Just starting a list for tuning in Norwich CT at Swift Performance Automotive this spring.


R53 TUNE $350.00 RETUNE $50.00
R56 TUNE $500.00 RETUNE $100.00
$100 dyno time is paid to Swift on top of any tuner fees.

Dates will be set to try to accommodate 100% of those interested and will be fine tuned as we know the number of participants.

The area is near the casinos (I95 to New London, head north) if that helps motivate anyone.

Click for map

Last year we had 7 tuned each day and filled three days. It was fun to meet others with the same disease I have. Hopefully scheduling will allow everyone to participate. Start thinking of your excuses for bosses and wives now because we don't want to hear one.


Dates will be determined by the tuner's schedule and a general consensus to try and have 100% participation for all those interested.

Post name, car type in this thread to get on the list.

On a side note, RMW has the stand alone VIPEC ECU available for sale. This allows control of the engine functions and more without dealing with factory "adaptives" changing things as it sees fit. Dyno tune is almost mandatory to make the most of it and anyone thinking of installing one will find this to be a great time to have it tweaked just for you.


So far the list of those interested are: me, Dan @ Swift and

1. HRM Vipec
2. DJDUPONT RT
3. Jeff951NJ R53 NEmini (prefers weekend)
4. EB DOS NEmini (weekend) R53
5. sherrvt NAM (weekend) R53
6. urrrric R56 NAM
7. Onefish2 NAM R56 RT
8. Tragu NAM
9. BigMiniAl NAM 2011 JCW Thursday
10. killerfox R5? Clubman NAM weekend RT
11. BostonR56S R56 RT
12. BVTmcs R53 NAM wknd RT
13. Mendra72 Vipec Wknd
14. ZOOOOP NEmini R56
15. ZOOOOP NEmini R56
16. mgrant NAM weekend
17. theDECATO NAM RT
18. Scottab36 RT
19. Volker R53 NEmini RT
20. Ladybug-S NAM RT
21. asciilogic R56 NAM
22. sumonesean R53 NAM
23. Braminator R53 NAM
24. inkspot1967 R52*NAM
25. coco masta R53 wknd NAM
26. jown.iv R53 NAM
27. FrenchyR53 NAM RT
28.jpavlo*R53 NAM
29. kenpleickhardt R53
30. WolfGTI*NAM
31. NYC-JCW NAM 2011 JCW
32. ballyrick 2011 JCW NAM
33. rcouilla NAM
34. SPDinNY R53 RT
35. wkp1219 RT
36. kenpleickhardt

Pre-tune recommendations. Clean air filter, if you are due for plugs, get it done in the mean time, or just bring them and get there early. If you have an old belt on an R53, replacing it with new will ensure no slipping will rob you of power. Any codes should be repaired also.

We did injector swaps, belt swaps, MAP sensor, all on tune day out back with trunk tools. On top of that, Swift is a full service garage and if you even wanted major surgery done, it would be possible to schedule a CAM install or pulley upgrade same day as the tune. Just set it up.

 

I would be interested in a tune for my r53. I also prefer the weekend.

 

So tempting, you had to stop lurking and register, eh? You are in.

Seems like no reason we can't overlap a weekend, but for flexibility I would like everyone to still think of how they can do it during the week, just in case.

We did seven per day last year and that was pretty tight with the workers eating at the dyno. Also neighbors will complain if the noise starts too early or ends too late so it can come to pass where there are more signed up for a day that is possible.

Stepping aside for people with special needs (as in they can't just call in a day off) may be asked of those first on the weekend list and I just want folks to be aware of that. Without a doubt, more people will have the cars tuned during the week since there will be two or three times as many spots open on weekdays.

 

I'll be down to get a tune no matter what day it is. I got my Mini last year a week after the last tune day in the area and I have been waiting a full year for the next.

Is there any way I could call dibs on a tune around 1 or 2 in the afternoon? Swift is a solid 6 hour drive from where I am in Vermont.

 

can't miss out on this chance...count me in brother, i have a R56 and i prefer weekdays. Thanks!

 

Hey Chris,

Thanks for setting this up again!! Count me in. Was waiting for this...

Steve - onefish2 - 09 R56 JCW - Week day or weekend.

Might be a good idea to mention that newer MINIs can't be tuned yet. I think its the 2011s and newer with the N18 engines. JCWs not included as they still have the N14 engine.

 

steve, we shall meet again...last time was when lyle came out to your place for wraps, hope all is well brotherman.

 

Sweet. Always happy to get together again with other MINI modders.

