Has anyone had any experience with the GForce chip or any of the other after market ECU tuners? I'm new to a mini and trying to understand what works and what doesn't.
Thanks.

 

Don't buy that crap!!!!. You can't "chip" a MINI. There are only a few tuners out there that have even tuned a mini. I would contact Jan at Revolution MINI http://www.revolutionmotorworks.com/
(949) 464- 7691 He has tuned more MINIs then anyone I know of.

 

Yes, do NOT buy the GForce chip or any other cheap computer mod. There's a reason it costs so little.

You posted in the 2nd Gen forum so I'm guessing you have a R56 or similar. It's more helpful to post your MINI's specs in your signature rather than your '51 Ford tho that looks like a great car too

If you have a 2011+ that isn't a JCW, you'll need to take a look at THIS thread.

If you have a '07-'10 MINI then you might want to consider an Alta Accessport. Search around these forums for that. It's basically a tune-at-home kit that uses canned maps provided by Alta.

I personally have a '11 R56S and have an NM tune. They are fantastic and I wouldn't have gone any other way. You can read reviews of most of the '11+ tuners in that thread I posted above.

 

Thanks guys for the input. I've never been a fan of chips but then I'm old school too, carburated all my life so this is a whole new chapter for me. I even had to ask what R series mine is going to be (2013 Cooper S R56 with N18, non JCW) so that will tell you a little about the hurdle I have to overcome. Daunting but I'll get there. Again, thanks for any input.

 

Do not buy the accessport, They are no longer supporting it after june of 2013 I believe. You don't want to buy a product you know a head of time you can't get support for in 6 months. The car you have, you are going to have to remove the computer(ECU) from the car and have it flashed(programmed) on a bench. The person I suggested above as a special device for doing this. Not everyone can tune the newer models.

Here is a link to him actually bench flashing a computer http://revolutionmotorworks.com/foru...ad.php?tid=889

 

Look at NM Engineering's site for info on their tune for the N18. I've only heard good things about it including from Calforhelp above and NM is a great MINI supporter. Soon after the new year I will be sending my ECU to them.

 

I wouldn't get an AP as Alta will stop supporting it up until Jy 31st 2013.

Edit: Oops, already mentioned above.

 

Don't forget Evolve!

They'll do more for you than NM-eng!

 

Look in to Unichip also, it is a piggyback type and you can just remove it for inspections etc.

http://www.unichip.us/

 

Again, probably stay away from actual "chips" I don't know anything about the unichip but it'll probably do more harm than good in the long run.

I would also personally stay away from RMW. I've heard too many complaints about Jan's customer service. I guess his tune is pretty good but if you can't get a company to stand behind it then whats the point? There's a few threads here about unhappy customers. There's one pretty good one started by OrangeCrush I believe.

NM really stands behind their tune. A couple times after I got the tune I would notice my car acting funny. I have them a call, spoke directly to the tuning guy and both times he helped me figure out what the problem was even tho both times it had nothing to do with the tune. They also have a great upgrade and warranty program. Its important to know how your tuner will work with your cars warranty since you dont want to void that so early in its life. I can't recommend them highly enough!

 

I agree wholeheartedly with Calforhelp. Unichip doesn't seem to support N18's anyway.

 

we proved unichip was a piece of crap years ago on the r56. Stay away from that garbage.

 

Don't knock RMW, I have been getting my cars tuned by him for over 4 years now without issue. He has even tuned my M3 when I had it. He has great customer service and always is there for his customers. He travels around the country doing "tune parties" as well as tuning professional race cars. I can't say that I've ever seen or heard of any other tuner doing that. He as more experience tuning these cars then anyone. As for orangecrush, he purchased another vendors products and expected RMW to waste time with him instead of supporting his current customers.

 

Just to keep the topic straight. I never asked RMW to do anything but fix their own tune. Nothing more, nothing less. It was their tune, their mess. All you have to do is read old posts.


