Got a good deal on a Unichip Q+ yesterday, so I took it. I've read LOTS of horror stories about the early generations of these. Anyone care to comment on their experiences with the Q+? Anything I should think about or look out for? I'll need to remap it when I get it, because I don't have some of the mods that the original owner had.

 

So I got this thing, and I'm very unsure of what to do with it... I need to remap it, for starters, because I don't have half the mods the original owner did. I don't have the (I think required) USB cable yet. I'd love some input, suggestions, condemnations, flames - whatever it takes. Anyone ever written their own maps? Is that something that requires dyno readings? If it's not obvious, I'm a total newbie when it comes to this stuff... My first car didn't even have an ECU.

(Obviously I'm going about this all wrong - head first, blind, ignorant, and possibly downright stupid. But I'm big on D-I-Y! I'm literate, too, but there's no much literature on Unichips...)

 

I'm probably talking to myself. I haven't decided what I think of the device yet, but I have to say: Unichip service and support ROCKS.

 

I don't know much (okay, anything) about unichip, but I get the impression it's not seen as a great option regarding quality and effectiveness.. most go for a tune from Way, Mynes, or RMW.

 

Once dyno tuning of the ecm bacame avalable, the unichip became unnessarry...
To tune a unichip right, you need a dyno anyway...
There are some stock tunes from unichip, but thses are kinda like using a "shark"...some risks, and limited benifits. That having been said, a few folks used these kits for years, some with issues(as you read), some none. Tuners have their opinons, and the adapative nature of the mini ecm made the kit you have a hit or miss thing depending on which factory software you have....some factory software is prettry agressive, some kinda mild....many folks found it simpler to just get a jcw tune in the last few years since many dealers have been doing it for many.....
In anycase, good luck, and enjoy the new toy. I know the earlier kits had 2 postions, a mild, and agressive, and i will tell you, be careful....a few cars have neen overheated or worse on the agressive setting....the q is more modern, not sure the setup, but good luck!!
.

 

The switch toggles between two maps, which generally, as I understand it, come preprogrammed just for 91 and 93 octane fuel. Despite being in oil country, I can't get 93 up here (except for Husky "94 octane," which is more ethanol than I care to run). So the toggle switch for me just toggles my CEL...

I got the Unichip a) because I got a good price on it from a NAM'er who no longer owned a Mini (his loss!) and b) I've got a few bolt-on mods and plan to do much more. But I don't have the time or money to do it all at once, and recognize that ECUs now are integral to proper engine function, to say nothing of possible performance gains. But I definitely don't have the money to have my ECU tuned every time I bolt on another mod or two, so the Unichip will fill the gap until I'm ready for a proper dyno tune; it also allows me to upgrade to another "canned tune" every time I get another bolt-on mod, now that I've figured out how the (somewhat clumsy) software works. Is it the same as a stand-alone tune? No, but for me, right now, that's the point. I don't need the be-all, end-all of tunes, because I haven't reached the point of be-all, end-all mods!

Perhaps I'll have a great experience and completely fall in love with the thing, and have the Unichip tuned on a dyno here, if possible. I'm not ruling anything out yet! With limited driving experience on snow tires in about a foot of snow, I have to say, it's pretty nice: the throttle response is what I notice most, as it drives much more evenly at partial throttle, sort of saving all the acceleration for WOT. Which is good for a driver like me, who needs to conserve fuel or commit to WOT...

This board is the ONLY place I've read about the Mini ECU compensating for the installation and adaptations of the Unichip. I seriously can find NO documented evidence of such endemic problems anywhere else on the interwebs. That's part of the reason I decided to buy one: part of me thinks it's maybe just an urban legend that's circulating NAM. I'd love to see some hard evidence, if anyone has any. Otherwise I'm just going to continue taking my chances and enjoying my - meagre, and so far definitely worth it - purchase.

 

The unichip basily feeds info to the computer....intercepts the outbound signal...mucks with it, adjusts it, and sends it on...kinda tricking it to allow the car to make more power than the computer...
Have one friend....had a older unichip...he liked it...
Computer/ecm failed oneday...
got a new ecm...funning thing is he got "newer software" with the new ecm...and when he installed it, found he had more power, stock, with the new ecm...was like wow...he later got a jcw flash...and the driver works for a mini dealer. Only thong i can say, is install it, try it, and see of you like it.
Hopefully the q has the correct adaptor that clips onto tye computer, so you DO NOT HAVE TO SPLICE WIRES.....(the prongs on the earlier adaptor ((how this types of devise got the piggyback nickname)) could be an issue...make sure they are making good connection, not loose from having been installed/removed. I know the q was the latest/greatest, never seen one up close.
All my knowledge is from the older version...