Alex Alpine ECU Tune

[TeamBFT]

Added Alex's tune Saturday and it rips.
Stage 2 is next. But need to get by emissions first - will search for some high flow cats.

But the tune was super seamless to install........car pulls harder and idles really nice. Very happy!!
BTW - as always noted by others - Alex is super responsive. My lousy work email prevented the files from coming thru - Alex immediately popped them to a shared drive and I was off and tuning.

Quick vid my son took after the tune:

Also has a Megan Racing axle back exhaust - which I love!! Its gotten a bit louder over the past few weeks since install and is perfect. Talk about bang for the buck!!

MS Performance filter a while back and installed MS Under Drive pulley Saturday.
Plugs, thermostat, blah blah all done.

Car pulls well!! Love this car more and more!!!

[keeeban]

After reading through almost every page of this thread, I'm sold. Looking forward to the tune!

[Route 16]

I think I know why my numbers are low. It's because of my iPE muffler. Just like the guys a few years back who were supercharged and had an iPE set up. Their dyno numbers were lower than the expected norm. So by default, anyone with a valve-tronic muffler set up will have lower HP numbers. So I can only assume I am higher with a normal set up.

[keeeban]

Got the package in 2 days. Instructions were very clear, had no issues from start to finish. Picked up the car last August bone stock - pretty certain it's DME software hasn't been updated since it left the lot in 2011. After updating to 241E and Alex's stage 1 tune, it's like a night and day difference lol

Got a couple more maps for different exhaust set ups for the future as well. A+ for the work and customer service. Thanks again!

[Ikejones]

Loaded up the tune tonight and absolutely love it. It pulls sooo much more now when down low. It just jumps to life. Servtronics for M mode is crazy tight now too. Wheel only has minimal movement when taking turns going down the road.

I can only imagine what a stage 2 feels like. Guess i gotta start modding

[Aries326]

Wow, I'm excited for this tune. Definitely going to get it. I can't put on x-pipes because of emissions rules in NC. How many more HPs will I get just with tune, pulleys and intake?

[Route 16]

Originally Posted by Aries326

Wow, I'm excited for this tune. Definitely going to get it. I can't put on x-pipes because of emissions rules in NC. How many more HPs will I get just with tune, pulleys and intake?

In my experience, over 30 for sure, MAYbe up to 40.

[ramo135]

Add another satisfied customer, very easy to install and even on stage one the car drives how I i originally imagined it would. The car would jerk really hard in second at low RPMs and that's now gone as well. Now time to find the right xpipe to go with my MPE and stage two 😂👌

[M3ANMACHINE]

Originally Posted by Route 16

In my experience, over 30 for sure, MAYbe up to 40.

Even without removing cats? I've never heard of gains that high without modding the X Pipe.

[Route 16]

Originally Posted by M3ANMACHINE

Even without removing cats? I've never heard of gains that high without modding the X Pipe.

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1474031
yup happened to me

[E92M3GT]

Originally Posted by ramo135

Add another satisfied customer, very easy to install and even on stage one the car drives how I i originally imagined it would. The car would jerk really hard in second at low RPMs and that's now gone as well. Now time to find the right xpipe to go with my MPE and stage two 😂👌

Evolve test pipes

[ItsGary]

Originally Posted by E92M3GT

Evolve test pipes

Does the brand of test pipe matter? Or are they all the same?

[codinge90]

Originally Posted by ItsGary

Does the brand of test pipe matter? Or are they all the same?

They're literally all a piece of metal that replaced the primary cat. Where they differ is there are fitment differences between them but if you're going to have a muffler shop do it then it shouldn't matter. I would possibly look at the bigger brand names if it was DIY

[ItsGary]

Originally Posted by codinge90

They're literally all a piece of metal that replaced the primary cat. Where they differ is there are fitment differences between them but if you're going to have a muffler shop do it then it shouldn't matter. I would possibly look at the bigger brand names if it was DIY

I meant in terms of sound and stuff

[codinge90]

Originally Posted by ItsGary

I meant in terms of sound and stuff

Sound wise they'll all sound the same. There are test pipe brands that you can option resonators so those will yield a different sound but the majority of people that have test pipes just do the straight pipe section

[mrdoja]

Just received and installed my stage 2 tune from Alex@Alpine. I hate to sound boring, but yet again what a difference! It's an overall smoother car throughout the RPMs and I now feel a significant improvement in the lower RPMs - very aggressive and definitely adds torque - head snapping torque :-)

