Ok, I'm now at the point where my Gen 1 needs a tune to bring all the mods together. So I'm trying to get it Dyno'd...

Anyone know of a shop in the Va, MD area that can Dyno?

What do I need on the car? I'm hearing conflicting stories that I do need an engine management system whilst others are telling me I don't.
I'm guessing if I don't then the shop would have a hook up for the Mini ECU?

Any help / direction and recommendation is appreciated guys.

 

You need a computer that the tuner can work on. The stock ECU can be tuned, but if the guy tuning doesn't have the right tools, he can't tune it. This may be why some are telling you you need a stand alone ECU, since anyone can tune stand alones without buying extra equipment as the tuning software comes with them for free.

 

Any suggestions of a stand alone ECU?

 

probably farther then you want but Abacus of VA Beach is world class

http://www.abacusracing.com/ http://www.abacusracing.com/services/dyno-services/

 

OXSPEED is a vendor here and they are in Pasadena Maryland.

Talk to Inducktion Motorsports in Maryland near Arundal Mills mall and NGP. NGP have a shop in VA and northern Maryland in Aberdeen.

 

I haven't used them but many in the area have.

MACH 5 in Sterling. They do alot of Subarus but also MINIs.

OXSPEED Is a great shop but don't have their own dyno in house.

 

I called Mach V and they told me the only way they could help was if I had a stand alone ECU... A little cost prohibative however!
I really just want my ECU remapped without getting a Shark or Unichip add-on.

 

What about the remote tune option from RMW. $300 for the module then buy an hour of dyno time.

 

Maybe so, but they can't tune Mini's!!

I can't believe there's basically one guy that does tuning! - Jan, at RMW!

 

Helix should be able to help you, or anyone in your area that tunes BMW, not just Mini.

 

Helix is a 4 hour drive... Might be the only option.
You'd think there'd be more choice in an area like MD & VA?

 

You're preachin' to the chior here, I'm in St. Louis nothing around here either, that was one of the biggest driving forces behind my decision to invest in the Bytronic Software.

Good Luck

 

Ok, may have found an answer... In Sterling, VA.

www.funktionauto.com

Looks like they can pull the current program, send it off to a tuner in FL and get a new program back in a couple of hours.
Test drive, any probs / tweaks they'll pull the ECU again and have it changed and flashed again.

No Dyno, but a great start to where I am now.

Looks like they do a lot of high end work there.

 

If they're sending your programming from your ECU to FL, I suspect they're using Renntech to do their programming. I had Renntech programming since day one from the dealer on my 06 purchased new off the lot. A year or so ago I had RMW reprogram the ECU at a Mach V dyno/tuning day. A night and day difference between the Renntech programming and the RMW programming, including over 10HP to the RMW.

 

Drive to the Dragon in a week and have Jan do it. My GP dyno is 204whp and 184tq to the wheels on an otherwise stock car.

 

I'm going to the Dragon... I'll hit Jan up and see if he has room for me.
May just get the flash done and look to do the RMW next year.

I think that'll be the only way I could get a RMW tune as Dan at Mach V thinks the Dyno party that was planned for May, won't happen.
Hopefully, it will if I can't get it done at MOTD.

 

How well does that work out getting a tune at MOTD vs. on a dyno? With a CAI, 16% pulley, and BPV would it pick up much hp?

 

Depends what you are expecting.

I'm looking to tweak my torque band and any hp gains are just gravy to me.
After adding a cat back, CAI, 15% pulley etc I think the air / fuel map should be tweaked... Afterall, it's not stock anymore, so why run a stock map?!

 

Car runs fine now so it's just a matter of making it a little quicker. If not a seat in the pants difference I don't see the point until we have more mods. It's my fiancé's car. As far as performance goes exhaust and a small shot of nitrous seems feasible. Exhaust probably this fall so would we be better off tuning it at next years MOTD then?

 

Nitrous?! Where are you running it?

I'm just on the street... There's only so fast you can go on the street.
I'd rather have a tune and be sure it's running what it can, what it showed it could handle.
IMO nitrous is too much for a street car, daily driver but each to their own.

Definitely free up that engine with a new exhaust though.
From a looks standpoint and the sound it's worth it but again, be ready for the increase in noise if it's a daily.

 

It's a daily but no problems with noise. Nitrous would be a baby shot like 25hp. Looking for something to give us an edge in Autox events. Just not sure which is more important at this point power or suspension. That's why we thought we would consider a tune. Factory exhaust is in bad shape so it'll definitely be replaced soon.

 

From an Auto X standpoint, suspension mods are going to be your best friend.

 

So should we wait until we get the exhaust later in the year and then get it tuned? Just got wheels and tires so gotta recoup some funds.

I'll do a sway bar instead of nitrous then at this point since I hear they are the best first suspension mod. Thanks

 

I would.
The tune would be off if you did it now and then added the pipe.
Might as well get your mods done and then bring them all together with the tune.

 

Racewerks in Virginia Beach should be able to help you with a tune and dyno. I've been referred to them by several local area shops. Haven't convinced the wife to let me drop that kind of money on the car yet, but it'll come, just a matter of persistance.