Also to add to my first question- when you uninstall the AP, in case I need to bring it to the dealer, does it automatically switch the map back to stock or do I have to switch back to stock first and then uninstall? Thanks guys.

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I'm not sure if I understand the first question, you will always have to plug in the AP to change the map, or go back to stock.

When you uninstall the AP, the ECU goes back to stock. You will want to do this every time you go to the dealer.

 

thanks Chris - for my first question I just meant, can I plug it in whenever I want to test performance, etc? regardless of whether the car is started or not? or do I always have to plug it in before starting the car?

 

You can plug the AP in either before or after you start the car. You can even do a datalog when the car is off, but there's not really a point of doing that!

 

I dont' remember what the original instructions say...but if you want to go back to stock, plug it in, push start button, and then when the AP is ready, just do the uninstall to reflash to the stock map.

To monitor performance, I just plug it in whenever...car started already or not started yet. Doesn't seem to matter. Then just go to the Monitor live data section of the AP and pick what you wnat to monitor. Done.

Once you do it a couple times, you'll find it so simple to use.

 

Perfect thanks guys. Yeah, I need to find some time and play around with it, but so far I'm loving the performance gains.

 

I am current on all 112 pages of this thread and have benefitted from it, so many thanks to contributors.

I just returned from a test drive after aquiring an AP and installing the stage 3 map on my 07 R56 (91 Oct, FMIC, Alta Turbo Back, CAI, many suspension changes, etc).

I am skeptical by nature and have a tendency to question threads expressing a high degree of exuberance over a product that I have no direct experience with. This thread is rich with commentary praising Alta for their achievement and level of support.

Well, I'm going to add to the praise and exuberance . I put the car to the test over our local public road race track (Skaggs Springs Road, Sonoma County, CA). Sportbikes are my passion and I know this road well -- 40 miles of rolling, twisties with lots of elevation change.

The transformation resulting from the Alta Stage 3 tune absolutely blew me away. My experience supports what other posters have been saying for 112 threads. Believe it when they say the tune results in a strong pull all the way to redline. No flat spots and peak boost of 16 to 17 psi as seen in a data log (18-20 on mechanical gauge). Engine response is excellent when agressively breaking/downshifting setting up for turns. Steady throttle while in a long turn is excellent with no surge. When squirting out of turns the response is predictable, smooth, and strong. All of this performance while not compromising the driveabilty when in traffic or on the freeway. I don't have any input regarding affects on mileage at this point.

The AP, being extremely intuitive, is super easy to update and use on the car when installing maps. I would also like to say that before I purchased the AP, I called Alta in the hopes of speaking to someone technical without suffering a sales pitch. I was pleasantly surpised when the gal at Alta that answered the phone, after making a brief inquiry as to the nature of my questions/concerns, immediately put me in contact with Chris. He offered straight answers freely and without any sales pressure. He never once made me feel as though I was wasting his time, even though his depth of knowledge when far beyond my questions.

I would like to thank Alta for providing the MINI enthusiast with a well thought out product that does what they say it will do, and for supporting the product -- rare for manufacturers in America today . Its well worth the $$.

 

So I have had the AP in my 2009 MCS for awhile, but it seems like the car isn't running right. I jumped on it the other day and the car seemed to stutter and again the next day I jumped on the throttle and it sounded like there were marbles bouncing around in my engine, both times it was just once and didn't happen again and the car doesn't appear to be running rough. I checked the codes today and had a pretty damn long list, however I have no clew what any of it means. I was running Stage 1 FMIC tps 92oct, I put it back to a stock tune today. The codes were:

P2D52
P2DCC
P2DCA
P2DCB

Please help!

 

Welcome to my world. You have the dreaded Super Knock Code!

I have returned my MINI back to stock as well. Runs perfect. Only time I get it to Super Knock is with the AP. I am running stage 1 with 91 octane!

I guess I need to install the AP and try to get a Data Log with it Super Knocking. Pretty disappointed with this purchase considering it was 900 bucks!!!

 

710Ryan - this may help:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...eration-3.html

Bob

 

Bob Thanks for the link! That totally fits all my symptoms, unfortunately there was no definitive way to solve the problem. Another seafoam treatment it is...

 

I agree it most likely is carbon build up too. Our maps run the car harder, and will exaggerate a carbon build up issue. That's why your car would get knock with our tune, but not with the stock tune.

 

I'm assuming that's the issue with my wife's too......tuned, anytime the fuel tank gets lower (60-70 miles to E), and she runs it hard then lets off and stops at a light, it'll throw codes........it's almost like clockwork. Stock, the code is NEVER thrown, thus we can't get MINI to check it out. I was able to fix it for a month or so by doing a big seafoam treatment, but it came back. Next I'm trying out the DoS Seafoam fogger, hope it helps. I'm still going to have a shop clean the intake valves manually when I get a chance. It's VERY frustraing though.......*sigh*

 

Damn, this kind of stuff makes me nervous. On average, how many miles do these cars have before this would start to happen?

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https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...o-results.html

Just saw this thread. Are JCW'S really 181 whp stock on the dyno?

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I'd datalog when you get the chance and send the results to Chris/Jeff and see if there's anything they can do. Even though every MINI is built to the same spec with the same materials I've yet to drive one that feels the same as another. They all seem to have their quirks and when the AP is added it's hard to tell why one runs like butter and another exhibits odd behavior.

 

Well I got my car back from the dealer getting the timing chain tensioner and hood scoop fixed and now my so doesn't install I'm getting this error but I made sure I had it uninstalled before I took it in.

 

Wayne, running an update using the AP Manager should take care of it. If the normal update doesn't work, try the beta update. Thanks!

 

Looks like they reflashed your ECU! I've wondered what happens when they do this. I'm assuming Alta can just add that to their database and send you an update through the AP manager. I'd hope there's a fix.

Edit: looks like Chris answered the question! Cool.

 

Thanks for the quick response...after looking the car over they forgot to put the trim piece inside the hood scoop and my lower grill isn't seated correctly into the front bumper....not a pleasant first experience with the only mini dealer on this side of the state that's for sure.

 

Well I had to use the beta software but I got it to work thankfully.

Also anyone with this new update on their car from mini lose the option for their turn signals to blink 3 times instead of once if you push it to the pressure point? They did the update and now I can't seem to find it in the options on the tach.

 

So I installed the Accessport Manager on my pc and plugged in the AP. It backed up my ECU data and started to update the firmware but its been sitting there for about a half hour and it doesnt seem to be responding. So I checked the log.txt and the last entry is from 27 miutes ago. 19:10:05: request device version failed. Any suggestions? Is it safe to unplug even though the AP says to exit the application first? The only way I can close the app at this point is to kill it in task manager. Not sure if I have any other choice.

 

Okay, I killed the manager app and restarted. The update is going through and the AP says updating, while the Manager says Waiting for the AccessPort to reboot..... and now this has been going on for 15 minutes. How long does this process take?

 

Figured it out. Apparently my USB 3.0 port is not backwards compatible, so I plugged it into a USB 2.0 port. It works great now.

 

I have had a wrx in the past and loved the AccessPort. I have on order a 2013 MCS and I know the AccessPort will not work on it does anyone know if that will ever change. I just find it funny for a product like this to stop supporting new models.