Not to get into a comparison test with all the other ecu's on the market, I was wondering what people's experiences with the EVOtech ecu have been?

From the dyno chart on Randy's site, there definitely looks like a power gain, but I was hoping for more of an anecdotal feedback about the driveabilit issue and any problems with the yo-yo or stumbling issue?

I am basically interested since I can get the evotech through my dealer and just wanted to make sure it was a good move.

Thanks

Tom

 

I don't have any direct personal experience with Evotech, but if you search for posts by Sleepless, he had very good dyno results. jlm on the other hand, dyno tested two different revisions of the Evotech with zero gain whatsoever.

 

OpusMini,
When Randy did my 15% pulley last July I also had him install the Evotech ecu. I had before and after dynos (and already had the Alta intake). Before run was at 152 wheel hp and the after run was at 178 wheel hp. Randy recommends multiplying by 11% to get engine hp. 152*1.11= 168.72, 178*1.11=197.58. This was on an extremely hot day in San Ramon, CA (in the 90's) so I think the numbers would be even better on a cooler day. Randy is currently working on the Unichip piggyback system and I would wait to see what the results of that were if I were you (even higher gains and better driveability from what I hear).
Patrick

 

Thanks Patrick. That tracks with the dyno chart on Randy's website where he did a before and after on a pulley, alta, and magnaflow intake car that showed I'm trying to remember a 16hp gain over all (was over 190 at the wheel with the four intakes as I recall the one chart was 192.9)

When you mentioned improving driveability with the new Unichip, do you think that driveability is a problem with the EVOtech? I seem to remember comments about it running roughly in the past. What is the unichip? Does it piggyback existign ecu or is it a standalone system?

Thanks

Tom

 

From reviews i've seen on these boards the Evotech is a decent ECU option.

what you have to realize is that it was also one of the first. And as newer ECUs come out, they make more power/resolve more issues.

There is nothing wrong with the EVOtech, per se, but i believe there to be better choices out there.

Good Luck
-ABT-

 

As long as they are willing to give you a money back guarantee, I'd say go for it.

 

Tom,
No driveability issues at all. I still have a slight yo-yo that was always there. I haven't upgraded to the new software yet as I haven't reached 10,000 miles and it doesn't get rid of the yo-yo anyway. If I did upgrade then I would have to take the ecu out and send it to Randy (the dealer would overwrite the Evotech).
I think the Unichip is actual hardware that can be put on and taken off at will. This would be a better solution (and I've heard it produces alot more hp than a Shark injector or AMD oneclick).
Patrick

 

>>Tom,
>>No driveability issues at all. I still have a slight yo-yo that was always there. I haven't upgraded to the new software yet as I haven't reached 10,000 miles and it doesn't get rid of the yo-yo anyway. If I did upgrade then I would have to take the ecu out and send it to Randy (the dealer would overwrite the Evotech).
>>I think the Unichip is actual hardware that can be put on and taken off at will. This would be a better solution (and I've heard it produces alot more hp than a Shark injector or AMD oneclick).
>>Patrick

I have a slight yo-yo as well and I asked my service writer who also sells the evotech. I described to him my condition and he said it sounded like the yo-yo. I asked him about upgrading the ecu before I sent it off to be flashed by evotech and he said that it there was no point to doing that since the evotech software would write over it anyway, but that the Evotech can fix the yo-yo (I was somewhat dubious of that claim). I certainly hope that EVOtech is keeping up with the improvements that BMW is making to the ecu software. It would seem defeating to assume that there has been nothing positive in three years of refinement.

How does the unichip work?

Thanks for the update. Good to know abbout the driveability.

Tom

 

You got bad information. The Evotech doesn't write over MINI software, not at all. It just changes a FEW performance parameters, and most likely, none of them are related to the yo-yo or stumble. So not only COULD you upgrade your version through MINI then get an ECU, you actually SHOULD do it if you have a MINI with software related issues. You're better off upgrading through MINI first then tweaking it with an aftermarket ECU.

