JHM vs Unitronic

[Jpinto]

hey guys i am getting my car worked on and am going with a stock exhaust along with a lw flywheel and clutch and am looking for the best chip or tuning software. I know that this forum is a big supporter of the JHM line due to there great reliablity but the mechanic that is working on my car is a unitronic dealer and big supporter. i was wondering if i could get opinions on the software if you running them in your cars. I know JHM requires a catback as well do you think having the stock cat back will harm it even if i have a x-pipe welded into the exhaust? any feedback will be appreciated.

[dparm]

Tuning should be your last step. Buy all your parts, install them, then get it tuned.

Tuning a stock car will not get you very far.

[dparm]

Dude, please try and use complete sentences. It's difficult to read your posts.


Sounds like the Unitronic stuff will not really be a tune, just some software tweaks. I don't see why it wouldn't work.

[SoCalS4Avant]

Please use our search function. This thread provides some good information - http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...highlight=tune.

As Parm said, if you don't already have the supporting mods, a tune will be worthless.

[aaaaaahhhhhhhhh]

I know JHM requires a catback as well do you think having the stock cat back will harm it even if i have a x-pipe welded into the exhaust? any feedback will be appreciated.

jhm doesn't "require" it, however, having downpipes and a catback will let your car breath more easily, thus maximizing the performance gain. this is true for nearly all performance mods. Let her breath before you go getting her to growl.

[Jpinto]

but does the jhm ecu delete the CEL for the cats not being there?

[steveo_01vwgolf]

but does the jhm ecu delete the CEL for the cats not being there?

yes, if you searched you would know this.

[gear_head81]

Unitronic is a good tune I used it on my B6 (back when I had a B6) but it would regularly through a CEL will my millteck downpipes. then again it could have been the millteck downpipes that were the problem they had issues back then with there cats.

[Justincredible]

but does the jhm ecu delete the CEL for the cats not being there?

They code out the CEL for no cats yes.

as for the question. JHM hands down without question.

[whartung]

then again it could have been the millteck downpipes that were the problem they had issues back then with there cats.

Which would mean the unitronic tune would be worthless for the CEL his CATLESS downpipes will cause...

Get the JHM tune. Downpipes are the most crucial part. Unitronics wont do half as much for your car.

But I suppose if you're getting downpipes done but not a catback, you must be in to the half-is-good-enough train of thought and then Unitronics will be more than enough...

[teknostar]

cat back, then dps, then tune

tune = JHM

[road race s4]

cat back, then dps, then tune

tune = jhm

+1. Just do it.

[SquiddyB6S4]

1) Downpipes are the bigger gain definitely over the cat-back, not SUCH a big worry here.
2) As said many times, JHM has spent a TON of time working on their 4.2L S4 tune, and it shows. It's a clear, easy choice.
3) Without the cat-back, you ARE sacrificing power, and not just from the exhaust. The tune can be very aggressive (and JHM's IS very aggressive, hence why it makes good power), but without the supporting mods (good cat-back), your computer will simply adjust down from the tune, so you won't be seeing the most of what the tune can bring out for you. The stock car, stock tune, all stock parts has to pull timing from its map, which is why parts like DP's make so much power in the first place.

In short, you're almost wasting the money on the tune, since the stock tune allows for great gains from the parts you're installing. But if you're going to get a tune, get JHM. Easy.

[Jpinto]

i just wanted to get the tune out of the way while the car is on its downtime at the shop, but it won't hurt having the tune on the car i just wont get the full effects of the tune. Right?

[teng3]

Hey Jpinto,

Might I ask, how much is it costing you in labor to have the clutch/flywheel installed? I'm just curious what to expect when pulling a motor. Not interested in the additional cost of DP install but if you have a lump bill, then that's still useful and I'll just deduce the labor costs.

Thanks!

[Jpinto]

the guy who runs the shop charges like 650 to do the clutch but the guy is cool he can probably work with you, he can probably do same day service on it if you just schedule the time with him

[SquiddyB6S4]

i just wanted to get the tune out of the way while the car is on its downtime at the shop, but it won't hurt having the tune on the car i just wont get the full effects of the tune. Right?

Pretty much. You probably won't be doing any harm. I personally wouldn't, as I'm deathly scared of my $20k Audi engine not running perfectly, but I doubt you will have any negative effects. You just won't see the power that you otherwise would. If you don't plan on ever getting an exhaust, I think I would forgo the tune, though. As a matter of just saving down time in the future, I pretty much agree.

