View Poll Results: What would you pay to tune the E99 PCM for the C7 ZR1?
Voters: 68. You may not vote on this poll
ZR1 E99 PCM Unlocked: What is tuning worth to you?
01-25-2019, 12:45 PM
#1
Safety Car
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St. Jude Donor '14
ZR1 E99 PCM Unlocked: What is tuning worth to you?
Let's say the E99 is unlocked but there is some work left to do to get to a calibrated file. What would you pay to tune your C7 ZR1? This is a very legitimate question being posed to you "OWNERS" as far as what it would be worth to you to have full access to tune the C7 ZR1. I am not looking for opinions on value from non-owners though because I am weighing development options for potential customers, so please respect this.
Owners keep in mind it is getting more and more costly to tune the cars that need cracked as far as getting through or around the walls put in place to prevent this.
For example, currently it took HP Tuners almost 2 years to crack the 2017+ GM L5P Trucks and to tune this truck, it costs you:
So, I have created a poll here to see what you guys would pay because development will be pricey, production is limited, but these cars deserve to make MORE POWER!
Owners keep in mind it is getting more and more costly to tune the cars that need cracked as far as getting through or around the walls put in place to prevent this.
For example, currently it took HP Tuners almost 2 years to crack the 2017+ GM L5P Trucks and to tune this truck, it costs you:
- $1800 PCM Unlocked
- $0500 for 10 credits
- $0400 unlocked transmission control module TCM $400
- $0500 MPVI2 if you want to try to tune yourself and/or monitor the vehicle
- $6-800 to pay someone to tune it for you
So, I have created a poll here to see what you guys would pay because development will be pricey, production is limited, but these cars deserve to make MORE POWER!
Last edited by Ben@WeaponX; 01-25-2019 at 03:17 PM.
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WzUpDoc (01-25-2019)
01-25-2019, 05:41 PM
#3
Ben,
Having gone through this uncrackable ECU (ECM) experience with BMW’s Bosch ECUs on the M5/M3 platform, I can tell you that the sweet spot for this is around $1000-1500. When initial cracking of the ECUs happened, tuners asked for upwards of $3000. They got a handful of customers and when the prices went down to $1000 or so, majority of people cracked their ECU.
Cracking of the Bosch ECU required a step where you had to remove the ECUs (M5 had 2 of them), ship to the tuner where tuner had to drill on them with a small drill bit and use hardware bypass to read the encryption key value on the chip. So the method was quite involved, risky, and labor intensive.
Not surs if these ECUs require similar methods.
Having gone through this uncrackable ECU (ECM) experience with BMW’s Bosch ECUs on the M5/M3 platform, I can tell you that the sweet spot for this is around $1000-1500. When initial cracking of the ECUs happened, tuners asked for upwards of $3000. They got a handful of customers and when the prices went down to $1000 or so, majority of people cracked their ECU.
Cracking of the Bosch ECU required a step where you had to remove the ECUs (M5 had 2 of them), ship to the tuner where tuner had to drill on them with a small drill bit and use hardware bypass to read the encryption key value on the chip. So the method was quite involved, risky, and labor intensive.
Not surs if these ECUs require similar methods.
01-25-2019, 08:19 PM
#5
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Member Since: Oct 2000
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Not me. I have blown up too much metal in my little LS6 while getting more power for the track. That is the reason I paid the money for probably all the power I will need with not only a full warranty but an extended warranty. I wish you guys luck, you have other great products and ideas that interest me! 
01-25-2019, 08:57 PM
#6
The choices are interesting because I'd be more around $2500 max. I've been in the corvette modification world since the c5. I'm also familiar with the cost to tune german cars. I had a SL65 that I tuned and it was about $2500. That's where I'm getting my figure from. I realize the cost to crack it could be huge but there does need to be some sort of balance. I realize that the super rich really won't care and pay whatever but I would think as you go over $2500 the crowd would be quite limited especially since this is a limited car as it is and the people who want to modify are even less. just my .02
How close are you getting to being able to do this?
