>>From what I understand, GIAC doesn't jujst remap a few parameters leading to increases in power at WOT. GIAC remaps the entire ECU with regards to engine management. It will optimize all aspects of engine tuning - many areas that most tuners wouldn't dare touch. Now what does that mean to us? Honestly, I have no idea but it sounds very exciting!

I am excited too! It always helps with pricing to have several tuners out there with product that works.

The $500 range sounds a wee bit low after all the development costs are done - but I hope it happens. That would force both EVOTech and Powerchip Group to rethink their pricing. I just hope Eric can hold to that price point and not up at (as some of the other guys did after finally coming to market with promises of lower price points).

I know what it means Greatgro - it means that most of the tuners out there aren't looking at things like part throttle, and throttle response mapping. The reason is because of the development required to get it right! I think Garrett is one of the only guys around with the smarts to do it. That was what I liked about the Powerchip Group, and the development tack we used with them. It does address all aspects of driving - even takibng it so far as real time, actual road driving tests. That was about the cooolest thing I had ever been a part of. We are driving down the street adjusting the maps real time for better drivability. They also tweak just about every parameter that effects power and driveability - something you can get ytourself in a world of trouble doing if you don't know which way to go. That's why most other tuners won't touch all the parameters. The newest development is with the DSC - more to come on that.

Randy

 

Here is an idea that I have been kicking around. Chiptuners like to advertise better power at all throttle positions, not just WOT. This sounds great from a marketing perspective, but I have to wonder WHY??? If I am at anything less than WOT, then I'm not using the full potential of the engine. So, I may as well be stock. My MCS has perfect part-throttle driveability in stock form (none of the yo-yo/surge/stumbling that others have complained about). I'd be perfectly happy if my MCS behaved EXACTLY like stock, except when I actually need more power. Which is at WOT. I cannot imagine any situation (cruising, cornering, racing, etc) where I need more power but am unwilling to just press the accelerator pedal further down to get it. During road racing and autocrossing, the only time I ever spent at WOT is coming out of a corner where I am trying to push wide, or on a straightway. In such instances, more power at part throttle would be useless, since I could just control that with throttle position. In drag racing, part throttle just isn't used after the first second of the run. I realize that having a smooth transition between the stock and performance modes is important, so an analogy could be made to no-line bifocal glasses, where there is a gentle ramp between the two magnifications.

 

>>Here is an idea that I have been kicking around. Chiptuners like to advertise better power at all throttle positions, not just WOT. This sounds great from a marketing perspective, but I have to wonder WHY??? If I am at anything less than WOT, then I'm not using the full potential of the engine. So, I may as well be stock. My MCS has perfect part-throttle driveability in stock form (none of the yo-yo/surge/stumbling that others have complained about). I'd be perfectly happy if my MCS behaved EXACTLY like stock, except when I actually need more power. Which is at WOT. I cannot imagine any situation (cruising, cornering, racing, etc) where I need more power but am unwilling to just press the accelerator pedal further down to get it. >>>>>>>>


I hear what you're saying, Andy, but how about this for an explanation. If the MCS runs very rich all the time, why not lean partial throttle too? Yes it will burn better and give more power (which you may not need) but by burning leaner you're burning less gas thus getting better mileage when you're cruising and max power when you're at WOT. I don't know, does that make sense? Also, the throttle response is somewhat slow on the S. My wife's woefully underpowered Honda CR-V has a better/fast throttle response. Couldn't a more complete remap of the software change this as well? This seems to be one of the biggest, most common complaints about the S. I know a lot has to do with it being a small engine with a double mass flywheel and in some cases (mine included), heavy S-lite runflats. But no doubt, some of it has to be throttle response and management with regards to the ECU. Does that make sense or am I talking out of my backside?

