$600 for a tune WTF?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,606
Likes: 355
From: Rochester New York
i know there is a lot involved with a good tune on a cammed out motor but $600 for a tune (from a very reputable tunner) seems like alot.... is it just me or is everything becoming alot more expensive.... $600 just seems like alot, i can get a mail order tune for $250 or so and i could buy all the software (used) to tune my car for under $600...
how much did ya'll pay for your tune? anyone have a mail order tune? or a first time DIY tune?
let me know,,,,, $600 seems like alot but maybe i just dont know prices of tunes that well....
how much did ya'll pay for your tune? anyone have a mail order tune? or a first time DIY tune?
let me know,,,,, $600 seems like alot but maybe i just dont know prices of tunes that well....
A REAL tune is not unreal to spend $600 on. It takes a lot of time and trial and error to get the tune done perfectly. Most "tunes" out there are rushed and generic. I can't tell you how many "tunes" I have seen where the tuner just simply adds a % to the entire VE table rather than data logging correctly and computing the correct values per individual cells. You want a GOOD tune, you will pay for it. You want an OK/Poor tune, then you can spend the $300-$400.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 27,567
Likes: 99
From: San Diego
Considering the cost of a motor, 500-600 dollars is worth it to have the car tuned right! If it's too much for you, you should sell your corvette and buy a toyota instead. Modding is expensive, especially if you want to do it right.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 535
Likes: 0
From: CA
Im getten tired off all the "rich" men and women on this site tellen me if I don't have the cash I need to sell my car and buy a beater. Not everyone is rollen in dough especially at this particular moment. Just because I am curiouse if $600 for a tune is alot doesn't give an ignorant individual the right to assume that I have no money.... not cool man try to be more polite
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 27,567
Likes: 99
From: San Diego
Im getten tired off all the "rich" men and women on this site tellen me if I don't have the cash I need to sell my car and buy a beater. Not everyone is rollen in dough especially at this particular moment. Just because I am curiouse if $600 for a tune is alot doesn't give an ignorant individual the right to assume that I have no money.... not cool man try to be more polite
Sorry if I didn't feel the thread required a polite post, considering the way the title of the thread started things.
Most shops now charge 90-120 dollars an hour labor to work on our cars. Considering your car will take a good half a day or a full day to tune properly at a tuning shop, I'd say 600 dollars is right in line.
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
On my last car I had tuned I drove it 4 hours get to the tuning session and got great mpg. When they strapped my car down it suddenly had issues and it took 3 hours to track down a myriad of issues that cropped up including a solenoid on the methanol system failed and would suck down a gallon of methanol in minutes while idling and a bad spark plug wire. As soon as we everything, he tuned the car in less than an hour. Mind you this was a blower swap and the entire MAF curve had to be redone. Tune was perfect and I couldn't have been happier with the drive-ability of the car.
What I am getting at is if the car is perfect and nothing needs to be corrected mechanically before the tune, how long does it really take?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 27,567
Likes: 99
From: San Diego
Because issues can come up while the car is getting tuned. Fuel issues, spark plug issues, fans not working, sometimes the computer in our cars isn't functioning optimally. You are talking about cars that are 7-14 years old.
And come on, how often does everything work out right without issues? In life, not very often.
And come on, how often does everything work out right without issues? In life, not very often.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,119
Likes: 156
From: Huntington tx
Look I don't care who you are, $600+ for a tune is a rape. Rich man-poor man $600 bucks is a fist full of hard earned money. Some clown sits down and spends hours running my car .... I'm gonna start questioning his work ethic, I don't pay for smoke breaks, chewing the fat with anyone nearby, discussing lotto numbers, complaining about girlfriends, OR how much MONEY he's gonna pocket today cause you pull up for a tune.
Anyway, When I pull up to a shop, I expect the employee to be working for me, I'm respectful and trust the guy to know what he's doing.
Anyway, When I pull up to a shop, I expect the employee to be working for me, I'm respectful and trust the guy to know what he's doing.
Last edited by sfc rick; Jul 24, 2011 at 05:24 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,121
Likes: 3
From: Shreveport/Bossier Louisiana
St. Jude Donor '08
Look I don't care who you are, $600+ for a tune is a rape. Rich man-poor man $600 bucks is a fist full of hard earned money. Some clown sits down and spends hours running my car .... I'm gonna start questioning his work ethic, I don't pay for smoke breaks, chewing the fat with anyone nearby, discussing lotto numbers, complaining about girlfriends, OR how much MONEY he's gonna pocket today cause you pull up for a tune.
Anyway, When I pull up to a shop, I expect the employee to be working for me, I'm respectful and trust the guy to know what he's doing.
Anyway, When I pull up to a shop, I expect the employee to be working for me, I'm respectful and trust the guy to know what he's doing.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 535
Likes: 0
From: CA
The thread title shows all the politeness I need to give. Apparently dyno-machines, tuning software, and tuning experience doesn't cost anything, and all you have to do is input a file, from the dyno computer to yours, and everything is done.
Sorry if I didn't feel the thread required a polite post, considering the way the title of the thread started things.
Most shops now charge 90-120 dollars an hour labor to work on our cars. Considering your car will take a good half a day or a full day to tune properly at a tuning shop, I'd say 600 dollars is right in line.
Sorry if I didn't feel the thread required a polite post, considering the way the title of the thread started things.
