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Hello all, I am in the development stages of a tuner based/performance shop looking to expand into the Dubai market. I have established business here in the states and was wondering what if any kind of demand there is out there for tuners or parts from the states.

We deal with Japanese imports (Hondas, Mitsus, Subarus, Nissans...) and we are expanding to handle high end vehicles (Ferraris, Porches, etc.)

If anyone could give me any kind of a response as to what this market is like that would be great, or if there is something that I can get you here in the states let me know, we ship world wide.

Thanks,
Ray

Ray,

There is a huge demand for high quality tuners here in the UAE. There are a large number of garages/shops etc offering tuning services and the like, but to be honest, for most, they are crap. I am not generalising, if that is possible given the above comment, but they do not have the expertise or equipment to offer good professional services.

I would say that there are possibly 5 - 10 half decent garages with a couple that are OK. I think most of the garages here are Euro car tuners. It would be nice to get a specialist in the Jap market (i think 1000 dunes is a Jap car specialist).

As for parts: there are a lot around and prices tend to be rather high. Often a lot of people order there own and get it installed (at one of the above crap garages).

Also, there are a lot of "yank tanks" here in Dubai.

Yes, there is a lot of cash here in the UAE and whilst "modders" are not hugely represented, their are a lot around with money to spend, if they can find the right people to do it.

There are no tuner shops here, they kust supply parts, install and go.

I have never seen a shop here use a wideband and actually tune a car, timing is also an issue here, people just use the factory ignition maps and take it from there.

Parts....there are lots of parts, tuners.........no tuners, just cowboys claiming 700+Bhp.

Also looking to work for a tuner shop in Dubai. I am an American educated mechanical engineer specializing in automotive tuning. Currently holding a Dubai residency and i just really want to work in the car scene for a reasonable salary, i have job offers all over the place but in businesses that are not interesting to me.

hosrom_951 wrote:There are no tuner shops here, they kust supply parts, install and go.

I have never seen a shop here use a wideband and actually tune a car, timing is also an issue here, people just use the factory ignition maps and take it from there.

Parts....there are lots of parts, tuners.........no tuners, just cowboys claiming 700+Bhp.

...hi, nice to see you here again:
don´t think there´s nobody here in Dubai who´s using an Wide-Band-Sensor....
There is AND he´s good with this!
Just see for yourself: The guys at MTM know how to use these things!

Wouldn´t go there for Japs car tuning...but for european car-tweaking should be only one : the guys at MTM

So, they stick the wideband in the exhaust?

Do you know where do they place the wideband?

So, they have a wideband....then what do they do when they get readings/results?

Let me just say this, i saw them working, they stick the wideband in the muffler, a BIG no no!

hosrom_951 wrote:So, they stick the wideband in the exhaust?

Do you know where do they place the wideband?

So, they have a wideband....then what do they do when they get readings/results?

Let me just say this, i saw them working, they stick the wideband in the muffler, a BIG no no!

Wideband O2 sensors should be installed no less than 12" from the headers/extractors. mine is going to be installed in my downpipe.

And FWIW, there are 800 hp Evos running really reliably from where I come from even though tuning is done with the WBO2 mounted with an exhaust clamp. It's a matter of whether the tuner knows how to compensate, and to ensure that there are no leaks in the exhaust before you set up the WBO2 at the exhaust.

And yes, it IS more accurate to install the WBO2 in the downpipe, I'm not disputing that.

ghoonk wrote:

hosrom_951 wrote:And FWIW, there are 800 hp Evos running really reliably from where I come from

800 HP !

You're kidding arent you !

pretty darn sure he is NOT

ghoonk wrote:

hosrom_951 wrote:So, they stick the wideband in the exhaust?

Do you know where do they place the wideband?

So, they have a wideband....then what do they do when they get readings/results?

Let me just say this, i saw them working, they stick the wideband in the muffler, a BIG no no!

Wideband O2 sensors should be installed no less than 12" from the headers/extractors. mine is going to be installed in my downpipe.

And FWIW, there are 800 hp Evos running really reliably from where I come from even though tuning is done with the WBO2 mounted with an exhaust clamp. It's a matter of whether the tuner knows how to compensate, and to ensure that there are no leaks in the exhaust before you set up the WBO2 at the exhaust.

And yes, it IS more accurate to install the WBO2 in the downpipe, I'm not disputing that.

Dude, you got it way over you're head. Mounting the wideband sensor on the downpipe is NOT an ideal location. The life span of the sensor will be shortened, due to the amount of heat generated.

And who ever informed you on mounting the WBO2 sensor no less than 12" from the headers is also mis-leading. You seriously talk the talk, and don't work on the car you'reself or even do you're homework.

The ONLY sensor that should be installed as close to the cylinder head as possible, is the EGT gauge. It should be mounted approximately 1" from the headers to cylinder head flanges. Anything more WILL give you lower readings, hence making you think you're safe.

As far as the wideband goes, it can be mounted all the way at the tip of the exhaust system, as long as there is NO muffler (primary or secondary) or CAT. If there is a primary muffler or a CAT, it should be mounted JUST before that.

Also, the angle of the sensor is very important, since you have a little thing called condensation that occures during warm up. In case you did not know, warm up times are the most cruicial for wideband's, since a COLD sensor would not be working properly, and you are adding condensation to a gas sniffler (the sensor itself), this reducing the life of the wideband.

It looks to mee that you do a lot of google work and come around here and start talking. Do you know what a wideband is? do you understand the difference between widebands and narrowband sensors? do you know why the narrowband sensors are used by the vast majority (if not all) of the factory cars? 0-5v widebands and 0-1v narrowbands do have advantages and disadvantages you know.

If you look at Innovative's website, go top their quick start guides (http://www.innovatemotorsports.com/support.php), even using a brand new sensor and maintenence of a sensor is very crucial.

Another note, a WB02 sensor has NO relation, what-so-ever with horsepower, engine size, modifications or anything at all, it is a TOOL, used for diagosing the AFR, it doesn't do anything else.

From REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE, you are just doing it all wronge. I had several exhaust leaks, it did NOt effect the sensors readings at all. Remember, exhaust LEAKS, this exhaust is escaping from the pipes, no air is entering, thus the exhaust emitted by the engien is NOT altered......

Seriously, where did you get this info from? why are you mis-leading info? it is better to listen and learn (doesn't have to be me, im not a mr. know everything) than to start providing mis-information. The tuner should know how to compensate?? compensate what? if a sensor is not installed properly, then how does he know it? how does he compensate it?

Stick the sensor in the exhaust system, plug the sensor to the main wideband module, give it voltage (12v) and either have it hooked up to the wideband gauge (which displays the AFR from 9.0-20.0 depending on models) or hook it up to a laptop and get the results there, or read the voltage and compare it with the table (0-5v). I am not picking a fight, but that info you posted is incorrect, seriously incorrect. Have a look at innovative's website, unless you doubt one of the world's leading wideband manufactures?

Hey guy if any one needs any custom wheels/tires or any audio video or mobile pc just hit me up. We supply rims and tire to UAE.