FWIW, my Magnaflow + piggies performs plenty well, and its noise is easily drowned out with the standard radio at volume 6 or 8, to show you how quiet a cat-back can be from inside. It's a helluva great noise, so I'm not sure why anyone would want to use the radio after installing though ^_^ Below 2,000rpm (and the go pedal down), it is a bit loud, but it's easy enough to avoid those rather useless engine speeds, especially since it's not really good for the engine to be operated with a heavy foot anyway.

[DuncanC]

I'd do the JHM tune for sure. If you go catless and add a x-pipe you will have done enough to your exhaust to free up most of the performance that can be had under 5000rpm even with a better exhaust. You might be giving up a little top end when flow starts to be a factor through the smaller factory exhaust. And it will take care of your O2 sensors CEL. Plus if you decided to bolt more goodies on down the road once you have the JHM tune the car will always make the most power out of what you give it to work with. Even with just the DPs and x-pipe I think you would see a pretty big change after doing the JHM tune.

[whartung]

I would be curious for you to do the DP's and Tune, and then get on a dyno and do a before and after with the catback exhaust to see if the exhaust actually makes a performance change given those other mods, since catbacks on our cars are reputed to do little more than sound.

[Jpinto]

SO YEAH IT DEFINITELY SEEMS A LITTLE ONE SIDED. It is almost a given that i will be pulling the ecm out of the car and sending it to jhm, just waiting to hear back from their customer service about an e-mail i sent them this morning. looks like its the only way to go.

[joeycuccaro]

Hey Jpinto,

Might I ask, how much is it costing you in labor to have the clutch/flywheel installed? I'm just curious what to expect when pulling a motor. Not interested in the additional cost of DP install but if you have a lump bill, then that's still useful and I'll just deduce the labor costs.

Thanks!

Pulling the motor for a clutch / flywheel job?

JHM tune no questions

[Jpinto]

no they are just dropping the trans as far as i know.

[jfunkey]

I have to agree with the jhm tune.. As for the cat back it was said very well by squiddy... The stock cat back isn't the best.. the JHM tune will work but your not going to get the most out of the tune till you open up the exhaust..

There is not really an issue if you want to run the stock cat back and JHM tune.. ITs just not going to be giving you all the power you can have.. If your doing the Dp's then that is the minimum you need to do to get the JHM chip... so your all set there

[Jpinto]

i have to agree with the jhm tune.. As for the cat back it was said very well by squiddy... The stock cat back isn't the best.. The jhm tune will work but your not going to get the most out of the tune till you open up the exhaust..

There is not really an issue if you want to run the stock cat back and jhm tune.. Its just not going to be giving you all the power you can have.. If your doing the dp's then that is the minimum you need to do to get the jhm chip... So your all set there

sounds good thanks

[BrianL]

Since you're out east, hit up Jeff at United Motorsport. Ask him about a custom tune.

http://www.unitedmotorsport.net/

[Justincredible]

I have to agree with the jhm tune.. As for the cat back it was said very well by squiddy... The stock cat back isn't the best.. the JHM tune will work but your not going to get the most out of the tune till you open up the exhaust..

There is not really an issue if you want to run the stock cat back and JHM tune.. ITs just not going to be giving you all the power you can have.. If your doing the Dp's then that is the minimum you need to do to get the JHM chip... so your all set there

I second this as well. JHM has hundreds of hours into the development of the tune and knows the ECU in these cars better then anyone else. This is shown by there domination on the dyno and at the track. They have found out how each part interacts with the ECU and what mods are holding the ECU back. The cat back is one part of this puzzle.

When you have a company that is 100% dedicated to your car your going to get 100% better performance and support for the products.

My thoughts on custom tunes or other tunes. In the end whats the point of going with a company that isn't doing there home work and hasn't done the years of research into each part and there interaction with the motor. There are lots of tunes out there and lots of them have been "Custom" all that meant was it was a one off file that is no better then the other files from companys that don't know how all the parts interact. When you make headers,intake manifold, NOS, Turbos, blowers crank pulleys your going to know how the motor is going to react to them. Your not going to find that with any custom tune anywhere else. Experience and results are the best things to look for when looking into a tune.

[SpeedETC]

I second this as well. JHM has hundreds of hours into the development of the tune and knows the ECU in these cars better then anyone else. This is shown by there domination on the dyno and at the track. They have found out how each part interacts with the ECU and what mods are holding the ECU back. The cat back is one part of this puzzle.

When you have a company that is 100% dedicated to your car your going to get 100% better performance and support for the products.

