Tried several chips here is my info on them (LONG)

[AE Performance]

This is completely incorrect. Fuel (octane) usage was brought into question. The second test was the same as the first, only the second time around participants were required to show up at the same gas station on an empty tank and fuel up using the same exact fuel. Many of the initial users declined to do this (you do the math why). The first test was performed on the same car with same hardware/same condition. The second round was a shootout between Audiworld users.

The dyno was not operated by AWE-Tuning but rather by Audiworld and this was well documented.

GIAC software has been dynoed independently many times with very similar power gains measured all over the country. If you see something drastically different, it is safe to say shady business practices are at work.

Completely agreed with your posts on all counts. We've flashed several B6/B7 S4s with GIAC software, 1 of which is the president of the socal chapter of ACNA and he tracked it on spring mountain with great results. The testing on Audiworld on AWE's dyno definitely illustrates all this pretty plainly as well.

[Dompiece]

I wish there was more information from these companies in regards to changes, if any, to the throttle position. I have had a couple of different chips...REVO and Unitronic. I am not going to comment on the 1/4 mile difference (because I have a very subjective idea of which one is minimally faster), but can say that I was really unhappy with the way one flash manipulated the throttle position...example: 50% throttle was now 100%. In my opinion it took something away from the driving experience. I don't mind if they wan't to give me 90% at 50% throttle, but please save some juice for the floor! I know there is a thread out there that talks about this and even has an experiment with results. My experience (with two of the chips in that test) is not consistent with those results. I was very unhappy with the way my pedal feel was changed.
Anyone know if JHM does anything to the pedal?

[Austin@GIAC]

I wish there was more information from these companies in regards to changes, if any, to the throttle position. I have had a couple of different chips...REVO and Unitronic. I am not going to comment on the 1/4 mile difference (because I have a very subjective idea of which one is minimally faster), but can say that I was really unhappy with the way one flash manipulated the throttle position...example: 50% throttle was now 100%. In my opinion it took something away from the driving experience. I don't mind if they wan't to give me 90% at 50% throttle, but please save some juice for the floor! I know there is a thread out there that talks about this and even has an experiment with results. My experience (with two of the chips in that test) is not consistent with those results. I was very unhappy with the way my pedal feel was changed.
Anyone know if JHM does anything to the pedal?

Our software feels more similar to a drive-by-cable without being too punchy.

[jfunkey]

GIAC software has been dynoed independently many times with very similar power gains measured all over the country. If you see something drastically different, it is safe to say shady business practices are at work.

Thanks Austin This is part of what I was talking about. The battle back and forth between GIAC and APR is going to be heated for sure. The point was more that the GIAC and APR chips do make power and they have been shown to make power. So when the company in question makes the statment that they Dynoed a APR and GIAC chip to find it made no HP then there needs to be questions raised about the company that did so.

[Justincredible]

Anyone know if JHM does anything to the pedal?

Nope 100% oem tested it before and after

Our software feels more similar to a drive-by-cable without being too punchy.

Some will like the results some wont. Although I'm not a fan of the practices of pedal manipulation, its always nice when companies look to address the public's concerns and that is what has happened here.

[Austin@GIAC]

Nope 100% oem tested it before and after


Some will like the results some wont. Although I'm not a fan of the practices of pedal manipulation, its always nice when companies look to address the public's concerns and that is what has happened here.

We do not adjust pedal sensitivity on some vehicles as they are aggressive enough from the factory. Most will agree that when coming from a nDBW to a DBW car, the throttle lag will be noticeable. We still have nDBW cars in-house and work to make all the cars we calibrate feel just like those cars.

[boravr6]

Just giving this a bump since some members.. myself included are looking at tunes these days.

[Justincredible]

After rereading this, it seems many members both here and in other posts have continued to back up the findings.

Doing the research helped me decide on the JHM chip before people even knew there was a JHM chip. After lots of people switched from there old brands to JHM and gave positive feed back and information. I would say the JHM is the best chip hands down.

The other chips are good but the other companys are not specializing in just the S4. from my experience it seems that JHM has taken and continues to take time to work with the tuning on more then just the dyno. This results in a much better tune performance wise and driveability.

While most of the major chip factory's make good standard chips for all the platforms they don't make parts and test them in house. testing parts in house and having the time to see how the ECU adapts or doesn't adapt to certain changes. This gives JHM In my opinion much more hands on experience with what works and what doesn't work. This in my opinion is why people who get the JHM tunes or have switched from other tunes to JHM tunes say how it changed the driveabilty. You don't get much of a chance to test driveabilty on a dyno.

In the end. The well built bolt on JHM cars are becoming just as fast or faster then some of the S/C cars. When all you do is the S4's I would think your going to have enough time to find the formula. It seems they have done that

[boravr6]

How big of a performance difference is ther ebetween a 91 octane and a 94 octane setting?

94 is the highest available in my area... however it uses ethanol to spike the octane level!!!

I love my engine and since my MPG tests last year.. i fuel up exclusivly at shell with the 91 octane.

