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5 Star tune. My experience so far.

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#1
Bought BullyDog BDX tuner and three tunes (87 perf, 92 perf, 87 daily) from 5 Star. Probably should have done 92 daily instead of 87. Plugged device into OBD port, got the codes and info from the car, emailed them to 5Star. 3 business days later I had the tunes in my inbox. Downloaded tunes to the device (took 5 minutes). Plugged to the OBD port, flashed the 92 performance tune to the car (took another 5 minutes).

My initial reaction is a huge smile and a little shock and awe...basically punching the gas, head snapping back. When I let off the gas I let out a little chuckle and I whisper "holy shit" to myself. HA!

The pedal is almost too sensitive and jumpy in Sport mode. In normal mode, it is less so. I assume it will just take a little time to get used to the changes. Really like seeing the gears change on the display.

I thought the car was fast before but it is significantly different with the tune. I don't have a dragy or OBDlink yet to get objective data. But, subjectively, the acceleration is significantly different.
 

UNBROKEN

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#2
Watch the shifting. Someone posted video elsewhere yesterday and their 5 Star tune was hanging the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts horribly...it was bogging the whole truck down. If it’s not snapping right into gear it’s burning up the clutches.
 

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mkuluz
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Thread Starter #3
Roger that
 

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Jacksonville, FL, USA
#4
Keep us posted on the shifting with the 92 Performance tune. Im interested to hear whether they’ve got the tranny tuning down
 

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mkuluz
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Thread Starter #5
It’s smooth and seamless to me. I took a short video yesterday. Sorry about the stability.
 

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#6
Watch the shifting. Someone posted video elsewhere yesterday and their 5 Star tune was hanging the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts horribly...it was bogging the whole truck down. If it’s not snapping right into gear it’s burning up the clutches.
Was this happening during WOT or after lifting? I've only really noticed any hang after lifting in sport mode since the trucks seem to want to engine brake and stay in gear. But it was like that stock, too . . .
 

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#7
It’s smooth and seamless to me. I took a short video yesterday. Sorry about the stability.
Cant tell if your augmented Vroom Vroom sound is still on? Either way, it seems good but I'm no expert so I'll let the Unbrokens & LokiWolfs chime in on whether it compares to ZFG/etc
 

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mkuluz
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Thread Starter #8
FENG is still on. Unfortunately no objective data, but it seems smooth to an untrained ear. I can post more videos if I get some guidance about what would be important to see. what mode? etc
 

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#9
FENG is still on. Unfortunately no objective data, but it seems smooth to an untrained ear. I can post more videos if I get some guidance about what would be important to see. what mode? etc
We'd have to wait for the big guns to chime in on that. All i've heard is that 5Star had some tranny tuning issues initially but rumors are that they've gotten them ironed out which seems corroborated by your vid/experience/opinions thus far. I'm wondering though, did 5Star have you do any data logging after you installed their tune(s), or did you just send them the stock tune file and they sent you 3 custom tunes and that was the end of it?
 

LokiWolf

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#10
Doesn’t seem as bad as the video @UNBROKEN was referencing in his first post. Still seems like it is sitting on the clutches a little long, but that seemed better than what I have seen.

Get a few more, we are interested in the 2-3, and 3-4 shift under WOT.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 

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mkuluz
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Thread Starter #11
That video was about 80% throttle maybe. I'll get one tomorrow with WOT.

I sent the stock tune file only and they sent three custom tunes. No datalogging, but there is a way to do that with the device and email the results have it reviewed by 5Star.
 

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#12
That video was about 80% throttle maybe. I'll get one tomorrow with WOT.

I sent the stock tune file only and they sent three custom tunes. No datalogging, but there is a way to do that with the device and email the results have it reviewed by 5Star.
I imagine they can probably squeeze some more power out of it via some data-logging after you install their custom tune. If i had to guess, they're probably playing it pretty safe with fueling/etc on their custom tunes.
 

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mkuluz
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Thread Starter #13
Got a little loose on a damp road but you can hear the smooth shift from 2 to 3. And from 3 to 4.
 

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LokiWolf

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#14
Got a little loose on a damp road but you can hear the smooth shift from 2 to 3. And from 3 to 4.
Smooth is not good in sport when applying more power with this Trans. It is sitting in the clutches a little long. But not too bad...only time will tell.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 

UNBROKEN

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#15
Was this happening during WOT or after lifting? I've only really noticed any hang after lifting in sport mode since the trucks seem to want to engine brake and stay in gear. But it was like that stock, too . . .
WOT shifts
 

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#16
Got a little loose on a damp road but you can hear the smooth shift from 2 to 3. And from 3 to 4.
I feel like those shifts def need to be firmed up a bit, esp. in sport mode. I'd reach out to them sooner rather than later.
 

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Tonopah, AZ, USA
#17
I have had the 94 octane & E30 calibrations from 5 STAR in our ST for nearly a year now
Trans shifts perfectly after learning was over
Runs great on 94 octane tune
Is an absolute "ROCKET" on E30 tune
76 Years old & still lovin it[burnout][burnout]
 

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Jacksonville, FL, USA
#18
So not to hijack the thread but I got my 5Star tunes today (couldnt wait on ZFG). Based on just 15 miles of driving, I can report the difference btwn stock tune & their 93 perf tune is night & day. I would describe it as follows:

--If I loaded my UTV on my trailer (total of approx. 3000lbs), I could probably run with or even beat myself (in stock form with no trailer). It is THAT MUCH FASTER ;-)

Disclaimer: I know someone will chime in that i shouldn't be heavy towing/racing w/trailer/etc with their 93 perf tune and i hear ya. I'm simply using the tow example for illustrative purposes.
 

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Location
Helena, AL, USA
#19
Man that’s awesome. I ordered from 5 star for mine this week. Should be here in the next few days. What tuner did you go with? I’m starting to wish I would have gotten the Ngauge. I ordered an SCT one. I also ordered borla type s. I’m super excited.
 

OP
mkuluz
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Thread Starter #20
I got the Bully Dog BDX. (similar to the SCT) Works fine. Went with that bc a friend had one for his F-150 and had good results. The NGauge has more bells and whistles for sure. I have 87 performance and 92 performance tunes. I've only tried the 92 and it is a huge noticeable difference. Sometime I just shake my head and giggle to myself after I hit the throttle.
 



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