Having spent years in the high-stakes world of car tuning, chasing every last horsepower from my vehicles, I approached my Infiniti Q50 3.0T with a mix of excitement and skepticism. My previous project, a Mazdaspeed6 2.3L MZR, demanded extensive modifications—mid-sized turbo, water/meth injection, upgraded internals, and countless hours of custom tuning to reach a reliable 400bhp from its original 275. This journey taught me the intricate dance of boost, timing, and fueling, especially with the notoriously sensitive 2.3L engine. After countless dyno runs and virtual dyno analyses, I gained a deep understanding of what it takes to properly tune a turbocharged engine.
With this background, modifying my Infiniti Q50 3.0T Lux seemed like a natural progression. I opted for the JB4 tuner, complete with fueling and EWG (External Wastegate) wires. The installation process was surprisingly straightforward, taking around two hours of careful work to install and neatly route all the components. To accurately gauge the performance improvements, I configured a custom car profile in Virtual Dyno, ensuring precise measurements despite neglecting frontal area details, as the software primarily utilizes drag coefficient for calculations.
The real revelation came with the dyno testing. I started with a baseline run on the stock ECU map, followed by a run using JB4 Map 2. The results were nothing short of astonishing. Firstly, the sheer power increase was mind-blowing. Secondly, the factory ECU demonstrated remarkable adaptability in managing the additional boost. Finally, the performance gains were undeniable, slashing almost three seconds off the 30-86mph acceleration time – the usable range within 3rd gear (2500rpm to redline).
The transformation was immediate and visceral. The JB4 tune injected a staggering 110whp and 150 lb/ft of torque into the car. The dyno graphs vividly illustrate this surge in power, with the blue line representing the stock baseline and the red line showcasing the JB4 Map 2 results. Using a standard Dynojet correction factor (1.09) and smoothing level 4, the gains slightly exceeded Burg Tuning’s advertised figures. This could be attributed to the fuel wires and EWG control enhancing the tune’s effectiveness. Even if we consider a 5% margin of error, the improvement remains exceptionally impressive.
Analyzing the data, it’s clear the performance jump is predominantly driven by increased boost. JB4 Map 2 is designed to add +5psi of boost, and the measurements confirmed this precisely. Credit to Burg Tuning for delivering on their promises. My Infiniti Q50 3.0T, running on 91 octane fuel, handled Map 2 without any issues. There was no indication of the ECU pulling timing due to knock or pre-ignition events during the dyno pulls, suggesting a safe and robust tune.
Looking ahead, I’m contemplating adding Lower Downpipes (LDPs) and perhaps Water-Methanol Injection (WMI) to further enhance performance, potentially reaching the limit of what I consider sensible for a daily driven car. What truly amazes me is the remarkable cost-effectiveness of achieving significant horsepower gains with this platform. The Infiniti Q50 3.0T, especially as a ruinwd car, reveals itself as an incredibly tuner-friendly platform, offering a surprisingly affordable pathway to high performance.
