rodslinger
Member
Keeping the trend going we might as well step things up a notch and see how well Jerry did with his custom BNR tune for the Diablosport inTune compared to the regular inTune and the Trifecta Elite.
Again all I have to say is wow! Great job Jerry at BNR. Initial impressions tell me this thing puts out more power than the Trifecta Elite while still keeping the stock feel the standard inTune setup had. Basically the perfect combination..... As I burn out the rest of this crap gas blend I'm sure my impressions will only get better.
1) Cost - Winner = BNR
Cost of the basic Diablosport inTune from BNR plus his custom tune file is about $50 cheaper than the comparable Trifecta Elite. I can't compare this to the standard inTune as it is an upgrade to that model. To some this isn't a lot but you have to also consider the following: Future tuning costs!
When you sell or total out your shiny red RS next year and replace it with a 2017 Sonic with the DI 1.6t and want to tune it, just de-tune your current car and plug your inTune into your new Sonic. FREE!!!! Want to step it up a notch? Just contact Jerry where you bought your inTune from and get a new custom file for your new ride. You'll be spending anywhere from nothing to $200 versus another $588 for a new Trifecta Elite tune which includes a cable you ALREADY HAVE.
That's $300 to put towards ICE, coils or other mods!
2) Delivery - Winner = BNR
The time between ordering the product and delivery of the hardware to your door is similar between either vendor. There may be some advantages to BNR for this also as the inTune devices are properly stocked in professional logistics warehouses around the country. In most cases the inTune will be at your door in one or two days for ground shipping. The Trifecta may take longer as I believe the cables are only sent out of Washington state. This could be a five or six day wait for ground delivery on the east coast buyers.
The software is where the difference is more apparent.
The Trifecta files may get to you in a few days or they may be a few weeks. But I believe most people get them on the shorter end of the scale.
The inTune in most cases works right out of the box with NO wait. After you connect to your car and load the included tune, take the inTune back to your computer and send Jerry at BNR the info.xml and backup tune file. He'll send you his custom updated file in about 24-48 hours. And he'll be communicating with you about it along the way. But while you wait, you STILL have the Diablosport tune that came with the device so you're 90% there already. Go ahead. load it up and condition yourself to more power so Pavlov will have you salivating while waiting for your custom file to come in.
3) Setup - Winner = BNR
This is another spot where I really appreciate the ease and simplicity of the Diablosport inTune delivery system and the method in which they load custom tunes.
Setup for the inTune and for the BNR custom tune is pretty simple. Just connect the inTune to your computer and access the device like an SD card or external drive. Simply drag and drop the files you need into or out of the unit. Your tune files and kept on the inTune device so no worries about losing or deleting them off your computer.
In the opposite corner and using a counter intuitive method is the Trifecta setup. You have to install and use their custom tuning software and load specific drivers for the cable they send. The tune files also have to be stored on the computer that will be used to tune your car. So KEEP A BACKUP!!!! Accidentally delete them or buy a new computer and not copy them over and you'll be scrambling through their support system hoping they still have your file posted.
4) Tuning the car - Winner = BNR
Again, tuning with the Trifecta is generally straight forward once you are setup. Just connect the cable to your laptop, plug the cable into the car, open the program and follow the on-screen prompts. Be patient as the process can take a little while. Expect 15-20 minutes.
Tuning with the inTune is easier and seems faster. Well actually it IS faster. I timed it last night.
9:00pm - Get email from BNR with custom tune file.
9:01pm - Connect inTune to computer and drag tune file into device.
9:02pm - Connect inTune to car, follow prompts to load custom tune.
9:05pm - Disconnect inTune from car, start car and give it hell...
Seriously just five minutes!!!! And that was taking the extra 60 seconds to add the tune to the inTune device.
So for those of you thinking about having two or three custom tunes. Maybe E-85, 100 octane, etc... You just keep the inTune in your glovebox and switch the tune while filling up the gas tank. ****ING BRILLIANT!!!!
5) Peak power - Winner = BNR
This is where I think the Trifecta setup no longer has the advantage. Midrange pull is very strong with the Trifecta tune but falls off on the top end. That last few hundred RPMs before the shift seem to take a long time. The consistency of the power isn't always the same either. It seems sensitive to not only weather and temp but how you drive. Get a little too frisky with the gas and after a short time it feels like the power is artificially reduced under some sort of engine stress management feature. It is an unpredictable feature also.
