Bama tune worth it for a stock car

Shameer K

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2020
Posts
12
Reaction score
1
Hello all I had my 2005 mustang GT for almost 2 years now. I love my car. It's an automatic but I never had the time to go out there and mod. It has become somewhat my daily driver. I am sure you guys are aware that autos on 2005 leaves a lot to be desired. I was thinking about investing on a bama tune to make the throttle responses better. Anyone with some experience on this ? Are the bama tunes good ? I read lot of mixed reviews. I am mostly interested in looking to make the throttle/shift better. Make that "lag" go away. My car currently has 60k miles on it. But so far it's in great condition. I don't know if the fuel pump was ever changed on it but i did change the transmission fluid, new fuel filter, new engine filter, changed spark plugs. I do find hesitation on it now these days sometimes when pressing on gas.

But anyway worth it to get a tune on a stock auto 2005 GT ( 4.6 )?
 

stkjock

---- Madmin ----
Staff member
Administrator
Super Moderator
S197 Team Member
Joined
Jul 10, 2007
Posts
40,221
Reaction score
3,138
Location
Long Island NY
Yes a good tune is worth it on a stock car

no on Bama

Lito, Lund or VMP

Welcome to the site, also not a tech question here, moved to chat.
 

Shameer K

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2020
Posts
12
Reaction score
1
Hey stkjock thx for replying. Reason I was thinking about BAMA is because of the life time free tunes. Do the others you mention offer free tunes ? if I am not satisfied with the tune they come with can I ask them to retune or I have to pay again ?
 

stkjock

---- Madmin ----
Staff member
Administrator
Super Moderator
S197 Team Member
Joined
Jul 10, 2007
Posts
40,221
Reaction score
3,138
Location
Long Island NY
Tunes for life is a bit gimmicky as I recall u have to also buy the parts from American Muscle

the others do not, however, it’s been my experience, if it’s a small adjustment, they don’t charge for an entire new tune. A small update fee, but, up would have to verify with each.
 

skwerl

tree hugger
Joined
Aug 6, 2011
Posts
16,193
Reaction score
1,137
Location
central Florida
If you are satisfied with a crappy Wal Mart tune then sure, go ahead. Not all tunes are created equal. You get what you pay for. I wouldn't use a Bama tune if I got it for free. Get a real tune and you will be much happier.

Been running VMP tunes on my last 3 vehicles. Justin is local to me and is also a friend. I agree with stkjock in sticking with a more reputable tuner, unless you just want to spend your money twice. Most who buy the shitty 'tunes for life' crap end up buying a different tune anyway.
 

Forty61

forum member
Joined
Nov 6, 2016
Posts
1,166
Reaction score
1,060
Location
Dallas, TX
If you’re just wanting to make it feel a little more lively a regular SCT tuner with canned tunes would probably be fine, before I did the cams etc. on my car and had it tuned properly I had just picked up a used SCT for like $50. The canned tune, while not optimal, at least make me the car feel a little more awake.
 

RED09GT

Equal Opportunity Offender
S197 Team Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2009
Posts
2,630
Reaction score
488
Location
Kelowna, B.C. Canada
+1 on what the others have said.
The tunes for life thing would be great if it was more skilled tuners doing the tuning and you were not bound to buying parts from them. Bama seem to be over their head tuning anything beyond a standard air inlet kit.
 

Shameer K

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2020
Posts
12
Reaction score
1
Based on you guys review I will pick up a vmp tune. It’s currently 529.99 on AM is that a good price? EDIT: and when I do get it how should I explain VMP to tune it? Sorry I am still very new to modding. For a great daily and maybe a weekend warrior experience when I do install some mods on it like a CAI. Also what you guys recommend as some starter mods to give the car a bit more power?
 

