Drivetrain Anybody else with the Powerchip?
Thread Starter
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Coordinator :: ClubMINI.ph
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 246
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From: Philippines
Aside from d-mini-aero, does anyone else have the powerchip software? How is it performing?
D-mini:
Were you able to get your car dynoed? How do you like the software upgrade so far?
D-mini:
Were you able to get your car dynoed? How do you like the software upgrade so far?
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, New York
>>Aside from d-mini-aero, does anyone else have the powerchip software? How is it performing?
>>
>>D-mini:
>>
>>Were you able to get your car dynoed? How do you like the software upgrade so far?
Hey JohnD,
I have the Powerchip installed over a month now :smile:
The combo of the ....pulley, chip, air-intake and exhaust...(IMHO in that order) made all the difference in the world, to the performance of my MCS.
It's a blast to drive and has more than enough HP/torque for me...in it's present incarnation.
All the propaganda states that it should be up to approx 200HP...
I will dyno it as soon as my schedule permits.
Peace,
D
>>
>>D-mini:
>>
>>Were you able to get your car dynoed? How do you like the software upgrade so far?
Hey JohnD,
I have the Powerchip installed over a month now :smile:
The combo of the ....pulley, chip, air-intake and exhaust...(IMHO in that order) made all the difference in the world, to the performance of my MCS.
It's a blast to drive and has more than enough HP/torque for me...in it's present incarnation.
All the propaganda states that it should be up to approx 200HP...
I will dyno it as soon as my schedule permits.
Peace,
D
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, New York
>>Dennis,
>>
>>Did your car by chance have the 'stumble' or the 'yo-yo' prior to getting the Powerchip? If so, did the chip help?
>>
>>-Dave
Hey Dave,
My MCS fortunately did not have any real issues with stumble &/or yo-yo.
Initially I had a slight yo-yo type issue when the car was 1st deleivered. I felt a slight yo-yo in both 1st and 2nd gears. I immediately installed the madness air-intake and have had smooth acceleration..ever since.
The Powerchip re-map ..added to the smoothness of acceleration as well..
Hope that helped
Peace,
D
>>
>>Did your car by chance have the 'stumble' or the 'yo-yo' prior to getting the Powerchip? If so, did the chip help?
>>
>>-Dave
Hey Dave,
My MCS fortunately did not have any real issues with stumble &/or yo-yo.
Initially I had a slight yo-yo type issue when the car was 1st deleivered. I felt a slight yo-yo in both 1st and 2nd gears. I immediately installed the madness air-intake and have had smooth acceleration..ever since.
The Powerchip re-map ..added to the smoothness of acceleration as well..
Hope that helped
Peace,
D
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1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Boston
I installed the Powerchip upgrade at the beginning of the month. Also installed, was the Alta Pulley and Alta Air box. Everything was purchased from Randy at Randy Webb Motorsports in Colorado.
I had a slight stumble prior to the upgrade and it is completely gone. The acceleration is smooth. I can describe the car as being very quick. Shifting seems smoother.
I first installed the Pulley and ran with that for about a week. My MCS performed better but I was somewhat disappointed considering all the hype that I read on the Internet about the pulley’s performance. The real performance gain was with the Powerchip upgrade. It was like driving a different car. I am very impressed. The MCS has not been dyno’d but it will be on the track this weekend. I will be able to compare track time to my previous outing when the car was completely stock.
The Air Box was installed after the ECU upgrade. The Air Box does make a winning sound that sounds fast. From what I can feel, I think it is helping 3rd and 4th gear (mid range) performance. A little hard to tell what the real gain is.
The Powerchip upgrade was easy to install (I did it myself). The Powerchip people were very helpful and so was Randy. I wish I could have kept the cable for the upgrade but it must be returned to Powerchip. The way the upgrade works is that they send you a cable (with a special secret box that has a chip card). You use your laptop to download your software from the ECU. Mail the ECU file to Powerchip. Powerchip performs some magic on the file and emails it back to you. They say this takes 24 hours, it took 2 ½ days for mine. You then upload the modified file back into the ECU and take it for a test drive!
It would be nice to have access to some of the tuning features of the car so I could tweak it myself. Maybe a few parameters that the user could change. Maybe Powerchip will offer this someday. (just a recommendation).
