OK, well I attempted to install the unichip this past week, but to my best efforts I was not willing to pull on the nearest plug to get enough slack to plug in one of the ECU's pin connectors. I was told "pull" on in, and did so (without using what in my mind was excessive force) and just couldnt get it out enough. So I took it and my car over to Dynocomp to get it installed expertly, AND to see what real world numbers this thing can provide.

I pull up and want to get a baseline of what the car is stock. Mind you fols that this is a dynomometer (which I guess is the best dyno, providing real world "underload" results). Also, its pretty damn hot here in phoenix was proabably mid 90's when this was done, but I pulled max 155hp & 170tq..

then came (what I thought would be quick & easy) the install. Mind you these guys do this day-in day-out on customer cars & race cars. Thinking would be 30-45 mins turns into 1 hr & 30 mins. Yes they ran into the same damn issue I did with getting enough slack on the ecu plug closest to the front of the engine. They had to remove the fuse holder, dig way down into the engine, cut a few wire holders then forcefully pull the wires up. There was no way I would have done that, they were even unsure about doing that, but it ended up alright (so far )... Anways, they finally get everything back together then fire it up for the dyno runs (they do 3-4 runs to get a good measurement)...... CEL, damn!! So they get two codes (I think 177 & 175 ). They clear them and redo it again. I guess they had to clear them 2x. I tell them to try switching to the 0 map. After a few tries I guess they finally got some good runs in and pulled a best 165hp & 195tq!

Anyways, I am really worried about the CEL, I ran it home in the 1 position, then I switched it to the 1 position, have driven about 10 miles with no issues (CEL). I will let you know what comes up. But I can defiantely tell a big difference from stock to the unichip..

 

I did about 165 hp and 196 ft-lbs to the wheels on that same dyno at DynoComp. Stock...

The UniChip continues to unimpress me....

With all the connection troubles, CEL's, harness issues, in ability to run it on Map 1 without throwing codes.....I don't know why people continue to try and use them. Much better options are on the very near horizon....hold out people!

 

sounds like your car is pretty damn strong right off the block (did you have the mods listed in your sig at the time), but consider the following I gained:

• gained anywhere from 15-25hp from 3500rpm to 5500
• gained 15-25 (a max) from 2800rpm to 5000

those are decent numbers across the board for just a ecu mod. I also have an automatic tranny which sucks a little more power than your 5speed. But imagine if you gained the same numbers I did and were pulling 180-185hp & 215-220tq... ? Yes there might be others coming out, but this is good for me, and there will always be ways to gain more & more power.

 

I have to agree with thumper, this thing does not work on an r56.

 

Yup, my car was stock at the time. And they are a bunch others on here that have dyno'd with over 200 ft-lbs stock, so mine wasn't too crazy.

Ya, you're deltas are decent, but I don't know, just doesn't seem worth it to me...to constantly wonder "am I going to have a CEL today??"

But hey, if you're happy, then thats all that matter man! Enjoy the your new found power!

 

yes, I worry about it, but glad I know its easy to remove if I find its more of a problem. If so I will work on returning it (I know it was installed correctly, so that wouldnt be the issue). Also found out that Richard has a program for the R56-55 if this one becomes a nuisance, I will switch to his. Praying I have no problems

 

My car has 185 whp and 205 ft tq without reprogramming the ecm!

 

Comparing dyno runs of different cars on different dynos doesn't say much. You can only really get useful information from the dyno by dynoing the same car on the same dyno before and after modification.

 

Ya, Rich has an EvoTech tune for the R56. He was telling me that the gains were pretty conservative, (which for him to say, really says something...). In my opinion this is not necessarily a bad thing. I'll take a safe, bullet proof tune that makes 5 hp less, over one that has constant issues.

No one I know has gotten it yet though, so I'd really be interested to see how it is!

 

very true, need to be same dyno, same day/conditions etc...

