I sent this to one of the vendors here, but thought i should post in the forums to get other opinions too.

My car is an 02 MCS 6 speed.
Current engine mods are

• 15% pulley
• Alta CAI
• Milltek Catback exhaust
• Denso IK22

I will likely be adding

• Milltek Header
• DFIC or Alta v2 TMIC
• some sort of upgraded head/cam

I've been debating the GIAC vs MTH Tuner file for some time now. I am a big fan of the GIAC stuff on VW's, but know little about their MINI stuff.

I am sure the GIAC would be a great addition to my current setup, but im wonderring if i would more out of MTH if/when I add the header and head/cam?

Or will GIAC take those into account, and help them run better as well? Would i need different versions of GIAC software? or is it possible for cutom tune?

 

GIAC will be perfect for you until you ad the head or cam. GIAC does not do custom tunes up to this point. I have talked with a few tuners about using a piggy back controller to fine tune things when I add a head or cam.

I have driven cars with both and after doing so I went with GIAC. After talking to a few tuners and MTH, at that time, was not as constant of a tune. While it is "custom" it is hard to fine tune it when you have to send the file out.

 

I've had MTH for a long time before changing it for GIAC.

While the MTH Tuner software was very good, it still missed some fine tuning. My car was running smooth, but there was a little flatspot. It also increased torque under 3000RPM, but it still missed a little punch. Power delivery was not linear across the RPM range.

GIAC made my car runs much smoother and got rid of the flatspot. The engine pulls a bit more stronger across the whole RPM range.

I'm getting the 19%-injectors-GIAC update next week and I'll post my opinion.

 

Does GIAC address the ASC/DSC traction control issues like MTH supposedly does? I haven't seen anything mentioning DSC in the GIAC stuff I've read...

Others have said that MTH makes the system less "nanny-ish"...

 

I love the GIAC on the mini, but it doesnt change any of the DSC/TSC systems....

 

It does not change the traction control... But hey, I always turn it off... except when roads are wet. Plus LSD helps a lot retarding traction control "intrusion" lol