I installed the Air box myself and it was easy. I had a professional install the pulley (a mechanic who I can highly recommend in the Boston area, email if you want the mechanics name). The Alta “stuff” is great! Very well made.
In summary I describe the upgrades as follows:
Air Box……………….ho hummm
Pulley…………………things are better!
Powerchip Upgrade.…..Holy Cow!! This is great!
Happy Motoring,
Fabdog…….
I had a slight stumble prior to the upgrade and it is completely gone. The acceleration is smooth. I can describe the car as being very quick. Shifting seems smoother.
I first installed the Pulley and ran with that for about a week. My MCS performed better but I was somewhat disappointed considering all the hype that I read on the Internet about the pulley’s performance. The real performance gain was with the Powerchip upgrade. It was like driving a different car. I am very impressed. The MCS has not been dyno’d but it will be on the track this weekend. I will be able to compare track time to my previous outing when the car was completely stock.
The Air Box was installed after the ECU upgrade. The Air Box does make a winning sound that sounds fast. From what I can feel, I think it is helping 3rd and 4th gear (mid range) performance. A little hard to tell what the real gain is.
The Powerchip upgrade was easy to install (I did it myself). The Powerchip people were very helpful and so was Randy. I wish I could have kept the cable for the upgrade but it must be returned to Powerchip. The way the upgrade works is that they send you a cable (with a special secret box that has a chip card). You use your laptop to download your software from the ECU. Mail the ECU file to Powerchip. Powerchip performs some magic on the file and emails it back to you. They say this takes 24 hours, it took 2 ½ days for mine. You then upload the modified file back into the ECU and take it for a test drive!
It would be nice to have access to some of the tuning features of the car so I could tweak it myself. Maybe a few parameters that the user could change. Maybe Powerchip will offer this someday. (just a recommendation).
I installed the Air box myself and it was easy. I had a professional install the pulley (a mechanic who I can highly recommend in the Boston area, email if you want the mechanics name). The Alta “stuff” is great! Very well made.
In summary I describe the upgrades as follows:
Air Box……………….ho hummm
Pulley…………………things are better!
Powerchip Upgrade.…..Holy Cow!! This is great!
Happy Motoring,
Fabdog…….
Thread Starter
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Coordinator :: ClubMINI.ph
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Philippines
Wow, thanks fabdog!! 
Wonderfull review. How's driveability? Does the software upgrade improve the whole rev range or just the upper revs? And by the way, what is the rev limit with the ecu-remap?
Wonderfull review. How's driveability? Does the software upgrade improve the whole rev range or just the upper revs? And by the way, what is the rev limit with the ecu-remap?
1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Boston
Acceleration is very smooth and drivability is excellent. The car is driven around town with no problems. In fact….it seems easier to shift at low rpm’s. Punch the gas pedal and it takes off! Shifting up thru the gears is smooth with constant acceleration. The beginning of each gear (obviously) has great acceleration and continues with no hesitation to the top of the gear. All gears feel great. 2nd and 3rd seem to benefit the most. 5th and 6th benefit the least.
During quick acceleration I can “squeak” the tires during the shift from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd . I could not do that in the past. I describe my MCS after the upgrade as smooth and spunky……and of course lots of fun!
As for the rev limit……I’m not to sure. I plan not to find out what the top end is……I like my engine!! I know, on the track prior to the upgrade, the built in rev limiter would kick in at 6800 rpm. I now have a shift light installed in my MCS, which will allow me to play with the top limit this weekend on the track. I will have to let you know next week if the limiter is higher. My gut feeling it should be the same.
I hope that helps.
Fabdog…….
During quick acceleration I can “squeak” the tires during the shift from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd . I could not do that in the past. I describe my MCS after the upgrade as smooth and spunky……and of course lots of fun!
As for the rev limit……I’m not to sure. I plan not to find out what the top end is……I like my engine!! I know, on the track prior to the upgrade, the built in rev limiter would kick in at 6800 rpm. I now have a shift light installed in my MCS, which will allow me to play with the top limit this weekend on the track. I will have to let you know next week if the limiter is higher. My gut feeling it should be the same.
I hope that helps.
Fabdog…….
2nd Gear
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
I have the "PowerChip" as well.
It has made my car somewhat more powerfull yes, however ...
the most pleasing change is the way that everything just seems to be
working better, smoother, more responsive.
