dgszweda1, about your website on ECUs...You have the Webb Motorsports ECU testing results the same as the manufacture's testing results. Since Randy designed this ECU, was the "Performance Measured" tested by someone other than Randy? Because I heard the Webb/Powerchip was "independently" tested at 8lbs of torque, not 15.

 

dgszweda1- wow, that's the kinda chart I was looking for, thanks! :smile: I sent an email out to Unichip just now... hope they
reply soon.

 

This is addressing the concerns about dealer trips:

How about buying an extra ECU from Ebay? I think I have seen a few guys selling ECUs from totalled MINI's.

 

great page, dgsweda.

where did you get the power gains for the AmD one-click though? i remember for months people were looking for dynos.... nobody ever did them. Where did you get that number of 8hp?

 

Can anybody explain the requirement for the 10 amp battery charger that's listed with the Shark Injector? I've heard this before but have never had an explanation of what drives that requirement -

 

I'm confused. Are you saying JCW has no increase over a MCS? Or that the JCW that was tested was tested with and without the JCW ECU.

Paul

 

Actually I'm not sure. I heard that the JCW software was tested but honestly I'm not sure how. Anyway, it seems to be the concensus that the JCW software doesn't do a lot more than smooth out the acceleration.

 

JCW still runs fairly rich according to some tuners. Upgrading to Unichip or other well-tuned ECU maps, the performance of JCW cars can certainly improve, but could be at the expanse of engine durability. Since JCW is covered under warranty, the ECU mapping probably is not as aggressive as the aftermarket ones. On the other hand, it works well with the rest of the JCW kit to provide a smooth 200 hp output. :smile:

 

While it is true that adding an aftermarket ECU or Unichip would boost performance of an MCS with JCW kit installed it would void the warranty for the ECU and JCW upgrade since the ECU controls so much of the function of the MINI.

So if you go through the cost and trouble of installing the JCW kit for the warranty then why would you jeopadize that benefit which you paid for by installing an ECU other than what came with the JCW kit? It's not logical from a practical point of view.

If you don't care about warranty then why not just skip JCW and just add your 19" pulley and alta intake and cat-back exhaust of your choice with whatever ECU and save $3000. You can no warranty on those upgrades but better performance.

In the case of Unichip vs any ECU upgrade we need an independent ECU shootout/testing done all on the same neutral dyno with the same MCS with mods or not. This would avoid conflict of interest and make the dyno results more meaningful. However the truth is even with small differences in affect a reasonably good ECU upgrade will work fine for most of us as our driving skill level will determine more of what we get than anything else.

 

>>dgszweda1, about your website on ECUs...You have the Webb Motorsports ECU testing results the same as the manufacture's testing results. Since Randy designed this ECU, was the "Performance Measured" tested by someone other than Randy? Because I heard the Webb/Powerchip was "independently" tested at 8lbs of torque, not 15.

Greatgo,

The two results are the same since Randy was the developer and seller. I have not seen any other tested results. If you can show them to me that would be great. I will add it to the site. I know that Randy got a big swing in results from 7hp - 15hp in his various testing.

 

>>great page, dgsweda.
>>
>>where did you get the power gains for the AmD one-click though? i remember for months people were looking for dynos.... nobody ever did them. Where did you get that number of 8hp?

EmCeeEss,

The 8hp number is from a statement from AmD. But we have never seen any dyno numbers, so take it with a grain of salt. No one has recorded any independent numbers for this chip.


As far as no power being shown from the JCW. This was taken from a quote by Mike Cooper in which he stated that the most that they got out of their ECU tweaking was 1-2hp. I think most of the benefit of the ECU is in the smoothness. Review after review has commented on the smoothness of the JCW and the fact that is feels very "factory". It still runs rich, but JCW was really constrained in their tweaking of the ECU to maintain warranty, reliability, emissions..... So their hands were more tied than those of other aftermarket chips. The only other chip to be shown to really provide an exceptionally smooth ride has been the AmD. This has been shown in a few reviews with reviewers indicating that the AmD felt as smooth as the JCW car, which I think is a testament to the chip and not the other enhancements.

 

Heres a thread on mini2 where a JCW MCS was down on power because the dealer updated the car's ecu with the standard v.36 flash so it did not have the JCW maps.

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...t=jcw+ecu+dyno