Let's keep the misinformation to a minimum.

Having said that, here's the bottom line for the OP, IMO.

Alta tune: great tune, very streetable, great customer support.

Way Motor Works: Great tune, easily accessible (attends lots of Mini events), very knowledgeable, lot of experience.

RMW's tune: Great tune, very aggressive... (in all fairness though, some of my tunes were "beta" tunes, I'm sure Jan could "tune" it down) Downside... spread too thin, hit and miss with customer service.

NM Engr'ing. Hadn't heard anything bad, have no experience.


Mark

 

Yeah id stay away from the "chip tuning" this ecu is not something you can chip tune
it has to be flashed and it takes a bunch of work to properly get into the programming.
Shop around but i think killerfox is right on point here.
Orangecrush is a nice enough guy in person but i just think he made a fuss because he did not get what he wanted. Understandable.... I guess.

 

Colin,

Exactly, I did make a fuss because I couldn't get a simple CEL light turned off on one of Jan's tunes.

I know that probably sounds like a lot for me to ask but I think after 12 months of practically begging for him to take a few minutes out just to turn off a CEL, it could and should have been done.

Obviously from all the PM's I received from other members, I wasn't the only one having difficulties getting a problem fixed. I realize he's busy but I think a year is ample time to have something repaired for a customer.

Even to this day, I didn't say his tune was bad, I think his customer service leaves a little to be desired.

Nonetheless, it's water under the bridge, I hope you have a fruitful year.


Mark

 

Ive read many posts and threads on tuning. I have 2012 ALL4 S N18 that I would like to have tuned. I dont mind spending the $500 and overnight shipping, but as my R60 is under warranty what happens if after the tune I take her in for normal service and they do a software upgrade from the factory. Will I lose my tune? This is my 3rd Mini and I know they do factory upgrades all the time. Do you then need to buy an ECU from a wrecked model the same as yours and change it before going in for normal service?

 

Yeah i don't really have input on it, Still brining it up is like beating a dead horse. Im ready to move on. That was what i had implied with my post sorry it ruffled feathers.
you cant buy a ECU from a wrecked one they are no good for another car once they have been coded.
you would have to order a new blank one from the dealer.
and its hard to say what would happen if they did a software upgrade.
What i would do is Email Tuning companies and find out if they can flash it though the port of if the ECU has to be opened and go from there.

 

NM told me this as far as the dealer updating the computer.

-The update will overwrite the tune.
-I believe it is $50 to re-flash after an update but it *may* be free.
-The ECU needs to be removed from the car to be tuned.

Like ColinGreene said, you will need to buy a new ECU from the dealer or similar if you plan on having two ECUs and swapping them out.

It's probably easier to find out what the dealer updates will do before they do them and request that your car not be updated if possible.

 

Agreed!





My suggestion for anyone getting a tune is to get one that you can buy the tuning tool to plug into the OBDII connector.

Regardless of the company you choose, the ability to upload, download and reinstall tunes is cheaper and easier in the long run than having to

a) worry about dealer seeing a tune on your car

b) paying a company to keep reinstalling a tune.


If you have a tuning tool like RMW's Dimsport or Alta's Accessport, you can upload a tune in minutes.

I will say this though... (I'm not sure if RMW is doing Accessport any longer) but the Accessport tool is far better than Dimsport's tool.

The Dimsport tool can ONLY upload and download a tune.

The Accessport can not only upload and download, you can monitor about any function the car, read and clear CEL's, datalog etc, etc


HTH's,


Mark

 

mark

no one can tune an n18 via the obd port, only by opening the ecu and flashing one of the chips inside

scott

 

Some wealthy n18 owner buy a aftermarket ECU.

 

Where can you buy an aftermarket or spare ecu?!

 

http://www.aemelectronics.com/engine...ent-systems-9/

There are others but I'm feeling lazy.

 

Almost $3,000?!?! Um... I was thinking about buying a spare ecu. Not now. Damn.