Well…1st things…1st !!!!!
It’s not loud and there is…. NO DRONE ;0)
Now that we’ve taken care of that….let’s talk a bit about this Powerchip ECU upgrade.

Installation:
Well this was a major consideration for me personally. How can I get this ECU upgrade, and not have to send out my chip and/or have my car out of commission for a few days.
Here's the answer…
It’s a hands down…no–brainier
Powerchip sends you a package which includes:
- CD w/ Powerchip technology software.
- A 3-way cable that connects your parallel port (printer port), your serial port (used for older mice), both to a vehicle interface (which includes your own personal customer key) all connected to the ODB port in your car. (which is under the steering column at an rt angle to the fuse box)

You need a laptop or a desktop and they MUST have BOTH a serial and a parallel port.
If you do not have access to one …Powerchip will supply you with one.

Load the software and then your 1st order of business is to let the software [read/copy] the current ECU ( vin #, ECU type, etc). It creates a ".orb" file which is saved to your.... my documents folder….serial files….bmw original files directory.
Now you simply send an email to Powerchip attach this “.orb" file and your ½ way done :smile.... to come up with an improved ECU map that ..is ..in a word...awesome!!!!!!.
It takes the best of Evotechs map and combines it with the best of Powerchips map...
This means we get the best of both worlds....
This is a great thing
This process is ongoing and I'm sure we will see in the near future... additional improvements/enhancements.
It was $690 well spent …... I give it a resounding...thumbs up !!!!!

Hoped this helped y’all

I am smiling …alot :smile:
I’m go’n out to.................. DRIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Peace,
D








_________________
I own a 2002 MCS w/ alot of stuff on it.

 

Should this, or can this be used with the JWC, to get more power out of the JWC kit?

 

Oh for crap's sake--it's Windows-only?

I wish the people who develop these things were a little more with the program and would realize that many people use non-Windows OSes. Why couldn't it have been written in Java?

 

>>Oh for crap's sake--it's Windows-only?
>>
>>I wish the people who develop these things were a little more with the program and would realize that many people use non-Windows OSes.

You and the guy locked in my basement don't count as "many people"

X2

_________________
Men that drive MINIs have no shortcomings to make up for.

<IMG SRC="https://www.northamericanmotoring.co....jpg">

 

>>Powerchip sends you a package which includes:
>>- CD w/ Powerchip technology software.
>>- A 3-way cable that connects your parallel port (printer port), your serial port (used for older mice), both to a vehicle interface (which includes your own personal customer key) all connected to the ODB port in your car. (which is under the steering column at an rt angle to the fuse box)


Just so I'm clear, do you get to keep the serial cable or do you have to send this back? I'd love to have such a cable, as it would come in handy later on once Ross-Tech has their software ready (Not runing, more diagnosis).

Paul

 

D- important question...you stated you need a LAPTOP OR a DESKTOP. I've also read that before by someone else (Randy maybe?). Question - can you really use a desktop instead of a laptop? I don't have a laptop. I know, I know. Always have multiple desktops and usually a kick-butt one but no laptop. Can I still do it? If so, how do you get the info to and from the car? I assume you'd have to put the desktop next to your MINI, right? That wouldn't work for me.

 

>>Just so I'm clear, do you get to keep the serial cable or do you have to send this back? I'd love to have such a cable, as it would come in handy later on once Ross-Tech has their software ready (Not runing, more diagnosis).
>>
>>Paul
>>

Hey Paul,

You can not keep the cables....

Peace,
D

 

>>D- important question...you stated you need a LAPTOP OR a DESKTOP. I've also read that before by someone else (Randy maybe?). Question - can you really use a desktop instead of a laptop? I don't have a laptop. I know, I know. Always have multiple desktops and usually a kick-butt one but no laptop. Can I still do it? If so, how do you get the info to and from the car? I assume you'd have to put the desktop next to your MINI, right? That wouldn't work for me.

Hey D,

Powerchip will send you a laptop...no charge, just a deposit.

I actually did mine today on a desktop. (My laptop's battery is a bit flakey as of late). I grabbed a desktop from the house and dragged it out to the garage

And.. yes you do need to place the desktop rght next to your MCS ..as the cable is maybe 4 foot or so.

Peace,
D

 

d - you and I have about the same mods on our MINI's. How does this compare to the boost added to your MINI when you added the pully? I'm eager to see the dyno tests.

matt

 

So is this cable a one off, could you fabricate or buy one? Thanks.

This sounds good for a hide it from the dealer mod when you need your warranty.

 

>>
>>>>Just so I'm clear, do you get to keep the serial cable or do you have to send this back? I'd love to have such a cable, as it would come in handy later on once Ross-Tech has their software ready (Not runing, more diagnosis).
>>>>
>>>>Paul
>>>>
>>
>>Hey Paul,
>>
>>You can not keep the cables....
>>
>>Peace,
>>D


As a famous man once said - "Doh!"

That sucks. I'd pay an extra $100 or so to keep the cable that way I can go back to stock any time I want.

Paul

 

>>d - you and I have about the same mods on our MINI's. How does this compare to the boost added to your MINI when you added the pully? I'm eager to see the dyno tests.
>>
>>matt

Hey Matt,

The pulley was...for lack of better word "raw boost".
The ECU is definitely more boost but creates an overall..."smoothness".
It's the compliment to the pulley...that makes the car ..complete.

The interesting part is that ...they will continue to "tweak" this chip...and it will only get ..better

This might be a corny analogy....but.... think of it as peanut butter & jelly.
Separate they are OK, but together it's ....great :smile:

I'm looking forward to the dyno testing myself...
I'm real curious as to what the numbers will be.

