Bully Dog BDX

Received the Bully Dog BDX, thanks to Keith for all his help at @dirtydeeds .

If you are considering this, the first thing you will need to do is connect it to your computer and update the firmware with their updater PC software. The firmware of mine right out of the box was so old, that it would not even see the truck when connected. Once the firmware is updated, you will then connect it to your truck so that it knows what vehicle it's connecting with, then you will need to update it again to get the latest Tundra tune files.

Once updated, I noticed that there was not a "Tune a", "Tune b" and "Tune c" that so many have referenced. Maybe this was because this was a BDX and not a GT Platinum, but there was only one tune program on my device called "5.7L Toyota"


In the program process, you are presented with 4 options that may be adjusted:

• Tune Type
• Speed Limiter
• Shift Points
• Throttle Sensitivity

Most is self explanatory, but I do have a question for others that have done this. The tune type offers: Stock, tow, regular, premium, and trail. I assume the "regular" is for regular octane gas (87/89) and premium is for 91+ gas. "Tow" is self explanatory but what is the "Trail" tune do?

Anyhow, this seems like the ideal setting:

 

I used regular tune when I first got it. Then I used premium/performance and all I can say is wow! I use the premium tune now.

 

I thought about that, but didn't know if you had to use premium gas for the premium tune. Is this the case or can you use regular gas on a premium tune?

I think the regular/performance/performance is close to hitting the tow/haul button, but much smoother and not so touchy.

 

You do need premium fuel. Trust me though it’s worth the premium price lol.

 

Nice, will definitely check it out.

Do you know what the "Trail" tune does?

 

No I always wondered what it is for. Maybe @dirtydeeds might know?

 

I think you would want to use premium fuel on the premium setting. As far as trail goes, I talked with Keith and I get the impression that it slows your throttle response making it smoother. I had mine shipped to Vegas so I have not been able to play with it yet. Not 50 state leagal.

 

Good to know. Will need to run out my current tank of regular fuel so I can fill up with premium. With the fuel economy of our trucks, this should be sometime this afternoon.

@15whtrd , did you get the BDX?

 

Yep BDX! The suspense is killing me lol. I was hoping to show up in Vegas at the end of the month and plug it in my truck immediately. Sounds like I need to take it all the way home so I can update it first. Unless my FIL will let me install the bully dog update on his computer.

Funny I thought I read somewhere that it took a few tanks of fuel for it to recognize the tune completely. But I think I may be remembering that from the DAP thread.

 

Yea, you want to make sure the device is up to date before actually doing the tune. The prepping is actually what took the longest. Had to download their updater software to the computer, do a double update, and verify. Once the device was ready, the tune actually does not take very long. About 15 minutes for the actual tune.

I think it was the DAP tune that someone said took a couple tanks of fuel to teach the computer. I have not read anything about this on the BD.

If you need tips or hints, let me know while it's fresh in my head.

 

Awesome! I really appreciate the heads up. I would’ve been sadly disappointed after that long drive only to find out there was more work to be done LOL.

So need to install their software, update the tuner, read the vehicle, go back on the computer and get the latest update for my truck, then install the tune on the truck? You said double update. Does that mean when you initially updated the tuner you did it twice just to be sure?

 

When I first bought the truck I removed the charcoal filter. Last year I installed my dirty deeds exhaust. This year I bought an aFe dry drop in and should be receiving my trd airflow accelerator. Looking forward to how the truck is going to feel with all this and the tuner together.

Post back after you’ve driven it for a while with your thoughts. I’m not looking for some unreasonable massive gains. Just a better all-around driving experience. Hoping to get a little bit better shifting and throttle response.
And a few extra ponies will obviously sweeten the deal.

 

I had a scheduled service appointment for my truck this week so I didn't want to do the turn before the service, but I did want to make sure the BDX was ready to go once I was done at the dealer. The BDX has WIFI, so I was going to use the WIFI on the turner itself to get the latest updates. However, when I connected the BDX to the truck and tried to get "Vehicle Info", it would not connect and recognize the truck. A quick call to BD support asked me to check the revision number on the device. Mine had revision # 1.060 and the latest is 1.099. He said the 060 build is very old and is why it won't see the vehicle. So my steps were:

1. Download BDX Updater software to PC Computer and install (link is from the Bully Dog website): https://az824306.vo.msecnd.net/software/SCTDeviceUpdater.exe
2. Connect BDX to computer using supplied USB cord.
3. Using updater software, click on get latest version. (This will update the firmware from revision 1.060 to 1.099)
4. Now that the BDX has the latest firmware, take to truck and plug into ODB port.
5. On the BDX main menu, select "Vehicle Information". This will read that it's a Tundra.
6. The next step is to get the latest update (tune files) for the Toyota Tundra. Since the BDX has WIFI, you can get the latest files while still connected to the truck through the WIFI, but I was not ready to do the tune, so i took it back to the computer to get the latest Toyota tune files through the updater software
7. In the updater software, click on get latest files. It now knows the connected vehicle is a Tundra, so it will update the latest Tundra tune files.
8. The BDX is now ready to use.
9. Once your ready to do the tune, plug a battery charger on the truck
10. Connect BDX to ODB port
11. Select program vehicle in the main menu and follow the prompts. Note: I skipped the cloud check update check knowing that I already updated to the latest tune files.
12. Your done. Also, another tip. Since I'm color blind, I could not easily tell which command buttons were highlighted or not. The buttons with the black text means it's highlighted.

