Upgrades for the R56 from M7
Recently, we’ve been testing a couple of new M7 products that are soon to hit the market. They both have undergone the basic dyno test, but we also subjected the two to real world speed testing.
The first product is custom tuning software from Unichip. Just as with the R53, the Unichip tune for the R56 is programmed into a piggy-back module that connects to your stock ECU. The advantage of this type of ECU upgrade is that you can have multiple tuning maps and switch between them by using a laptop or palm pilot type device. Being a piggy-back device means that you can remove the Unichip module and the dealer will never know that there was any kind of change to the car’s tuning.
As you can see by the dyno plot, tuning alone makes a huge difference! The stock configuration numbers are shown in the orange boxes while the ECU upgrade numbers are in the green. Gains of 18.3 horsepower and 15.1 ft-lb of torque were experienced at the wheels. These numbers were achieved with the Unichip module installed with NO OTHER ENGINE MODIFICATIONS!
Stock ECU vs. Unichip ECU Upgrade

The next new product is the M7 Pre-Intercooler Charge Pipe.

This is a silicone hose that runs from the turbocharger’s outlet to the intercooler’s inlet, replacing the stock piping between these two components. The replaced parts were designed from the factory to silence any sound by breaking up the air path with restrictive piping. With the M7 Pre-Intercooler Charge Pipe, the charged air coming from the turbocharger sees nothing but the smooth inner walls of the tubing and smooth mandrel bends allowing uninterrupted airflow to the intercooler. On the dyno, installation of the M7 Pre-Intercooler Charge Pipe resulted in gains of 3.6 horsepower and 11.3 ft-lb of torque at the wheels.
Unichip ECU upgrade vs. Unichip ECU Upgrade + M7 Pic Pipe


Numbers are nice, but real world action is better!
We all know that you don’t drive to work on a dyno… Numbers are impressive, but what happens on the road or on the track is what’s important to most people. Along with the dyno testing, we took the car out and tested how the two new products affected the car’s ability to perform in real world situations. For these tests, we wanted the conditions to be near similar to cut down on any data-altering variables. Both sessions were conducted on the same grounds with 85º ambient temperature. We had the same 2 people conducting the tests with ¾ tank of gas each time so that the weight during both tests was the same. No suspension changes were made during testing and both were conducted on Falken Azenis RT-615 (215/40/R17).
The first test was done with no engine modifications to the vehicle and is represented by the blue bar in the following graph. The second test was done with the Unichip module and M7 PIC Pipe installed and is represented by the maroon bar in the graph.

As you can see, the two products installed had significant effects on the acceleration of the vehicle throughout all of the speed and gear situations. Behind the wheel, the power band feels wider and thus power is more readily available than before. If you were impressed with the power numbers presented earlier in this post, you should sit behind the controls of our test car! The torque is absolutely amazing! Basically, slam your foot down and you’ll be planted into the back of your seat. This really affected our 0-60 MPH test from a dead stop and moving through all necessary gears. There was so much torque going to the wheels that we had some difficulty getting the tires to hook up with the pavement. Of course, some of you with more drag racing experience may be able to experience better results (just make sure you’re doing it in the right place!).
These two modifications have not only shown what we MINI owners want to see on paper (positive numbers!) but they get approval from the butt dyno as well. Our changes so far have put a permanent grin on anyone that experiences the new power in our test car.
A price will be determined shortly for the Unichip and we will be taking pre-orders very soon.
The M7 PIC Pipe is available for pre-order at a price of $135 (+ S&H) in your choice of blue, red, or black.
I know some of you are squirming in your chair, anxious to get these on your car… so stay tuned because we’re just getting started with the R56 crowd!

Feel free to call me with any questions.

Peter
M7 Tuning
562-608-8123 Cell 562-712-3270

 

very, very nice!

 

nice, but whats up with the spike in power? at the end of the pulls

awsome torque numbers btw...

 

nice work guys

Vishwho?

 

That's awesome! Better, and probably cheaper than JCW stage one. Wil it void the warranty?

 

what wont void warranty

 

From midrange up looks great but I don't know about losing 20-40lbs torque below 2700 rpm.

 

Pretty odd with just the ecu theres that difference. Were the tests done on the same day same conditions? Seems like we need a bit more tuning if thats the case....

 

Great going Peter, I was wondering is the dyno graph wheel HP and Tq or estimated crank numbers. If they are wheel, then I very sad about my R53.
Mario

 

Peter is out with the family for the day but I can answer a few questions . Mario I am rite there with you and it is time to be VERY sad. Those are to the wheel numbers .

Randy
M7 Tuning

 

The nice thing about the Unichip is that you can simply unplug it and take your car in for service. The only way they will know you were running it is that if you leave the box on the passenger seat

Randy
M7 tuning

 

Is this end user tunable? Like can I take my car with a 28rs on it and tune it, over to my local tuner or unichip dealer and have them make my car run right for big boost/big turbo?

Thanks,
Josh

 

I'm far from a expert on this but I feel that a Unichip dealer/ tuner can make further adjustments on the program. Remember this is a prototype and not the final tune. Unichip just wanted to work with us in order to get some real world info and testing in order to finish up the final version.

Randy
M7 Tuning

 

My only question echos Motormouth's: what's up with the extreme loss of power off boost?

 

Holy cow, this is very exciting!!!

 

all in all they look great, but i'm not really feeling the 45 lb-ft loss at 2500rpm with the PIC pipe. i think that's pretty much unacceptable for a quality power gain; even if you are showing high numbers above 3000rpm. the main problem is, around the city the only power range i pretty much drive in is 1500-4500rpm, so i could care less about high end. but the unichip looks great!! glad to finally see these type products hittin' the market.

 

Your butt dyno now talks back to you? What are you, Jim Carrey?

 

What was the baseline setup?

 

I beleive the first dyno plot shows the stock baseline. The car is one of the strong ones with a 186.5 whp with 217.8 torque . As anyone who has taken one of the R-56 cars to a dyno they are all underated power wise by the factory, some more than others I could tell by the way Peter was able to pull me down the front straight at Willow Springs and this was before we had touched the car power wise. The dyno test only confirms what I saw.

Randy
M7 Tuning

 

you guys have a silicone mandrel bender! kickass!

 

Thanks for giving us the information you have so far, It gives me hope that there are some aftermarket suppliers for the R56 that are following up with their work. Unlike the "Vin-Who" thead. Great work guys!

 

what kind of gains can be had with this ecu tune combined with turbo back exhaust and intake?

 

Hey Guys, your prototype looks good and much promise. You're trying to make us R53'ers trade up aren't ya?
Here to future sucess.

 

Any air-fuel graphs?
The 335 guys are concerned about the air-fuel mixture on the TurboTuner not being rich enough and the unit relies on the knock sensor to dial back timing to prevent know and tolerate the lower ratio.
It seems to work fine.
I'm excite new software if finally showing up for the R56.

 

are there price and availability est?