The install - including updating to newest software before Stage 2 - took all of about 12 minutes. I couldn't be happier - Thank you Alex (and BOOF) !!!
Doug

[wfdeacon88]

Originally Posted by mrdoja

Just received and installed my stage 2 tune from Alex@Alpine. I hate to sound boring, but yet again what a difference! It's an overall smoother car throughout the RPMs and I now feel a significant improvement in the lower RPMs - very aggressive and definitely adds torque - head snapping torque :-)

The install - including updating to newest software before Stage 2 - took all of about 12 minutes. I couldn't be happier - Thank you Alex (and BOOF) !!!
Doug

noob question... what is required to get a stage 2? Cat Delete? What is preferred between x or test pipes? Currently stock with OEM 2 pipe mod, but want to make sure I get the most of it without risking anything to the engine..

[mrdoja]

Originally Posted by wfdeacon88

noob question... what is required to get a stage 2? Cat Delete? What is preferred between x or test pipes? Currently stock with OEM 2 pipe mod, but want to make sure I get the most of it without risking anything to the engine..

I'm still a noob, but can answer based on my experience and from reading other posts. Stage 1 is good for basically a stock car, intake and exhaust mod. From what I've read you should gain ~20-30HP with just his tune.
I installed Aktive Autowerks test pipes (but can be any brand they're all the same) onto an OEM xpipe (i actually bought that setup from a member so i could keep my stock system) - which is why I chose the Stage 2 tune. I have the ACM exhaust mod. The car just feels better and more torque at low end (still noticeable higher rpm too - sounds amazing). I also requested a 93 Octane tune as that's what I run in my car anyway so figured I'd get the most out of it.
As for reliability, there are NUMEROUS members on this site that have had his tune for years with 0 issues. Reliability was an issue for me too, but after reading all the positive feedback / error-free posts I chose Alex.
Hope this helps.
Doug

[wfdeacon88]

Originally Posted by mrdoja

I'm still a noob, but can answer based on my experience and from reading other posts. Stage 1 is good for basically a stock car, intake and exhaust mod. From what I've read you should gain ~20-30HP with just his tune.
I installed Aktive Autowerks test pipes (but can be any brand they're all the same) onto an OEM xpipe (i actually bought that setup from a member so i could keep my stock system) - which is why I chose the Stage 2 tune. I have the ACM exhaust mod. The car just feels better and more torque at low end (still noticeable higher rpm too - sounds amazing). I also requested a 93 Octane tune as that's what I run in my car anyway so figured I'd get the most out of it.
As for reliability, there are NUMEROUS members on this site that have had his tune for years with 0 issues. Reliability was an issue for me too, but after reading all the positive feedback / error-free posts I chose Alex.
Hope this helps.
Doug

very helpful sir! thank you.. really appreciate it. I know you have ACM and I have 2 Pipe Perf, but do you find the test pipes to have any noise issues, or safety issues with the gases? I read on here all sorts of claims and I don't want to go test pipes if it's unsafe for the morning daycare drop-off. yeah that's lame as hell but true.

[wyatth]

I was intent on getting test pipes for the cheap power (and sound). But after thinking about it more, it's a car I let idle more than others (warm up, if I am waiting for a few minutes, etc.). I have a young son, park in an underground garage. Some people say it smells, some say it doesn't, some say the gas is odorless but you're still breathing it. Is a little power worth it? Not IMO for a street car, but YMMV.

[Thtkidwihthem3]

Originally Posted by cmo_93

I have this tune and it's great! No issues what so ever!

If he had an option for e-85 I would pull the trigger rktunes is 900$ with a free tablet and free e-85 tune idk which to use

[Route 16]

Originally Posted by wyatth

I was intent on getting test pipes for the cheap power (and sound). But after thinking about it more, it's a car I let idle more than others (warm up, if I am waiting for a few minutes, etc.). I have a young son, park in an underground garage. Some people say it smells, some say it doesn't, some say the gas is odorless but you're still breathing it. Is a little power worth it? Not IMO for a street car, but YMMV.

it does smell, once I turn on the car I go into N and let it idle outside, I never leave it idle in a closed space and I'm conscious about the people behind me when we wait in line for our base to check ID's, it gives me headaches getting a whiff of it sometimes and I've had the set up for 4 months already