I hope this helps,

 

@BayRunner it helps tremendously. Especially the part about the color blind thing. I’m colorblind also. I have a lot of fun when selecting highlighted things in menus. A lot of trial and error. I forgot about the battery charger thing too.

 

Our trucks ‘learn’ the tune the second you install it. And they ‘adapt’ within only a few seconds.

They will adapt to your driving style over time. But anybtune that you install in the truck doesn’t take time to learn. I’ve never understood why people say that.

The trail tune is for off road use only. Like drag racing with long tube headers

 

Yeah I noticed they say it takes three tanks for the dap tune to learn. I’ve never heard anything like that until I read that thread. All other tunes I’ve ever used seem to be instant.
I’ve read that three tanks thing in multiple conversations. Is that what Shrek is telling people?

So is the off-road tune the most aggressive?

 

I don’t know where people are getting the three tank thing from. Even my first gen has new injectors, different intake, long tube headers, and turbo figured out before 100 miles.

My second gen had a supercharger, bigger air intake, and bigger injectors (Trd supercharger kit) on stock tube figured out within less than 10 minutes.

So three tanks seems like a unicorn fairytale LoL.

Trail tune uses the stock fuel curve. But same timing and vvti commands as the premium tune. It’s meant for long tube headers. I tested the tune for a few weeks for BullyDog.

 

When installing the tune do you have to turn the radio off? If so how do you do this? When I turn the radio off it comes right back on. I even turned off the bluetooth seeing if that allowed me to turn it off, that didn't work. I assume if hooked up to a battery charger I shouldn't worry about the radio being on.

 

I would say it's best to have all assessories off so no battery is being used. Not sure what's going on with your radio staying on for mine did not. An attached charger will definitely help.

 

Yes turn everything off if you can't turn your radio off thats weird and you have other issues...but either way just turn the volume all the way down. Turn your interior and cargo lights off, hook up a battery charger and you'll be fine.

 

I can't turn the radio off for only a minute, then it fires back up. Have no idea what's going on.

 

Then just turn the volume all the way down. Same thing pretty much.

 

Sorry to be a Debbie-Downer on the BDX, but I think, unless you run premium fuel (which I don't and won't because I'm cheap), you are wasting your money. I ran the "regular" tune and felt no difference. I did however, hear engine knock/ping when I got on the throttle to pass someone or go up a hill, for example. No improvement on mpg, no power increase to be noticeable. I also reprogrammed the transmission shift speed and I did notice the gear changes to be less sluggish. Long story short, if you aren't driving it like you stole it all the time, I feel like you'll be wasting your money.

To be fair, you can remove the top speed limiter, so that's that. I personally won't go over a 100mph so that's not a feature worth paying $350 for and everything else you can change through Toyota TechStream for $15. I'll be posting it on eBay soon.

Dan

 

Obviously you’re not gonna get everything out of it if you’re not going to use the premium fuel that the tune requires. Why would you even buy it if you didn’t plan on using it? All the regular tune really does is the things you just said it does. Not really meant for a 20 hp bump. If you want more horsepower you’re going to need better fuel to go along with the timing changes. You should have at least be running 89 octane.
Or just put it on the stock tune and adjust the transmission and throttle response. You could run 87 there. Even the 91 octane I doubt is going to give you huge horse power gains. It’s more just going to be some adjustments to make it feel better.

I think you were expecting too much to begin with. If you aren’t using what it offers to it’s potential, then yeah it’s probably not worth the money to someone like you.

 

Just putting it out there in case others were on the fence. Regular tune should work with regular fuel without knock.

 

Sorry if I sounded like a dick. You’re definitely entitled to your opinion. For me if I’m running anything more than the stock tune with options I would run 89 or better. Thats me though. I wouldn’t want to chance it. Any other tune I’ve run on previous vehicles I always ran 89 or 91 unless it was on the stock file for the mapping. If the tune is adjusting your timing, it’s going to need more octane. Otherwise you’re going to be bouncing off the knock sensor’s LOL.

 

I ran my Bullydog on regular with no knock. And I prototyped their trail tune with no knock.

That sucks you had issues. Sounds like bad gas.

 

It may have been so I tried Mobile 1, Exxon, Shell. Three thanks, pinging at full throttle. It's only for a split second, but it's there.

Guys, this is just my experience. I was hoping for better fuel mileage but I didn't experience it. I would run 93 but I'm not paying the $.70 premium per gallon.

 

I don't know about you guys but I am not buying the BDX for better MPG. I want better response and more torque when stepping on it. That what tuner is made for. If I wanted better MPG I will drive my wifes RAV4.

I did figure out you can't turn the head unit off, but I can turn the radio off for tune install.