The BNR inTune doesn't appear to suffer from the same power management feature. It feels just as strong or even stronger in the mid range while not falling off as much on the top end. The power delivery is smooth, consistent and reliable. So far nothing I've seen has made me pause before pulling into traffic and wondering if I'll have full or 3/4 power available.
Driveability - Winner = BNR, BNR, BNRRRRRRR!!!!!!
Similar to the standard Diablosport inTune, there is a HUGE difference here. Basically the driveability on Trifecta is still fuqueing garbage. Throttle input is WAY too sensitive and difficult to modulate. The transmission tuning doesn't line up with the engine tuning either making the combination awkward and sometimes frustrating. In my auto equipped car it just didn't work.
Jerry's custom BNR inTune setup still feels stock under normal driving conditions but turns from Dr. Jeckyll into Mr. Hyde when you put your foot into it. And here's the great part. You can EASILY control that transition. He kept all the great parts about how the car drives when stock and gave it a smooth, gradual and predictable transition into beast mode when you need it.
The transmission tuning is still spot-on. It shifts when it should, as it should, quickly, smoothly and without fuss. Need to pass, give it a little gas, quick downshift, Mr. Hyde sticks his head out to see what's up and off you go. Get off the gas and Dr. Jeckyll is back in control again.
This is how it should have always been! I actually WANT to drive this car again.
7) Customer Support - Winner = BNR and their inTune
As noted Trifecta doesn't really have any direct support and rely almost exclusively on their vendors. While many of their vendors (BNR included) provides great support, they are at the mercy of Trifecta is there is an actual tune issue and you need an update.
With Jerry at BNR and the Diablosport inTune you actually end up with two reliable channels of fast and efficient support. Jerry is active here and from my personal experience has always been responsive and cooperative with issues. Even when I gave him needless ****. Kudos for that. But on top of that you also have an open and robust support community at Diablosport themselves. If you have a hardware issue it will most likely be taken care of quickly by Jerry. But if you end up needing to send a message or post on the forums at Diablosport, expect an expeditious and equally effective response directly from them.
8) Fuel Economy - Winner = Stock
Shocker right!!!! Well this isn't a tune related fault. I just can't keep my damn foot out of it on this BNR tune. It's GOOOOOD.....
So for the reality check, I'll be hitting the road for some work related trips next week and will update with a real mileage comparo on longer routes I have good data from.
Summary -
1) Diablosport inTune from BNR - Get it.
2) BNR custom Diablosport tune upgrade- GET IT!!!!
Again all I have to say is wow! Great job Jerry at BNR. Initial impressions tell me this thing puts out more power than the Trifecta Elite while still keeping the stock feel the standard inTune setup had. Basically the perfect combination..... As I burn out the rest of this crap gas blend I'm sure my impressions will only get better.
1) Cost - Winner = BNR
Cost of the basic Diablosport inTune from BNR plus his custom tune file is about $50 cheaper than the comparable Trifecta Elite. I can't compare this to the standard inTune as it is an upgrade to that model. To some this isn't a lot but you have to also consider the following: Future tuning costs!
When you sell or total out your shiny red RS next year and replace it with a 2017 Sonic with the DI 1.6t and want to tune it, just de-tune your current car and plug your inTune into your new Sonic. FREE!!!! Want to step it up a notch? Just contact Jerry where you bought your inTune from and get a new custom file for your new ride. You'll be spending anywhere from nothing to $200 versus another $588 for a new Trifecta Elite tune which includes a cable you ALREADY HAVE.
That's $300 to put towards ICE, coils or other mods!
2) Delivery - Winner = BNR
The time between ordering the product and delivery of the hardware to your door is similar between either vendor. There may be some advantages to BNR for this also as the inTune devices are properly stocked in professional logistics warehouses around the country. In most cases the inTune will be at your door in one or two days for ground shipping. The Trifecta may take longer as I believe the cables are only sent out of Washington state. This could be a five or six day wait for ground delivery on the east coast buyers.
The software is where the difference is more apparent.
The Trifecta files may get to you in a few days or they may be a few weeks. But I believe most people get them on the shorter end of the scale.
The inTune in most cases works right out of the box with NO wait. After you connect to your car and load the included tune, take the inTune back to your computer and send Jerry at BNR the info.xml and backup tune file. He'll send you his custom updated file in about 24-48 hours. And he'll be communicating with you about it along the way. But while you wait, you STILL have the Diablosport tune that came with the device so you're 90% there already. Go ahead. load it up and condition yourself to more power so Pavlov will have you salivating while waiting for your custom file to come in.
3) Setup - Winner = BNR
This is another spot where I really appreciate the ease and simplicity of the Diablosport inTune delivery system and the method in which they load custom tunes.
