I dunno

 

[Matte Black]

I've had nothing but great luck with AED and VMP- both are very very good at what they do. I haven't had Lund but I'm sure he would be a great choice as well.

As far as chasing false knock- I had a panhard bar with spherical bearings that was transmitting 'knock' through the rear, all the way back to the knock sensors (VERY sensitive!) Replaced that with a poly unit and the 'ghost knock' went away. I know the S550 is different but its just to give you an idea of ghost knock coming from the craziest of places.

 

[Gibbo205]

I've had nothing but great luck with AED and VMP- both are very very good at what they do. I haven't had Lund but I'm sure he would be a great choice as well.

As far as chasing false knock- I had a panhard bar with spherical bearings that was transmitting 'knock' through the rear, all the way back to the knock sensors (VERY sensitive!) Replaced that with a poly unit and the 'ghost knock' went away. I know the S550 is different but its just to give you an idea of ghost knock coming from the craziest of places.

Thank you.

As I can replicate it at idle and blipping the throttle in neutral I am thinking it must be something within the engine bay, so I gonna give it a thorough checking over.

 

[ManBearPig]

I spent a half hour on the phone with Shaun at AED today. He sounds like he knows his stuff, and is willing to tailor the car to however I want it to drive. My only hang up is that he only uses the SCT. I know the x4 has datalog capabilities, but doesn't look near as intuitive as the ngauge. Shaun says that datalog gong is a vital part of his tuning process, and I'm not sure I'm good enough with computers to figure out how to do it without screwing something up with the x4.

 

[Bluemustang]

I spent a half hour on the phone with Shaun at AED today. He sounds like he knows his stuff, and is willing to tailor the car to however I want it to drive. My only hang up is that he only uses the SCT. I know the x4 has datalog capabilities, but doesn't look near as intuitive as the ngauge. Shaun says that datalog gong is a vital part of his tuning process, and I'm not sure I'm good enough with computers to figure out how to do it without screwing something up with the x4.

The SCT is super easy to use and datalog. It also have a crank relearn function which I'm told the NGauge does not. Using the software you get on the SCT website it's really pretty easy to log parameters and export the data. It's a fairly brainless exercise.

 

[newkidnik]

Thanks for all the input It sounds like guys like Rob Shoemaker and Shaun at AED offer a more "tailored" tune than Lund, livernois, etc. I know none of these guys like to have their tunes referred to as "canned, but it looks like some are more than others. When I talked with Shaun, he said his process is to get a datalog before even sending a tune. Makes it sound like each tune truly is built specific to each car. Is that better than what someone like Lund offers? Maybe. I dunno

I think most tuners are certainly willing to do data logging with their customers. AED, Lund, VMP will all data log as will others like Bama, JDM. There's parity on that service for these products, so that's positive. Quite frankly, it's also 100% necessary to dial in a tune.

Shaun wants to datalog before the tune to make sure the car is in proper running order. It's easier to isolate a potential problem before tuning; he just wants to define the baseline.

I spent a half hour on the phone with Shaun at AED today. He sounds like he knows his stuff, and is willing to tailor the car to however I want it to drive. My only hang up is that he only uses the SCT. I know the x4 has datalog capabilities, but doesn't look near as intuitive as the ngauge. Shaun says that datalog gong is a vital part of his tuning process, and I'm not sure I'm good enough with computers to figure out how to do it without screwing something up with the x4.

The SCT gives AED access to certain parameters that are not available with HP Tuners and vice versa. Shaun prioritizes the parameters he can manipulate with the X4 over the access to other parameters he'd gain (and what he'd lose access to) if he switched to HP Tuners which is why that tuning platform is still his preference.

The SCT device itself is not the actual item that datalogs. The datalogging software you have to DL on your laptop is what captures the datalog/data. Think of the X4 as more like the interface that allows your computer to speak with your vehicle.

Here's a rough idea of the process:
1) You downloaded the SCT device updater and Gen II Live Link datalogging software on your laptop, and use the updater to make sure your SCT device has the latest firmware version. This updater is also what you use to load and unload tunes on your X4. Tunes are sent by your tuner through email.

2) Once you ensure that your SCT is updated, you hook it up to the OBD2 port in your car. You also connect it to your laptop and open up Live Link. The connection goes OBD2 -> X4 through a connector cable, and then X4 -> laptop through another cable. You have the handheld and your laptop with you in the car.

3) In Gen II Live Link (the software you use to datalog) you select the parameters that need to be logged (Shaun provides a list). Then you initiate a log, do the type of pull the tuner wants, and then end the log and save the file to your computer.

4) After the datalog files are saved to your computer, you just email them to Shaun and he sends back revision, requests for pulls, etc.

It is highly unlikely that you will mess up your SCT device. In fact, I am not exact sure how you'd do it. One point of information, there are generic SCT 'tunes' loaded onto the X4 itself. These are NOT the custom tuning files you'd work with in a datalogging scenario. It's just something that's on the device sort of like how the Dodge guys load on those dumbed down canned Diablo tunes. Remember, use the X4 as just an interface for your laptop software to speak with your vehicle and capture data.

When I first used it, it was intimidating, but if you follow the process it's easy to acquire a comfort level with these things. Most tuners require this type of process. Also, there are plenty of useful Youtube videos that outline the process.

Hope this helps!

 

[newkidnik]

The SCT is super easy to use and datalog. It also have a crank relearn function which I'm told the NGauge does not. Using the software you get on the SCT website it's really pretty easy to log parameters and export the data. It's a fairly brainless exercise.

KAM reset, Crank Relearn, final drive ratio revision, etc. There's a special functions menu that allows you to adjust a variety of things, and that comes in handy. On the X3 the crank relearn wasn't available; I used to have to go to the dealer for that!

 

[mustang_guy]

Ngauge has crank relearn

 

[Matte Black]

Ngauge has crank relearn

I'm pretty sure they can't do a relearn.

My buddy just had to borrow my x4 last week for this reason. Unless there was an update he was not aware of.

 

[mustang_guy]

I'm pretty sure they can't do a relearn.

My buddy just had to borrow my x4 last week for this reason. Unless there was an update he was not aware of.

I assure you it most definitely does. Tell him to update his firmware.

 

[ManBearPig]

I didn't realize you had to use a laptop to datalog with the x4. That may easy for a tech savvy guy, but it sounds a bit complicated to me. Especially when compared to logging with the ngauge.

Side note...when would you need to perform a crank relearn? Is this ever necessary when swapping tunes?

 

[newkidnik]

I didn't realize you had to use a laptop to datalog with the x4. That may easy for a tech savvy guy, but it sounds a bit complicated to me. Especially when compared to logging with the ngauge.

Side note...when would you need to perform a crank relearn? Is this ever necessary when swapping tunes?

I am not 100% familiar with the Nguage, but how would you get the datalogs off of the Ngauage and into your email to send back to the tuner?

Typically a KAM reset and a crank relearn are preformed when you're loading or unloading tunes. They are both very quick.

 

[ManBearPig]

I am not 100% familiar with the Nguage, but how would you get the datalogs off of the Ngauage and into your email to send back to the tuner?

Typically a KAM reset and a crank relearn are preformed when you're loading or unloading tunes. They are both very quick.

The ngauge datalogs with the push of one button on the device. Once a log is complete, you can either remove the sd card from the device and plug it into your pc, or download it from the device to your pc using a micro usb cable. There is no software or additional drivers needed.

This is how I understand it anyway. If I'm wrong, please correct me.

It a crank relearn is neede each time a tune is loaded and the ngauge does not perform this...is there an extra step in missing?

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