 

>>Here is an idea that I have been kicking around. Chiptuners like to advertise better power at all throttle positions, not just WOT. This sounds great from a marketing perspective, but I have to wonder WHY??? If I am at anything less than WOT, then I'm not using the full potential of the engine. So, I may as well be stock. My MCS has perfect part-throttle driveability in stock form (none of the yo-yo/surge/stumbling that others have complained about). I'd be perfectly happy if my MCS behaved EXACTLY like stock, except when I actually need more power. Which is at WOT.

Andy, maybe your car has perfect part-throttle driveability, but i'm not satisfied w/ the smoothness of my MCS, it has it's quirks, the response can be better and the stumble i want gone completely. Now I understand that it's still essentially a 4 cylinder that wont be as smooth as a nice 6 cylinder engine but i've driven other 4-cylinders that are much smoother than the MCS in part-throttle use. I suspect the rich mixture (along with my restrictive stock exhaust) contribute to the way this engine performs in the day to day use. Hearing about GIAC revising the parameters top to bottom so far sounds like what I want. I am looking forward to getting an ECU upgrade in the future not solely for the top HP gains but also for how much smoother it makes part-throttle driving which is what's happening 90% of the time around the public roads anyway.

 

Would this software get rid of that dad-blame-I'll-be-a-horny-toad-jackass engine cut-out, hiccup, stumble, yo-yo, and all the other little quirks caused by the faulty software, emissions be d*mned?

Just wonderin',
JS

 

JS,

The newest stuff we have now does. We worked pretty hard on getting the part throttle issues resolved using the throttle response mapping. I'm sure Garrett also has some tricks up his sleeve - we'll see.

I think some of the others here have hit the nail on the head as far as addressing the entire ECU mapping - the MINI's throttle response is weak and there is plenty of room for improvement. That makes it a more driveable car while adding to the power delivery at the same time - best of both worlds.

The other thing that is a big bonus to the Powerchip Group setup is the ability to do the programming on the car yourself - it comes with a step by step, really easy guide for you to do it, and the cables and security chip are sent to you. That means your car isn't down while you send the ECU here. That is also still an option for those that don't need the car, but you end up having to pay for shipping.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Randy
720-841-1002

 

Randy, will PowerChip ECU flashes get any updates?

I guess what I mean is lets say 34 comes out and Powerchip are able to
tweake it like all the 33 versions, could we get flashed with 34, ship our
cars 34 vwrsion to Powerchip, let them tweak it and send us a new tweaked 34?
Or if they find new /better tweaks with the existing version would we received
a newley tweaked file to use if we wanted?

I guess Im just wanting to know am I locked with the version Powerchip tweaked
or could I get new tweaked version as they come out? Hmmm



If you want Ill call to speak with you more on this.

 

Darxar, that is a great question! What is the upgrade capacity here, and at what costs?

This is great news for all. I have been wanting to get some more pep out of my MC and this might just do the trick.

Keep us posted!

PS: I am totally up for a Helix Chip Trip (there is a great Micro Brewery right around the corner )

 

>>PS: I am totally up for a Helix Chip Trip (there is a great Micro Brewery right around the corner ) >>>


I'll be going to first day (ok, probably more like sometime that first week) when it is available. I'm sure we can arrange something. So far me, Driving Hamster and dandp. Driving hamster - where r u located? Dandp is just down the road from me in Jersey.

 

All Powerchip upgrades from me are free of charge. We are always working on new mods - already researching some DSC tweaking. Anytime something new is available, I'll make sure the community knows about it.

If you want to go and get 34, no problem. The maps are easy to read now, and the basleines are just different from one to the next. You can still aplly the best curves to all of them and end up at the same level no matter which version you have.

Hope that helps!

Randy

 

Thanks Randy

 

Hey Randy,

Why don't you and Garrett sell your software to BMW, since they don't seem to be able to fix the hiccups/stumbles, and yo-yo's. It amazes me.

Is it because you guys aren't limited to strict emissions controls? I'm just trying to understand how aftermarket tuners can solve a problem that BMW doesn't seem to be able to solve.

