I had Jan tune my R53 on a dyno in may of 08.

The dealer has flashed my ECU (without asking...) to attempt clearing a trouble code... didn't work, they still had to replace a bad sensor

As a result, I've lost the tune.

I know I should probably just email RMW, but I thought I'd ask about the experience of others here first.

If you've had a similar situation occur, how was it remedied?

I'm currently in Charleston, SC for a long term work assignment. I haven't been able to find a MINI shop (other than the dealer) in my area. So I doubt anyone around here has the hardware required to re-flash the ECU.

Does Jan store backups of all the old tunes? I haven't changed any mods since the original tune, just maintenance.

I'm really hoping to get the tune back on my car without losing too much $$.

 

Jan keeps a backup of the tunes. You shouldn't have any issues.

 

Reflashing without being asked is more common than you would think. At least they told you. Many techs use the reflash as a shortcut to clear a problem as yours did or to start with a " clean slate " as it were.

Randy

 

Jan has a great reputation and I'm sure he will get you back to where you want to be.

The dealers just automatically check to see if you have the latest updates etc. so if needed they will just do a updated re-flash wiping out the tune. It is not a problem for 98% of the Mini owners but it sure screws up the 2% that have a tune on their car.

 

Just call Jan, easiest way to fix it. The first thing I do when I take my car into the dealer (which I rarely do now anyway) is tell them not to touch the ECU; I've never had a problem.

 

If you have the dimsport unit, it is simple. If not, it will be simple once you buy it, or get to Jan in person for a reload. That really is the reason folks buy the flash unit.

 

but be careful! even with the remote flash unit, each tune file has a software id that is matched to the ecu. If you have an old tune sitting on file, and try to load it over the new restored one from the dealer (with a different serial number) i have been informed that this could potentially lock that ecu permanently. The best option is to download your current ecu file and put the new untuned one next to the tuned map and just transfer all of the setting and then flash the ecu with the modified new one from the dealer.

 

Thanks everyone. I hoped this was the case. There's not much of a MINI scene where I'm at, so I suspect it will be a while before I can easily get this fixed. I've been driving it like this for quite a while now already.

I'll get in touch with Jan soon. Hopefully he'll know what's up with the software ID issue brought up by soccerbummer and have a safe way of getting me sorted.

 

If you need a remote tune from Jan and haven't already purchased a hand-held device, I'd recommend the AP tool instead of the Dimsport. More functions, more bang-for-the-buck.

 

The AP is not an option for an R53

 

Oops!

 

sounds like a great excuse to do some more modding

 

Yeah... thinking a header, cam, and injectors may be in my future.

Talked to Jan and he won't be anywhere I can get to in the near future. I can spend $300 to buy a dimsport flash tool, but I'm sketchy on the details of such a unit. Not sure if I could sell it later on or if it's locked to my car/tune.

I'll be moving to Chicago later in the year and hoping there will be a tune day sometime relatively soon up there.

 

btw... My late 06 R53 was running at 206whp on a dynapack with only an alta CAI and 15% pulley. I had 196 or so before the tune.

There were some jealous glances at my results. lol

I didn't notice a huge difference in seat-or-the-pants power, but he improved my throttle response and calmed down my DSC, which I liked a lot.

That being said, getting a "canned" tune to suit any new mods (as mentioned above) is a little scary to me, seeing as my car seems to be a slightly different beast than most.

 

If you get the flash tool, you won't be getting canned tunes, if you data log. You can tune "live" with the flash tool on a dyno as well, via email, and most dynos can data log for you.

I'm getting a head/header/cam/440 injectors/15% pulley/GP intercooler installed, Jan sent a file so that the car will be able to run, and then we'll put it on the dyno and fine tune it over the internet.

I wasn't going to mod my car until I could have the parts installed and tuned live, on site. But after hearing what can be done with remote tuning, it's really opened up the ability to do what I wanted essentially live but not on site.

 

Yeah... I suppose I knew that, but hadn't really considered it an option... What did you pay for your dyno time? He will write more than three maps (if needed), but the tool can only HOLD three at a time, right?

 

The tool can only hold three at a time. But your computer can hold an infinite number.

I'm lucky in that I can get dyno time relatively cheap about 75-100 bucks, from the person installing all the parts. Jan can usually nail it down in three pulls or so.