GM performance parts Regal Stage Kit 2012-2013

Well apparently before he sold the car, he took it back to the dealer to remove the tune and return the car to stock. The service technician said the tune could now be used on another car as it was no longer marred to his PCM. Does that sound accurate? I believe his story and he seems like a genuine guy, but I was just wondering if it seemed plausible that the tune will now be able to be used again. Thanks!
 
the authorization code is given to Techline (the division of GM that does all of the calibrations) so that they know that it was paid for and then they change the calibrations that are downloaded into the car by the dealer. Every authorization code is unique and is one time use. Maybe since it was flashed back to stock it freed up the authorization code to be used again, but I really doubt it. Sometimes calibrations can be purchased by your dealer from techline, they charge the dealer $50 to do so. I don't know if techline offers that for accessory calibrations though.
 
Guess I'm next on the bandwagon here for this GM Turbo Stage Kit. See attached install pictures from yesterday, had to buy the Stage 1 sticker/decal for heritage sake!

I don't even want to get into whole my experience at the dealer because it's depressing... all I'm saying is a 1-1/2 hour job took 5-1/2 FREAKING HOURS!!! My ECM wouldn't accept the tune/program, the Tech was on the phone with GM Support for over 2+ hours he showed me his call log. They had to take out the damn computer, pull some jumpers, attached wires, etc. Christ my whole control module was disassembled when I went back into the shop!

Don't want anyone to get steered away by this, it's rather just my bad luck that of course my ECM wouldn't accept the tune lol.

I negotiated with the Service Advisor down to 3 hours (which is still TOO MUCH!!). I told him I felt it wasn't fair that I'm on the hook for payment while they're on hold on the phone and while they had to diagnose an unseen problem. Also told him that if I knew this is what the job entailed then I wouldn't have bought the intake. It's not technically the dealer's fault either because they've never done this before, so I do understand and they took a hit as well and met me half way.
 

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Guess I'm next on the bandwagon here for this GM Turbo Stage Kit. See attached install pictures from yesterday, had to buy the Stage 1 sticker/decal for heritage sake!

I don't even want to get into whole my experience at the dealer because it's depressing... all I'm saying is a 1-1/2 hour job took 5-1/2 FREAKING HOURS!!! My ECM wouldn't accept the tune/program, the Tech was on the phone with GM Support for over 2+ hours he showed me his call log. They had to take out the damn computer, pull some jumpers, attached wires, etc. Christ my whole control module was disassembled when I went back into the shop!

Don't want anyone to get steered away by this, it's rather just my bad luck that of course my ECM wouldn't accept the tune lol.

I negotiated with the Service Advisor down to 3 hours (which is still TOO MUCH!!). I told him I felt it wasn't fair that I'm on the hook for payment while they're on hold on the phone and while they had to diagnose an unseen problem. Also told him that if I knew this is what the job entailed then I wouldn't have bought the intake. It's not technically the dealer's fault either because they've never done this before, so I do understand and they took a hit as well and met me half way.

How do you like it?....notice a daily driving difference.....sound good?
 
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Wow, that sucks. Did you get any explanation as to why your ECM wouldn't accept the tune? I wonder what they did that ultimately made it work. Please let us know your impressions after you driven it a while, and the aggravation of the day has faded a bit.
 
dude, i would have argued. pretty sure GM only supposed to charge you 1 hour for the flash and only 1 hour for the intake install.... it took my dealership 3 hours to do everything but they could only charge me for 2 because thats all its supposed to take... according to GM at least

looks good though, enjoy!
 
I have not seen a publish labor time. If there was an issue you programming then that is on the dealer, you shouldn't have to foot the bill on that. Occasionally there are issues with programming, typically it is related to battery voltage, your dealer should have the correct battery chargers to maintain proper voltage while programming, chances are they didn't use it and that is why they had problems programming it.
 
Guess I'm next on the bandwagon here for this GM Turbo Stage Kit. See attached install pictures from yesterday, had to buy the Stage 1 sticker/decal for heritage sake!

I don't even want to get into whole my experience at the dealer because it's depressing... all I'm saying is a 1-1/2 hour job took 5-1/2 FREAKING HOURS!!! My ECM wouldn't accept the tune/program, the Tech was on the phone with GM Support for over 2+ hours he showed me his call log. They had to take out the damn computer, pull some jumpers, attached wires, etc. Christ my whole control module was disassembled when I went back into the shop!

Don't want anyone to get steered away by this, it's rather just my bad luck that of course my ECM wouldn't accept the tune lol.

I negotiated with the Service Advisor down to 3 hours (which is still TOO MUCH!!). I told him I felt it wasn't fair that I'm on the hook for payment while they're on hold on the phone and while they had to diagnose an unseen problem. Also told him that if I knew this is what the job entailed then I wouldn't have bought the intake. It's not technically the dealer's fault either because they've never done this before, so I do understand and they took a hit as well and met me half way.

The result is sweet. I WILL be getting this after looking at your photos. I'll try to find a stage 1 emblem as well.

You need this on your sig

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1430361066.864513.webp
 
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Thanks for the insight guys and I appreciate your support! It is a bit disheartening (my experience at least)... I just wrote a message to "Buick Customer Service" asking them for assistance on maybe receiving a credit or voucher for the extensive service that took place, since the word is it should've only taken 1 hour and I feel cheated. If they can assist in some way it will help this memory fade faster and eventually go away... if not it will probably go away in time on it's own because the car is certainly more fun and enjoyable to drive now!

