Drivetrain RMW Tuning Day in eastern Connecticut is on the Horizon around May 25-26, 2010
Glad to see there are few other In-N-Out lovers here
#52
02-17-2010 | 05:19 PM
3rd Gear
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
From: Worcester, MA
How was the meeting with Jan?
#58
02-22-2010 | 05:05 PM
A Visit With Jan Brueggemann
I went to San Diego, CA last week and got the opportunity to spend some time with Jan Brueggemann of Revolution MINI Works. For those who do not know, Jan owns two R53s (one a GP), and is heavily involved with the racing and tuning of the R53 MINI Coopers. He is also spearheading the tuning effort on the R56 turbo MINI coopers. Jan spends most of the racing season travelling around the country assisting and tuning for multiple Porsche racing teams as well as doing some serious tuning on the BMW line. I knew it was going to be an informative trip, but I have to say that I left amazed at all the things he is currently working on.
Jan took me to the two main facilities where does his local work. As we walked around he would pick up a piece here and a piece there and go into great detail as to what was involved with the development of each piece and why. These pieces included heads, exhaust headers, collectors, different piping, intakes, etc… Some of the ongoing work involved changes to an existing design that creates very specific results, like having the torque come in at a lower RPM or having the torque stay higher up in the RPM band. If it has to do with making the MINI faster, Jan is working on it. The level of knowledge he has in this field is truly extraordinary.
I am not going to go into detail on the R53 tuning because I think that has been covered enough on other posts.
As for the R56 tune, Jan has done some exciting things with this but his work has not been easy. The R56 ECU is a very complicated beast. With a lot of ECUs you can easily find the map you want to change, and change then it. Just pick the boost map and tell it to add more boost. Then change the fuel map and add more fuel. Okay, it might not be this easy but you get my drift.
The R56 ECU will not allow this. When Jan made changes to the boost map he also needed to discover what other maps the ECU is looking at when it decides to pull the information from the boost map. If the ECU does not see exactly what it is expecting to see with regards to the maps, it will simply not work. This means that Jan had to discover every other map the ECU was checking with before it initiated the boost map. All of those maps had to then be adjusted before they would all work together. This created a cascading effect to adjust so many maps before Jan finally got the boost adjusted. Since the boost map is only one of many maps Jan is working with to improve the MINI’s performance, the level of effort quickly multiplied for him.
Did I mention that everything is encrypted? Sorry if I forgot that part. Jan has found a lot of maps but is still looking for more in order to provide an even better product. This is an ongoing project that he works on anytime he can get his hands on the R56 ECU.
Now on to the RMW tuning days: one thing that Jan mentioned to me that I found a bit surprising was how some of the MINIs arrive to the tuning events. Some MINIs arrive with even basic maintenance not completed. This includes MINIs arriving with dirty air filters, worn spark plugs, dirty fuel filters, etc… If you are serious about getting your MINI tuned, I would think that you would be serious about the maintenance on your MINI. The three items listed above will greatly affect the outcome of your tune.
Another issue that Jan addressed was the intake carbon build-up on the R56 engines. He has seen a lot of this and it will dramatically affect your tune. It is in your best interest to have this resolved prior to your tune. There are posts on NAM that will guide you in the right direction to resolve the issue.
The RMW tune is a custom tune specifically for your car. The tune is performed on the DYNO so it takes all aspects of your MINI’s specific set up into consideration. No two tunes are alike. Air flow, exhaust flow, fuel flow, fuel quality, ignition spark quality, engine compression and many other things are involved in developing your tune. There are also different tunes for your MINI. For example, a racing tune is possible.
So, on to the R56 flash tool: Jan is prepping to test the first tool when it arrives. After it passes quality assurance (QA) testing, the order will be placed. There are still a couple of government customs issues to come through, but I have full faith in Jan’s abilities.
My final thoughts on my visit with Jan Brueggemann: the man delivers a top quality product on every project he is involved in. The prices of some of Jan’s products might seem a little high, but the engineering behind the product will speak for itself. I am waiting impatiently for Jan to tune my MINI in the very near future.
Jan took me to the two main facilities where does his local work. As we walked around he would pick up a piece here and a piece there and go into great detail as to what was involved with the development of each piece and why. These pieces included heads, exhaust headers, collectors, different piping, intakes, etc… Some of the ongoing work involved changes to an existing design that creates very specific results, like having the torque come in at a lower RPM or having the torque stay higher up in the RPM band. If it has to do with making the MINI faster, Jan is working on it. The level of knowledge he has in this field is truly extraordinary.