 

Yes, I was wondering who else would be back again. How did the tune hold up for you? You were pushing some impressive numbers. Did you upgrade anything?


BTW, that is one full day for the dyno already, not bad.

 

Hey Chris,

The real question is how did my car hold up to the tune? No too good. My clutch went in September. Totally and completely gone. After I pulled over to the side of the highway... I could put the car in gear, stepped off the clutch and the car kept running. Smelled really bad too. And this happened on the Palisades Parkway about 1 mile from my house at 2AM.

Not fun.

Prestige replaced the clutch and flywheel under warranty. Lucky me .

I spoke with Jan many times back then. I now have a slightly detuned RMW tune on my car called post-swift .

I replaced the factory JCW turbo back exhaust with an Akrapovic exhaust. Its really cool looking. Too bad its under the car. Great exhaust tips. A bit loud in the cabin.

I should have slightly better numbers this time around. Well at least I hope so anyway.

Thanks gain for setting this up .

-Steve

 

I am interested in a sunday if possible the previous owner had it tuned by jan would this be a retune price

 

I can't tell you if the car, or the owner get a retune price, but I will put you down for a weekend. A retune isn't really easier, or faster, it is just a customer loyalty policy. That will be Jan's decision of course and you will know before you travel.

Sunday may not be possible due to sound issues, but I will clarify next time I speak with Swift. I forget if they said something to me about that last year, but vaguely remember a no-Sunday policy because of the neighbors behind the building.


Steve, sounds like the car held up fine. The clutch is a wear item and personally I wouldn't be surprised with 280 ft/lbs of Torque if the factory one gave up the ghost. Still a big pain in the *** and tough it went out in a flash.

I remember asking out loud at the last tune how long folks thought my original 104k mile clutch would last. I was afraid it would slip on the dyno. It was fine at first, but now it has been slipping for about 3,000 miles. In the beginning it was only felt it at high RPMs, on the highway in top gear while passing, probably even only uphill. I wasn't sure if the DSC came on or it was slipping since it was sort of the same feeling though I had been looking out for it for a long time. Now in 5th or 6th at high RPMs I can pretty much get it to slip anytime I hit full throttle at go to redline.

It's still OK in the low gears, but I have everything I need including a new LSD in the garage. I didn't feel up to it last night, but the target is next Friday after work to start the tear down. That will leave me much more time than a pro would need, which should be about right for me.

I'm looking forward to seeing the new numbers for your car. Those Gen 2s are torque monsters.

 

Count me in. 2011 JCW, Thursdays are preferable. Need full tune.

 

I am in but would most likely need weekend. I will be getting a Meth tune.

 

That is the exact description of what happened to me. There was an issue with the early 09 JCW clutches. Mine smoked and never seemed right from the get go. I have never made a clutch smoke on any other manual transmission cars that I have owned.

So the poor design and the tune did it in.

Luckily it was replaced under warranty. Hopefully this clutch is stronger and can hold up to the new tune.

 

In!

08 r56 for retune.
(added dp fmic and wm)

 

Ill take whatever day i can get

 

would the guys down there change out my pulley then also.

 

Once we get the dates set, you can call and set up the work with Swift, or if we can find the right group of guys on your tune day, maybe some will volunteer to help you do it yourself. It isn't really difficult, especially for those who did one already and have the right tools. (belt tension wrench and puller for the old one).

Either way, it will get done.

 

I'm very interested in this as well! I'm fairly flexible with schedule, but like many responses so far– would prefer a weekend. I have an '06 R53 with Madness Motorworks stage 2 kit (15% pulley, Madness V2 Catback exhaust, Madness cold air intake and MSD coil pack & wires). Canned tune (Evotech Stage 2 software) was done by Madness Motorworks and I suspect isn't optimized properly. I'm going to a local dyno in a week to get readings of it's current state to compare to a stock/baseline dyno run I did prior to mods. So I'll have two profiles to have as reference.

 

Can you guys tune 2012s?

 

I asked and am waiting for a clarification, but I think what was said was the JCWs still use OBDI, but the Sports need to be written to the chip and RMW said they have the equipment to do it. That's how I am reading the tapatalk text message at this point.

All I have to go on is your signature, it looks like you have a Cooper Sport and I am waiting on a reply to clarify it for me and everyone else.

BTW, I'm just a guy who wants his car tuned like you, no affiliation with RMW other than that.

 

Thank you, I'd just like to know for future reference. I've decided to work on suspension mods first, but this will be helpful to know for afterwards.

 

i would be interested. But im pretty sure it would need to be on a weekend

 

2003 MCS. Retune (Jan did mine last year). Weekday or weekend.