BlackBear or Diablo?

[iCryWheniGoPoop]

I have been asked this a couple times now and see it come up every now and then and thought I would share the last PM I got because I think it would help several people faced with this same issue.

First things first... Black Bear is a Supporting Vendor and deserves all the recognition they get, due simply to their business practices and just plain being good people. I have never gotten 1 negative complaint due to their costumer service or tuning other than a couple impatient purchasers that ask me "what's wrong" before Justin is even finished tuning but this is my unbiased answer and current standing on my thoughts between the two at this time.

Here is how my last PM went this morning.



Anonymous GM-Trucks user said:
Hey, what are your unbiased thoughts on tunes for our 2014s? Ive had 3 Blackbear tunes in the past, loved them, but this is the first time Ive wanted to tune my daily driver and try not to void the factory warranty if at all possible. What is the difference between that Lew Tune and what Blackbear offers? I like how the Lew you can cancel it to take it in for service, but do you think that is really untraceable? Just looking for your thoughts......thanks



They are both respectable and I would say pretty equal in ability on past vehicles.

I do not know first hand that Diablo is untraceable but they sure push it. I have asked them a couple different times if they would be willing to stand behind that claim, both through email and calling them out in forums but have yet to get any type of response. Until somebody comes out and says that GM was unable to find/trace their tune and retained their warranty after a major hard part failure, I can't say for sure that their claim is true. I do know that Diablo has one or two ex GM engineers and don't doubt that if anybody is capable of such a claim, they would certainly have that edge to make it so. If this ends up being true, that is 10000 points for Diablo/Lew.

So... Let's put Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny aside for now and not base this on if they are real or not and go off of current facts...


Edit: I was just informed that the below statement is no longer true and Black Bear is now capable of tuning the TCM... This levels the playing field out tremendously.
Black Bear is not capable of tuning transmission settings at this time due to current limitations with the EFI Live software and that is a deal breaker.


I do not know how much Diablo can do with transmission settings and would be a good question for you to ask them. If they can adjust shift pressure, shift speed and adjust torque management settings to give it a sportier shift feel instead of the lumbering motorhome-ish shift patterns that it currently has, I would be Diablo all the way. The trans tune alone will be 90% of the gains you will notice most about your new tune.

Basically... If Diablo can give you a good trans feel, I would go Diablo wether their claims of tune traceability are fact or fiction.
Edit- now that black bear is capable of tuning the transmission... I would go with BlackBear if your are looking for a better more well rounded tune.

If both had the same capabilities right now, I would lean towards Justin just because I like how they do business.
Im a big Black Bear fan and wish EFI Live would step up their game so I could send people there way.
Edit- It looks like EFI Live finally stepped up and Black Bear is now capable of tuning the TCM as of April 11th, 2013

 

With the new information that Black Bear is now capable of tuning the TCM, I think that Black Bear will get you a better tune, but what if Diablo's tunes are actually untraceable? Quite the delima!

Just My .02
Steve

[MikeNH]

Incorrect. BB announced on the 11th TCM tuning is now possible.

[iCryWheniGoPoop]

Well, then.. This is why I posted this, so that we can get all the information out on the table

[CAtaylor]

Hell Yea! Time to make a new log and get it sent in.

[14'SilveradoLT]

Come on Diablo----- is it traceable with no CVN changes or not???? huh huh huh???

 

My tuner for the ecoboost is a long time user of diablo stuff, I'm pretty sure. If it 100% can't be traced I might shell out the coin very soon. If it is traceacle....I'll wait until the bugs and recalls appear to be done.

[Chris]

Come on Diablo----- is it traceable with no CVN changes or not???? huh huh huh???

 

My tuner for the ecoboost is a long time user of diablo stuff, I'm pretty sure. If it 100% can't be traced I might shell out the coin very soon. If it is traceacle....I'll wait until the bugs and recalls appear to be done.

 

A dealer CAN NOT deny a recall on your vehicle even if it is tuned and the warranty is "SUPPOSEDLY" voided.

[14'SilveradoLT]

Yeah but they might not fix it prior to the recalled issue, lol. Being that it's the first year model, I'm trying to keep it fairly simple.

[fondupot]

Blackbear. /thread

[krzyd]

Got this last week FYI

 

"Hello Derek,

 

Thank you for contacting us about a tune.

 

For your truck we offer our in-person tune and our AutoCal tune option only due to the fact that the transmission computer is inside the transmission case.

 

Using the AutoCal, all tuning would be completed by email. You would collect data from the truck while driving around and would provide that along with your OEM tune files and a list of modifications and desired tune changes. We would then create your modified tune files and would send them back to you, by email, to be installed. The hardware is yours to keep and you would be able to use it to return the truck to stock as needed as well as receive and install tune updates when needed. Details and ordering can be found at http://www.blackbearperformance.com/autocal.asp

 

On the 2014 models, we can only tune the engine at this time. We are waiting for the transmission to be fully released before we can provide a tune for it. Once it is available, we will provide you with the transmission tune at no extra cost.

 

If you have any more questions, please let me know.

 

Jarrad

BlackBearPerformance.com

Like us on Facebook!"

 

 

Ordered Diablo inTune today, I'll let you know the results.

[txab]

Except as stated above, since your email, BBP can now tune the TCM

[sailor9908]

looks like Black Bear for the win