My thoughts on custom tunes or other tunes. In the end whats the point of going with a company that isn't doing there home work and hasn't done the years of research into each part and there interaction with the motor. There are lots of tunes out there and lots of them have been "Custom" all that meant was it was a one off file that is no better then the other files from companys that don't know how all the parts interact. When you make headers,intake manifold, NOS, Turbos, blowers crank pulleys your going to know how the motor is going to react to them. Your not going to find that with any custom tune anywhere else. Experience and results are the best things to look for when looking into a tune.

x10000. I had another tune and drove cars with various tunes, but now that I have the JHM there is no comparison. JHM FTW...

[Jpinto]

has anyone ever got any shit from the dealer from having the tune input on the car?

[SoCalS4Avant]

has anyone ever got any shit from the dealer from having the tune input on the car?

Depends on the dealer, and depends on the issue. Don't try and hide the fact that you've been tuned/flashed/etc. Be up front, talk with your SA. If it appears it's going to be an issue, go somewhere else - or go indy. Are you still under warranty?

[Jpinto]

yeah i still got about another 31000 miles left on the warranty, i just don't want them busting my balls on it! i have the fidelity warranty and i always go to an indy shop that i am familiar with.

[Justincredible]

Depends on the dealer, and depends on the issue. Don't try and hide the fact that you've been tuned/flashed/etc. Be up front, talk with your SA. If it appears it's going to be an issue, go somewhere else - or go indy. Are you still under warranty?

This is always a great way to go about it.

If your really worried you can get a Stock chip replacement from JHM as well. If your really worried and you have to go back to the dealer for anything you can just put in your stock chip.

[DuncanC]

Talk to the indy shop. What fidelity doesn't know won't void your warranty but if they knew about the tune and could use it as a excuse not to pay a claim they would. So long as your indy shop guy is cool with it being tuned and won't tell fidelity on you then your good to go.

[91gl]

IM pretty sure i know where you are getting your car worked on thats trying to push you on unitronic. i know its convenient for you to do it right then and there and if im guessing right, the person selling it to you has quite a bit of trash to say about JHM which is very untrue so do yourself the favor and get JHM, youll thank us all later

[AUDIocee]

Unitronic offers 2 programs I believe for the S4, I've got the Stage II+. I don't know what that means since there is no documentation on their website for a stage II+. I've contacted them to find out more and have not gotten a response yet. Now that I'm aware of JHM, I think I would rather go with them since I've at least spoken to them and feel confident that they know what's going on. Given that, I've had no issues and I know a lot of people support unitronic.

[jfunkey]

Unitronic offers 2 programs I believe for the S4, I've got the Stage II+. I don't know what that means since there is no documentation on their website for a stage II+. I've contacted them to find out more and have not gotten a response yet. Now that I'm aware of JHM, I think I would rather go with them since I've at least spoken to them and feel confident that they know what's going on. Given that, I've had no issues and I know a lot of people support unitronic.

If you have a turbo car there a nice company. The issue is some companys get credit for past sucuess from other platforma where they did well. JHM has shown there comitment and dominince with the 4.2 it would be silly for anyone to go else where.

[SquiddyB6S4]

Having just installed my newly-chipped [JHM] ECM two days ago, I can tell you this: it's so good, you're going to have to completely relearn how to drive your car. It might even be embarrassing once or twice. It's that good.

Also, as an aside, thank you to all of the guys at JHM for providing excellent customer service, even though this is the first and only item I've ever bought from your company. Impressive

[bluerocket]

JHM Vs Unitronic for the 4.2 platform is like Anderson Silva VS Steven Hawking in the octagon.

JHM FTW hands down.

[B6JoeS4]

Jason Harbinson Motorsports For The Win

[Justincredible]

Having just installed my newly-chipped [JHM] ECM two days ago, I can tell you this: it's so good, you're going to have to completely relearn how to drive your car. It might even be embarrassing once or twice. It's that good.

Also, as an aside, thank you to all of the guys at JHM for providing excellent customer service, even though this is the first and only item I've ever bought from your company. Impressive

Consider how bad it is when you have an automatic and your on the gas you don't expect it to the like that. when the pedal moves so does the power.. The power delivery really catches you off gard sometimes LOL

[beemercer]

Having just installed my newly-chipped [JHM] ECM two days ago, I can tell you this: it's so good, you're going to have to completely relearn how to drive your car. It might even be embarrassing once or twice. It's that good.

Good to hear Jason. I had the same feeling a year and a half ago when I got the JHM tune on my catless DP/catback S4... and that was an ancient file with half as many tweaks as the current file.


I can't wait to get that feeling again with the A6, switching from a stock Euro S6 file to a properly ignorant tweaked tune is gonna be awesome.