I know @gjtalis but I didn't argue rather than negotiate with the Dealer to be fair since they help me out a lot, at least they compromised... I understand they were in a tough spot too but I agree that they can absorb the hit more than I can and probably should have fully. I shouldn't be the one responsible for the whole bill since it should only be an hour job, but they did pay their Tech for 5-1/2 hours I saw the Invoice. They didn't even install it either, I installed the intake myself before going in. On the upside, they only charged me $60.00 to put the Pirelli's on my new wheels, program the TPMS, Roadforce Balance them, and install... my local tire shop wanted $150.00!!

@RegalGSer I honestly was bit too flustered to remember the REAL reason why my ECM wouldn't accept the tune, but what I do remember when I asked twice was he mentioned the Transmission Module... not sure what that has to do with ANYTHING, but that is what stuck with me when I asked. He said he had to remove it, pull some jumpers, pull fuses, attach some wires, etc. I don't know, there really was a lot going on and I don't remember the specifics since my wheels got put on the same day and I was also preoccupied with that making sure they didn't damage my new rims.

@trucklt1 They had to wait on hold for a while to get the code, then apparently it started to accept the tune/download and then stopped....started and then stopped again. Then they had to call GM Support, I saw the dude's call log it was like 29 minutes, 55 minutes, 32 minutes, 20 minutes, 10 minutes, etc. They had to pull something out of that left side compartment in the trunk that has that rug-material snap in aesthetic cover as well. Then they had to reassemble the whole area where the battery/computer is and was taken out, my coolant tank was removed also so they really had to get in there to do whatever they needed to.

Well @ink my Initial Impressions are:
• Turbo noise and intake suction sound are supremely louder than stock. So much so that I tightened everything up again and made sure the pipes were far enough in the couplings because it sounded like too much air!
• Forge Bypass Valve and blow-off noise is much louder as well... definitely a head turner now!
• I'd have to say the throttle response is better as well, I had the K&N Drop in panel before.
• I haven't hit the "assumed" 22 PSI on my boost gauge yet, this morning got it up to 20.3 PSI but I remember getting up to 21 PSI with my stock set up... not making any judgements yet, maybe I didn't push it hard enough.
• Intake temp stays within 5-10 Degrees of ambient just like the stock box... attaching an AEM cone filter at the end of your stock hose runs over 90-100F above ambient!
• I suppose it pulls harder than stock, it is certainly more fluent feeling in the pedal since the restrictive stock piping is gone.

So is it really a 25 HP increase? I don't know... Did they even really install the tune after all that trouble? In good faith I hope so... Was it worth the $598.00 + shipping and programming fee? Maybe, depends on your wallet... Was I dying for some kind of Factory Cold Air Intake and Tune to come out because I didn't want to void my warranty and have peace of mind? YES!!!
 
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@bbronner413 thanks for the detailed write up...im anxiously awaiting my kit to arrive ....hopefully its a little more muted than the zzp....however if its not ill live with it at least knowing its an enclosed set up that is dealer approved.
 
called my dealer today and was quoted $1200 for everything, with a number like that I don't think they even looked into it.

that's a crazy price.....im paying a little more than I could order it for myself....but for ease of everything I can live with it....however im still a few hundred less than that
 
I plan to install the intake myself so ill save on that part but the dealer is trying to charge me $699 just for the kit?... where is everyone else buying from that was $5xx? that you trust?
 
Crate Engine Depot (tom@crateenginedepot.com) - $598.00, in stock... my shipping was $24.07 with Insurance, received within one week.

Pace Performance (Parts@PacePerformance.com) - $598.88, not in stock, about 1 week to ship plus transit time...shipping about $20.00 I was informed, no insurance?
 
Ordered mine from the dealer in roseville Tuesday at 4pm...came in today....my service guy called me and said get it down here I'll do it right now.....buh bye work....hello dealer waiting room....my dealer is installing the intake at no charge since it takes all of 10 minutes...
 
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Crate Engine Depot (tom@crateenginedepot.com) - $598.00, in stock... my shipping was $24.07 with Insurance, received within one week.

Pace Performance (Parts@PacePerformance.com) - $598.88, not in stock, about 1 week to ship plus transit time...shipping about $20.00 I was informed, no insurance?

do you have pictures of your GS on your 20" MRR rims??
 
My first impression driving home...9 2 degrees outside...I like the muted sound...by that I am glad it isn't as loud as my open zzp filter...still sounds great when you stomp it...the power to me seems smoother through the midrange...no jerky power like I had before...the fit and finish is nice and my dealer got me out in just over 2 hours....I'm happy with the purchase...its more of a mild sound increase and refinement of power in my opinion...my 02 cents
 

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Took the wife's car in today for the ignition recall, and asked the service guy about it, he says here anyway they charge about $80 to reflash an ECU, seems pretty good (I assume about an hour for labor). I don't have the kit yet, but I plan to soon.
 
I may consider this package. I have a stock 12 GS, so I am wondering if I would really notice the power increase, or would driveability and power consistency be a more noticeable improvement? For GM to bother making a kit, I would hope it would be noticeable on both fronts. At $600-$800 it isn't cheap and I wonder about cost vs. benefits. Any further opinions would be appreciated as people jump on this kit. Thanks.

I think what you said describes it best in my opinion...after my install yesterday and my drive to work this morning....I would say its a driveability and power consistency tune rather than a power tune...I really feel it smoothed out the power and added some nice sound......you want stupid sound?....remove the top lid.....a little to bissel sounding for my taste but to each there own....
 
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