RED09GT

Equal Opportunity Offender
S197 Team Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2009
Posts
2,630
Reaction score
488
Location
Kelowna, B.C. Canada
You will likely get a form to fill out to list any changes from stock. If your car is stock, you'll just have to list the transmission, desired fuel, and the axle ratio. You will also need to get the strategy code from the PCM. You will plug in your tuner when you get it and follow the menu.
The axle ratio can be found on the door tag and there are plenty places on the internet that can tell you which letter corresponds to which gear ratio.
 

Laga

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2019
Posts
991
Reaction score
518
Location
Chicago
Based on you guys review I will pick up a vmp tune. It’s currently 529.99 on AM is that a good price? EDIT: and when I do get it how should I explain VMP to tune it? Sorry I am still very new to modding. For a great daily and maybe a weekend warrior experience when I do install some mods on it like a CAI. Also what you guys recommend as some starter mods to give the car a bit more power?
Lito has done wonders on all levels of my mods on my 05. I’m not familiar with VPM tunes, but on a 2005, you will have to add a O2 wideband sensor. So figure that into price. CAI will not do much.
 

Shameer K

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2020
Posts
12
Reaction score
1
Lito has done wonders on all levels of my mods on my 05. I’m not familiar with VPM tunes, but on a 2005, you will have to add a O2 wideband sensor. So figure that into price. CAI will not do much.
Oh really this is new to me. I never heard of this. Is this a costly addition? I was thinking of getting a CAI along with the tune.
 

Laga

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2019
Posts
991
Reaction score
518
Location
Chicago
Never mind my mistake. It’s been so long since mine has been stock, I forgot. The wideband is for forced induction. But don’t waste money on the CAI.
 

Pentalab

forum member
Joined
Mar 5, 2013
Posts
5,211
Reaction score
1,093
I have a VMP tune on my 2010 auto (same auto tranny as yours, the 5r55s). I also have the small Roush M90 blower, 94 octane tune, twin 62mm TB, and LT's. I dealt directly with Justin at VMP..and ordered the X3 tuner from him. The tuner came with the new software load in it. The way the X3 was configured, VMP allowed me to alter /tweak a ton of items on the auto tranny, like shift points, etc. Toss a blower into the mix, and the shifts have to be firmer, and faster. With the previous Roush tune, it was a dog's breakfast for the auto tranny. Roush doesn't alter the automatic software, just the eng.

The oem tranny won't last very long with forced induction and zero software upgrades. I also had to install a 2nd auto tranny cooler, catch can for auto tranny, deeper aftermarket tranny pan ( holds an extra 4 qts..and has a dip stick)..and use new 100% synthetic ATF. Your tranny, being 2005 vintage, may have worn, loose bands etc in it.

Don't mess with BAMA, clueless. I saw the 'result's ' of BAMA tunes here locally with some of the other mustang owners..and it was a total disaster. Last heard, they both had had several ..'revisions' done....which made it even worse. They both ran like shit, and both were NA..and both were manual transmissions. And don't even think about using Bama with force induction.

VMP has the 5r55s down to a fine art. It shifted perfectly after his tune installed. We did just one tweak for AFR (with blower on, was a bit lean)..and that was it. BUT VMP has to know every mod you have done, or intend to do.And this all assumes the eng and tranny are clean, and functioning correctly. Without a (JDM engineering ) catch can on the 5r55s, you will end up puking ATF all over the road.
 
Last edited:

Shameer K

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2020
Posts
12
Reaction score
1
Never mind my mistake. It’s been so long since mine has been stock, I forgot. The wideband is for forced induction. But don’t waste money on the CAI.
Hey Laga thanks for replying is see most people recommend a CAI as a first mod with a tune for some decent HP increase. That's why I was thinking about getting one.
 