Hope that helped.


Peace,
D

 

>>As a famous man once said - "Doh!"
>>
>>That sucks. I'd pay an extra $100 or so to keep the cable that way I can go back to stock any time I want.
>>
>>Paul
>>

Paul,
It's a set of cables, a dongle and a customer key (which is specific to each customer and inserted in the dongle).
The guys at powerchip are terrific.....
They will send the cables for free...for upgrades..etc...
All you pay is for the shipping.

Peace,
D

 

Hey D-

Excellent writeup. I have been leaning towards the Powerchip, solution so I was glad to hear such a positive write up. Just wondering. Evotech publishes some dyno numbers for their chip. Does Powerchip have any info out there yet? In sending the info electronically, how do you tell the guys at Powerchip about your mods (pulley specifically) that would affect the mapping?

Regards,
Spike

 

great info, thanks. Just one question: can you re-load the "stock" ECU map -- just in case you're going to Mini for a warranty issue and then, after that's done, go back and load the performance re-map again???

 

>>Hey D-
>>
>>Excellent writeup. I have been leaning towards the Powerchip, solution so I was glad to hear such a positive write up. Just wondering. Evotech publishes some dyno numbers for their chip. Does Powerchip have any info out there yet? In sending the info electronically, how do you tell the guys at Powerchip about your mods (pulley specifically) that would affect the mapping?
>>
>>Regards,
>>Spike
Hey Spike,
Thanks :smile:
The newly branded software is only available from MINI-Motorsport.
Talk to Randy and he'll point you in the right direction and share the the dyno info he received while testing.
The software that is available directly from Powerchip is different from this software I have been discussing.
This newly branded software was co-developed by both MINI-Motorsport & Powerchip using MCS' w/specific mods ( ie. pulley, exhuast , intake) to produce specific results.

Hope that helps :smile:
Peace,
D

 

>>great info, thanks. Just one question: can you re-load the "stock" ECU map -- just in case you're going to Mini for a warranty issue and then, after that's done, go back and load the performance re-map again???

Red,
Yes...is the answer
You will have copies of both the original and the newly modified ECU map on your computer hard drive when the process is completed.
Powerchip will send you cables at your request to re-flash.... as you need to.
As I currently understand the plan....you are responsible for the shipping costs only.
Hope that helps

Peace,
D

 

>>>>Evotech publishes some dyno numbers for their chip. Does Powerchip have any info out there yet? In sending the info electronically, how do you tell the guys at Powerchip about your mods (pulley specifically) that would affect the mapping?
>>>>Spike
>>Hey Spike,
>>Thanks :smile:
>>The newly branded software is only available from MINI-Motorsport.
>>Talk to Randy and he'll point you in the right direction and share the the dyno info he received while testing.
>>The software that is available directly from Powerchip is different from this software I have been discussing.
>>This newly branded software was co-developed by both MINI-Motorsport & Powerchip using MCS' w/specific mods ( ie. pulley, exhuast , intake) to produce specific results.
>>Hope that helps :smile:
>>Peace, D


Best to see posted dynos for separate configurations of aftermarket mods within separate MCSs [1 MCS w/ pulley & exhaust, 1 MCS w/ exhaust & CAI, etc.].

No worries.

Trusting Randy & wanting to get-in on software co-developed by Randy is seen as a given, - an opportunity not to be missed... :smile:

Don't get me wrong, d-mini-ero, I know that score is a smeared-smile across the lanes & between the twisties. :smile: Please.

This is just excitement getting the best of me here! I appreciate your write-up as much as the next MCO/MINI enthusiast. Thanks much! Great news!! Way to get it right Randy, - Powerchip, all.
MORE, MORE MORE!!!

-s.b.

_________________
MINI: Best horse for the buck!

 

D,

Since you don't have the stumble issue with your original software, what is the possibility of thers loading that in their MCS. Curious.



Peter

 

is the powerchip available for cooper & cooper cvt owners?

 

This is great news but the shipping stuff back forth across the US/Canada border makes it pretty problematic for us up here.

I had a Shark Injector (Conforti) for my Z3 and it was burned into a unit which plugged into my car's inspection port. The 1st time it was used it keyed the software to that vehicle and loaded my base set up into the device. then anytime i wanted to revert to stock it was a simple 10 minute process to reload. the unit was not usable in any other car so the vendor was protected.

if you could go th atroute it would make life a lot better for some of us.

 

Hello all,

Re:
- dyno numbers
- chip upgrades for MC & MC w/ cvt

I'll defer to Randy....
Randy...time for you to address this stuff.
I'm just a seat of my pants guy...rofl :smile:

When I do get my MCS dyno'd I will certainly...post to the channel

Peace,
D

_________________
I own a 2002 MCS w/ alot of stuff on it.

 

>>Oh for crap's sake--it's Windows-only?
>>
>>I wish the people who develop these things were a little more with the program and would realize that many people use non-Windows OSes. Why couldn't it have been written in Java?



Whhhhhaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!

 

Thanks for sharing & gettin' the good word out, D! Peace indeed...

F15EWeapon, You will be able to borrow a Windows lappy for a small deposit, eliminating the MAC-less problem. Seeing as how these ECU programs are raised-on windows, it's likely seen to be safer in avoiding problems while swapping them between mediums.

They could surprise you though, call 'em up & tell 'em you prefer a MAC version, - it can't hurt!
Good luck!

-s.b.

 

Hey there "D",

Just placed my "flash" order with Randy.
Thanks for your informative "prose".
By the way, those HVAC intake cowls cleaned up real nice & look awesome on the car.

"War" - lol