Drivetrain The Official ALTA AccessPORT Thread
#2527
Still does not help having to wait though. I eagerly await to log on to NAM and see something about "AP now available for 2011" in the news section from Alta
#2528
I would assume that they are being as transparent as possible with us about tunes on the 2011s, why wouldn't they be. We need an inside person at MINI/BMW to help crack the code to speed up the process. Soooooooo antsy waiting for a OBD tune to be available. Or, until my warranty expires, which will come first
Not trying to Shat on ALTA just want to tell people its not a security HW thing its really a money and lack of interest to bring the product to market faster thing.
#2529
This has nothing to do with the ability or inability to crack the encryption on the ECU which I believe is only 128bit(might be wrong on this). Having just left the VW scene specifically a 11 GTI which had the updated ECU from VW which was 256bit with a firewall on the OBD port (which required me to wiat all of three months for APR to release the new SW and HW for my car) It's fairly easy to get around the security protocols as evidenced by NM and others who do bench flashes. The BS about bench flashing these cars is just that BS it took 30min for my APR dealer to bench flash my GTI and after its flashed once the car can them be re flashed thru the OBD as stages are changed. Its the lack of knowledgeable or big(MONEY) tuning companies who have the capitol to really R&D these cars and also a platform that hasn't really grown past a niche market(No company is going to sink money and time into something they cant profit off of). That is why its taking YEARS to get tunes its not a HW issue HW is easily cracked, hacked, or circumvented.
Not trying to Shat on ALTA just want to tell people its not a security HW thing its really a money and lack of interest to bring the product to market faster thing.
Not trying to Shat on ALTA just want to tell people its not a security HW thing its really a money and lack of interest to bring the product to market faster thing.
On a more cheerful note, just wait until the government starts mandating black boxes, brake/accelerator overrides, etc. Modifying the ECU will probably become a federal crime at that point.
#2530
This has nothing to do with the ability or inability to crack the encryption on the ECU which I believe is only 128bit(might be wrong on this). Having just left the VW scene specifically a 11 GTI which had the updated ECU from VW which was 256bit with a firewall on the OBD port (which required me to wiat all of three months for APR to release the new SW and HW for my car) It's fairly easy to get around the security protocols as evidenced by NM and others who do bench flashes. The BS about bench flashing these cars is just that BS it took 30min for my APR dealer to bench flash my GTI and after its flashed once the car can them be re flashed thru the OBD as stages are changed. Its the lack of knowledgeable or big(MONEY) tuning companies who have the capitol to really R&D these cars and also a platform that hasn't really grown past a niche market(No company is going to sink money and time into something they cant profit off of). That is why its taking YEARS to get tunes its not a HW issue HW is easily cracked, hacked, or circumvented.
Not trying to Shat on ALTA just want to tell people its not a security HW thing its really a money and lack of interest to bring the product to market faster thing.
Not trying to Shat on ALTA just want to tell people its not a security HW thing its really a money and lack of interest to bring the product to market faster thing.
It seems like the profit margins after something has been developed, considering the tool is probably low cost to produce/ship, and after selling over 100 units would make up for the costs to develop the hardware/software. All of this based off my general guestimations and by no means backed by science/economics so I apologize for and ignorance here.
So aside fromt the lack of backing for the bigger tuners, why are we now starting to see ECU tuning for 2011s (done by removing the ECU and voiding any warranty) but not any OBD tunes? This may be something that Alta has a better insight on as there are mre than a few shops able to ECU tune the "hard" way.
Sorry for a bit of hijacking and maybe this topic of why and how the tunes can help be developed for the newer ECU/engines should branch off into a thread where multiple tuners can chime in on the matter. At this point I just dont really see the hold up for a flash tune or why there is a lack of funding towards creating a tune.
As for legality of it in the future I see it the same as areas/counties restricting the ability to work on cars yourself. Sure, there will be restrictions but I think there will always be people "breaking" these rules.
Just my 2¢ on the matter. No offense meant to be given to any parties involved, posters or companies. Just hope it gets figured out in a manner that works for both sides of the fence.
#2531
Another example of this is the Caliber SRT-4 vs the Neon SRT-4. Some Caliber guys have been waiting for 6 years for a hand held tune option. If you can't produce a product that will give a decent ROI why bother. Many people howl at the $900 price tag of the AP, but what if it was $1800, $2400?
On a more cheerful note, just wait until the government starts mandating black boxes, brake/accelerator overrides, etc. Modifying the ECU will probably become a federal crime at that point.
On a more cheerful note, just wait until the government starts mandating black boxes, brake/accelerator overrides, etc. Modifying the ECU will probably become a federal crime at that point.
#2532
So aside fromt the lack of backing for the bigger tuners, why are we now starting to see ECU tuning for 2011s (done by removing the ECU and voiding any warranty) but not any OBD tunes? This may be something that Alta has a better insight on as there are mre than a few shops able to ECU tune the "hard" way.
#2533
Sorry for the lack of understanding on this then, tried to find where I saw something about encryption being an issue but could not find the reference. That being said, and seeing your points to about 90%, I don't understand your reasoning behind tuners not seeing it as a profitable service. I for one see the current cost or more for the cobb/alta device as being justified since it can be qualified as an extension and by no means a requirement to a MINI.
It seems like the profit margins after something has been developed, considering the tool is probably low cost to produce/ship, and after selling over 100 units would make up for the costs to develop the hardware/software. All of this based off my general guestimations and by no means backed by science/economics so I apologize for and ignorance here.
