Drivetrain The Official ALTA AccessPORT Thread
#1653
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Slip F-18, Bahia Mar Marina
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
This is a little concerning because I was told that your system would work just fine with my 11 jcw... after I had placed my order by you. So... did I just drop nearly a grand and will not be able to use the system for who knows how many months or? I'm a little confused and shocked.
#1655
Hey guys,
Just a quick question about the accessPORT itself! I found an accessPORT device at a tuning company nearby, however it states it's for the Nissan 350z & 370z... Perhaps the cable is different, but the price is only $495...
Can anyone explain to me if there will be any difference in devices concerning software/firmware or anything like that? Because if there is not I'll be ordering it right away!
Just a quick question about the accessPORT itself! I found an accessPORT device at a tuning company nearby, however it states it's for the Nissan 350z & 370z... Perhaps the cable is different, but the price is only $495...
Can anyone explain to me if there will be any difference in devices concerning software/firmware or anything like that? Because if there is not I'll be ordering it right away!
#1656
Hey guys,
Just a quick question about the accessPORT itself! I found an accessPORT device at a tuning company nearby, however it states it's for the Nissan 350z & 370z... Perhaps the cable is different, but the price is only $495...
Can anyone explain to me if there will be any difference in devices concerning software/firmware or anything like that? Because if there is not I'll be ordering it right away!
Just a quick question about the accessPORT itself! I found an accessPORT device at a tuning company nearby, however it states it's for the Nissan 350z & 370z... Perhaps the cable is different, but the price is only $495...
Can anyone explain to me if there will be any difference in devices concerning software/firmware or anything like that? Because if there is not I'll be ordering it right away!
If you think about it, what does a AP do? It reprograms the ECU. It changes a lot of the characteristics of the engine... in short, you can't use an AP programmed to change the characteristics of engine A with engine B. Even if engine A is in car type 1, it won't work for engine A in car type 2. Example would be, using an AP for a R56 with a R60.
Hope that helped a bit.
#1657
Hey guys,
Just a quick question about the accessPORT itself! I found an accessPORT device at a tuning company nearby, however it states it's for the Nissan 350z & 370z... Perhaps the cable is different, but the price is only $495...
Can anyone explain to me if there will be any difference in devices concerning software/firmware or anything like that? Because if there is not I'll be ordering it right away!
Just a quick question about the accessPORT itself! I found an accessPORT device at a tuning company nearby, however it states it's for the Nissan 350z & 370z... Perhaps the cable is different, but the price is only $495...
Can anyone explain to me if there will be any difference in devices concerning software/firmware or anything like that? Because if there is not I'll be ordering it right away!
The AccessPORT is actually different, sorry! The internals of the AccessPORT and software are different to work on the different car, that's why you can not send in a SUB-001 AccessPORT to COBB to convert it to a MIN-001.
#1658
There's a massive difference... the ECU. It's like trying to put a 350Z ECU into a Mini, it just wouldn't work. Each AP is specificly programmed for each vehicle and will ONLY work for whatever vehicle it is prorammed for.
If you think about it, what does a AP do? It reprograms the ECU. It changes a lot of the characteristics of the engine... in short, you can't use an AP programmed to change the characteristics of engine A with engine B. Even if engine A is in car type 1, it won't work for engine A in car type 2. Example would be, using an AP for a R56 with a R60.
Hope that helped a bit.
If you think about it, what does a AP do? It reprograms the ECU. It changes a lot of the characteristics of the engine... in short, you can't use an AP programmed to change the characteristics of engine A with engine B. Even if engine A is in car type 1, it won't work for engine A in car type 2. Example would be, using an AP for a R56 with a R60.
Hope that helped a bit.
@ALTA_Chris:
Thanks! That clears it up completely...!
#1659
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
I just received a new improved Stage 1 map for my MCSa and it fixed the problem with the jerkey shifting and letting off boost then getting back on hard! unbelievable! Im very pleased! Car feels JUST LIKE STOCK SHIFTING IN SPORT MODE except with waaayyyy more pull!!!
Thanks ALTA guys, great job!
Thanks ALTA guys, great job!
#1663
I just received a new improved Stage 1 map for my MCSa and it fixed the problem with the jerkey shifting and letting off boost then getting back on hard! unbelievable! Im very pleased! Car feels JUST LIKE STOCK SHIFTING IN SPORT MODE except with waaayyyy more pull!!!
Thanks ALTA guys, great job!
Thanks ALTA guys, great job!
#1664
#1668
#1669
Be careful people. MINI will void your warranty if they here you have tried a programer even if they can not prove it. PDX MINI did it to me after I broke down headed to CA and the tune had not been on the car for 6 weeks. They refuse to put why they will not repair my car in writting and refuse to give a detailed estimate of the repair. All got was $8630.12 to repair and not a word of what that includes. MINI Sux!!! Be careful. There are laws to protect us but MINI seems to think they do not apply to them. Just a warning. The tech at MINI PDX (Chris) saw I had tried a Jan tune at MINI Thunder II and they are holding my car hostage in PDX and not communicating with me. I have my dealer involved along with the Attorney General's from WA and OR. Not fun.
