Hey guys,

I know there are threads but I literally have no idea what I'm looking at nor much time to go through all the pages. Can someone please give me a reader's digest version?

I'm considering taking over a lease on an F56 JCW. On my R56 I had the Alta OBD2 tune where I would, like a Diablo, plug it in, tune it, take it off, drive off with much more power. When I'd bring it to the dealer I'd plug it in, remove tune, unplug, bring stock car in for service...etc. Is there anything like this for the F56? If I get the car I want to tune it for more power however not at the sacrifice of warranty or running it to the bleeding edge. FWIW I always run 93 octane. The car I'm looking at is a manual 2017.

Thanks!

Best,
Gene

 

Sorry there isn't an OBD tune that you can install and remove on your own for the F56 yet.

If you want something you can remove a piggy back is going to be your best option as there are a few avail.
In no particular order
NM Engineering module
https://www.waymotorworks.com/f56-co...er-module.html

Dinan Sport
https://www.waymotorworks.com/dinan-...ng-module.html

Dinan Elite
https://www.waymotorworks.com/dinan-...ng-module.html

Afe Module
https://www.waymotorworks.com/f54-f5...er-module.html

JB
https://www.waymotorworks.com/jb-f55...ng-module.html

they all work on the same principal. But the more sensors it plugs into the better control it will have, and that is why some cost more than others. So it's a matter of your budget too.

 

Are the piggyback units relatively easy to take out for a trip to the dealer? As in can be done in around an hour or less? Is there anything left over that the dealer can see and void warranty? I'm a little paranoid about this stuff because on the Z06 GM's ECU is crazy advanced and they can see whatever you've done, whenever it was, almost no matter what. The Z was the first car I didn't tune in...well...maybe ever.

Thanks!

BTW I remember you guys from my last Mini and I look forward to buying from you again.

 

Once you have installed the Dinan Sport you could probably take it off in a few minutes, just a bit tight for big hands as I recall. But many dealers don't care, I leave mine on all the time.

The Dinan Elite seems to be a bit more complex but I bet you could easily remove that in less than an hour. Ask your dealer upfront if they care about it. The Elite has a warranty covering MINI issues during the initial 4 year MINI warranty period so no reason to pull it.

 

I don't have one but from what I've read the "clipon" boosters like the JB+, NM, and Dinan are easy to connect and remove and don't leave any evidence for the dealer to see. In fact at least one of them is sold and connected by some Mini dealers. I think it's the NM brand.

 

Out of all those the Dinan Elite would be the most work to remove. All the others connect to one sensor so they would be easy to remove.
But I don't feel the Elite would be hard either. Think of it taking 15-20min to remove vs 5min.

 

What should labor cost for installing The Elite?
I was told, by a Dinan installer near me, it would
be $180.

 

We do it for free with purchase of the unit from us.

I'd suggest doing it yourself as it's pretty easy. If your still worried, get your mechanically inclined friend a case a beer as it's that easy.

 

Thanks for the info. I'm sure my mechanic friend can do it, for he's
quite versed in all aspects of ECU's, especially in Lotus Elise and Exige.
My only other question is, 'Does Dinan demand that it be done by one
of their 'approved' installers for The Elite Warranty to stay in force?'

 

So I hear there's a Cyber Monday coming soon. Do you...cyber?

Best,
Gene

 

I may be wrong but installation of The Elite looks to be
far more complex an operation than The Sport. ECS,
as well as others offering the unit, mention using one of
the 300 'approved' Dinan installers and I've yet to read
anywhere that it's a 'do it yourself' project. Have heard that
the car must sit without any of the keys being close to the
car, as well something about letting the car sit in an 'off'
setting in order to properly prime the ECU for acceptance of
The Elite. Also, does Dinan only stand behind the install if one
of their approved installers do it?

 

https://www.dinancars.com/warranty/

 

I read the Dinan Warranty information you gave me
a link to and when it states that, in the event of a
problem arising, the car must be taken to an approved
Dinan shop where they determine improper installation
occurred, Dinan is 'off the hook' with regard to responsibility.
Imagine a scenario where your 'do it yourself' install of The
Elite is blamed on faulty equipment that was installed
improperly by your mechanic, and should have been done
by an approved Dinan installer, according to Dinan's expert
evaluation. Where do you now go to prove otherwise?

 

The publicity of denying someone due to a faulty install wouldn't be good. But then again what if you routed the cable incorrectly and it burned up and caused a fire or melted the wiring harness of the car. Could be thousands of dollars in repair.

I know this because it happened to two cars in my experience. One was when an after market stereo installer incorrectly soldered wire into my BMW wiring harness and shorted out the car. Back in those days the dealer treated it like no big deal and fixed it all up for me, no charge. Second time, somehow a wire got clipped under the valve cover and burned up in a Triumph, the entire cars wiring fried. Covered by dealer due to their mistake.

If I had a brand new MINI and wanted the Elite, I'd just let an authorized dealer do the deed. In my case warranty is almost up so I'd self install as it looks very easy. Just a few plugs and some wire tie work.

 

Ooookay. You can install it yourself. You can have a friend or local mechanic do it. You can have an authorized Dinan dealer do it. If properly installed, the Dinan warranty is valid in all of these situations.

If you're at all concerned about warranty issues or damage to your car or possible problems with Dinan or MINI should you encounter problems then maybe adding one of these devices isn't for you. Or maybe, if you have decided you can live with the risks that come when any plug in is added to your car, just pay to have a Dinan dealer do the installation.

Perhaps there is an opportunity to negotiate a package deal -- maybe even the cost of the unit and installation can be negotiated to be less than the current list price for the unit.

I think you have all the info you need to make the right choice for you.

These boxes do not take the car anywhere near its design limits. They just make um run in wonderful ways.

Best of luck, whatever you decide.

 

Check out Power Up in this JCW section. More than you ever wanted to know.

 

Was able to find Dinan Elite install instructions for
a Mercedes and it is not a simple procedure, far
more involved than installing Dinan's Sport. I'm
inclined to agree with Minnie which, come to
think about it, would certainly get an OK 'nod'
from Mini too. Minnie.....and Mini....looks to be
a hard combination to not go with.

 

And the required blood. Won't run right if you don't offer the required sacrifice.

 

Minnie's mentioning possible problems has me
feeling that if $180 is the lowest labor I can get
from an approved Dinan installer, that's the way
for me to go. As I've said, look's to me to be a
big difference in installation of The Sport vs The
Elite.

 

This seriously is plug and play and ridiculously easy to install.

Just know that this is nowhere near an ecu tune. It is a simply "faking" a couple of parameters so that the ecu responds with more timing and boost. In this way, it is definitely safe, but leaves a heck of untapped potential. Given the lack of OBD tuning support, this is the way to go, but will be a very expensive box once OBD ecu tuning is available.

Also note there is no shift strategy adjustment whatsoever for automatic cars...

http://files.dinancars.com/webresour...bbef9698c1.pdf

 

Thanks guys. I purchased the Dinan Elite for the car during the sales last weekend.

All the best,
Gene