It's tough to describe that feeling, the part that a dyno does not draw.
After my best friend, who also has a MCS, drove my car, he kind of summed it up.
"Ahhh ... there ya go!" was what he said, lol.
It has made my car somewhat more powerfull yes, however ...
the most pleasing change is the way that everything just seems to be
working better, smoother, more responsive.
It's tough to describe that feeling, the part that a dyno does not draw.
After my best friend, who also has a MCS, drove my car, he kind of summed it up.
"Ahhh ... there ya go!" was what he said, lol.
Thread Starter
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Coordinator :: ClubMINI.ph
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 246
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From: Philippines
Wow, so far so good. I was thinking of getting a complete exhaust system(header and cat back) over the ecu remap but it seems like the powerchip ecu upgrade not only gives more power but also improves driveablity.
I guess I'll be getting the chip soon, real soon!!
I was thinking of getting a complete exhaust system(header and cat back) over the ecu remap but it seems like the powerchip ecu upgrade not only gives more power but also improves driveablity. I guess I'll be getting the chip soon, real soon!!
1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 14
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From: Boston
A quick update.......
I checked the peak RPM memory on my shift light/tach and was surprised to find it had gone has high as 7250 rpms. After a quick test I realized that the MCS "built in" rev limiter with the Powerchip upgrade was higher the stock ECU software. The Rev limiter on the stock ECU use to kick-in at 6800! This is a big difference...I did not try to see when the rev limiter kicked in with Powerchip upgrade. But it is higher the 7250!!
Maybe Randy can shed some light on when the limiter kicks in and what is the “safe” upper rpm limit on the MCS?
Be careful with those RPMs…….
Fabdog…….
I checked the peak RPM memory on my shift light/tach and was surprised to find it had gone has high as 7250 rpms. After a quick test I realized that the MCS "built in" rev limiter with the Powerchip upgrade was higher the stock ECU software. The Rev limiter on the stock ECU use to kick-in at 6800! This is a big difference...I did not try to see when the rev limiter kicked in with Powerchip upgrade. But it is higher the 7250!!
Maybe Randy can shed some light on when the limiter kicks in and what is the “safe” upper rpm limit on the MCS?
Be careful with those RPMs…….
Fabdog…….
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,382
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From: Denver
Fabdog,
Yep the RPM is moved to 7200. There is a bit of inaccuracy in the tach, so it isn't surprising that you saw 7250.
There are upper limits of different sorts. There is the limit of the valve train (about 8000) as well as the limit of the adiabadic efficiency of the supercharger. You also need to consider the RPM limit of the supercharger.
7250 is below the valve train and supercharger limit, but beyond that, the efficiency drops significantly. Simply put, it costs more to make the boost than you get in return.
Hope that helps!
Randy
Yep the RPM is moved to 7200. There is a bit of inaccuracy in the tach, so it isn't surprising that you saw 7250.
There are upper limits of different sorts. There is the limit of the valve train (about 8000) as well as the limit of the adiabadic efficiency of the supercharger. You also need to consider the RPM limit of the supercharger.
7250 is below the valve train and supercharger limit, but beyond that, the efficiency drops significantly. Simply put, it costs more to make the boost than you get in return.
Hope that helps!
Randy
4th Gear
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 332
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From: Kalamazoo, MI
Randy,
I understand that Mini-Mania is coming out very soon with their latest offering for an ECU upgrade. The ECU-Chip-Software supplier(s) are unknown. I hear it has the ability to switch from stock to performance mode and back.
Questions:
1) Does Powerchip have the capability for a switchable stock to perfromance mode?
2) Any insight into M-Ms ECU offering compared to your customized Powerchip?
SMKKVK
I understand that Mini-Mania is coming out very soon with their latest offering for an ECU upgrade. The ECU-Chip-Software supplier(s) are unknown. I hear it has the ability to switch from stock to performance mode and back.
Questions:
1) Does Powerchip have the capability for a switchable stock to perfromance mode?
2) Any insight into M-Ms ECU offering compared to your customized Powerchip?
SMKKVK
Temporarily Banned
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,382
Likes: 2
From: Denver
I believe the MM system was going to be the Shark Injector, which has been coming soon for some time now.
Another unit similar to this device will soon be evaluated here, the AmD One Click device.
