I'm looking into getting an ECU upgrade for my 04 S and so far I've read all the different manufacturers claims about their products. So I'm turning to you the more experienced Mini Heads about which one out there will give you the more benefits and gains.
I've read the posts on Unichip, Mini-Madness, Shark, Dinnan but would like the input from the real owners and drivers.
I do have a few mods 15% pulley, Altanator, Alta CAI, Alta Air Diverter, Tein Lowering Springs, M7 Strut Bar, Catless Exhaust.
Any help or suggestions will be appreciated

 

A few of us in atl had Jan at Revolution Mini Works to a remap of our ECUs with tremendous results...I cannot recommend any of the upgrades you mentioned and to tell you the truth, I have heard bad things about a couple of them.

 

The ECU upgrades you already know about are very limited. Like Frank said, Jan from RMW will do a dyno tune and get much more out of the tune than just piggy backing the OEM ECU. Where are you located? He, Jan, does numerous tunning days all over the country. Give him a call.

 

I am at the same point as you mc40mini and went to the local bimmershop
that guy have intal many kind of ecu to mini about 40 and the one e said was the less problem is (( shark )) many mini owner of otawa have one of
these..

 

I have the Shark 93 Octane in both my MCS and BMW330. I know that some members belittle the gain of the Shark next to nothing. I have read comments like Conforti Shark work only on BMWs but useless in Minis but here's what I can say based on actual experience:

1. The gain is probably only around 5-6 HP based on my current mods, contrary to their advertised 15 HP? I did feel the increased power and slight improvement on throttle response.
2. Rev limit now goes to 7000+ rpm (hated to do this but just testing if their claim of increased 200 rpm is true or not and make sure that the flash was completely installed).
3. It definitely made the car run smoother (ECU is V.40).
4. The exhaust tips are a little bit of soothy look after hard runs.
5. Pings during hard acceleration when I use gas less than 93 Octane. We have lots of 93-94 octane pump gas in Canada.
6. ECU flash upgrade choices for the MCS at that time were few (Evotech & Unichip were twice more expensive).
7. Although I have not run full speed yet, Conforti says that top speed limiter is removed when Sharked.

There are other choices now like GIAC or MTH or if money is not a problem, actual dyno tune if its available in your area. Most NAMers who went this route report better gains than tailor made ECU flash or piggy back tunes.

 

I bet a good Mini ECU tuner gypsy could travel around the country, free (+$$$?), use local dynos, and tune our Mini's. Because there are no choices in many remote areas. :(

 

I live in Las Vegas so we get 91 octane so gettingthe right tune is a most.... I would like to know who is running the Madness, Dinan or Giac.
Because I can go to BMW and get the Dinan, Im not sure abour GIAC since they only do Audis and VW here in Vegas.
Any suggestions appreciated.
Does anyone here know what the gains are with any of this software updgrades?????????
Thanks Aaron

 

has anyone here gotten the JCW flash on their cars???? and What Mods does it support?????

 

I have a 03 JCW. I had the ECU flash done after I did the bigger JCW injectors ,and intake upgrade as the 03's did not have those items. So to answer your question, the JCW, late model ECU update covers all the other things my car had - Exhaust, a minimum flowed head,15% pulley,coated supercharger, plus bigger fuel injectors and CA intake which it didn't have. I still think I could have a better tune but there are no tuners around here.

 

thanks for the info, here where I live there's no tuners for MINI so Im basically looking around, I've heard some really good things abour the GIAC on the forums, there is a couple guy here in Vegas that have some mods and requested the JCW software at the dealership and seem to like it, besides they said they only paid $55 for it.
I've heard little about the Dinan, because of the upgrades I have I would like to know which stage to get if I were to go that route.
Is there anyone here that works at a BMW/MINI dealer that can help us out????????

 

So from what i reed the 15hp that the shark ecu is not reel.. so all the dyno
chart are wrong .. how much hp do the shark ecu reely give out.. if u have dyno sheet post'em to compare..
thank you

 

Helix did a test of the SharK at its early stage maybe in 2003. I am not sure if it's Shark91 or Shark93. The result was only 2 or 3 WHP ...but dyno result can be debatable & inconsistent & can be manipulated. I stand to be corrected.

 

I have the works sound kit, filter/intake, dress up, ecu rechip, and catback. It is expensive, sounds great, but as far as a real jump in performance NOT There. So the R50 guys would be better off going aftermarket.

 

Thanks for the info....I spoke ot the people at Madness and Helix 13 and both of them seem really good....The Madness re-flash seem to give you the best gains and the support they offer is great.
The people at Helix have the GIAC and a lot of people that are running this software are very pleased with the results, not to mention they offer the 30 day warranty, which to me is a sign of confidence about their product.
At this point I haven't decided which route to go but I will soon and I'll post on it.
Thanks to all you guys that have shared their info.
Is there anyone here that works for MINI or knows about the Dinan software??? If so please post.

 

I had Evolution Motorsports in Tempe, AZ put in the GIAC 15% Flash on our 05 MCS a month or so ago and am real pleased with the benefits. I'll have it on a Dyno in January, same dyno as last January, at our clubs dyno day, so will be curious on the hard numbers then. But a definite improvement in throttle smoothness, especially early on in the throttle in 1st and 2nd gear, and no question it pulls harder up to 7k.

 

just reed. http://www.turnermotorsport.com/page...nj_FAQ.pdfinfo

 

think I just read about Alta reflashing them or tuning them (Altaing them hehehe) with some impressive looking results

 

that will also be good since I'm using their products....I shall do that....Thanks

 

A lot of these vendors will be at AMVIV in March if you can wait that long. This year, Unichip was here, along with Alta, Madness, and several others. I'm expecting that most (if not all) of the 2007 vendors will be back for 2008. I don't know if they will all be set up to do ECU flashes, but it might be worth waiting if you can stand it.

 

That's actually what I was thinking about doing since it gives me time to get a better exhaust and a couple of other things.....Thanks Agro

 

I got a GIAC flash last june
AMAZING DIFFERENCES
besides power gains, bieng that this flash requires a pulley and some colder plugs to get the best gains, it makes your MCS pull SOOOOO much harder, and to a higher rev limiter,
absolutely worth the diff

 

Thank You for sharing the info....I'm leaning towards the GIAC at this moment but I'm gonna wait untill the MINI-Vacation here in Vegas and see what the vendors got to offer.

 

thats a good plan