Welcome to MINI world of customer service.
Welcome to MINI world of customer service.
#1670
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Slip F-18, Bahia Mar Marina
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
If I mod my car, I *expect* my warranty to be void and I expect to have to replace the broken stuff on my own dime. Anything I get out of the manufacturer and/or dealer is a bonus. You play, you pay. Didn't stop me from doing the full Cobb on the Scooby, the supercharger on the Miata and won't stop me from doing the full Alta on the MINI. If I expected warranty coverage, I'd keep the car stock, and stock is boring.
#1671
#1672
You need to give us more info. What is wrong with your car? What did it do? It would seem to me that they would have to prove that you actually installed a tune and not just talked about it. Did they detect that you installed a tune or just found out in another way?
Larry
Larry
Be careful people. MINI will void your warranty if they here you have tried a programer even if they can not prove it. PDX MINI did it to me after I broke down headed to CA and the tune had not been on the car for 6 weeks. They refuse to put why they will not repair my car in writting and refuse to give a detailed estimate of the repair. All got was $8630.12 to repair and not a word of what that includes. MINI Sux!!! Be careful. There are laws to protect us but MINI seems to think they do not apply to them. Just a warning. The tech at MINI PDX (Chris) saw I had tried a Jan tune at MINI Thunder II and they are holding my car hostage in PDX and not communicating with me. I have my dealer involved along with the Attorney General's from WA and OR. Not fun.
Welcome to MINI world of customer service.
Welcome to MINI world of customer service.
#1673
You need to give us more info. What is wrong with your car? What did it do? It would seem to me that they would have to prove that you actually installed a tune and not just talked about it. Did they detect that you installed a tune or just found out in another way?
Larry
Larry
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ini-today.html
If I mod my car, I *expect* my warranty to be void and I expect to have to replace the broken stuff on my own dime. Anything I get out of the manufacturer and/or dealer is a bonus. You play, you pay. Didn't stop me from doing the full Cobb on the Scooby, the supercharger on the Miata and won't stop me from doing the full Alta on the MINI. If I expected warranty coverage, I'd keep the car stock, and stock is boring.
#1674
I guess it really is a crap shoot. You could fight MINI and make them prove that it was the tune that killed your car. But do you have enough money and time to fight the giant, I know I don't.....
I guess no matter what ALTA says, it's still you and not them with the broken car and the fight on your hands. Caveat Emptor my friends..
I guess no matter what ALTA says, it's still you and not them with the broken car and the fight on your hands. Caveat Emptor my friends..
#1675
The problem relevant here appears to be...
that while the tuning may not be detectable directly as long as you set it fully back to stock and unlink the AP (what Alta has said historically), it may be that it really IS detectable indirectly.
When you work through the sad now four-page long post that recounts the history, you will find the dealer/Mini claimed an over rev., and the owner says he hadn't run the tune either for long or in some weeks. Well, if you use a device that tunes the car that permits a higher rev limit and that rev limit is exceeded, then indirectly it is actually detectable for the whole life of the car. Unclear what else Mini stores permanently, but rev overruns is one of them. And given as one example their V8 M3's were not so charitably named "Mt. Vesuvius" for their propensity to erupt spontaneously and had similar debates about over rev'ing, no surprise they would be tracking and disputing the issue.
Unfortunately in the underlying case, apparently the engine melt down doesn't really seem to have much to do with over revs (like you might guess with broken valves, thrown rods, etc.) but rather what seems like a manufacturing defect, weak piston, (lean) fuel problem or cooling failure since it was a piston burn through.
There is also another element to the story (with a variety of sharp words around it) concerning web posts on Boards like these; can raise ultimate questions about whether both tuning AND any posting about it are each risky. Unfortunately, that posting part may in turn drive down the quality of information out there if it chills the discussion.
When you work through the sad now four-page long post that recounts the history, you will find the dealer/Mini claimed an over rev., and the owner says he hadn't run the tune either for long or in some weeks. Well, if you use a device that tunes the car that permits a higher rev limit and that rev limit is exceeded, then indirectly it is actually detectable for the whole life of the car. Unclear what else Mini stores permanently, but rev overruns is one of them. And given as one example their V8 M3's were not so charitably named "Mt. Vesuvius" for their propensity to erupt spontaneously and had similar debates about over rev'ing, no surprise they would be tracking and disputing the issue.
Unfortunately in the underlying case, apparently the engine melt down doesn't really seem to have much to do with over revs (like you might guess with broken valves, thrown rods, etc.) but rather what seems like a manufacturing defect, weak piston, (lean) fuel problem or cooling failure since it was a piston burn through.
There is also another element to the story (with a variety of sharp words around it) concerning web posts on Boards like these; can raise ultimate questions about whether both tuning AND any posting about it are each risky. Unfortunately, that posting part may in turn drive down the quality of information out there if it chills the discussion.
You need to give us more info. What is wrong with your car? What did it do? It would seem to me that they would have to prove that you actually installed a tune and not just talked about it. Did they detect that you installed a tune or just found out in another way?
Larry
Larry