I am not going to go into detail on the R53 tuning because I think that has been covered enough on other posts.
As for the R56 tune, Jan has done some exciting things with this but his work has not been easy. The R56 ECU is a very complicated beast. With a lot of ECUs you can easily find the map you want to change, and change then it. Just pick the boost map and tell it to add more boost. Then change the fuel map and add more fuel. Okay, it might not be this easy but you get my drift.
The R56 ECU will not allow this. When Jan made changes to the boost map he also needed to discover what other maps the ECU is looking at when it decides to pull the information from the boost map. If the ECU does not see exactly what it is expecting to see with regards to the maps, it will simply not work. This means that Jan had to discover every other map the ECU was checking with before it initiated the boost map. All of those maps had to then be adjusted before they would all work together. This created a cascading effect to adjust so many maps before Jan finally got the boost adjusted. Since the boost map is only one of many maps Jan is working with to improve the MINI’s performance, the level of effort quickly multiplied for him.
Did I mention that everything is encrypted? Sorry if I forgot that part. Jan has found a lot of maps but is still looking for more in order to provide an even better product. This is an ongoing project that he works on anytime he can get his hands on the R56 ECU.
Now on to the RMW tuning days: one thing that Jan mentioned to me that I found a bit surprising was how some of the MINIs arrive to the tuning events. Some MINIs arrive with even basic maintenance not completed. This includes MINIs arriving with dirty air filters, worn spark plugs, dirty fuel filters, etc… If you are serious about getting your MINI tuned, I would think that you would be serious about the maintenance on your MINI. The three items listed above will greatly affect the outcome of your tune.
Another issue that Jan addressed was the intake carbon build-up on the R56 engines. He has seen a lot of this and it will dramatically affect your tune. It is in your best interest to have this resolved prior to your tune. There are posts on NAM that will guide you in the right direction to resolve the issue.
The RMW tune is a custom tune specifically for your car. The tune is performed on the DYNO so it takes all aspects of your MINI’s specific set up into consideration. No two tunes are alike. Air flow, exhaust flow, fuel flow, fuel quality, ignition spark quality, engine compression and many other things are involved in developing your tune. There are also different tunes for your MINI. For example, a racing tune is possible.
So, on to the R56 flash tool: Jan is prepping to test the first tool when it arrives. After it passes quality assurance (QA) testing, the order will be placed. There are still a couple of government customs issues to come through, but I have full faith in Jan’s abilities.
My final thoughts on my visit with Jan Brueggemann: the man delivers a top quality product on every project he is involved in. The prices of some of Jan’s products might seem a little high, but the engineering behind the product will speak for itself. I am waiting impatiently for Jan to tune my MINI in the very near future.
#59
02-22-2010 | 05:43 PM
3rd Gear
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
From: Worcester, MA
This includes MINIs arriving with dirty air filters, worn spark plugs, dirty fuel filters, etc… If you are serious about getting your MINI tuned, I would think that you would be serious about the maintenance on your MINI. The three items listed above will greatly affect the outcome of your tune.
Looks like I'll be doing a few purchases before May.
Thanks for the write up Scott, it sounds amazing, and May can't get here soon enough. I'm already in touch with my mechanic regarding the installation of an RMW Cam.
Looks like I'll be doing a few purchases before May.
Thanks for the write up Scott, it sounds amazing, and May can't get here soon enough. I'm already in touch with my mechanic regarding the installation of an RMW Cam.
#61
03-02-2010 | 01:37 PM
2nd Gear
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
Hey Scott.
Great write up on your trip out west to visit Jan.
Just a suggestion on the tuning day(s) in May at Swift.
I was wondering if it would benefit Jan, and the respective owners of the R53 and R56, that we split the two revs of model across the two days. So for example, R53's on the first day, R56's the second day. I am no tuner myself, but I am thinking that bunching the R56s together in a group will enable Jan to take what he learnt on the previous R56 onto the next R56. Just thinking out loud here, but since the tuning of the R56 is so new, it might be better to group us together. Thoughts, suggestions or smackdowns?
Great write up on your trip out west to visit Jan.
Just a suggestion on the tuning day(s) in May at Swift.
I was wondering if it would benefit Jan, and the respective owners of the R53 and R56, that we split the two revs of model across the two days. So for example, R53's on the first day, R56's the second day. I am no tuner myself, but I am thinking that bunching the R56s together in a group will enable Jan to take what he learnt on the previous R56 onto the next R56. Just thinking out loud here, but since the tuning of the R56 is so new, it might be better to group us together. Thoughts, suggestions or smackdowns?