Most shops now charge 90-120 dollars an hour labor to work on our cars. Considering your car will take a good half a day or a full day to tune properly at a tuning shop, I'd say 600 dollars is right in line.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 652
Likes: 0
From: Arlington, Tx
I have heads, cam and several bolt ons. I bought the car out of NY where it had been put together and tuned by Vette Doctors. I installed 36lb injectors so needed it tuned again. Texas Speed charged me $400 and said from that point on it would just be dyno time if I added something and brought it back. Seemed reasonable to me. He ran it probably 5 pulls on the dynajet and worked on things in between, said he didn't have to do as much since it had been tuned before.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 20,800
Likes: 59
From: Tellico Village, Tn
St. Jude Donor '08
i know there is a lot involved with a good tune on a cammed out motor but $600 for a tune (from a very reputable tunner) seems like alot.... is it just me or is everything becoming alot more expensive.... $600 just seems like alot, i can get a mail order tune for $250 or so and i could buy all the software (used) to tune my car for under $600...
how much did ya'll pay for your tune? anyone have a mail order tune? or a first time DIY tune?
let me know,,,,, $600 seems like alot but maybe i just dont know prices of tunes that well....
how much did ya'll pay for your tune? anyone have a mail order tune? or a first time DIY tune?
let me know,,,,, $600 seems like alot but maybe i just dont know prices of tunes that well....
Last edited by Varmit; Jul 24, 2011 at 06:17 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 14,051
Likes: 9
From: Houston TX
the Title of the thread was to get attention to get posts not to bash tunners that charge in the premium end of the tune catagory... if you read my other posts in this thread i was respectfull of the time and equipment that went into a tune i was just questioning the price concidering a few years ago it used to be less... i wasnt bashing the price or the tunner who quoted me the $600 (in fact i even called him a very reputable tunner that i know for a fact does great work)... once again i was just curiouse about the price tag not bashing, im not trying to make any enimeys in the C5 section... i appriciate all the replies and knowledge shared. p.s. im not a broke joe with no cash flow, Im a home owner with a regular job that likes to take a long look at things and analize all the angles before parting with my hard earned cash... thanks
Retunes with the same vendor either for a revisit or an upgrade have been at some discounted amount about $300.
Again, why is it people have no problem droping $3,000, $5,000 or $10,000 on hardware upgrades then b!tch about a $500 or $600 tune?
Makes no sense at all.
Labour costs more now than 10 years ago, so at $500 or $600 a tune is a bargain now.
You take you daily driver to the neighbourhood garage and he will charge you 5 hours at $120 to fix your A/C + parts, no tuning involved yet you pay the man without so much as a complaint.
If you folks feel so strongly about "tuning" being a ripoff, go do it yourself.
Problem solved
After all, it is a simple market place - the price is simply a reflection of supply and demand.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 192
Likes: 1
From: Dover Oh
I own and operate a general auto repair shop so I fully understand the cost of doing business and $500-600 is not out of line for a good tune.Your paying for alot of things,the shop,dyno,software,tuners time and experience. The last one being very important. There are guys out there that do it cheaper some good some bad.
There is a shop near me that just installed a new dyno, they will do a tune for around $300. Tuner has very little tuning experience. Is it worth it to take a chance on YOUR engine to save $300 ? How much will it cost you to repair your damaged engine from a bad tune?
I picked my tuner very carefully and drove just over 4hrs to get to him and would do it again.
There is a shop near me that just installed a new dyno, they will do a tune for around $300. Tuner has very little tuning experience. Is it worth it to take a chance on YOUR engine to save $300 ? How much will it cost you to repair your damaged engine from a bad tune?
I picked my tuner very carefully and drove just over 4hrs to get to him and would do it again.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 20,800
Likes: 59
From: Tellico Village, Tn
St. Jude Donor '08
i own and operate a general auto repair shop so i fully understand the cost of doing business and $500-600 is not out of line for a good tune.your paying for alot of things,the shop,dyno,software,tuners time and experience. The last one being very important. There are guys out there that do it cheaper some good some bad.
There is a shop near me that just installed a new dyno, they will do a tune for around $300. Tuner has very little tuning experience. Is it worth it to take a chance on your engine to save $300 ? How much will it cost you to repair your damaged engine from a bad tune?
I picked my tuner very carefully and drove just over 4hrs to get to him and would do it again.
There is a shop near me that just installed a new dyno, they will do a tune for around $300. Tuner has very little tuning experience. Is it worth it to take a chance on your engine to save $300 ? How much will it cost you to repair your damaged engine from a bad tune?
I picked my tuner very carefully and drove just over 4hrs to get to him and would do it again.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,962
Likes: 254
From: Richmond, Ky
I have had zero experience with tuners or the associated costs but I am enjoying the discussion. I am self employed and have a fair amount of money invested in equipment and I realize that it costs a lot of money for anyone to be in business these days. Apparently from what I'm reading $600.00 should not be out of the realm of possibility for a tune. But to assume that every tune is worth or should cost $600.00 doesn't seem to be right either in my mind. Also I wonder if the $600.00 is the starting point for some tuners and goes up from there? Some of the comments I'm hearing sound like health care, you come in because you need me and I get to charge whatever I feel like no matter how ridiculous.
I probably don't need to state the obvious but remember, just because someone charges $600.00 for a tune doesn't mean they are good tuners. Go with the reputation of the tuner and the recommendations of previous/current customers. That is how I have maintained my business for years.
I probably don't need to state the obvious but remember, just because someone charges $600.00 for a tune doesn't mean they are good tuners. Go with the reputation of the tuner and the recommendations of previous/current customers. That is how I have maintained my business for years.