Which one have you installed and why , jb4 or Race chip ... or possible other routes .

[Terry@BMS]

A New Racechip GTS Black with app control is $500 right now as they're frequently on sale. Used ones can be found for half of that.

Exactly my point, virtually the same price new, for such limited performance, function, and safety relative to a better designed and programmed system like the JB4. In my biased opinion only someone who really isn't really aware of the technical differences a limitations of analog only tuning would go the RaceChip route.

Of course the RaceChip drops like a rock on the used market because so many of those who buy them eventually end up upgrading. But RaceChip for $200 for someone who doesn't really care about performance that much and doesn't know what an air/fuel ratio is anyway (for example), that's the only scenario where it would make any sense.

 

[AdamNZ]

Just curious as to where you mounted the throttle controller? I take it you feel the XLR was worth the money?

I attached it in the footwell by the side of the centre console. The cables are all tucked away and can't be seen at all. Definitely a worthwhile addition, as it means I can use the more economical comfort transmission setting but with the same throttle response as sport mode.

As for the JB4 vs RaceChip argument, here are my thoughts:

1. Ideally, an ECU tune is the best option, but it isn't very practical for the Stinger at the moment. This means that we have to make the most of the situation, which generally mean piggybacks. As far as I'm concerned, if you're using piggybacks, your control is inherently limited even with canbus access, so you should strive for safety, even if it means you lose potential power.

2. RaceChip gives you a significant power increase. On a stock vehicle, this increase will be very similar to the JB4 (like-for-like stage 1 power). If you aren't planning to make a lot of modifications, the RaceChip makes more economic sense. It isn't as flexible, but it's much easier to install, much easier to use, often cheaper, comes with a free app ($32 for the JB4), and has been well-designed for its purpose. The JB4's main advantages only really come into play when you start making more extensive changes.

3. RaceChip is safe. I've seen people say that the JB4 is safer, but this is very much dependent on what exactly you're using it for. Depending on where you are the RaceChip comes with a 2 year warranty on the vehicle engine, transmission and turbos. This means that they have significant confidence in the safety of their product. Does JB4 do this? No. The fact that RaceChip is conservative and comes with limited customization might be a negative for some, but it also means that it's effectively impossible to accidentally damage your vehicle.

They both work, and no-one can argue that, but they aren't really aimed at the same customers. I've always modified my cars quite extensively, but I won't be doing that if my only options are piggybacks. When we can do proper ECU tunes and we get support for EcuTek, Cobb or other providers then I will jump in. Until then, the RaceChip does the job just fine.

 

[Terry@BMS]

The JB4's main advantages only really come into play when you start making more extensive changes.

That's the common misconception. CANbus and fuel control allow safer, smoother, better tuning at ALL modification and power levels even tune only vehicles.

The fact that RaceChip is conservative and comes with limited customization might be a negative for some, but it also means that it's effectively impossible to accidentally damage your vehicle.

Also a common misconception, I've seen plenty of damaged engines using RaceChip and Uncle chip over the years, two equivalent products. You set the dial too high and boom -- cracked piston. Without CANbus the tuning can't monitor air/fuel, knock, or any operating criteria that might indicate the boost dial is set too aggressively. A common practice with RaceChip is to turn the dial up until it sputters and then back down a notch, lol. It doesn't even know how far down you are pushing the gas pedal or what the engine temperature is.

Don't get me wrong it serves a purpose, it's cheap, it's simple, and thus it has a customer base. BMS also offers similar low tech products for specific applications that well well. But generally speaking there are many limitations to the approach and a reason so many abandon them after a short time and move on to more capable systems. For the system we sell like the JB+ and Stage1 we allow the orignal purchaser 100% upgrade credit towards the JB4 so they don't have to take a beating on the used market.

 

[AdamNZ]

Hi Terry. This sounds great, I'm all for safety. How about this: you give me a free 2 year warranty on my car's engine, transmission and turbos like RaceChip does for many of their customers and I'll put my money where my mouth is and order a JB4 today.

 

[RUFFSTUFF]

Hi Terry. This sounds great, I'm all for safety. How about this: you give me a free 2 year warranty on my car's engine, transmission and turbos like RaceChip does for many of their customers and I'll put my money where my mouth is and order a JB4 today.

Sweet! How many engines, transmissions and turbos has Racechip replaced?

 

[NS_Stinger]

Sweet! How many engines, transmissions and turbos has Racechip replaced?

Exactly, I bet you'd end up in court fighting them to actually cover something for you.

