1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Help with my Tune Plans

Frankly, with that pretty common setup (15%/intake/exhaust/header/380's), Jan may be able to get you a "safe" remote tune based on the auto tunes he's done before, that won't be quite as aggressive as he'd be able to go on the dyno, but would be sooooooo much better than your stock tune that you'd be a happy camper until you got a dyno lined up or got to a tuning day at some point. Talk with him about that and see if its an option.

 

Unless you are a tuner, don't mess with trying to tune your own car. Just look at the end results on these boards...

The RWM flash tool is more than just a flash tool. It is also a code reader, and you can clear codes with it, so it has a bit more utility than just as a bridge to get your tune to your ECU.

It also allows you to retune at any time easily (and depending on the situation, any tunes after the first may be simply be a charge for dyno time, or a steep discount once Jan has tuned your car, again it's situational--check and see if any other tuner you're considering is willing to do this, or if you're paying full price for each tune.). The support RMW is great, and my car is phenomenal, and the remote tune is extremely easy once you find a good dyno close to you.

Whatever you do, don't tune your own car, and don't listen to those on the internet who offer to help you tune--from reading your first post, it's the wrong route for you, it will end badly. Get someone who knows what they're doing to get it right for you the first time, you'll be much happier--so will your wallet.

 

Dont waste your money on ByteTroniK... If you dont know how to use it stay away, and the lite version has no advantages over just getting a regular tune other than resetting all the CEL's it will throw.

Just pony up and have Jan do it.

 

What part of the country are you in? Any clubs in your area? Jan has been known to schedule tune parties for clubs if enough people want tunes.

Very happy with my RMW tune after more than 8 yrs.

 

I don't know the difference in the cost but since you've ordered the modual anyway, you'd be much better off finding a dyno & making arrangements w/ Jan to just have a custom done.
JMO.

 

Read above....

Thats the plan!

 

Are you near Orlando at all?

If so I'd recommend that you pop over to Volvo and Mini Cooper Service and Repair by Maitland Importers - Volvo and Mini Cooper Repair Orlando Florida and have a chat with Ian. He can also help with Tuning Party scheduling.

Just so you know, he is an RMW disciple. So much so that he is often the hot shoe in Jan's cars.

 

A tune party at Maitland would be awesome...

Jan is incredibly busy--but if you can't get a tune party together, remote tuning is easy (for him) once you get the dyno time. I would have liked a tuning party too, but it wasn't happening anytime near the time I wanted to get my car done, and the remote tune worked out great. I was worried about not doing it live, but it really turned out to be no big deal, it's the same process, just takes a little longer sending files back and forth.

 

Well I would only recommend RMW / Jan and I will not even talk about the "other guys"

I have had and RMW tune for years and I am a very satisfied customer.

I would absolutely go over an talk with Ian Stewart at Maitland Importers Motorsports.....Call the Office at 407-425-0545.

Volvo Service by Maitland Importers

 

^^^That.

My car had a heck of a lot more done to it than yours; Jan put the first map in to begin with, and it only took a few pulls on the dyno to tweak it--he's done so many of these, he'll get you close before you even put the car on the dyno. We'd all prefer a live tune, but now that I've done the remote, I wouldn't hesitate to do it again, if, say, I did another major change, which I probably will.

 

Might take a little more saving, but a remote tune with the flash tool is going to be your best bet.
Its returnable to stock, the tool can be cleared and sold if you ever decide to sell the car ( a small fee may apply), and you will have your car tuned by the one guy out there who is still producing actual high end performance parts for the MINI.

ViPEC would be great, but 99% of people do not need it.

 

Dont forget there is an airbag behind there... If you cut the retention strap its a projectile in a wreck, and even worse when you put gauges on it.

 

Very good point.

I would not install an A pillar gauge pods either, that could really hurt one day if the airbag in the A puller ever goes off.

I used the Craven speed pod set up one each side of the tach. I have Meth gauge on the right and Boost on the left.

 

There are other options...
The OE aux gauge mount that goes under the heater control, vent mods, mounting cups...

 

The ByteTroniK does have the option of letting you remote tune your car. Another words, if your not comfortable tuning it yourself at thus point, you can have them tune it. You still own your hardware, and you can still tune it, tweak it, when you want to. I use it.