Getting a Q50 3.0t Tune around the holidays might not be the best idea, as installers may be more focused on their upcoming time off than on meticulous work. This was my experience with a recent Jotech tune for my near-stock Q50 3.0t. While their base tune, reportedly successful on other Q50s with aftermarket exhausts, delivered impressive power gains, it proved overwhelming for my car’s stock setup.
The substantial torque increase from the tune seemed to overpower my Q50’s torque management system, leading to a less-than-ideal driving experience. Most Q50 and 370Z owners modify their exhausts before tuning, allowing for better power delivery and handling. My car, with its factory exhaust, simply couldn’t effectively utilize the increased power. While the tune itself was robust and likely perfect for heavily modified cars, it resulted in unnecessary strain on my vehicle without providing usable performance gains.
Ultimately, the tune wasn’t a good fit for my stock Q50. It felt like overkill without the necessary supporting modifications to handle the power increase. I plan to revisit tuning in mid-2020 after upgrading to wider, higher-performance tires (likely 265/275 Toyo R888R or Nitto 05R) to better manage the potential power gains. This upgrade should allow me to fully utilize a more aggressive Q50 3.0t tune and experience its true potential. Until then, I’ll stick with the stock setup.