 

[ecko04]

I’ve used both on this platform.
My only real gripe with RaceChip was that I was moving my RaceChip over from another platform and RaceChip allows you to send your product back to them for reprogramming for the new platform for free. But it took over a month to get the thing back.

Aside from that, I had no issues with the RaceChip. It performed as advertised and when I did have questions their customer support responded in a more than acceptable time frame. RaceChip also can provide more aggressive mapping than what they provide off the self and have you upload it to the controller.

While RaceChip does have a 2 yr warranty on the engine and transmission, they’ll never pay for it. The reason being is that it’ll be prudent on the owner to show that the RaceChip was at fault for the failure. By the time the owner does that work and completes the tear down — the owner lacks a log, since there’s no logging with the RaceChip, to show the failure was due to the controller. It’s a nice marketing tactic, but in practice it’s useless.

The JB4 is not without its faults either. Everyone has commented on the pros and they’re all valid, but there are cons as well. For one, for all the openness that the JB4 has, you still can’t take it down to your local dyno tuner and ask them to whip you up a custom map. The adjustable map on the JB4 is typically used to run less aggressive settings than the predefined maps. There’s a user adjustment setting that tweaks a few settings, but largely everyone is running the same map so there’s nothing much that’s specific to your car.

Additionally, there’s not much being done with the JB4 that’s specific to the Stinger. Because the JB4 supports many different vehicles it’s developed in such a way to allow features to be added to most of those vehicles. For example, availability of EWG, WMI, map switching via the stalk, etc. have been ported over from other JB4 vehicle development, and tested for use with the Stinger. If you want to know what’s coming down the pipe for the Stinger with the JB4, just look at what has already been done with the BMWs that the JB4 supports. If Terry can access those various systems and modules needed on the Stinger those features will certainly arrive at some point.

With the JB4 it can sometimes be difficult to find specific directions for the Stinger without have to hunt through the N54 Tech forums and hope the first post has been updated. The JB4 Mobile app is a blast from the past and long overdue for a revised and simpler UI. The JB Connect Bluetooth module has its days where it’s fast and others where it continuously fails to update the firmware, which leaves a user stranded with no firmware on the unit, and thus a car that can not be driven until firmware is loaded or the JB4 is removed.

The JB4 is vastly more expandable than the RaceChip. A lot of people start with just the JB4 then may decide to add options later, which may include a Fuel-It sensor, WMI, and/or EWG. You shouldn’t even consider the JB4 without the JB Connect, but keep in mind there’s a cost associated with the initial purchase of the JB4 Mobile app, which in my opinion is ridiculous given the amount you pay for the JB4 itself.

Like RaceChip, Terry (BMS) will respond to your emails, and usually very quickly. The difference is that Terry is vastly more knowledgeable and will troubleshoot with you whereas to find that level of support with RaceChip you would’ve spent 2 days being escalated up the technical chain. Also, it’s worth mentioning that RaceChip Support is based in Germany so the time zones will impact response time.

IMO, if you’re considering one over the other then the JB4 is the better option just so you have the option of expanding in the future and you have the benefit of logging. The install of the JB4 is no more complex or time consuming than the RaceChip. You plug in a few connectors and you’re done.

I’m still holding out hope that we can get to a point where there’s an ECU tune available from a Cobb or ECUtek — if that ever becomes a reality, I’ll sell you my JB4 package at a significant discount.

 

[Terry@BMS]

Hi Terry. This sounds great, I'm all for safety. How about this: you give me a free 2 year warranty on my car's engine, transmission and turbos like RaceChip does for many of their customers and I'll put my money where my mouth is and order a JB4 today.

Their "warranty" sounds great on the surface but when I read the details it looks more like a gimmick to me. You'll find there are plenty of reasons for them not to pay, including you running "bad fuel" (impossible to prove you didn't), you not providing adequate receipts for service for the life of the vehicle, or my favorite participating in "race like" driving behavior (quite ironic given the product name). And while they mull over your claim you have to let your vehicle sit around broken until they get around to inspecting it.

The mechanism also seems pretty flawed/unsustainable because based on how it's written someone can just wait until their engine blows up, then purchase a new RaceChip, and make a warranty claim with them the next week.

Offering better tuning with a wide range of power enhancement that reduces the chances of nuking your vehicle has proven to be a better long term business strategy for BMS than adding $200 to the price of every unit to offer a half-assed warranty. It's true that more power usually comes with more risks but with the JB4 you can dial in your risk levels knowing there are active safety systems in place to help mitigate the worst.