Setup for the inTune and for the BNR custom tune is pretty simple. Just connect the inTune to your computer and access the device like an SD card or external drive. Simply drag and drop the files you need into or out of the unit. Your tune files and kept on the inTune device so no worries about losing or deleting them off your computer.
In the opposite corner and using a counter intuitive method is the Trifecta setup. You have to install and use their custom tuning software and load specific drivers for the cable they send. The tune files also have to be stored on the computer that will be used to tune your car. So KEEP A BACKUP!!!! Accidentally delete them or buy a new computer and not copy them over and you'll be scrambling through their support system hoping they still have your file posted.
4) Tuning the car - Winner = BNR
Again, tuning with the Trifecta is generally straight forward once you are setup. Just connect the cable to your laptop, plug the cable into the car, open the program and follow the on-screen prompts. Be patient as the process can take a little while. Expect 15-20 minutes.
Tuning with the inTune is easier and seems faster. Well actually it IS faster. I timed it last night.
9:00pm - Get email from BNR with custom tune file.
9:01pm - Connect inTune to computer and drag tune file into device.
9:02pm - Connect inTune to car, follow prompts to load custom tune.
9:05pm - Disconnect inTune from car, start car and give it hell...
Seriously just five minutes!!!! And that was taking the extra 60 seconds to add the tune to the inTune device.
So for those of you thinking about having two or three custom tunes. Maybe E-85, 100 octane, etc... You just keep the inTune in your glovebox and switch the tune while filling up the gas tank. ****ING BRILLIANT!!!!
5) Peak power - Winner = BNR
This is where I think the Trifecta setup no longer has the advantage. Midrange pull is very strong with the Trifecta tune but falls off on the top end. That last few hundred RPMs before the shift seem to take a long time. The consistency of the power isn't always the same either. It seems sensitive to not only weather and temp but how you drive. Get a little too frisky with the gas and after a short time it feels like the power is artificially reduced under some sort of engine stress management feature. It is an unpredictable feature also.
The BNR inTune doesn't appear to suffer from the same power management feature. It feels just as strong or even stronger in the mid range while not falling off as much on the top end. The power delivery is smooth, consistent and reliable. So far nothing I've seen has made me pause before pulling into traffic and wondering if I'll have full or 3/4 power available.
Driveability - Winner = BNR, BNR, BNRRRRRRR!!!!!!
Similar to the standard Diablosport inTune, there is a HUGE difference here. Basically the driveability on Trifecta is still fuqueing garbage. Throttle input is WAY too sensitive and difficult to modulate. The transmission tuning doesn't line up with the engine tuning either making the combination awkward and sometimes frustrating. In my auto equipped car it just didn't work.
Jerry's custom BNR inTune setup still feels stock under normal driving conditions but turns from Dr. Jeckyll into Mr. Hyde when you put your foot into it. And here's the great part. You can EASILY control that transition. He kept all the great parts about how the car drives when stock and gave it a smooth, gradual and predictable transition into beast mode when you need it.
The transmission tuning is still spot-on. It shifts when it should, as it should, quickly, smoothly and without fuss. Need to pass, give it a little gas, quick downshift, Mr. Hyde sticks his head out to see what's up and off you go. Get off the gas and Dr. Jeckyll is back in control again.
This is how it should have always been! I actually WANT to drive this car again.
7) Customer Support - Winner = BNR and their inTune
As noted Trifecta doesn't really have any direct support and rely almost exclusively on their vendors. While many of their vendors (BNR included) provides great support, they are at the mercy of Trifecta is there is an actual tune issue and you need an update.
With Jerry at BNR and the Diablosport inTune you actually end up with two reliable channels of fast and efficient support. Jerry is active here and from my personal experience has always been responsive and cooperative with issues. Even when I gave him needless ****. Kudos for that. But on top of that you also have an open and robust support community at Diablosport themselves. If you have a hardware issue it will most likely be taken care of quickly by Jerry. But if you end up needing to send a message or post on the forums at Diablosport, expect an expeditious and equally effective response directly from them.
8) Fuel Economy - Winner = Stock
Shocker right!!!! Well this isn't a tune related fault. I just can't keep my damn foot out of it on this BNR tune. It's GOOOOOD.....
So for the reality check, I'll be hitting the road for some work related trips next week and will update with a real mileage comparo on longer routes I have good data from.
Summary -
1) Diablosport inTune from BNR - Get it.
2) BNR custom Diablosport tune upgrade- GET IT!!!!
