Is the Alta Accessport worth the $900 or so to get it? Also, It says there are three stages. Does that mean that you have to buy the stages? Or do they come pre-loaded on the device?

Just a few questions, because i'm looking to get one. Thanks for all help.

Daniel

 

Yes, it’s worth it.

Yes, they all come loaded.

Last but not least, they are very generous with the releasing of new maps. I get maps out of the blue to try without even asking.


Mark

 

nope. not worth it. it'll only make you think you are going faster since you just spent $900. All 10,000 people who have posted about how awesome it is it are just shills for Alta.

 

Some said it's like cocaine. Once you get AP, you will never go back.

 

I don't even have it yet and I know it's 100% worth it.

 

I am interested as well. I will watch the site until they have one of their big sales.

 

Their sales usually never include the AP.

 

Now I want one

 

i got my tune from Jan at RMW and it was 1/2 the price and i love mine!!!!!

 

do it... no regrets.

 

So I looked at the AP back with my STi. (got it used for a lot less than we can buy it, so I was less nervous of taking the plunge). So I wasn't all that scared about trying the AP for the MINI when I got it. A couple of points:

1) It comes pre-loaded with all the current Alta OTS (off the shelf, basic tuning generic for a lot of situations) maps from Stage 1 to Stage 3, including (IIRC) a Stage 1 + Intercooler.
2) The support (and ability to support) the device are insane. Over the two years that I had my STi's AP there were about 5 decent updates and 3 new updated mappings (and each stage got those new mappings). I'd plug it in to my computer, update, and then plug it in to the STi and update it. It is essentially (so long as you follow the staged pathing with mods) free retunes for life.
3) Alta seems like they will be supporting it much like COBB did: Have a problem with the basic OTS tune on your car? Take some logs and send em and they will look at it and make any adjustments needed to make it run better on your car.
4) The device is relatively small and very portable (I typically leave mine in my car somewhere well hidden and away from the heat). The thing is well made, the screen is crystal clear and for how compact it is it is very easy to navigate (the old AP, mainly existed for Subarus, they were still as compact, but not nearly nifty and feature filled), and once you remember that there is a plastic cover on the screen the screen can stand up to quite a lot of abuse (the plastic cover cannot... lol)
5) http://www.cravenspeed.com/products/...nting-Kit.html
Buy that and you now instantly have more gauges then you could ever dream of, all handily located in the same place without drilling any holes or anything crazy including not having to run any wiring/piping/etc to anywhere else in the car.
6) On top of all that, you can have it log all those gauges and copy the logs on to your computer. Then (with a bit of Excel skill) you can create graphs over time. You can watch your throttle positioning, boost, oil pressure and oil temp across a whole 20 minute HPDE session.
7) Did I mention because of the way it is designed when they release (not if, they will for sure) updates for any reason to the maps you get them all for free. I'm hoping for one that ups the boost a little in Sport mode (Had it on the STi where it would up the boost on the Subaru equivalent of "Sport" mode [which was just called Sport-Sharp, since normal driving was Sport])

If you need more info or more reasons why it is great don't hesitate to ask. I love mine and couldn't be happier. Would a custom tune probably be "better" (as in more power)? Yes. If I buy a turbo-back exhaust and put it on will I have to pay that custom tuner (and drive to wherever they are) just to get it re-tuned? Yes.

There are many other benefits too, for example you can instantly return to the EXACT stock map you had before by uninstalling it and the dealer cannot see the car was ever tuned. Custom tuners don't have this ability.

 

[quote=UT_Evo;3293651]So I looked at the AP back with my STi. (got it used for a lot less than we can buy it, so I was less nervous of taking the plunge). So I wasn't all that scared about trying the AP for the MINI when I got it. A couple of points:

1) It comes pre-loaded with all the current Alta OTS (off the shelf, basic tuning generic for a lot of situations) maps from Stage 1 to Stage 3, including (IIRC) a Stage 1 + Intercooler.
2) The support (and ability to support) the device are insane. Over the two years that I had my STi's AP there were about 5 decent updates and 3 new updated mappings (and each stage got those new mappings). I'd plug it in to my computer, update, and then plug it in to the STi and update it. It is essentially (so long as you follow the staged pathing with mods) free retunes for life.
3) Alta seems like they will be supporting it much like COBB did: Have a problem with the basic OTS tune on your car? Take some logs and send em and they will look at it and make any adjustments needed to make it run better on your car.
4) The device is relatively small and very portable (I typically leave mine in my car somewhere well hidden and away from the heat). The thing is well made, the screen is crystal clear and for how compact it is it is very easy to navigate (the old AP, mainly existed for Subarus, they were still as compact, but not nearly nifty and feature filled), and once you remember that there is a plastic cover on the screen the screen can stand up to quite a lot of abuse (the plastic cover cannot... lol)
5) http://www.cravenspeed.com/products/AccessPORT-Mounting-Kit.html
Buy that and you now instantly have more gauges then you could ever dream of, all handily located in the same place without drilling any holes or anything crazy including not having to run any wiring/piping/etc to anywhere else in the car.
6) On top of all that, you can have it log all those gauges and copy the logs on to your computer. Then (with a bit of Excel skill) you can create graphs over time. You can watch your throttle positioning, boost, oil pressure and oil temp across a whole 20 minute HPDE session.
7) Did I mention because of the way it is designed when they release (not if, they will for sure) updates for any reason to the maps you get them all for free. I'm hoping for one that ups the boost a little in Sport mode (Had it on the STi where it would up the boost on the Subaru equivalent of "Sport" mode [which was just called Sport-Sharp, since normal driving was Sport])

If you need more info or more reasons why it is great don't hesitate to ask. I love mine and couldn't be happier. Would a custom tune probably be "better" (as in more power)? Yes. If I buy a turbo-back exhaust and put it on will I have to pay that custom tuner (and drive to wherever they are) just to get it re-tuned? Yes.

