I went to the $tealer$hip today to get the JCW tune done to my 06 MCSa, well they tuned the car and KILLED it, after having flashed the ECU they looked up the service bulletins and found out that the JCW tune will not work on the AUTOMATIC.

I did a little research and it turns out that it will but you have to get the ECU programming from the UK, does anyone know what to put in the $tealer$hip computer to get this code?

 

We can do a JCW tune for you, or one of our basic tunes if you want to ship your DME to us.
http://www.waymotorworks.com/wmw-ecu...-cooper-s.html

 

I'm confused did something happen? Or they didn't flash it or did something break/ drove funny

 

I have a 2004 JCW and the original JCW 200 tune but have done many upgrades including bumping up to 380cc injectors. How much for the JCW 210 flash or if you have a quicktune that would better suit me? I could overnight my DME to you, turnaround time and cost? you can PM this info. if preferred

 

He linked to his site

Quick tune is on there for 270

The jcw210 is on his site too for more ~300

The shipping stuff he can't talk to you about

 

Oh its broken, the car will not start. They have the head Mini/BMW software guy coming in today to take a look.

I would love to have Way do the JCW 210 tune, or even his 'canned' tune but that price is a little prohibitive, as most dealers are only charging 50 to 150 for the JCW flash, and I do not have to ship anything.

WAY - I know that you are doing something a little special but you are putting a flash on a computer that is the same flash as the $tealer$hip and charging more than they are (double)? And have you been to a $tealer$hip, that is a multi-million dollar operation (mine even has a covered putting green, and more coffee options than Starbucks), with more that 20 employees.

Not to tell you how to run business, but you have to start to understand that charging the cost of a custom tune (Jan get 350.oo) for a canned tune, that I have to take my car out of commission for a minimum of three days, pay for Next-Day-Air both ways, I think is a little high.

Also you have to understand that your customer base for these tunes is getting smaller everyday, as most of these cars are getting to be around 10 years old, and in a short time this software will get cracked and everyone will have it, yes not everyone will have the skill set, that you have to understand the best parts of a tune but the 'canned tunes' will be out there.

Please again understand, that I know you provide a service and that you have a skill set, but start to think about making the money more in volume than from each job, if you make that canned tune affordable (same as the $tealer$hip) you will sell more!

 

Here is our quicktune http://www.waymotorworks.com/wmw-ecu...-cooper-s.html
We turn them around in 24hrs. Our quicktune is a better option as we do more changes than the JCW and throttle response is so much better.

If that's how you feel fine. But that is what we charge as that is what our service is worth using very expensive software to do it. But we do offer our Quicktune cheaper than the JCW flash.
Also our local dealer was charging over $400 for the JCW flash, but every dealer is different.

 

Yes that is exactly how I feel that is why I wrote it, and I am sure that the software WAS very expensive, and I am sure that your local $tealer$hip, might of have been charging that at one time or another (I will call tomorrow and find out), but it is a sell/buyer market and if you do not roll with the changes you will lose customers as the economy sucks and people are going to search out the best deal.

I can also tell you that I am not the only one that feels this way, as I received several private messages from other NAM Menebers telling be that they are in the same position they would like the work, but the cost is just too high.

Now I do believe that you do your best to get the ECU turned around ASAP, that I would not doubt in the least, and I am even sure that your tune is better then the JCW as I am sure that the JCW is a little more conservative and setup for the type of person that buys performance at the $teal$hip, your general customer is not that person, they want more for less.

You provide a good service and have been doing so for a long time, BUT and this is a BIG BUT, times will change and that software will get into the wild eventually, and when it does, that service will be no longer of any real value. I am pretty sure that your EXPENSIVE software has paid for it self many times over, and I would not expect you to not make money other wise why be in business, but provide a service at a good price, and dont charge your price based on what a multimillion dollar $teal$hip is getting for the service, YOU ARE NOT THEM.

 

Way what is your warranty on flashes if whatever reason something were to happen it's not functioning properly etc etc

 

My dealer does a JCW flash for 1 hour of labor, as the majority of others have experienced. That's under $150. Good luck, cOop3r.

 

Not flaming you, BUT..... how's that less expensive dealership flash working out for you? How long is your car out of commission? There's a lot of irony in your post.

 

I'll flame him.....are your serious, your car is dead at a dealership that didn't know what they were doing and you then you throw trash at a vendor trying to help you with a service that is priced to the market. I think Way has been very cordial in dealing with someone of your caliber. If I were him (and by the way I own my own business) my response to you would have been for you to take a flying f*** at the moon.

