What's being tuned with a Unichip custom tune and how much power are people getting over stock software or the canned Unichip program?

Two different canned Unichip programs have done nothing for me and neither has GIAC. I hear great things about custom tuned Unichips, though. Are they just changing A/F ratios? If so, couldn't I just send in my Unichip, along with my dyno plot with A/F ratios and get almost exactly the same result?

What places that normally do the custom Unichip tunes have Mini people been using?

 

A/F ratios and ignition timing.... I believe thats it.

 

If I recall correctly, the density is at every 50 RPM. As Bob or others can confirm, the dyno is used for WOT refinement, and for partial throttle, actual driving with the tuner and laptop busy making adjustments...

 

It'd be best to PM me to hear the whole sordid mess.

A few details I will share publicly:

Just today we tried for five hours to correct a so-called correct map for my new '06 MCS.

This was with the "new and improved Unichip Q"

Can you believe wide band A/F ratios at 9.5-1 at 2800-3500 rpms from a map that was represented by the dealer as supposedly for what's on my car?

What a mess.

It was way out EVERYWHERE!

Kudos to Hesco in Bhm (seriously qualified authorized Unichip tuner) for rescuing it to maybe 90%.

But more work is required when I can make the 7 hour round trip from Atlanta again.

At this point, with my experience and some others I know, I wouldn't wish the Unichip on my enemy.

 

I stand corrected... by myself! Every 25 RPMs:

http://store.webbmotorsports.com/for...nichip+density

 

"Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"

Hi Jim,

let's talk tomorrow.....man that sounds bad

Bob

 

I'll be glad to take that Unichip off your hands...

 

Just as a general response, I know timing can be adjusted but I was under the impression that it was generally left at what ever Unichip set it at and only a/f ratios were played with.

As "hornguys" points out a detailed tune can take a LONG time. I will probably send my Uni back to Randy Webb along with my a/f ratio's and dyno chart, so he can adjust them but first I need to install an o2 simulator, so I can fit a wide band and get back on the dyno yet again. But this may just result in a half custom tune or maybe a half assed custom tune, as it would only make a difference at WOT and I can't see him making timing adjustments by mail. And, this still ignors part throttle, where my power curve is a little lumpy compared to either the JCW software or the GIAC. GIAC had even less power on my car than the Uni.

What a/f ratio's have been observed with a Unichip, custom tune or not, besides "hornguys" 9.5 to 1? I think in the end these cars will all need to run rich, on the top end, if they are going to last but what do we really need from 5.5k to 7.2k.

If you had a custom tune and you were there when they did it, How long did it take? If you wern't there, how many hours were you billed for?

 

I've got way too much time and money invested now. Gonna try to see it through.

But I'll keep your offer in mind...

Since we finally have basic a/f ratios & timing in the ball park, now comes the tweaking with a laptop and making real time adjustments while actually driving the car.

I'll probably have maybe 7-9 hours of total tuning when I'm done at (a lot) an hour. Plus the time and the mileage.

We did spend a fair amount of time fixing the obvious a/f and timing mistakes in the map as supplied, so maybe with a decent starting point, a custom tune might be done in 4-6 hours counting final fine tweaking with the tuner as passenger with the laptop on board.

But from what I've seen of the density of this device, it's doubtful that an "in the box" tune for your car will really tap it's potential. And frankly, I doubt that any adjustments based on another car will tap into the full potential.

Even dyno tuning cannot cover what happens in some instances when driving, especially if you want that last 10-15%.

I guess I'm saying that I don't think it's a particulary good buy if considered simply as a plug&play mod.

Why pay a lot of money for a device and still not get it's full potential?

So I think the price for this device is much higher than the cost of the unit itself and the shipping or tax.

I personally am hopeful for excellent results. I'm certain the results can be obtained. But it's not for the faint-hearted if you really want what it can likely do.

 

After many years in the performance business I have formed the following opinion; Most mail order tunes do not deliver the results that the customer expects. I tune many types of vehicles with many different softwares and this is a universal problem throughout the industry. To get the results that you expect you need to find a real live person in your area who is familiar with your vehicle and get them to tune it for you. This person also must be familiar with the concept of tuning a vehicle that has to pass state emission tests as well. If your car won't pass state smog tests then you didn't get a good tune.

 

So, let me get this straight. You have to pay to fix their f'd up maps?
Maps bad enough that even the tech said they're bad? They deliver a product that only gets you 50%(random percentage used for example) of the potential and then charge you $$ hundreds more to get it right?