 

Interesting. Thanks for the heads-up. I was reading up on the oneclick on Mini2 and Ram had a rather extensive series of posts and he was asked a similar question about the AmD chip and said that the parameters they alter are not the same that BMW/Mini alters -- this I believe was in regard to future updates. I guess I need to place another call and hold out for a better researched answer. I think right now I am leaning towards holding off on the ECU. Not only do I get the car back the same day, but I get to experience the mods in intervals and feel each one and I can take advantage of the waiting game... at least, until I have to go out of town and breakdown on the Evotech. I had the new Milltek exhaust put on today and I've been grinning and laughing to myself for most of the evening. Can't wait to continue with the madness.

Thanks for the tip.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You got bad information. The Evotech doesn't write over MINI software, not at all. It just changes a FEW performance parameters, and most likely, none of them are related to the yo-yo or stumble. So not only COULD you upgrade your version through MINI then get an ECU, you actually SHOULD do it if you have a MINI with software related issues. You're better off upgrading through MINI first then tweaking it with an aftermarket ECU.

 

No problemo. Glad I could help.

 

As far as I understand the aftermarket ECU upgrades, only modify the tables. They do not modify the core code such as sampling rate, algorithms and those such items. The piggyback ECUs do not modify the anything, but instead alter the output signals after they have left the ECU. Mini's upgrades do alter all of the core code and tables as needed.

I don't even think the GIAC chip will upgrade the core code, but I could be mistaken.

 

I'm not positive about this and probably Garrett is the only one that knows for sure, but the GIAC is supposed to be a complete rewrite. Which I think, would mean they rewrite all of the code. That was my understanding when it was explained to me but maybe I misunderstood. It would, however, help to explain why it's taking so darn long!

 

>>Interesting. Thanks for the heads-up. I was reading up on the oneclick on Mini2 and Ram had a rather extensive series of posts and he was asked a similar question about the AmD chip and said that the parameters they alter are not the same that BMW/Mini alters -- this I believe was in regard to future updates. I guess I need to place another call and hold out for a better researched answer. I think right now I am leaning towards holding off on the ECU. Not only do I get the car back the same day, but I get to experience the mods in intervals and feel each one and I can take advantage of the waiting game... at least, until I have to go out of town and breakdown on the Evotech. I had the new Milltek exhaust put on today and I've been grinning and laughing to myself for most of the evening. Can't wait to continue with the madness.

OpusMini,
Doing the car in phases is a real good way to go. You get to cherry pick the best mods and then enjoy driving a new car each time. I picked the Evotech last July because it was the only one available at the time. Luckily it's been great but I do think there's better stuff out there now and better stuff on the way.
Good Luck,
Patrick

 

How important is the ECU upgrade. I have done the Alta Intake, 15% pully and the Alta catback. Have read some posts that say with my upgrades a ECU upgrade is a must. Any input on this ?

 

>>How important is the ECU upgrade. I have done the Alta Intake, 15% pully and the Alta catback. Have read some posts that say with my upgrades a ECU upgrade is a must. Any input on this ?

dennisyvonne,
The ecu upgrade is programmed to optimize the modifications you've already done. The Evotech was the first and it does a good job. The Webb/Powerchips improved on that but not enough for me to justify upgrading from Evotech. The new Unichip piggyback and GIAC are still in development but look to improve results even more.
I posted my Evotech results earlier in this thread. The Alta 15% pulley and Evotech ecu gave me a combined improvement of 26 wheel hp. So with an Alta intake and stock exhaust I was getting 178 wheel hp. Since then I've added the Miltek header and exhaust, Kingsbourne wires, Denso plugs and Pilo coil pack. I haven't been back to dyno it yet but I'm guessing I'm around 193-195 wheel hp.
Click below to see a dyno chart on Randy's comparison between pulley alone and pulley with ecu remap. It shows about a 16hp difference.
Patrick

http://www.webbmotorsports.com/performance.php

 

Patrick
Thanks for the info. Guess I'll wait for the Unichip. Think it will be out before the GIAC. I guess running too rich is ok for now.

Dennis

 

Is there an ETA on the unichip?

 

Randy from Webb Motorsports says it will be available in April for around $735. He will have 50 so may run out fast.

 

It'll be interesting to see what happens when GIAC finally enters the market. B/c so far, the ECUs just keep going up instead of down (Shark and AMD are exceptions)!

 

At the rate GIAC is going I will be on my 3rd Mini and the dollar will be worth about $2.45

 

actually the GIAC is slated to be released around the same time as the MINI redesign... in 2007.