 

[Terry@BMS]

With the JB4 it can sometimes be difficult to find specific directions for the Stinger without have to hunt through the N54 Tech forums and hope the first post has been updated. The JB4 Mobile app is a blast from the past and long overdue for a revised and simpler UI. The JB Connect Bluetooth module has its days where it’s fast and others where it continuously fails to update the firmware, which leaves a user stranded with no firmware on the unit, and thus a car that can not be driven until firmware is loaded or the JB4 is removed.

We're hard at work improving the app and Bluetooth performance. Seen the new firmware database system all in app now? The goal with the next revision is to migrate all platform specific data in to the app so you never need to look for anything on the Stinger JB4 N54tech thread. We want it all right there in the app.

 

[Secondchance]

Those are all valid points but I think the main reason people choose Racechip is because, similar to your last point, a used one can be had for less than half the price of the JB4. That and they make it super easy to install and use where the JB4 is more of a learning curve.

Perhaps you should spend less time mentioning that a used Racechip can be had for half its original price and take a few moments to ponder WHY they can be found for half the MSRP ?! Because they are inferior, and those who make the mistake of buying them, while also eventually realizing their mistake therein, have to price them so low to off load the product. The JB4 retains its value on resale, because the product is easily sold at a mild discount from MSRP regularly.

Btw, did you actually suggest its hard to install 2 clip in sensor wires ? Because that's all that the JB4 requires.... it takes 5 minutes. The additional "learning curve" you mention is additional features Racechump could never even think of offering, like the fuel wires, EWG wires, or their own Bluetooth module adapter. It isn't a learning curve, and its all add on features you get with the JB4 for a fraction more than you'd pay for the Racechump. RC is essentially a modern day Jet Performance chip, a waste of hard earned money, that again, will never be reinvested into R&D on our platform.

 

[SKStinger]

Perhaps you should spend less time mentioning that a used Racechip can be had for half its original price and take a few moments to ponder WHY they can be found for half the MSRP ?! Because they are inferior, and those who make the mistake of buying them, while also eventually realizing their mistake therein, have to price them so low to off load the product. The JB4 retains its value on resale, because the product is easily sold at a mild discount from MSRP regularly.

Btw, did you actually suggest its hard to install 2 clip in sensor wires ? Because that's all that the JB4 requires.... it takes 5 minutes. The additional "learning curve" you mention is additional features Racechump could never even think of offering, like the fuel wires, EWG wires, or their own Bluetooth module adapter. It isn't a learning curve, and its all add on features you get with the JB4 for a fraction more than you'd pay for the Racechump. RC is essentially a modern day Jet Performance chip, a waste of hard earned money, that again, will never be reinvested into R&D on our platform.

Totally valid and I don't really care. I don't have a preference for either platform but a used Racechip for <$300 CAD is a great deal.

 

[Secondchance]

Totally valid and I don't really care. I don't have a preference for either platform but a used Racechip for <$300 CAD is a great deal.

It's cheap. Low cost rarely equates to a good deal. Fair deal perhaps, but not great. A great deal is getting the superior product on a sale price. Frankly, anyone who goes the race chip route to save themselves $100-200 instead of the JB4 route probably shouldn't own a $54K car. More then twice the power output, infinitely more features, and a much safer/ more reliable product for $200 more is about as no brainer as it gets..

 

[SKStinger]

It's cheap. Low cost rarely equates to a good deal. Fair deal perhaps, but not great. A great deal is getting the superior product on a sale price. Frankly, anyone who goes the race chip route to save themselves $100-200 instead of the JB4 route probably shouldn't own a $54K car. More then twice the power output, infinitely more features, and a much safer/ more reliable product for $200 more is about as no brainer as it gets..

Last time i checked a used JB4 with bluetooth is $550 USD. That's about $500 CAD more. Big difference, especially if you're only going to stay on Map 1.

 

[RUFFSTUFF]

Totally valid and I don't really care. I don't have a preference for either platform but a used Racechip for <$300 CAD is a great deal.

Does the same thing as a Racechip for less...

For 2018-2020 Kia Stinger - Performance Chip Tuning - Compatible Power Tuner | eBay

 

[Secondchance]

Last time i checked a used JB4 with bluetooth is $550 USD. That's about $500 CAD more. Big difference, especially if you're only going to stay on Map 1.

no one stays on map 1, as its requirements and maps 2's, are the same.

and I'm Canadian, you're just cheap af

 

[SKStinger]

no one stays on map 1, as its requirements and maps 2's, are the same.

and I'm Canadian, you're just cheap af

I was just pointing out that your numbers were wrong and that one is vastly cheaper than the other and provides similar performance.