How close are you getting to being able to do this?
Last edited by ss2z06; 01-25-2019 at 08:58 PM.
01-25-2019, 09:49 PM
#8
I'm contemplating an extended warranty so I'm out........................for now.
01-26-2019, 07:31 AM
#10
I suppose most will want to see the gains/results to make a better decision. If the LT5 is a sleeping dragon, then they will pour in once word gets around.
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Ronstar (01-26-2019)
01-27-2019, 10:25 AM
#11
Burning Brakes
Hey Ben -
I suppose it would all depend on what the objective is. I have no intent on tracking my car but I am interested in better mid-range performance if there is such a thing beyond the packages you already offer.
I installed your X900 package and I didn't need a dyno to verify the numbers you posted. I can feel the incredible increase in mid-range power/torque in the seat of my pants. As far as I am concerned this is the best money I've ever spent on increasing a Corvette's driveability and performance, 5 stars on this package, sir !!
How about pricing the re-programming based on what the customer is looking for? Is that possible?
Cheers -
I suppose it would all depend on what the objective is. I have no intent on tracking my car but I am interested in better mid-range performance if there is such a thing beyond the packages you already offer.
I installed your X900 package and I didn't need a dyno to verify the numbers you posted. I can feel the incredible increase in mid-range power/torque in the seat of my pants. As far as I am concerned this is the best money I've ever spent on increasing a Corvette's driveability and performance, 5 stars on this package, sir !!
How about pricing the re-programming based on what the customer is looking for? Is that possible?
Cheers -
Last edited by Repo Pilot; 01-27-2019 at 10:28 AM.
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Ben@WeaponX (01-31-2019)
01-27-2019, 11:16 AM
#12
Le Mans Master
Don't forget others will crack it so competition drives the price down - those that add too much corvette tax will hurt themselves
01-27-2019, 09:39 PM
#13
It’s not as easy as “cracking” the e99. They need to replace the processor altogether, good news is this locks GM out, kinda like using the technology against them. No more OTA updates. I’m not a C7 zr1 owner, but given my history...I would pay 3k.
But I’m the guy who put down 822rwhp back in 09 with a 500mi c6zr1 and the proceeded to put an auto in it. I caught more criticism from that than doing auto in my 06 and 01 z’s Back in 06 and 01. Some people race, some people wax...
But I’m the guy who put down 822rwhp back in 09 with a 500mi c6zr1 and the proceeded to put an auto in it. I caught more criticism from that than doing auto in my 06 and 01 z’s Back in 06 and 01. Some people race, some people wax...
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02-17-2019, 03:28 PM
#15
Melting Slicks
The issue will be you are cracking just for these specific years. This isnt even all of the security that will be in newer gen vehicles. Yes, the sky is falling lol. Self driving car tech needs to be absolutely sure people cant modify electronics and we will "benefit" from this.
Sooo those guys that like to break their cars and go back to stock and take them to the dealer... you have also helped.
Sooo those guys that like to break their cars and go back to stock and take them to the dealer... you have also helped.
Last edited by spinkick; 02-17-2019 at 03:35 PM.
02-17-2019, 04:15 PM
#16
After seeing what the ZR1 is really capable of at Spring Mountain recently, and that any lack of performance is entirely due to my deficencies not the car’s need for more power, I’m not interested in unlocking it.... even if it was free. Just my opinion.
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bbison (02-17-2019)
02-17-2019, 05:57 PM
#18
02-17-2019, 09:47 PM
#19
Pro Mechanic
Pro Mechanic
The much discussed VIR "lap record", during which the ZR-1 beat the Ford GT time, was set with an automatic in drive and PTM in Mode 5.
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bbison (02-17-2019)
02-19-2019, 12:07 PM
#20
I'm not sure why $1000 max is even an option. That doesn't even get it done on a 17-19 Z06 with an A8.