I'm picking up an 08 JCW on Wednesday and have an extra $1,000 to blow on mods. Can someone explain the difference between taking my car to a shop like Way Motorworks in Atlanta and getting a tune vs. buying the Alta Accessport? Which is better?
My tuner is 3000 miles from me and it can be hard sometimes but, he does come through the area from time to time and I also have a flashbox that enables us to do remote tuning with too. Fortunately the tunes I have received were spot on and I only needed a new one when a power mod was added. First tune I ran for two years with out a hick up before I added a Cam!! Would be nice to have them right down the street, but the best tuners for any brand aren't on every corner. So as with most things, the very best is worth the extra effort!
From what I've read on the MINI forums, the Access Port canned tunes, are more conservative tunes. The Access Port tuners can't have any idea of the condition of the engine it is being installed on or the modifications that have been made, so they go with a tune that is unlikely to damage the engine. However, the Access Port can be used by a tuner to wring the last bit of horsepower out of your engine, just like other brands of tuner tools. You could install an Access Port on your car and then later, have a tuner who is familiar with the Access Port tweak it for maximum performance. Dave
The AccessPort gives control of choice to the end-user. If the end user wants aggressive, it is available, whether that choice is advisable or not. However, there are many maps with safety margins to choose from. Installing an appropriate map is not like Russian Roulette. The instructions are written in plain language, including the menus on the hand held device screen. The R56 JCW has a lot to offer on its stock tune with stock hardware. Even without an "aggressive" tune, a little TPS enhancement may satiate the user just fine, without having to push boost & torque limiters to the edge, and risking the pesky limp mode response. The AP data logging feature provides a way to asses the impact of a chosen map beyond seat-of-the-pants feedback also. The user (person who knows what is installed and the operating conditions the car is subjected to) can test the limits of their choices, and the outcome info is available without reliance on a go-between; no priest to deity relationship required. Map installer/uninstaller, code reader, and data logger; extra features to walk away with.
I think the $1000 is much better spent on a few DE's. My thought is to wait and learn the car a bit before modding. Find out what you think needs something more. Then build a plan around that. Getting a new to you car and then a week later tossing a tune on it is cautioned. Figure out the car, learn it's character and then make changes as deemed appropriate. Congrats on the new to you MINI Welcome to M/A, thanks for joining the friendly MINI community.
Driving Event Driving Experience High Performance Driving Event High Performance Driving Experience Track Day Car Control Clinic Track School Performance Driving School Performance Driving Experience Performance Driving Event ... Those are the names I know all typed out.