#63
03-05-2010 | 05:23 PM
We now have 16 confirmed people and a standby list with 2 so far. There are also 3 others who have not confirmed yet. Right now, until I here from Jan I am putting a hold on any additional additions. We need Jan to agree to do a third day before I can add more to the list. I will keep you informed.
#65
03-09-2010 | 11:00 AM
3rd Gear
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
From: Worcester, MA
Scott, I agree with Ladybug.
Right now I'm taking the 25th & 26th off from work.
Does that mean I should take the 27th off also? And what day should I be there? Is there a list being put together for people to come on a certain day? I know, questions questions. Sorry mang.
If the list is split for R53's and R56's, and schedule certain days for certain models, then I can plan my week accordingly.
Right now I'm taking the 25th & 26th off from work.
Does that mean I should take the 27th off also? And what day should I be there? Is there a list being put together for people to come on a certain day? I know, questions questions. Sorry mang.
If the list is split for R53's and R56's, and schedule certain days for certain models, then I can plan my week accordingly.
#67
03-09-2010 | 02:16 PM
Ouch the pressure!! 
Stop hitting me!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay here we go; there are 18 signed up for the tune. I will PM those on the list and will start setting up the schedule for planning. Each slot will be set for 1.5 hours. This will allow for dyno set up, breakdown and Jan to do his thing.
If you want dibs on a specific slot, PM me. If possible, let's fill up the first two days before filling in the last day. If we do this then Jan can leave early on the last day if all of the slots for the 27th do not get filled.
Slots will run as follows for each day and they are first come first serve when contacting me:
May 25th
9:00a DiffilculTT
10:30a dtsoccer6
12:00p AstroBlackS
1:30p TerryD
3:00p BHozier
4:30p Ladybug-S
6:00p jollyroger927
7:30p
May 26th
9:00a ZOOOOP
10:30a ZippyNH
12:00p Mr Silverblood
1:30p WilleysDriver
3:00p Scottab36
4:30p Sabes
6:00p WanderingRobot
7:30p
May 27th
9:00a
10:30a
12:00p sgachko
1:30p
3:00p HeavyMetal
4:30p GoblinTim
6:00p
7:30p
Stop hitting me!!!!!!!!!!! Okay here we go; there are 18 signed up for the tune. I will PM those on the list and will start setting up the schedule for planning. Each slot will be set for 1.5 hours. This will allow for dyno set up, breakdown and Jan to do his thing.
If you want dibs on a specific slot, PM me. If possible, let's fill up the first two days before filling in the last day. If we do this then Jan can leave early on the last day if all of the slots for the 27th do not get filled.
Slots will run as follows for each day and they are first come first serve when contacting me:
May 25th
9:00a DiffilculTT
10:30a dtsoccer6
12:00p AstroBlackS
1:30p TerryD
3:00p BHozier
4:30p Ladybug-S
6:00p jollyroger927
7:30p
May 26th
9:00a ZOOOOP
10:30a ZippyNH
12:00p Mr Silverblood
1:30p WilleysDriver
3:00p Scottab36
4:30p Sabes
6:00p WanderingRobot
7:30p
May 27th
9:00a
10:30a
12:00p sgachko
1:30p
3:00p HeavyMetal
4:30p GoblinTim
6:00p
7:30p
Last edited by scottab36; 03-29-2010 at 02:48 AM.
#68
03-11-2010 | 11:33 AM
3rd Gear
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
From: Worcester, MA
#69
03-14-2010 | 05:39 AM
So I paid for my tune last night and got a $100.00 discount for the RMW R56 tune from Jan.
You too can do this if you buy the new R56 flash tool and R56 tune as a package. The total discount savings for the combo deal of tune and R56 flash tool is $246.00.
Check post #514 on the link below and score the same deal!!!
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...h-tool-21.html
You too can do this if you buy the new R56 flash tool and R56 tune as a package. The total discount savings for the combo deal of tune and R56 flash tool is $246.00.
Check post #514 on the link below and score the same deal!!!
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...h-tool-21.html
#70
03-15-2010 | 08:49 AM
There are three time slots left between May 25th and 26th. We need to fill these slots and then we'll move to fill the remaining eight slots on the 27th of May.
If you pre-registered you might want to select your time slot now before they are all gone.
If you pre-registered you might want to select your time slot now before they are all gone.
Last edited by scottab36; 03-15-2010 at 12:18 PM.
#72
03-15-2010 | 01:06 PM
3rd Gear
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
From: Worcester, MA