How much do i loose out if i stick to my shell 91 guns?

[jfunkey]

I have to say after reading this and going in a few members cars even doing a few late night runs. .This is as true as it gets with the chip testing if you ask me.


As for the octaine. Go with stright 94 if you can. Ive been slowly testing Dp's with full cats no cats on both 91 and 93. Just that alone with no chip makes a big difference. If you can use 94 use it. I don't know what will happen with a JHM chip but with no chip there is about a 5deg difference in timing stoke between 91 and 93

[boravr6]

are the adverse effects of ethanol sometiming i need to worry about though? There has been alot of talk on fuels but i was never really convinced wether ethanol is really that bad... i just went with V power from shell to keep the engine de-gunked and i get airmiles lol.

But will change asap if 94 is where i should be.

[Keith@APR]

Thanks Austin This is part of what I was talking about. The battle back and forth between GIAC and APR is going to be heated for sure. The point was more that the GIAC and APR chips do make power and they have been shown to make power. So when the company in question makes the statment that they Dynoed a APR and GIAC chip to find it made no HP then there needs to be questions raised about the company that did so.

FWIW, we don't claim to make any power increases with our 91 octane performance mode for the B6 S4.

[Keith@APR]

They did a independent test. There were 2 shoot outs back in the day

test one APR came out top at the time GIAC finnished last.
Then one of the contestents (GIAC) complained and demamded a retest. They held a retest at AWE a standup but still completly GIAC Bias company. Give you 3 guesses what the results were this time... GIAC was top and APR was last.

Then there are links after links of shady companys dynoing other peoples software. The not exactly stand up company ASP dynoed an APR chip and said it made less then stock sure only to sell there tune. weeks later the same thing happened at ASP with a GIAC chip wonder why. You can't trust ANY of these guys. since then the guy that got shammed into the ASP chip went on line and said how he was shammed and the ASP chip was worse then stock.

APR GIAC etc etc. All make a great product. for some the dyno has all the answers for others its street proof or bust.

Being someone that has used Edit software on the LT and LS cars this speaks loud with usfull info. we always want more and we all have our own thought of what is and is not needed. I think we should just take it for what it had offered us

Im all for dyno info but what is the point of that in this situation. Its like taking a picture of a REALL nice looking house from the out side. But then finding out that the structure is not solid or safe (kinda like having a dangerious chip. good on the dyno bad over all)

From what I read this post had NOTHING to do with hprse power numbers so that would be an invalid point.

I would say the guy (justin) would know a good thing when he sees it as he still has the fastest MPH for an automatic car.

Good summation.

[DuncanC]

are the adverse effects of ethanol sometiming i need to worry about though? There has been alot of talk on fuels but i was never really convinced wether ethanol is really that bad... i just went with V power from shell to keep the engine de-gunked and i get airmiles lol.

But will change asap if 94 is where i should be.

The biggest reason I won't run ethanol blends is that you get less mileage and less range out of fuel that costs the same. The Scottish blood in me just won't let me buy it for that reason alone. Plus I don't want to support a stupid industry that causes a net energy loss and couldn't possibly exist without huge government subsidization. I don't think that at 5-10% its harsh enough to damage any part of your fuel system. I use shell V-power as well and feel its the best gas around, husky has 94oct ethanol blend around here, but I won't use it.

[jfunkey]

FWIW, we don't claim to make any power increases with our 91 octane performance mode for the B6 S4.

This is why Im always happy with APR you guys don't seem to need to shoot for the dyno B.S. game to get customers.

[sakimano]

This is why Im always happy with APR you guys don't seem to need to shoot for the dyno B.S. game to get customers.

agreed...I put them through the wringer in the B8 S4 section, and in the end, they came out with nothing but good info and clarified everything.

Kudos to APR

I just wish they'd develop more for our cars

[sean@4induktion]

Good write up though to the OP!!! IT IS ALWAYS BEST TO DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH AND TRIAL OF THE DIFF SW OUT THERE. Oh, I think I just developed a tumor reading this thread. Gave me a headache. OP is just trying to help. Some people had valid questions. Hope my headache goes away.

If anyone ever has any questions about the software companies mentioned, I am sure there are knowledgeable employees at different shops that would be more than willing to answer any questions.

Best regards and Happy Holidays to all!!!!

Sean

[Justincredible]

Good write up though to the OP!!! IT IS ALWAYS BEST TO DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH AND TRIAL OF THE DIFF SW OUT THERE. Oh, I think I just developed a tumor reading this thread. Gave me a headache. OP is just trying to help. Some people had valid questions. Hope my headache goes away.

If anyone ever has any questions about the software companies mentioned, I am sure there are knowledgeable employees at different shops that would be more than willing to answer any questions.

Best regards and Happy Holidays to all!!!!

Sean

If your tumor came at the price of you being a well informed consumer then it was well worth it.

Employees at different shops are not going to be non bias, not to be rude. Going this path in the past hasn't resulted in true results for people, as I doubt a dealer is going to tell you HONISTLY how good any other competing chip is.