So using a tune that's already in the database wouldn't be so difficult? Does the $500 still sound reasonable then?.. I'm just getting frustrated with them. They've had my car since July of 2013 and I still haven't gotten it back. I've literally went to get something out of my car a few weeks ago and there was spiderwebs all over the inside. They had the block already bored and sleeved before so all they had to do was get the head ported and build the engine. Not sure why its taken them close to a year to build it. The owner always wants cash and he wants it in advance. I've paid $6200 so far and still need to pay $1080 for "labor, tune, and a head gasket". I've asked for invoices and I always get an excuse to why he can't give them to me "the system is down" "we just changed systems and we haven't switched everything back yet"... So I'm a bit tired of dealing with them, I feel I'm just getting screwed.
JULY 2013?!?!?! Woooow that's WAY too long. Since you have the car back, do you have the invoices now?
As for tuning fees, it depends on if you had RTP or not. Since you said it was chipped, I'm guessing no Demon, as that's more of a unit and not just a little chip.
RTP is a one-time license fee -- you can download it right off HRTuning and tune it yourself with a laptop. If you buy it from them, you get the license with it. Being chipped on standalone Neptune, you can't do that. It uses the dealers' license and can only be tuned by them, so going anywhere else you'll need to pay for a new dealer license unfortunately. New license = new chip = new tune.
I would think most tuners will use RTP because it's easier for them and they don't need to burn a chip, they can just tune and tweak the demon unit. But shops can basically "force" returning customers by not using the Demon; most won't want to pay $150 + tuning to go elsewhere.
I'm tuned on Neptune, and I've moved, so if I ever go back to the tuner (doubtful, car is off the road), I'd need to limp it 3.5 hours to get there. Lameeee!
