Do you that if enough of us that are struggling with a proper map for our Unichips based upon our modifications that UNICHIP as a company would finally join the Vendors of NAM and start supporting these expensive electronic devices that maybe, like mine, are installed but unhooked because the map is nowhere near being right.

There just aren't enough custom tuners in my neck of the woods. It was suggested at one point on one of the many threads that have discussed these UNICHIPs that the company start having something like a roving Custom Tuner show up at club events and start helping out their product.

Right now my UNICHIP is just an expensive doorstop, and I really want it to work.

 

I among others have brought this to UNIChip's attention. As with increasing the rev limiter, it is doable, but only if there is sufficient interest to merit it. I encourage any and all to contact them to express this desire so that they can become aware of the demand volume.

We cannot expect them to participate here as per this response I shared a few months ago:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...5&postcount=33

 

Unfortunately Tony is right..... call Jack and let him know how you feel.......

 

How about an email address?

I for one have been on the fence for over a year on WHICH ecu remap to install. If I thought UNICHIP was there to ensure I had a quality tune, I would consider them. I can appreciate they can not be everywhere but its a shame that we don't have access to a MINI "Champion" at UNICHIP.

Perhaps there is one but I don't get that sense.

 

Chad, of Detroit Tuned, installed mine at the Dragon in '05 for my Cooper, [mapped for a CVT with a CAI and a catback] and, it worked fine. However, when I bought my S this summer, I wanted in on my new car, so I took it off and sent it to him for a remapping [for a MCSa with a CAI, a pulley and a catback]. It's on the S now, and again, works just fine. Not only has it given me more power, but my mileage has been around 31 mpg.

 

I understand that Jack, from Unichip, will be at the Monterey Laguna Seca events so he will be available to talk there.

Paul

 

I'll make it a point to seek him out then...

 

i also have a unichip. For the life of me cannot tell the difference with it plugged in or not. I emailed to their website 2 weeks or so ago - no answer.
For me a big waste of money.

marzeetc

 

my unichip is working fine, but only have had one download and no upgrades since inital map was installed. would definitely like custom tune though.

 

I sometimes wonder about this myself...can you say "$800 placebo" I'm not sure they give a rat's @ss now that they've been paid...

 

Call WMS he has over 20 to 30 different setups he can enter in the Unichip.

 

bite my tongue...

 

What UNIchip SHOULD do is offer a self-tuning option for advanced users that includes the software and the cable. I bet a bunch would sign a big-fat "yes I know I can blow my car up" contract to have the ability to tune it themselves.

 

I have mixed feelings about Unichip.... I think the world of Josh but they just don't pay much attention to our market.... if some of you remember I was thinking of getting trained as a tuner, I just don't have the time right now..... I don't see anyone really coming to the table with a tuneable solution and people to do it....for the Mini.... How much would someone be willing to pay for a custom tune.... this requires travel....time away.... and compensation.... would people be willing to drive to Atlanta?..... I have seen pullies done in an hour or less..... a custom tune is a much lengthier process..... a pulley goes on and works..... a custom tune if done wrong can really screw things up....is it the liability or the sheer cost..... Don aka DMH and Onasled alluded to Motec tuning at $20K and more....for race cars...

Josh (Unichip) was willing to come to Atlanta on his own time if I paid his expenses..... the airfare was over $600..... I figured I would be at $800 with food..... I was glad to find out that Dave from DDM can do the tune.....

I'm rambling...but...is it Unichip or are we not willing to pay the real cost?

 

Really? I called them today and received a call back within 20 minutes. The fellow on the phone helped me completely.

Seems to me they want their product to work.
I could be easier though with a traveling custom factory tuner dude.


Yeah, well what I didn't do was call WMS where I bought it.

 

By phone and email, over the past couple of years, the response time, and quality of it has been very acceptable, if not exceptional...

Like Bob, I'm just bummed about our current state...

 

Bob, if this is what you are asking, I think I paid close to $300 to get my unichip tuned by my local tuner. Almost half of that was dyno cost.

Personally, as most know, I think unichip has dropped the ball on us Mini owners. Sooner or later something much better will come, and I bet sooner. I believe I will be dumping my unichip for the race car right away, but if not right away, it will definitely be gone soon. It's just no good for that type of performance. I'd almost bet that Nuzo does not even use one in his Unichip sponsored car, but if he does, it's nothing like what we use.

 

there is a rumor of several solutions but nothing concrete yet......

 

When is M7 coming out with their remap for our ecu's or their stand alone computer system. Greg, Sid, one of you guys must have the inside track on this info.

 

I've heard a rumor that there is at least one other Vendor that is purely Mini oriented and is soon to produce a chip that will model many specific modifications.

They will be at the MTTS but it isn't M7.

 

THis is encouraging but I can tell you there is no substitue for a custom tune.... many of the basics like a 15% pulley CAI and exhaust can be factored pretty close and the ecu does quite a bit of adaptation but a system with some preconfigurations and tuneability is what's needed.... Oh.... at a reasonable price.... maintaining street ECU functions and a support network to actually do tunes or make changes to standard maps.....

.....that being said I'm glad that other options are coming....keep us informed

 

I'm told that their announcement will be very soon.

So, I will have a Unichip for sale likely.

 

I have one that I bought used from another club member about 8mos ago. At that time my car was really close to what the map was for. (Box map - not tuned) Very happy with the results then....... recently I did all of the depressing research here on how to get it tuned to my car which is no longer near what it was 8 mos ago in the way of "toys". Hoped that Bob was going to find enough spare time to take on the project himself.....

Went to the Unichip site and under "where to buy" found a local authorized custom tune shop that I did not see there before. http://www.batlground.com/ I have spoken with them a couple of times and they seem to know their stuff. Very heavy into the road racing, drifting and drag racing tuner world. I am going to try get Tracy to take me for a ride in her 700hp+ daily driver EVO while there
I will be taking blu up next Wed to spend time on the dyno and do the tuning. Not sure about the final tab yet but they seemed to think it would be under the $200 max I have alloted. I plan on getting #'s before & after and will post the results.

We shall see......

Tim

 

Tim, please do share your before & after...

I actually met Jack Friedman of UNIChip today at Laguna Seca. Sometime in the next 3-4 weeks they'll announce an upscaled version that will be much more robust, and allow for user tweaking of some variables. A Bluetooth option will allow one with a PDA to see and adjust on the fly...

After speaking with Dr Obnxs (he was there also), it just seems that we can expect more options in the not-so-distant-future...

 

Yes, that bluetooth option would make it even easier for a Custom tuner to put the real stank on our ECU maps, being able to do it with a simnple handheld PDA OR LAPTOP with no hardwire connections.

I love the idea, I just wish there were at least a FEW more custom tuners available her in Cali-land.

Any takers out there?