Does the dealer use a tuner, or do they connect their diagnostic computer up to the ECU to do the download? So, if the dealer uses their tool, for a one time download, does this mean I don't need to buy the SE Tuner??

 

They may CAN do it without a tuner, but they probably wont. The tuner is "married" to your bike and can never be used with another bike. But you can tune as many times as you want.

But I believe, as I understand it, they do use and need the SE tuner.

 

2016 and prior models could get the $150 dealer download without a tuner. 2017's that is no longer an option, the tuner must be purchased.

 

With the M8 there is no available “download”. You have to buy the street tuner. You will actually keep the device. dealers are making money to download it for their customers by not stocking the cable. My dealer installed the tune for free and it took 2 weeks for the cable to show up. Cable is extra cost on top of the tuner if you plan on hooking up yourself.

 

You can do the Stage 1 tune yourself. No need to pay the dealer to do anything. I bought my SE Tuner from boardtracker.com Got the tuner and cable for about the price of the tuner. It took about 7 days to get, but I can now use the tuner to autotune/fine tune the "canned" tune. If you buy the tuner from your local dealer, they'll more than likely charge you an hours worth the labor to install the tune. The SE tuner is simple to use and the software has training videos to help get you started. If you don't want to watch the videos the software also walks you through the tune download.

 

that's exactly what the service manager relayed to me