I just got back from two days in Sunny Irvine California and the nerve center for GIAC USA Inc. Amongst other things, GIAC played host to Cory Thies and his MINI Cooper S for some installations and dyno time, primarily for a Eurotuner Magazine article on MCS power mods. Cory was able to wangle me into installing some of his go-fast bits, including one of our pulleys, GIAC Software, a Magnaflow, and BenFer showed up with one of thier new carbon fiber ram air systems.

Of most interest to us at Helix was to test the now-finished-and-available GIAC software for the MCS with 15% pulley. Consistent with the testing that Helix, GIAC, and other shops have done on this software, Cory's MCS show modest, repeatable gains with the GIAC.
To date, our various dynos have shown 3 to 9 consistent, repeatable, verifiable HP. In its most basic form, the GIAC also improves throttle response, raises the rev limiter, and removes the speed limiter. Very shortly GIAC will release thier proprietary smart USB cable putting the power of chip switching into the user's hands. It will be a simple 2 minute operation to switch from stock to chipped to race gas to valet mode (what's less fun than an MINI with a 4500 rpm and 60 mph limit? ask your irresponsible nephew who wants to borrow your MCS).

Initially, the chip is available at Helix for $325, soon through mail order (mail us your ecu, and we guarantee to have it back in the mail within 24 hours), but ultimately will be available as the proprietary smart USB cable from any GIAC dealer. I'm going to convince Garrett to discuss the process and thinking behind the chip development and post it soon.

I also stopped in on Peter Horvath at M7 to check out some of his bits--look for M7 stuff on our site in the near future, as well as carbon fiber stuff from BenFer. The day would not be complete without a ride in Peter's road warrior MINI. I wanted a Bo and Luke Duke exploding bow and arrow to shoot out the windows as we tore through his quiet neighborhood at top speed and volume. Apparantly he greases the local constabulary.