Has anyone tired both? Tomorrow in goes the Alta CAI and 15% pulley. Once these are done, the software is next. There is a GIAC dealer not 5 min from my house, so i am very tempted to go there, but everyone here seems to love MTH. Has anyone tired both? Put them head to head, Same car, same dyno? I am leaning towards GIAC because 1) As stated, dealer is real close and 2) The software was created on a real dyno. 3) Local dealer can custom tune it if i go crazy (heads, TB, Cam). Not a big fan of piggy backs like the unichip, plus thats alot of extra cost. So, im lost, can someone fill me in?

Thanks

 

I would recommend the GIAC from a respected MINI guy like Eric from Helix13.com over the MTH. I have tested the results of both, but unfortunately, not on the same car. Even so, the A/F ratios of the GIAC are much more consistent. I doubt you will see much higher numbers with any flash beyond the GIAC - and if your car is a late '05 or '06, I don't know if MTH has cracked the box yet. Your local GIAC dealer won't be able to either - but GIAC has.

Hope that helps!
Randy

 

Thanks Randy! Crazy thing about this community. While on the boards there is alot of flaming, the tuners really support one another.

Its an 03, so the cracking isnt a problem. Called Eric, thanks.!

 

CooperSi says differently. But who knows?

 

The GIAC may actually be able to eke a handful of extra horses vs. the MTH, but the MTH cost includes a year's worth of upgrades for the price...

 

Thankfully, the dealer i am close to is willing to match that, so it is actually going to cost less than the MTH. Also, right now i do not forse doing anything that GIAC hasnt already tuned.

 

First let me say that for the MODS you reference either will be fine (based on my readings). Its my undertsanding that GIAC has a limited number of programs - their website references one but I believe there are two.
Where MTH seems to excel over GIAC (in my opinion from my readings) is when it comes to more extensive mods. Clearly, MTH can custom tune based on mods. I am not aware that GIAC can custom tune and would be very intersted in knowing what they can custom tune for. NAM members have sought custom tunes from GIAC and they ended up refunding the money if I recall correctly.

 

That is correct. When I had a 19% pulley, the GIAC software did not work well probably because I had many more mods on the car than what the software could integrate. They were going to custom tune my car, but changed their minds, and refunded my $$ after the original software was reinstalled. Oh well...

IMO, the GIAC software is very good, but for cars with the same sort of mods that were on their developmental cars.

 

Yeah, i think i read through your whole post. I do not plan to go into as extensive mods as you did, but if i do the local dealer was sure they could custom tune, said they had done it before. Weither before was on a MINI or not, i am not sure.

I wish MTH had end user tunablity. I dont want to change everything myself, just fine tune things.

 

My first mods were an Alta intake and a 15% pulley at 3k, that is a very nice wake up way to go for the mcs. Next I went for mth, it worked well. I had 2 maps from Franz, they were both good in different ways but I liked the first map more than the second. The first map made the car run better than any stock map ever, it made the car drive smoother, more refined. The second map made the car feel faster in a straight line pedal to the metal but going into turns not so good. It was jerky as it reacted to different throttle positions, not the best driveability, a somewhat unpredictable feeling at the worst times. As the hunger for more power continued I visited Helix at 33k for a 19% pulley, jcw injectors and the giac software to run the stuff. That setup in my opinion has turned out to be the real deal when it comes to a smooth and progressive powerband. It is very civilized but very strong. Just under 50k now and has been completeley reliable. The giac software feels seamless, super smooth, in my opinion worth the extra $. Had I known then what I know now I would have not spent the money on my first setup. We all live and learn, Good luck with your project.

 

Cool, someone who has done both. I think for now ill do GIAC for the 15% then upgrade it to the 19% in the future when i can afford injectors

 

I think MTH got very popular when it was $85..... I have been in some cars with MTH and they seemed to run good. GIAC was installed on my car and it did not work well due to my list of mods......they were not willing to custom tune so they did refund my money. GIAC has a pretty rich pedigree working with all the exotics and frankly did not have the time to do a custom tune on my Mini, at least not for $350....that being said.....I still think with your mods that is the way I would go. I have a Unichip because I ned a custom tune......I would prefer a custom flash, but alas....no joy

 

There is a lot to be said about having a dealer local to you also. To me, IF all other parameters were equal, I would go that route. Sounds like the recommendations have you leaning that way anyway.

Good luck and have fun!

 

Personally, I would go for the Giac software based on the dealer being so close to you. If something goes south, being able to reach out and touch someone to get a solution is way more important to me. Plus, it seems as if Giac has a solution that works with the mods you are considering.

 

Im in CA, and have had MTH for quite a while. Since the GIAC guy is nearby, I'd go that way.

MTH used to be quite the bargain, but I don't think the support has kept up with the price increases.

The map I'm running from MTH now hits timing retard when I floor it, and I've found in difficult to find out exactly what is changed, and what can be changed from MTH.

Even if they both do what you want, local support would be the tie-breaker....

FWIW....

Matt

 

Have you been able to fix this? Also, are you running standard or tuner? I'm trying to weigh MTH Tuner vs. GIAC. It seems alot of the time that the MTH Tuner files come out very rough while GIAC is more refined. I have a GIAC dealer and MTH-USA headquarters in my backyard so that really isn't a concern. Decision, Decisions.

To make it worse, I'm also considering the Unichip. The fact that GIAC and MTH have no residual value at all is really turning me off. Even though the Unichip is double the price, it would have to lose half its value in the second hand market to just match the initial investment in the others.

 

I had GIAC installed at the dragon. Its beautiful. Unfortunatly it was raining the day it was installed, so i was not able to get a feel for what it changed, but I did notice the throttle was smoother.

However, now that I am back home, and have an empty car, I finally got a chance to test it out. So much smoother and power comes on sooner. I love it. Worth the money!

 

Sean,

What other Mods do you have on the car ?

 

I had 15% pulley, Alta intake and now GIAC. I am debating a one ball or miltek now...just love the Miltek sound. I also have the M& Ram air scoop to be installed soon.