 

The Ecu needs time to re-learn the maps. I would say atleast 10 miles of driving before the car is ready for dyno. If you took the car back today the numbers would be higher.

 

Why would the ECU need to "Learn" anything. The whole point of a unichip is that it fools the ECU by sending it false signals. Unless the adaptive learning algorithms were reset for some reason there would be no reason to drive the car 10-15 miles.

When cars are dyno tuned it's pretty normal to flash the ECU, then run the car again right after. There's no driving in between.

I thought Thumper said his car was on the same dyno as the OP?

 

I have had three cars with piggybacks and those companies have all stated to drive the car a few miles before you get the full effects. It's just a piggyback not a ECU re flash were the maps are directly changed the piggy needs to fool the car to change those maps. That doesn't happen instantly.

 

That all sounds great, except the harness being tight. Normally just a good tug and it goes right in. That is also strange that it took them that long. I just pull hard and rock it into place.........normally. Then there was a car this weekend that was really really hard to install. So there must be some varience with something. Obviously Mini didn't make it to work with the Unichip!

YEs and no. It does work for alot of guys and it also doesn't work for a lot of guys. I really hope that this V4 harness works and solves the problem that some guys have. Instead of 50/50, we would like to see 99/1 working!

I bet a Dynojet dyno? But either way, all the cars are running higher than they are supposed to. Which is good!

Nope, actually the ECU learns almost instantly. WE have some interesting things we are releasing soon on this.

Yup, bingo! With the ECU working the way it does, the Unichip changes are instant! The only time the car doesn't run full strength is when its cold. Its not learning anything, just not running full boost!

 

If all this time, research, money, brain power, and energy to fix the WorthlessChip, would be focused on trying to come out with a proper, full ECU flash/tune we might be getting somewhere in the R56 tuning world.

I know I'm not the only one that shares this feeling, so I feel completely justified in saying it.

 

That right there sums it all up.

Right now I'd be weary of gambling with a device that's gonna increase your boost upwards of 20lbs and not work properly.

I definitely think you (ALTA) at this point would forget UNICHIP and make your own tune.

 

I purchased a unichip a month ago but have yet to install it.. Is there any 'tuning' needed to get the most? Or can I just plop it in and it really is just plug & play? I can try to install it myself, or bring it to a local speedshop to get it installed, dynoed, and tuned.

 

Actually Alta uses the UnChip to deliver their own custom tuning map. So they are doing their own tune.

And as odd as this sounds from me... The jury is still out on exactly what the true issue is with the remapping of this engine. Alta seems to believe it is solely the wiring harness.

The truth is whenever you push the design limits be prepared to have to deal with problems.

 

so far this week, NO issues, NO CEL's (knock on wood) and I have been running the "1" map from Alta. I can definitely tell a difference, this chip delivers as promised .

 

We think that you all are .................................................. .................................................. ..............................
.................................................. .................................................. ........................
................................. so when that happens we will let you know, trust me.

If you got the Unichip from us, they yes we have mapped it specifically to your parts. If you didn't get it from us (there are others selling it with Unichips maps, and their own) then you might check to see what they say.

If it ours you can just install and go for it!

We the Jury find that.............. ya, we don't really know what the problems are but Unichip and us are working through them and i belive Unichip has figured it out. So there are lots of them out there that are good, and yes some bad.

Awesome!

 

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

 

For what it's worth, I have been running the Alta mapped UniChip for a couple of months and a couple of thousand miles now with NO CELS on either map 0 or map 1. The install is a little hairier than it should be due to the tension that has to be applied to that one VERY tight cable, but I managed to get it done in about 30 minutes even without the R56 installation instructions.

Just my .02, your mileage may vary....

Richard

 

No CELs since I installed the (3G) UniChip in April.

 

Great that you guys have had good luck with the UNICHIP! As we have always said, when its working its working! Awesome.

 

ThumperMCS,
Just understand that we have been "listening" to the customers for a long time on this subject. Just want to make sure you don't think, we don't listen to our customers.