Powerchip stores both your stock program and the new program, but you have to get the cables and your customer key back from them in order to go back to stock. Development is underway for a switch that allows you to choose two (then four after the two position switch is developed) programs. We will soon be developing a race program for use with race fuel, then there is the 91 and 93 octane programs, the "valet" program, and the stock program. You could choose whichever you would like. This item will be retrofitable to current users.
Hope that helps!
Randy
Another unit similar to this device will soon be evaluated here, the AmD One Click device.
Powerchip stores both your stock program and the new program, but you have to get the cables and your customer key back from them in order to go back to stock. Development is underway for a switch that allows you to choose two (then four after the two position switch is developed) programs. We will soon be developing a race program for use with race fuel, then there is the 91 and 93 octane programs, the "valet" program, and the stock program. You could choose whichever you would like. This item will be retrofitable to current users.
Hope that helps!
Randy
5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 669
Likes: 7
From: Colorado
fabdog you have to be the only person i have heard that wasn't thrilled with the pulley. I just got it a few days ago and it is awesome. Especially now that it is getting colder at night, it really flies! 
2nd Gear
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: California
I like my pulley, but I can't say that I'm "thrilled" with it. It, along with the Alta intake, netted me about 15 extra horses. The EVOtech programming gave me another 5hp (yawn) on top of that. (Along with an unacceptably rich A/F ratio.) The improvement is "noticable", but not particularly dramatic. Drivability is not enhanced, except in the sense that the car is about 9% stronger when you get on it. (That's a good thing, certainly.) I did notice some enhanced drivability during the 24 hours that I had the EVOtech installed. Not more power, but like others have said, shifting seemed "smoother". Like there were no gaps in the acceleration. Less laggy.
My 'yo-yo' symptoms are as strong as ever, perhaps stronger. The Alta certainly makes it easy to hear the yo-yo-ing, in addition to feeling it. That's why I'm anxious to hear if anyone has "fixed" the yo-yo via an ECU upgrade. MINI, EVOtech, Powerchip, Garret, anyone. Whoever does it, gets my money. (Well, except MINI.)
<thread hijack>
Has anyone taken Powerchip up on their offer to try to tune the stumble out of somebody's MCS? I would be all over that if I had the stumble. If only they were equally interested in curing the yo-yo....
</thread hijack>
-Dave
My 'yo-yo' symptoms are as strong as ever, perhaps stronger. The Alta certainly makes it easy to hear the yo-yo-ing, in addition to feeling it. That's why I'm anxious to hear if anyone has "fixed" the yo-yo via an ECU upgrade. MINI, EVOtech, Powerchip, Garret, anyone. Whoever does it, gets my money. (Well, except MINI.)
<thread hijack>
Has anyone taken Powerchip up on their offer to try to tune the stumble out of somebody's MCS? I would be all over that if I had the stumble. If only they were equally interested in curing the yo-yo....
</thread hijack>
-Dave
1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Boston
I didn’t say I did not like the pulley…..I was just anticipating some higher performance out of it from what I read. I guess as was looking for that single performance miracle when in reality it is a combination of things. The pulley should definitely be one of the first upgrades you should do to the MCS. The combo of the Pulley and the Powerchip upgrade is great.
Fabdog.......
Fabdog.......
4th Gear
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 540
Likes: 1
From: Calabasas, Los Angeles
Hey fabdog, when I first got the pulley I thought it would be a bit faster as far as acceleration goes overall as well but what was very different in the engine performance was not just acceleration rate (like for quarter mile) but how much more better pickup there was early on, close to the 2.5k range. The top end of this engine is great though in any case and it really likes to scream with any mods you further do. I'm sure if I got the ECU right after I got the pulley, the power gains of that may shadow it simply because of the way the stock programming is detuned from the start.
The powerchip sounds like an awesome upgrade, especially with multiple programs to switch around. I haven't heard anybody take the plunge for the "AmD One Click" and because the GIAC is still in the R&D phase waiting out and saving my money is the best thing to do. I have to say though.. it looks like competition is going to get fun. :smile:
The powerchip sounds like an awesome upgrade, especially with multiple programs to switch around. I haven't heard anybody take the plunge for the "AmD One Click" and because the GIAC is still in the R&D phase waiting out and saving my money is the best thing to do. I have to say though.. it looks like competition is going to get fun. :smile: