Yeah mine was pinging down at Mini Meet West last summer in 100 degree + heat. I noted that 6th gear scenario as an example. To avoid pinging-downshift 1,2 or 3 gears and enjoy smooth acceleration!

What have you done to your MINI other than the water/meth injetion?

Jeremy in wet wet Vancouver

 

petrich Thank you, I have yet the ECu tuned, if I use APEXI am I going to loose the tune ECU ?

 

Yes and no! If you add the APEXi (which if you need one let me know. I have a ton in stock.) the changes you make then go on top of the ECU changes. So if you used a list to program the APEXi from another client that doesn't have your ECU tune, then it would be all wrong. Like with other mods like this, a proper dyno tune with qualified staff is the best choice.

Let Jeff or I know if we can help further!

 

minicooper31 and the rest,

I'd like to back up Adam at Alta, who I don't know. The APEXi is an 'add-on' or, perish the thought, a 'piggy back' system, similar to the Unichip and some other ECU tune systems.

The APEXi only tunes the Air / Fuel (A/F) ratio and does not, repeat "does not", change the ignition timing directly. It appears that Adam used an APEXi to perform the dyno tune reported in his original post on this thread. Adam's reported performance gains are consistent with a basic APEXi tune combined with an 'aggressive WI' system (as I have defined it). With an APEXi tune, the native ECU is unchanged, (read Adam's comment about the red-line remaining stock). Removal of the APEXi will permit the ECU to function in a completely stock fashion.

The main deficiencies of the APEXi tune system are that there is no way to directly tune the ignition timing and the APEXi user interface is a bit awkward to use. The awkward user interface increases the time required and hence the cost to perform a custom dyno tune. In my opinion, the greatest proportion of the torque (or HP) gains result from an A/F ratio tune. In my experience, ignition tuning helps most in the low RPM end of the power curve and it is only possible to make a small increase in ignition timing at high RPMs without getting a lot of knock. But as Matt (Dr Obnoxious) says all ECU's aren't created equal. None the less, the APEXi is a cost effective tune system to get most, but not all, of the gains possible from more comprehensive and expensive ECU tune systems. After 3 years of use, I finally moved away from the APEXi system to a more complete ECU tune system, but the gains weren't great.

The more sophisticated ECU systems cost more, are more comprehensive and are easier and cheaper to tune. A complete tuning system will allow tuning both the A/F ratio and the ignition timing. A sophisticated tuning system will simultaneously monitor parameters such as knock and use a standard Windows user interface. However, there is NO subsitute for a skilled dyno tuner, no matter how good the ECU tuning system. Let me explain: The sophisticated ECU tune system will display the A/F ratio on a spread sheet that allows changes in the A/F ratio at different RPM's from the computer. A familiar and easy to use interface. Once the ECU is roughly tuned near ideal values, the tuner can simply fine tune the A/F ratio while monitoring the knock signal and the torque curve. Fine tuning changes aren't always easily differentiated on the dyno torque display. Knock activity is a more sensitive and reliable indicator of the tuning status at the limit. Quick and direct. The process is then repeated in exactly the same way with the ignition advance curve. A skilled tuner will integrate the dyno results with experience and good sense to produce a reliable and safe tune.

So, back on my soap box: An "aggressive WI system" with an APEXi tune will address the MINI intercooler deficiencies and will get the lion's share of engine power potential from basic A/F ratio tuning. A Unichip and some of the more complete and sophisticated ECU tuning systems will gain more engine performance, but at a diminishing return on the dollar.

Regards,
John Petrich in Seattle

 

Petrich thanks for the APEXi information. Too bad you can't play around with weights, springs and/or vacuum advance for your ignition curve!

So what's next for your MCS then?

Jeremy

 

Jeremy,

You are quite the guy, alright. Curious and persistant. I'm happy to respond to your questions, but PM me. What else I'm thinking is not suitable for this particular thread.

Regards,
John Petrich in wet, wet, Seattle

 

Hello
other question....
How to have the instructions in French?