Tune Before or After?
 

Hello, I will be installing a header and maybe a CAI soon for my 2016 BRZ. I was wondering if I should tune my car before or after I install these parts? Does it matter? Should I get an EcuTek tune? Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Have a read of the basic bolt on mods guide below

you could fit the headers and cai yourself before you get tune the header will cause a P0420 cel code if its catless, cruise control wont work but will not damage anything

I would re think the cai though , they produce very little power and their cost is considerable. just put a performance drop in filter $50 in stock intake and maybe mod the snorkel yourself will be as good as most cai.

if your near an ecutek tuner then cost is arround the $500-600 dollar mark as they can flash tune for you, if not you have to buy ecutek cable to flash for about $350 or hire one to flash your tune.

if your not near an ecutek tuner then look at an openflash tablet costs $500 and you get device to flash and a set of tunes for el uel headers and 91\93\e85 tunes you can flash yourself, tablet also has gauge and alert functions see link below

Steve99 is one of the experts on the forum with this stuff, none of the CAIs on the market other than maybe the grimmspeed model are worth any sort of money, they yield little power and the same can be gained via a drop in.

It doesn't really matter when the parts are installed, but if you are installing a catless uel you WILL get a check engine light that disables cruise control and will make you fail emissions. Getting a tune not only gives you the 20+ whp bump that headers should give but also gets rid of a majority of the torque dip and the check engine light that will appear. I personally prefer OFT, unless you have an ecutek tuner nearby in which case it'll be way more than the OFT regardless.

Thank you for your input! I'm currently running an after market catback exhaust system. I was thinking of purchasing a JDL UEL Header. To prevent the CEL code should I tune before I install the header? I will also take your advice and get a drop in air filter do you have any recommendations? Thank you for helping me out!

JDL are good headers
also Tomei


probably tune after you install header.
the CEL usually takes a while to come on few hundred km sometimes.


any well known filter brand should be fine, the dry type are less hassle than the oiled ones.

I want to highly reccomend the Gruppe uel, they are the tomei's but sold under a different name for $610 you can get the header, overpipe, new OEM gaskets and an oil pan heat shield from them:

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81839



Literally the best header for the price on the market right now