Do you guys know anyone that has had this tune screw up their car? I really want to get it but I just got the car so I don't want to blow the motor then make payments on a broken car. I'm probably going to run map b and keep it on stock maps for work commute. Just on manic tunes for the weekend. What do you guys think about long term reliability. I don't dog my car but I like to drive quick sometimes on a good road.

 

I have driven my car for 12k with stage 2 and another 10k on Stsge 3 and stage 4. I also have about 75 Dyno pulls. Just be smart about it and use highest octane possible, change oil, warm and cool down.

mQubed Motorsport Manic Tuning Dealer

 

By warm and cool what do you mean? I always let my car run the idle down to normal speed before I take off. I also try to park and let my car run for a second before cutting the engine off. I haven't heard any horror stories from people with manic tunes or really any tunes for that matter. I just love this car and don't want anything to happen to her lol. By the way I'll need to be buying one of you down pipes in the near future.

 

I think he means let the car get up to temp before taking it to red line. If you drive in sport mode, that's when the car starts popping/gurgling. About 90C/195F. Let the car idle a couple three minutes before turning off to let EGT lower down. If you want the H2O temps to drop to 90C/195F (since the turbo and trans are water cooled) run the AC max cold, highest fan speed for the last 5 minutes of driving.

 

Tune hasn't screwed up my car per se but be prepared for parts to fail after getting a tune just because they are being pushed harder than before. For me, Stage 1 meant a coil pack and spark plug died. Stage 2 saw a high pressure fuel pump go. Once i got those fixed the car runs like a dream.

Just like Mario says, don't hoon on the car immediately after start up. Let it cool down if you do hard driving, whether that means running it at idle for a minute after driving or opening the hood when you shut down, or both. Keep up on your scheduled maintenance, use the best gas.

 

How many miles were on your car for stage 1 and 2? Hopefully nothing dies on me lol. I always wait about a minute before driving. I'll make it a habit to wait 1 when I'm done as well. Also is there an aftermarket fuel pump we can use. I know the stock ones fail a lot. Thanks for the input it really helps. I think I'm going to buy another car just for when stuff breaks on this one. Probably like an old miata. That way I can get to work. How does stage 2 pull in the higher gears? With the jb+ and an intake it pull really hard 1-3. Id honestly be happy if all the tune did was make 4-6 pull equally as hard. More pover in the low gears too will just be insane!

 

~50k at Stage 1 and ~58k at Stage 2.

Aftermarket fuel pump? I haven't seen any, and I could have used it.

It definitely pulls in the higher gears but with these kinds of cars all the fun is in 1-4. Though I will say I beat out a tuned Altima SER with a 5th gear pull.

 

What's the production date of your Mini? If it's mid 2012 or newer, you will have the gen 2 N18 motor, which has small upgrades, including the Bosch HPFP.

mQubed Motorsport, Manic Tuning Dealer

 

It's a 2012 but I believe it was built in 2011. I know for a fact I have the N18 but are you saying there are two versions of the N18? That probably makes sense since there are two versions of the nm high flow I take systems for the N18 motor. Thebombraider these cars are totally ment to be quick not fast. I don't need crazy power up top but I almost feel like the sportiness of the car falls off when you get into 5th. Then again I've never really redlined fifth either. I'd imagine I'd be going pretty fast. I really want to get this car on a road course.

 

Correct, there are two N18 motors.

 

What are the differences between the two?

 

High pressure fuel pump and everything surrounding it mainly. 2011-03/2012 N18 still had the Continental fuel pump prone to failure. After that the N18 had the Bosch fuel pump which barely fails.

 

Can i upgrade mine to the Bosch one when it fails? Also is the hfpf one of those extended warranty things?

 

Not without replacing a lot of other parts you can't. And the extended warranty only applies to 2007-2010.

 

I have modify an adapter to upgrade the fuel pump to 300LPH. Hoping to prolong the HPFP.

 

Uh, wouldn't running the AC on high increase load on the engine? It's not like the heater which draws excess heat out of the engine to heat the cabin.

Maybe there is something about the MINI's AC system I don't understand.

 

Running the AC highest fan, coldest triggers the engine to run cooler (90 deg C versus 105 deg C). It would increase the load on the engine but that's ok. We want to get the water temps (15 deg C=30 deg F) lower to cool the turbo (and auto tranny) before shutoff. The temp drops in less than a minute. Blasting the heater will not necessarily bring the water temp down as fast. That's german engineering for you.

 

That's absolutely wild! Thanks for taking the time to explain.

 

No problem. It's not even true for all years. I have a '12 S and it behaves like that sport mode or not. I think the '13 S runs at 90 deg C all the time in sport mode but not in normal mode. N18 JCW might run 90 deg C all the time regardless of sport mode IIRC...

 

I think once you get a stage 2 tune you will not flip back to lower maps...lol
its all in your foot , just keep your foot out of it and you run closer to stock, then when you want to drive spirt you put your foot in it. Thats the great thing about a turbo.

 

get you a boost gauge and you will see what i mean, I have stage 3 manic but most days I don't go over 6-8 psi unless I want to feel something. Its a turbo, it can go slow and fast just by your foot...

 

When I installed my coolant temp gauge, I chose the line directly under the radiator. Big mistake --- no flow --- this is the "reserve" coolant hose used to provide extra cooling. I use the "Max A/C" button on hot days in "parking lot" traffic --- brings the temp back down nicely. There are other ways to activate this reserve, but I found this to be easiest and safe.

OK, this is a "stage 2" thread, but he's right --- before and after my Manic stage 4, foot control is the key. When you have a bunch of power available, good performance and high mileage is readily available --- I can still get 40+MPG and all the grins I want!

 

FYI, manic stage 2 runs the car from 88C-93C all the time. The behavior I was referring to was the stock maps.