Well then... Looking forward to adding the exhaust and FMIC so I can step up to the big boy tune. Haha!

Anyone have any dyno tested numbers for an N18 car with similar mods? (Intake, exhaust, FMIC, stage 2)?

I'm already saving for a clutch. LOL

 

I can give you an estimate:

NM Stage 2+ (Race Map 93/95oct) on a an N18 w/ 2.5" full exhaust, true CAI, Forge FMIC, Forge BPV, Akrapovic DP, and supporting mods will net you around +65tq/+55hp (I have/had that setup - moving on to the JCW now for even more power).

The Stage 1 NM on the N18 with stock parts was +30tq/+28hp (IIRC).

 

It seems like the Forge FMIC is what everyone runs/recommends... Apparently the best?

 

Depends on your model - which MINI do you have?

 

It's a 2012 Cooper S (Hardtop)

 

If you just have a 2012 hatch, you can find many threads about FMIC choices. You can choose between Forge, Helix, Tyrol, and so forth... the list goes on and on.

Don't want to clutter up this thread with FMIC talk.

 

Call me crazy but I had a few dollars laying around so I just bought a new ECU for my car. I have the NM tune and dont want it to be flashed or messed up when I take my car for service in a few weeks. It will be sent with the VIN and mileage already coded. Let you guys know how it all goes. Love my NM tune by the way. My friend got into my car the other day (2nd time since I bought it) and hes says its a totally different animal now.

 

I just dropped my ECU in the mail today. It's on its way to see the guys at NM.

Can't wait to get it back and go for a drive!

 

How much did that set you back? If you don't mind sharing.

 

I'm not sure what Automan paid, but NM advertises their tune for 500. With free re-flashes.

 

Sorry, I meant for the ECU.

 

Double checking - does the NM tune show evidence of tampering for warranty purposes? I read these 15 pages and I think I understand that the only way they can see evidence is if they see the CEL disabled in the code. But other than that, there is no hardware changes?

 

How many people have the NM tune? I just want to get the consensus on how they like it so far.

 

im sweating over the warranty issue.

"Hello,

Thank you for the inquiry. Unfortunately, dealerships will void warranties if they know the ECU has been tampered with. Any car dealerships are trying to find excuses to get them out of honoring warranty.

What we normally suggest is not to inform them. But just in case they have an update (which is pretty rare) let them flush it and update the ECU. These updates usually fix something and we actually urge you to do it. Then just send the ECU back to us for a reprogram at no charge, you just pay for shipping both ways.

I hope this helps. Please do not hesitate to contact us again should you have any other questions."

Thanks,
Jerry T
NM Eng.

 

really wish there was a remote option out for us.

 

Yes but I want to know if there is any physical evidence that the ECU has been altered, or only if they plug it in to see that codes have changed.

 

Yes but I want to know if there is any physical evidence that the ECU has been altered, or only if they plug it in to see that codes have changed.

 

Seems many have not read this whole thread...

 

Pidge, I just received my ECU from Jerry and the boys at NM today, and I can't see any physical modifications whatsoever for the dealer to notice.

That being said, I just got done driving the car (2012 MCS) for the first time with the ECU tune. For reference, the car is running the NM intake, stock exhaust, stock intercooler/piping.

First impressions; this is how the car should have come from the factory.

Throttle response is linear in both Normal and Sport modes. It's not longer such a drastic difference. Pop and Burble still exists in Sport mode for all of you audiophiles that were wondering.

The power gains are definitely noticeable. Using TCS activation as a gauge, WOT in 1st gear now makes TCS go crazy in the mid-range RPMs. Torque steer exists, but is sporty and manageable. I feel like the stock car would fall flat on its face at about 5400-5500 rpm, it now seems to pull hard to redline.

2nd gear pulls are powerful. On anything other than flat road, and traction control rears it's ugly head. The roads by me (Chicago) are notoriously bad, so that was immediately evident.

Overall, I feel like this is by far and away the single best bang for your buck modification for anyone willing to be without their car for a couple days and don't mind technically voiding the warranty. The only downfall I can see is having to turn Traction Control off to pass people in 2nd gear because otherwise you're gonna get that little bugger slowing you down, making you look like a fool!


Experience:
Jerry was a super cool guy both via e-mail and on the phone. We had been going back and forth over the course of a month or so while I was deciding if I really wanted to pull the trigger and (technically) void the warranty on a car that I just bought off the showroom 5 months ago. He answered all my questions and seemed honest regarding his concern to my situation.

Quick story:

I just got a new debit card due to some recent fraud on my account, so it won't let me spend more than $400 dolllars per day on my card for a certain period of time. I relayed this information to Jerry and told them that with the tune being $500, they may have to split the payment and run the card two consecutive days.

They received my ECU yesterday, tuned it, ran my card for $300 yesterday and then just shipped off the ECU to me. This morning, I wake up to an email saying the package is on the delivery truck on its way to my house, having spend all night on planes or whatever on its way to Chicagoland. Yet, my bank account only showed having been charged $300. He literally just took my word that the other $200 would be available today and shipped the ECU last night just to make sure I had the ECU back in the car one day sooner. Later in the morning (possibly when he got to the office) he ran the other $200.

I couldn't believe that they, or anyone for that matter, would send out a product that was only half paid for, with no guarantee they would ever get the 2nd payment. This was an amazing gesture of business to me and I will sing Jerry's praises of customer service from the high hills because of it.

 

Tony, thanks for the great right up. Definitely considering the NM tune above the others.

 

I have to echo Tony's experience here. Jerry @ NM has gone out of his way for me over the last few months. I have nothing but good things to say about his level of service, and the tuning is top-notch (and reasonable with regard to the prices of their competition).

 

Tony and Theta, did you get any CEL after the tune?

 

I did not.

 

Probably dumb question, but from what I've read, NM doesn't clear check engine light from the DP. But what if I bought the sensor from WMW, it clearly states if I buy that sensor it will clear the CEL for the DP specifically. If anyone does have that sensor please let me know cause I want to go the NM route but the DP is holding me back.

 

pidge,

I have the Akrapovic DP, so I had a CEL before anyway. NM will not clear the CEL.