Shameer K

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2020
Posts
12
Reaction score
1
I have a VMP tune on my 2010 auto (same auto tranny as yours, the 5r55s). I also have the small Roush M90 blower, 94 octane tune, twin 62mm TB, and LT's. I dealt directly with Justin at VMP..and ordered the X3 tuner from him. The tuner came with the new software load in it. The way the X3 was configured, VMP allowed me to alter /tweak a ton of items on the auto tranny, like shift points, etc. Toss a blower into the mix, and the shifts have to be firmer, and faster. With the previous Roush tune, it was a dog's breakfast for the auto tranny. Roush doesn't alter the automatic software, just the eng.

The oem tranny won't last very long with forced induction and zero software upgrades. I also had to install a 2nd auto tranny cooler, catch can for auto tranny, deeper aftermarket tranny pan ( holds an extra 4 qts)..and use new 100% synthetic ATF. Your tranny, being 2005 vintage, may have worn, loose bands etc in it.

Don't mess with BAMA, clueless. I saw the 'result's ' of BAMA tunes here locally with some of the other mustang owners..and it was a total disaster. Last heard, they both had had several ..'revisions' done....which made it even worse. They both ran like shit, and both were NA..and both were manual transmissions. And don't even think about using Bama with force induction.

VMP has the 5r55s down to a fine art. It shifted perfectly after his tune installed. We did just one tweak for AFR (with blower on, was a bit lean)..and that was it. BUT VMP has to know every mod you have done, or intend to do.And this all assumes the neg and tranny are clean, and functioning correctly. Without a (JDM engineering ) catch can on the 5r55s, you will end up puking ATF all over the road.

Hey Pentalab what a great response man. You bring up a great point that my transmission is old. its still running the original and i do hear clanks sometimes. Plus the jerk is there when switching to 2nd and 3rd. Given how old my transmission is how bad will it affect the transmission i wonder. The tune i mean.

Yeah i looked up lot of reviews on BAMA before and its always mixed. I have read nothing but good reviews for VMP.

Also my car is bone stock. Absolutely 0 mod.

Any HP increase will be the result of the tune, NOT the 'CAI'.
I see forget the CAI then you just saved me 250 dollars man. *cheers*

You will likely get a form to fill out to list any changes from stock. If your car is stock, you'll just have to list the transmission, desired fuel, and the axle ratio. You will also need to get the strategy code from the PCM. You will plug in your tuner when you get it and follow the menu.
The axle ratio can be found on the door tag and there are plenty places on the internet that can tell you which letter corresponds to which gear ratio.
Got it!
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Pentalab

forum member
Joined
Mar 5, 2013
Posts
5,211
Reaction score
1,093
My 5r55s shifts as smooth as a baby's bum. But don't expect any tune from anybody to overcome mech issues inside the 15 year old auto tranny.
I see forget the CAI then you just saved me 250 dollars man. *cheers*
You are not making enough HP /TQ in NA , to warrant a CAI. At the most, you might want to install a K+N panel filter, that's it...and that's only if you are not driving down gravel, dirty, dusty roads. The oem filter is good for any road conditions. Typ, 1.5 cfm required for every 1 hp at the crank. (450 cfm for a 300 crank hp eng). Stock oem tb + oem cai is ample for NA.
 

Shameer K

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2020
Posts
12
Reaction score
1
My 5r55s shifts as smooth as a baby's bum. But don't expect any tune from anybody to overcome mech issues inside the 15 year old auto tranny.

You are not making enough HP /TQ in NA , to warrant a CAI. At the most, you might want to install a K+N panel filter, that's it...and that's only if you are not driving down gravel, dirty, dusty roads. The oem filter is good for any road conditions. Typ, 1.5 cfm required for every 1 hp at the crank. (450 cfm for a 300 crank hp eng). Stock oem tb + oem cai is ample for NA.
Hey Pentalab thanks for the reply man. Definitely something to think about I think. I wonder if it's worth getting tune for a 15 year old transmission. But what you mean by NA ?
 
Last edited:

Support us!

Support Us - Become A Supporting Member Today!

Click Here For Details

Sponsor Links

Banner image
Back
Top