That doesn't sound right. But I'm really thinking of getting in on a franchise

 

Yes.

Yes.

Sort of. See post below.

LOL or FCOL...

 

Actually, "they" (Hesco) are not the ones who sold the Unichip. I got it from a well-known advertiser on this board.

Hesco mostly fixed it with phone calls to Tony and Josh at Unichip and time on the Dyno and a little bit of street time. I just ran out of time and had to get back to Atlanta.

But yes, I had to pay for Dyno/tuning time and the problem that Unichip's firmware is apparently way behind their software.

 

So is there anyone in San Diego or L.A. CA that can do this

 

Thanks. I'm very interested because I too have a UniChip and am hoping to get more out of it. No tuners close though

 

I think this is very acurate from my experience......

The problem is this..... if your mods are few they can boiler plate it and tell you its close.... well Jim what do you think of that?....I would guess that MTH and GIAC can do close or the same........ as the mods go up there is no boiler plate and your F*****D. the car does not run right with any software.... you have to have a custom tune.....nobody tells you that going in...... if anyone cares to go back into my posts you will find a fairly extensive chronicle of a very frustrated Mini owner...me. Had it not been for Josh coming to Atlanta on a trip to tune a car for a magazine and being really nice...and taking pity on me....I would still be in the same boat.....as it is now I am pretty happy..... since the tune.. I added a cam a DFIC and next week the AGS V.3..... a new tune is in order...but so far the adition of the cam has bee positive...I know there are some ponies waiting to get out but after the AGS I'll decide......

bottom line...IMO...the Unichip is a great cost effective tool.... but if you hand a monkey a pallet of paints it might take a while to get the Mona Lisa...not to say anyone is a monkey but trying to tune from a distance puts you at a bad disadvantage IMO

 

Yes, SpiderX, I think most tuning software can get pretty close for mild mods. I spoke to the MTH representative about 3 months ago about swapping to MTH from Unichip. He said, quite honestly, that I would not get very different results from their software than I was getting from my Chip. This suggests to me both are using some "canned" algorithms that are designed for certain situations. *If* you happen to have those, which could be by chance, then it's unlikely you'll get anything better.
Unfortunately, for most of the rest of us, we're driving around with a tune that might be better than stock, but may be no where near what we thought we were paying $800 for! Count me in this group...

cheers,

 

I'd think that your stuff would be the canned setup though. CAI, header, CAT-back and a 15% pulley has been the STD mod for years. I could understand issues with a big valve jobs, AGS, TB... not being in the mix.

 

I suppose close is too relative of a term for me. For Unichip money, it needs to be spot on.

We know that various MINIs make different power, unmodified. So why do we think that any remotely designed "one size fits all - with these mods" tune can touch a custom tune?

It can't. IMO - not close.

So it's buyer beware.

I remember putting the Shark injector on in mid 2003. It never performed all that great, but I wasn't nearly as upset as I'd be if I'd just paid $800...

 

Hi Jim, I hope you picked up on my sarcasm...... I totally agree with you .....I spent a lot of time frustrated with "close"....

 

Yes, it was going well until I put the Megan header on with no cat. Now it seems to be gone to krap. And remember, I'm at 5000ft, with 91 octane and oxygenated fuel for high altitude polution abatement. All these things, whether important or not, are different to those conditions that the maps were made for, or by.
The in-car custom tune seems to be the way to go. I'd even pay for it!

cheers,

 

I was about ready to pull the trigger on getting the UniChip. Guess I'll put my gun away... don't need to waste $800.

 

I'm still baffled as to why Unichip does not come here and promote their product. The only car they sponsor in racing is a Mini for G sakes.

I'm not even sure that they are using the same device in the Nuzo Mini that they sell to us . I saw no signs of the box in the car and the gas pedal is still set up with cable as it was when the Motec was being used. Obviously the Nuzo Mini also has moved the rev limiter up which still can't be done with the Unichip at this time.
Not sure what's up..

 

I was told by Jack at UNIChip that the rev limiter can be increased... if there is sufficient demand by us.

Good point Greg. I have no idea what Nuzzo is running then...

 

maybe just a set of stickers...

I really don't have any serious regrets buying the UniChip as it does appear to make the car run smoother with improved low-end torque (butt-dyno) but I was hoping for easier access to custom tuning and support through the forum. With so many other vendors/suppliers present on this site I also think it's surprising & disappointing to not see them support their product here with Nuzzo being supported by them... I hope that changes...