 

If it's twice the cost of a factory job, and comparably priced to a dyno tune, then by definition, it's not "priced to the market". Such dealership tuning faux pas are not at all common, so let's step off of our preachy 'NAM Vendors Can Do No Wrong' soapbox. They guy went to a dealer, someone who is supposed to be an expert on the brand. You can't blame him, as tons of others have done this before without issue. The reality is, aftermarket tunes and parts for the MINI brand are grossly overpriced, and most of you guys buy into it without question. $300+ shipping and insurance costs for a single off-the-shelf tune is BS. If you had experience that extended beyond your MINI, you'd know that.

Bunch of amateurs and Monday Morning Quarterbacks on here sometimes.

 

Oh there is, but here is the thing, they will fix it, I will not be charged at all, and I have a brand new mini to drive while I wait, so over-all not to bad!

Yes I am without MY car, but not with out a car, and get this MINI USA will bring their entire resources to the table, do you think that any independent shop can or would do that?

No from an independent I would get a refund and we're sorry about the fact that your car does not work.

 

Hey Chill, ****ing amateurs? I suggest you research who your talking to before you post, numb nu**.

 

I to own a (small) business, and I have done mistakes (I do I.T.), and totally understand his position and your position but I think when you read my comment above you will understand.

And I have no intention of making this a flame war, just that I think that the Mini community is getting 'raped' by people that have basically stolen software (ie JCW factory tune) that they will offer to customers at a cost that is more than the legitimate dealer selling the software, with NO WARRANTY.

See the diff here is that the Dealer FRACKED up and now they have to fix it. Myself, You and any other small independent business owner, MAY not be in the position, might not be willing to, or not be the type of person that can provide the service that is needed to fix the problem.

 

The voice of reason....thanks

 

Thanx, they will fix it they have it running again, they called in the head software guy for the SouthEast Region and it is being worked on now, I get at least two calls a day updating me, and I have a Brand New Loaner in the meantime, and get this . . .

wait for it, wait for it . . .

No tune, no charge!

 

Oh, I have another story about 'tuning' I would like to share; I was recently at Mickey & Mini 9. We had a dyno day, and 12 to 14 cars got on the Dyno.

One of the cars, a very new Coupe with some absolutely beautiful mods done and of course a TUNE, was one of them. This Coupe actually got less HP then a bone stock JCW Clubman from the same year.

Now we could account for this in a lot of ways, bad combination of mods and add ons, bad run on the dyno etc etc. But I have to discount the bad run as the numbers are to big a discrepancy and they did back to back runs.

But here is the Kicker, the Coupe (No names to protect the innocent and not so innocent) had all the work done at ONE shop in West Palm Beach, that specializes in high end German cars and Mini.

And the Tune cost get this 1k$, the promised amount to the Wheels was 210 to 215 (he got 188WHP), so there is a lot of promises about tunes.

Needless to say this person was not happy, and he was beat with a 202WHP Bone Stock Factory JCW Clubman.

People need to stop drinking the Kool-Aid.

I tell this story not to knock any vendors in particular, but again you have to watch out because WHAT YOU PAID FOR, might not be what you get. I believe that an on-sight custom tune with a dyno before and after is where it is at if you really want to know. That service is offered by quite a few vendors, for around ~$400. I would love to do this but I have had problems getting a tuner to my area, I have tried to setup tune parties and been willing to do all the work to get them here and make sure to have a dyno facility available all day for the Cars to be dyno'ed. But I have had problems with the prim a-donna's that are these 'tuners'.

Yes I know I am bitter, but I feel I have reason to be

c0op3r

 

Hopefully ANY shop would stand behind their work and fix it, otherwise they won't last long especially in this niche market.

Herein lies the rub... the shop takes on liability when they reflash the DME, a mistake could be costly (both financially and reputationally) for an independent hence the higher price, while the dealership has the support network of the mothership. (not really sure on the financial workings though - these are assumptions)

 

c0op3r,

I'll come to your party!

 

You're a legend in your own mind, Sir. But, alas, self-perception is reality for some. Post count, wallet size, and actual working knowledge are not mutually inclusive instances. I'd be willing to bet that you're an older gent with a bunch of expendable cash, and mistakenly think that because you've dropped your MINI's off to a tuning shop multiple times over the years, that it somehow translates into you actually having the intimate knowledge as well. It doesn't.

There's no reason to flame the guy; the dealership screwed up, not him.

 

Someone has a god complex. Get your head out of your ***. i dedicate this song to you.

 

Javskies and Chill, big ***** on the Internet...as mentioned before, you don't have a clue....LMAO....go back to your cribs, I'm done messing with you now!

 

Coming from the guy telling people to research him? lol i love the irony! Shakespeare would be proud, although you may have to research him to understand what i am talking about.