[CanadianEwok]

So I've been interested in getting a bluespark tuning module and have seen nothing but good things about it from people here. But on another post I saw that someone mentioned how the car ecu limits any gains from bolt ons and would require a tune before getting full potential. Does the bluespark do that for me? If I start changing out parts will I see the performance increase or will it still be limited?

 

[0xMatt]

As you know most people here will praise the piggyback but I'd save my money if I were you. I can promise you an actually tuned elantra turbo with bolt ons will instantly gap an identical car with the same bolt ons and a bluespark module. All it does is 'trick' your ecu's fuel and boost readings by intercepting the actual data and sending different values to the ecu. If you want cheap 'power', go for it. If you get mods like DP and FMIC, bluespark won't be able to adjust cam/ignition timing or AFR so it by itself won't be able to make any better adjustments than your standard ecu itself would. If you care about your car running properly while you get the bolt ons you want, just focus on those and wait for an actual tune. I know it's not what you wanted to hear, but it's the truth I had to experience myself when I sought the module as something to increase power before I got a proper tune.

 

[CanadianEwok]

As you know most people here will praise the piggyback but I'd save my money if I were you. I can promise you an actually tuned elantra turbo with bolt ons will instantly gap an identical car with the same bolt ons and a bluespark module. All it does is 'trick' your ecu's fuel and boost readings by intercepting the actual data and sending different values to the ecu. If you want cheap 'power', go for it. If you get mods like DP and FMIC, bluespark won't be able to adjust cam/ignition timing or AFR so it by itself won't be able to make any better adjustments than your standard ecu itself would. If you care about your car running properly while you get the bolt ons you want, just focus on those and wait for an actual tune. I know it's not what you wanted to hear, but it's the truth I had to experience myself when I sought the module as something to increase power before I got a proper tune.

I wasn't planning on going crazy with bolt ons. Probably just a cold air intake at first and that'll be it for awhile. My goal is to just reach golf gti levels. Not going for worlds fastest elantra

 

[0xMatt]

Sounds like you're the target demographic for this chip, then. You won't be able to get on par with the MK7 series GTIs with an intake and piggyback tho but prior generations you might.

 

[CanadianEwok]

Sounds like you're the target demographic for this chip, then. You won't be able to get on par with the MK7 series GTIs with an intake and piggyback tho but prior generations you might.

Any idea on what hp increase to expect? Id be running it in 91. And thanks for the helpful info!

 

[Sence]

I wasn't planning on going crazy with bolt ons. Probably just a cold air intake at first and that'll be it for awhile. My goal is to just reach golf gti levels. Not going for worlds fastest elantra

I have to disagree with prior poster. I had a Veloster on the Sxth stage 0 tune and now an N Line on a bluespark. Is it the same? No. Is it improved over stock? Without a doubt. I'm currently on the D setting and can spin coming in to second gear and this car will absolutely not do that stock.

It's a good bang for the buck option but is not how a proper tune feels. Additionally getting to GTI levels is hard, they are way underrated in the HP department from the factory. My experience is that VW and BMW rate their cars at WHP not at the crank. As a for instance I ran my coworker in his stock gti and my tuned veloster making 22.5 pounds of boost. He didn't walk me but certainly won the race.

 

[0xMatt]

Which part are you disagreeing with exactly? I made a few different statements. I was apparently right about most people praising the piggyback and I'm certainly not wrong about a tuned elantra with standard bolt ons absolutely destroying one with the same mods and running a piggyback.

It's a good bang for the buck option but is not how a proper tune feels.

Seems we agree on most of what I've said, actually...

I know you guys need to justify your purchase but don't delude yourselves too much. How can something that doesn't feel properly tuned be a good bang for your buck? I see piggyback owners making these exact same contradictions without even realizing it.

 

[Sence]

Which part are you disagreeing with exactly? I made a few different statements. I was apparently right about most people praising the piggyback and I'm certainly not wrong about a tuned elantra with standard bolt ons absolutely destroying one with the same mods and running a piggyback.



Seems we agree on most of what I've said, actually...

I know you guys need to justify your purchase but don't delude yourselves too much. How can something that doesn't feel properly tuned be a good bang for your buck? I see piggyback owners making these exact same contradictions without even realizing it.

See my edit at the end

I suppose this part "so it by itself won't be able to make any better adjustments than your standard ecu itself would."

It makes it sound like the bluespark is the same as running on the stock tune. Which is false, there are noticeable power gains on the blue spark. This is just a placeholder for me until I hit 60k and then I will put a proper tune on it. They are night and day difference, tune vs. Bluespark, but that doesn't make the bluepsark a poor purchase. I got exactly what I paid for, a bit better than stock but not a real tune.

I just felt like you were discouraging OP from getting a bluespark when for many people it's a very viable option to make better power than stock.

Edit: Scrolling back up I see you actually told OP they seem like the target demographic for the bluespark. So I am wrong and you are right.

 

[OG4boost]

A good tune should do a lot better then a piggyback if the tuner is worth his salt. Especially for the price. If you are closer to stock and staying in warranty with minimum bolt-ons you will still get performance above stock levels. Torque will go as high as 250 WTQ. This is were you will feel the shove. The stock turbo does not provide enough boost for big HP numbers. It was designed to have minimal lag and early response with decent mid-range torque.

 

[Sence]

A good tune should do a lot better then a piggyback if the tuner is worth his salt. Especially for the price. If you are closer to stock and staying in warranty with minimum bolt-ons you will still get performance above stock levels. Torque will go as high as 250 WTQ. This is were you will feel the shove. The stock turbo does not provide enough boost for big HP numbers. It was designed to have minimal lag and early response with decent mid-range torque.

No doubt, the SXTH tune on my VT was light years better than the blue spark. Power came on at 2,500 and held through the power band. You can tell the blue spark is just tricking the ECU into producing more boost but it's well worth the money IMO if you're just looking for a few extra ponies from something that's easily removeable.