So aside fromt the lack of backing for the bigger tuners, why are we now starting to see ECU tuning for 2011s (done by removing the ECU and voiding any warranty) but not any OBD tunes? This may be something that Alta has a better insight on as there are mre than a few shops able to ECU tune the "hard" way.
Sorry for a bit of hijacking and maybe this topic of why and how the tunes can help be developed for the newer ECU/engines should branch off into a thread where multiple tuners can chime in on the matter. At this point I just dont really see the hold up for a flash tune or why there is a lack of funding towards creating a tune.
As for legality of it in the future I see it the same as areas/counties restricting the ability to work on cars yourself. Sure, there will be restrictions but I think there will always be people "breaking" these rules.
Just my 2¢ on the matter. No offense meant to be given to any parties involved, posters or companies. Just hope it gets figured out in a manner that works for both sides of the fence.
It seems like the profit margins after something has been developed, considering the tool is probably low cost to produce/ship, and after selling over 100 units would make up for the costs to develop the hardware/software. All of this based off my general guestimations and by no means backed by science/economics so I apologize for and ignorance here.
So aside fromt the lack of backing for the bigger tuners, why are we now starting to see ECU tuning for 2011s (done by removing the ECU and voiding any warranty) but not any OBD tunes? This may be something that Alta has a better insight on as there are mre than a few shops able to ECU tune the "hard" way.
Sorry for a bit of hijacking and maybe this topic of why and how the tunes can help be developed for the newer ECU/engines should branch off into a thread where multiple tuners can chime in on the matter. At this point I just dont really see the hold up for a flash tune or why there is a lack of funding towards creating a tune.
As for legality of it in the future I see it the same as areas/counties restricting the ability to work on cars yourself. Sure, there will be restrictions but I think there will always be people "breaking" these rules.
Just my 2¢ on the matter. No offense meant to be given to any parties involved, posters or companies. Just hope it gets figured out in a manner that works for both sides of the fence.
As for the number of Tuners qualed to tune the MINI as a whole there aren't many(as in like 2) where as other makes you have multiple vendors on the same platform which drives competition and profits so you already have a built in business case to be competitive and come to market with a new product here not so much.
I don't want to keep thread jacking ALTA's thread about Business cases and ROI's so lets make a new thread to speak openly about the future of the N18 tunes. MODs if you're reading this please move these replies to a better/new thread thanks.
#2534
Created a new thread to move this and hopefully future conversations to at:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...n18-minis.html
Hopefully this will keeps everyone up to speed and prevent hijacking on Alta's thread. Mods feel free to move any/all relevant posts to the other thread. Thanks
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...n18-minis.html
Hopefully this will keeps everyone up to speed and prevent hijacking on Alta's thread. Mods feel free to move any/all relevant posts to the other thread. Thanks
#2536
#2537
Thanks
#2538
#2542
Wheel and crank horsepower are different. A stock current S puts out 180 at the crank, so let's assume that after drive line losses they put down 165 at the wheels a tune that raises that figure to 205 at the wheels is a pretty sizeable increase and is damn impressive. After all, a 45hp bump is nothing to sneeze at.
#2543
I don't know. This alta access port sounds like smoke of a different color. Im sorry dude. it obd2 does'nt everything that dude is diffenently not a good selling point for something that is eclipsing the thousand doller mark. Number 2 talkin about professionals doing the alta access tune for you on a dyno. What people need to get there stuff in order before going to dyno. For the regular guy it one thousand dollers to dyno. combinations of performance parts mini ain't like honda man with thousand of different performance options. Mabey interior exterior options but not performance wise. This is a 1000 doller unit the makers should have maps for a good 80percent of the combos. No unless I was to get the alta turbo I would not just run out and buy the. The unichip is good at least and gets to the point of making more power but in the end the regular ecu has tons of overhead for performance. People just want to do the work of puttin stuff like schrick cams in.
You come on here spouting nonsense and someone is going to correct you. If you leave it's your loss.
#2544
I love how people do not want to believe what this unit can do. If you don't believe it find someone who has it and go for a ride with them. I am an owner of the Accessport and I can tell you it is an experience worth trying. Mine is set up to come on with the sport button. The button is now like having nitrous. When I push that button the car takes off. It will spin the tires in the first three gears. Second gear roll ons with spin the tires to no end. Just believe and get it.
#2545
#2547
Get the access port you will love it. My 2007 MCS is like a unleashed animal. Just finishing up on day 4 after the install of stage 1 map. All I have to say is make sure you hold onto the steering wheel. It was a significant improvement in so many ways. Better throttle response, more torque, seems like a lot more boost across a wider RPM range. Best performance upgrade I have ever made.
#2548
I will be doing the update tomorrow and I would like to know what people have had success with on the track? I have had a couple times when the car falls flat on its face when I smash the gass but for the most part it runs good. I was looking to see what had worked best out on the track, tpms vs. Non ect. I will be out on the track Saturday so I wanted to be ready
#2549
#2550
Few questions, I have a stock '09 JCW that I will be making some upgrades to in the near future. Can I run the stage 2 tune with the stock JCW exhaust, CAI and FMIC? Would it be safe? If I should only do stage 1, how much to get the stage 2 after the initial purchase of the accessport?
Thanks
Thanks
Last edited by mcmmotorsports; 05-14-2012 at 08:32 AM.