The software upgrade sounds great. I want to get a pully, first, then I'll do the software. I'm at 4000 miles, now, and plan to do the pully at 10K. At the rate I'm going, that will be in a couple of months.

See ya,
JS

 

>>All Powerchip upgrades from me are free of charge. We are always working on new mods - already researching some DSC tweaking. Anytime something new is available, I'll make sure the community knows about it.


DSC tuning. This is something that I'd love to see. I find the DSC WAAAY too intrusive and would love for it to allow a little wheel spin. Porsche's DSC equivalent is done from a performance and safety perspective so much so that at the track unless you really know what you're doing it isn't recommended to even turn their system off! A novice porsche driver wouldn't even dream of it! Performance aside it cuts power to suddenly and makes driving n the winter from a stop almost impossible. Tuning this down would be great.

If you accomplish this Randy I'll be one of the first in line (After I get my new r-compounds )

Cheers,

Paul

 

HANG ON STOP THE PRESSES! Are we saying that these new ecu's are going to stop the stumble we all experience?(except Andy haha) What about the current ecu that is out that we were all praising a month ago? The Evotech. I guess im glad i didnt get that one unless they continue to work on it and can reflash current users.

Boy it was easier before when we only had one choice

Now we have the Garrett and Powerchip Ecu's on the way.

Randy are you going to carry both Chips? This is might exciting stuff. Peace

 

Randy,
Does the new chip developments mean my EVOTech remap which you did last week is not the remap of choice for you. I would hate to think I have the 2nd or 3rd best option less than a week after the remap.

 

THis is exactly why I've decided to sit back and wait for the ECU. Seems like things are changing quite quickly and I don't want to do this upgrade only to have a few weeks go by and a better one comes out....

As said by the Sholin Priest..."patience grasshopper"




His, Chile RED all over, Madness intake, Magnaflow exhaust, Helix pulley and RDR rear swaybar.
Hers, EB UJ on top and BONE Stock

 

I thought this thread was about the Giac software?

This thread has been Hi-Jacked!!! :???:

_________________
Doug


When in doubt, Choose the burrito

 

>>Randy,
>>Does the new chip developments mean my EVOTech remap which you did last week is not the remap of choice for you. I would hate to think I have the 2nd or 3rd best option less than a week after the remap.

This is exciting stuff, but I think you raise an excellent point. With all the developments and on-going r&d, there might be alot to be said for sitting back and waiting it out.

 

Let's try and get this one back on topic...I know the MCS guys are chomping at the bit for this. Any Cooper owners looking to do it? My suspension, exhaust and almost all other stuff is where I want it...but if this can do some nice work in the lower RPM band, would be very cool.

 

I'm watching too. A bit more oomph would be just about right

 

A little more power coming out of the corners would be cool. Forget the Sparcos...chip makes more sense.

 

>>DSC tuning. This is something that I'd love to see. I find the DSC WAAAY too intrusive and would love for it to allow a little wheel spin. Porsche's DSC equivalent is done from a performance and safety perspective so much so that at the track unless you really know what you're doing it isn't recommended to even turn their system off! A novice porsche driver wouldn't even dream of it! Performance aside it cuts power to suddenly and makes driving n the winter from a stop almost impossible. Tuning this down would be great.

Correct me if I am wrong someone, but doesn't Dinan offer this option on some of it's tuned BMW's?

 

Greatgro, I am currently located in Pittsburgh but have family around the south-eastern PA region. Always need an excuse to come back to visit the folks!

 

Cool. Sounds like a plan. We'll discuss this when the chip is ready.

 

I'm not in interested in the Powerchips, I want the latest ECU technology the GIAC chip.....based on prior experiences I have see with VW's.....I'm sure it is well worth waiting for max performance gains....it keeps getting pushed back, anyone know for sure when it will be finally available???