There are many other benefits too, for example you can instantly return to the EXACT stock map you had before by uninstalling it and the dealer cannot see the car was ever tuned. Custom tuners don't have this ability.[/quote]

Nice report with the exception of the last point which is a mistake . There were two threads on here that until recently were mysteriously removed dealing with this very topic. A guy had blown up his R-56 and the dealer was denying the warranty claim due to the fact that it had a tune. There was a lot of useful information dug up and posted in the threads but now they are not here for everyones benefit which is a shame.

To paraphrase what was found in this particular instance . In the Mini warranty small print it is spelled out specifically that if you alter the car in any way that changes the performance parameters of the engine IE: rev limit or boost the warranty would be voided . In this case he had at the least a broken piston and BMW gave him a estimate to repair over $ 8500.

To Alta's credit even in their own information with regards to the programmer they do state that a dealer can tell if the car has been tuned even if brought back to stock .

What an honest tuner will tell you is that YES you can bring that car back to stock and on the surface no one can tell but IF BWM wants to dig deep enough there are enough recorded instances of over boost conditions , rev points higher than stock etc. to prove their case . Take the car in for an oil change or whatever and no one will be the wiser. Bring it in with any serious engine issues and you can bet they will dig a bit deeper before covering anything .

Randy
M7 tuning

 

Thanks for all the feedback everyone! I'm really liking the idea of getting one now. Just a last question: is the torque steer uncontrollable on it? I know that stock minis have a good amount of torque steer. Just curious.

Daniel

 

http://www.motoringfile.com/2010/12/...ta-accessport/

Read that article and you will drool. And it better be worth it. I just ordered mine today based on that review. I get mine Tuesday. Going to the drag strip Friday. I will let you know the difference. My 2007 Cooper s ran 14.8 with a CAI only. So with an fmic and boost tube and access port I will post a new thread friday night and the time will be the proof if it works. Hoping for 14 flat or 13.9. Sorry if you hate drag but its a good way for me to see improvement besides feel. Plus there are no tracks around me that I know of. Eastern Indiana. Anyone know any should let me know. Thanks

 

Though I haven’t taken any of my cars to the track in forever, I’ll bet that my JCW is running either a very low 13 or possibly a very high 12.

One of these days I’ll take it just to confirm it but I doubt I’m that far off.

Mark

 

Whew that's fast, very impressive. But if you can't launch well I've seen people fluctuate a whole damn second!! I only fluctuated .3 seconds and that was a hot effin day

 

This is assuming obviously the car hooks up.

The car does hook up pretty well and with the OS Giken clutch kit and LSD, it takes off pretty damn good for not having slicks.

Of course, the car was never made to go in a straight line (except when I hit the wall at VIR at 120...lol) but it moves.

Mark

 

Yeah I have street tires. Btw do you have to remove the engine to pull the tranny? I wanted stage2 clutch and was wondering.

 

This is a concern of mine as well...even pushing the sport button on my bone stock MCS (no LSD) causes all kinds of torque steer. I've heard lowering the car with some good springs may help this, and in my experience swaybars usually help to keep things together a bit better. Sorry to get off topic, but I'm wondering if the torque steer issue should be addressed before going for more power.

 

It's completely uncontrollable, All we ever do is lose control and crash.... Damn torque steer....

 

Stock MINI tires are what the problem is with torque steer. If it weren't for having driven a friend's car that didn't have the crappy run flats on I wouldn't have even considered a MINI. That was my first buy after getting the car: Some TeamDynamic ProRace 2s and some 215/40/17 Falken 452s. That got rid of stock torque steer which was horrible. Then I did the AP, but with the LSD I rarely ever torque steer still even being fairly aggressive.

The one thing I can say that appears to contribute to my torque steer now that the car is modded is when the power kicks on, the car squats back, lifting the weight off the front tires. It doesn't happen too often since I've gotten used to it and controlling the throttle fine. Some springs or coilovers should remedy that, but it is hardly a bother (trust me, this is coming from a guy who has been all AWD all his life and just hopped in to a MINI).

In short: It isn't the stock MINI power that is the problem, it's the stock MINI tires. I constantly drive in sport and DSC-off and have no issues anymore. And these are certainly not the best of summer tires even. You don't have to drop the all-season or even go up to a wider tire but in my experience (from the local MINI crew) you have to get rid of the stock Continental run flats. It was by far the best mod for the money I have ever made on any car I have ever owned (aside from maybe the driver mod...).

 

the AP is sooooooooooooooo worth it , wether ur planning to mod or keep it stock its well worth your money Believe me . plus at alta the people their sooo helpful , its what making me keep on buying Alta products .
Shout out to chris @alta for being helpful.

 

It's totally worth it. Power gains can be felt and it's hard to drive with the stock map after driving with a tune.

I think the power output is totally manageable with decent tires. My MINI had factory LSD and no DSC and the torque steer wasn't bad at all IMO.

If you get one, it may be worth getting one from RMW so you can get Jan's support and dyno tuning if you want more power later.

 

I'm planning on modding the hell out of my mcs over the years. Starting with this, doing exterior mods here and there, and next getting an HKS BOV and maybe a turboback exhaust.

 

Buy it quick !

Randy
m7 tuning