credits

wizard4878 · November 29, 2019

OK, so call me stupid if you must, but what the heck are these "credits" that many of you speak of when it comes to tuning?

How do you get them, why do you need them, etc...?

txab · November 29, 2019

Credits? Do you mean licenses ? Most any of the devices out there can be used on more than one vehicle, but you need a license for each vehicle.

I own an Autocal. I've got two tuned vehicles by Black Bear Performance. I paid for the Autocal unit plus paid additional amount for a license for each vehicle. All from BBP.

Again, I guess this is what you're talking about

CamGTP · November 30, 2019

HP Tuners is a credit based system for licensing/tuning the computer.

Each vehicle has a specific credit amount that it takes to license it. Or in other words, a specific dollar amount. For some it's 2 credits or 4 or 10, so $100 or $200+ to be able to tune that computer. This of course is on top of the money it takes to purchase the tuning software.

wizard4878 · November 30, 2019

so they are trying to fool you into thinking this stuff doesnt cost as much as it does, like the trick used car dealers use marking prices in windows at 3995 instead of 4000, got it, thanks

CamGTP · November 30, 2019

It's not a trick, it's just how tuning goes with most of these systems.

The buy in cost for something like HP Tuners or EFI live is far less than others and you get to keep everything working in the interior/body functions.

Products like Holley can cost over $1,000 and they are a stand alone system. Or some products for vehicles like Honda or Mazda Miata's that require a new computer with a special board inside that lets you edit it.

For the most part a lot of GM vehicles before 2017 was around $400-500 for the product and the credits using HP Tuners. Some vehicles it's a little more. Once 2017 hit new security systems started coming along and it was tougher to crack and the costs went up. Now it's $400 just in credits to tune a 2017-2018 GM half ton truck.

2019+ got even worse, they require a new computer and the cost is roughly $1,900 just to begin doing anything.