Hark my fellow Miniacs: Yea verily, it has been foretold that the Holy GIAC may have been stolen by heathens and is presently locked away in a dungeon in a foreign land (a strange land called "Kall E Forn E Ah&quot. Mayhaps we should gather our fastest steeds and go on a sacred quest for the Holy GIAC??? What say you?

 

Hail Sir Redleg! Let yea gather around his hearty words and go forthwith to the west in search of the Holy GIAC.

_________________
IB/W some mods

 

Has anyone heard any updates?

 

eric is on vacation or something so I couldn't get any info. the person on the phone said the usual. they are working on it. I really don't care because the chip will probably be the last piece anyways so I still have time to get the other stuff.

 

Hah, it's funny, there's been a Unichip, oneclick, powerchip/webb, evotech and probably some other upgrades already out but giac just can't muster up their own product.

 

10-01-2002 was the first time GIAC was mentioned on the site as doing ECU work for the MINI.

 

I don't understand why we don't see dealers set up for all of the chips available across the pond.

It seems like that'd be a slam dunk if you were already a mini products dealer to distribute some of the more established products from over there. They'd require adjustments for octane differences of course, and perhaps that's why.

Jeff

 

Maybe they're playing a big joke on us all this time!

CRAP!

 

realize that the chips we have read about have had their share of "beta" testing in the marketplace while disguised as a ready product.


Evotech, AMD, Powerchip, and Unichip have all used the early buyers to de-bug, refine and develop. I'm not saying this is an ill-advised practice (how else do you test your product on hundreds of cars?), but it doesn't seem to be the Giac method.

 

Even if they take as long as they want to perfect the chip, they will still probably bring out revisions and updates because it's not going to be perfect for every MINI out there. By just putting the time frame into perspective, their "beta" version should be better than other manufacturers final version. But maybe it's not because the other manufacturers have been able to revise the product more effectively cause it's being used by so many others that the feedback is much more wide and helpful. I don't know, maybe i'm just rambling, but it better increase 30hp+ for a pullied MINI.

 

For the official update you will have to call GIAC and talk to Garrett or talk to Eric at Helix13.com

The GIAC is still being worked on. It's summer and things are busy so it's hard to get things done when there are so many projects going on all at the same time.

GIAC is busy right now. There is nothing that Helix13 is doing that is holding things up.

It certainly has been a long time since the first info on it were posted. I guess when it is ready it will be released. Not much else we can do to force it to be ready any faster.
I wouldn't mind if it got released at a lower price than the competition and I don't expect lofty HP or torque gains. Just give me some real honest numbers.

 

I know everyone is busy it is just frusturating to wait. Especially when GIAC releases the chip and Flash loading software for the VW R32 in three months (Feb 2004 was the first testing and first R32 in the US and release was May 2004), on a car that is only expected to have 5,000 produced a year.

As Ryephile stated we have waited for 20 months for a product in which 25,000+ are being produced, and when released it won't have the Flash loader included.

I know the complaints have been because this is not a high priority because of numbers of Minis being produced and that this kind of thing takes time. But the R32 shows it can be done. Not only was the R32 chip produced, but it also comes with lots of programmed maps including one for the new VF Engineering supercharger kit.

 

Maybe they think that they can more easily get noteworthy gains for the R32 crowd, albeit a limited bunch. A V6, N/A, doing 240hp stock is probably low hanging fruit for them. The car is a pig at over 3,400 pounds though... Not trying to defend GIAC or their business decisions. It is apparent that we are not, for whatever reason(s), a top priority. They might know or feel that the best they can do for us is to produce another comparable product, numbers-wise. If that is so, there won't be a rush to use their limited resources on what might not be a strong ROI from the MINI crowd...

I have the same sentiment toward Dinan, and their delays. There might be very sound business justification for doing so (delays to mkt). But, much like they should do what is best for them, many of us must also make the same decison. I have, as well as others: remain put and be understanding, or take your business elsewhere...

Time to mkt is huge. Much like us, our MINIs have a finite lifespan - the duration of enjoyment does not last forever. To the vendors and tuners that are exclusively MINI-focused, I support you and our shared passsion for this car...

 

The problem with MINIs and pullied MINIs specifically, is there are "hardware" limitations that go along with ECU programming. Apparently, GIAC is working on a solution for this but like was mentioned above, the summer is a very busy time for them. Unfortunately, GIAC doesn't want to release software that's only a couple or torque better than the best thing out there. Me? I'd rather have the GIAC ECU "as is" and have a few more torque than everyone else with ECU upgrades for the promised 20-30% less. I'd be thrilled with that b/c I'm pretty darn happy with the power a 19%, exhaust and intake gives. However, this isn't good enough for GIAC and they are looking for economical ways around MINI's limitations that give very significant gains over the competition's ECUs