 

[cncBilly]

It's cheap. Low cost rarely equates to a good deal. Fair deal perhaps, but not great. A great deal is getting the superior product on a sale price. Frankly, anyone who goes the race chip route to save themselves $100-200 instead of the JB4 route probably shouldn't own a $54K car. More then twice the power output, infinitely more features, and a much safer/ more reliable product for $200 more is about as no brainer as it gets..

Best to move on. Can't save them all from themselves. And ya can't thin thick

 

[SKStinger]

Best to move on. Can't save them all from themselves. And ya can't thin thick

It’s funny how personal people take this stuff. I’m totally ambivalent and merely stating one can be had for less and to not dismiss Racechip.

 

[SKStinger]

I’ve used both on this platform.
My only real gripe with RaceChip was that I was moving my RaceChip over from another platform and RaceChip allows you to send your product back to them for reprogramming for the new platform for free. But it took over a month to get the thing back.

Aside from that, I had no issues with the RaceChip. It performed as advertised and when I did have questions their customer support responded in a more than acceptable time frame. RaceChip also can provide more aggressive mapping than what they provide off the self and have you upload it to the controller.

While RaceChip does have a 2 yr warranty on the engine and transmission, they’ll never pay for it. The reason being is that it’ll be prudent on the owner to show that the RaceChip was at fault for the failure. By the time the owner does that work and completes the tear down — the owner lacks a log, since there’s no logging with the RaceChip, to show the failure was due to the controller. It’s a nice marketing tactic, but in practice it’s useless.

The JB4 is not without its faults either. Everyone has commented on the pros and they’re all valid, but there are cons as well. For one, for all the openness that the JB4 has, you still can’t take it down to your local dyno tuner and ask them to whip you up a custom map. The adjustable map on the JB4 is typically used to run less aggressive settings than the predefined maps. There’s a user adjustment setting that tweaks a few settings, but largely everyone is running the same map so there’s nothing much that’s specific to your car.

Additionally, there’s not much being done with the JB4 that’s specific to the Stinger. Because the JB4 supports many different vehicles it’s developed in such a way to allow features to be added to most of those vehicles. For example, availability of EWG, WMI, map switching via the stalk, etc. have been ported over from other JB4 vehicle development, and tested for use with the Stinger. If you want to know what’s coming down the pipe for the Stinger with the JB4, just look at what has already been done with the BMWs that the JB4 supports. If Terry can access those various systems and modules needed on the Stinger those features will certainly arrive at some point.

With the JB4 it can sometimes be difficult to find specific directions for the Stinger without have to hunt through the N54 Tech forums and hope the first post has been updated. The JB4 Mobile app is a blast from the past and long overdue for a revised and simpler UI. The JB Connect Bluetooth module has its days where it’s fast and others where it continuously fails to update the firmware, which leaves a user stranded with no firmware on the unit, and thus a car that can not be driven until firmware is loaded or the JB4 is removed.

The JB4 is vastly more expandable than the RaceChip. A lot of people start with just the JB4 then may decide to add options later, which may include a Fuel-It sensor, WMI, and/or EWG. You shouldn’t even consider the JB4 without the JB Connect, but keep in mind there’s a cost associated with the initial purchase of the JB4 Mobile app, which in my opinion is ridiculous given the amount you pay for the JB4 itself.

Like RaceChip, Terry (BMS) will respond to your emails, and usually very quickly. The difference is that Terry is vastly more knowledgeable and will troubleshoot with you whereas to find that level of support with RaceChip you would’ve spent 2 days being escalated up the technical chain. Also, it’s worth mentioning that RaceChip Support is based in Germany so the time zones will impact response time.

IMO, if you’re considering one over the other then the JB4 is the better option just so you have the option of expanding in the future and you have the benefit of logging. The install of the JB4 is no more complex or time consuming than the RaceChip. You plug in a few connectors and you’re done.

I’m still holding out hope that we can get to a point where there’s an ECU tune available from a Cobb or ECUtek — if that ever becomes a reality, I’ll sell you my JB4 package at a significant discount.

This is a really good comparison and nice to hear from someone that has used both.

 

[BlasterJax93]

Everyone, I've read all these reviews on both platforms and I'm unsure! I feel as though my bolt on set-up should be putting out more hp/0-60 times but I'm wondering if it's because my racechip tune option. 0-60 times average 4.45 and 1/4 mile @ 12.65 111.
What I'm gathering is jb4 usage is better for track/ power gain? I don't plan on upgrading to WMI unless I upgrade FMIC maybe. (Dad car + toddler)
If I don't mind the cost, if I want more power and a quicker time stamp in both areas, will the JB4 give me that extra power that the racechip is holding back?