Drivetrain The Official ALTA AccessPORT Thread
#526
If you buy a $500 Dell laptop with $400 of additional software pre-loaded on it, and it gets stolen or damaged, should they send you out a new laptop for $500 with that same software included for free to replace it? It's not on a retailer to determine what did or didn't happen in your case, and give you a special break, especially considering how easily they could get ripped off or taken advantage of with that type of situation.
Seriously, treat your AP like anything else you spent 800-900 bucks for.
There is too much opportunity to "steal" a tune for a second MINI if you could buy just the AP since any maps can be loaded on more than 1 ap at a time.
If your AP breaks - I expect there is a warranty - unless you ran over it =P
Last edited by MotorMouth; 09-20-2010 at 04:56 PM.
#527
It's consumer electronics; it can break. Hopefully it won't happen to me or to you or to anyone else here... but it might. And I can guarantee you that ALTA will have customers with ones that do break for whatever reason (if they don't already).
And nobody's saying that ALTA should be put out over such a situation (far from it -- they seem to be a company with very attentive customer service and quality products; that's great and should be encouraged!). Just that it would be nice to have an option of purchasing a replacement box for something a little closer to the cost of the box.
And nobody's saying that ALTA should be put out over such a situation (far from it -- they seem to be a company with very attentive customer service and quality products; that's great and should be encouraged!). Just that it would be nice to have an option of purchasing a replacement box for something a little closer to the cost of the box.
#528
After thinking about this some more, I can only think of one reason why they would still charge full price if the AP was lost or stolen. There are dishonest people out there that would claim to have lost theirs or had it stolen when it wasn't. Say for instance you are part of a multi MINI family like I am and you were dishonest enough to claim that you lost yours so you could get one for the other MINI in the family.
I would also assume this is partly do to the fact that the AP can also be uninstalled and then used on a different MINI versus the Dimpsort tool that that cannot be re-used on a different MINI without sending it in and paying to have it reset. Having the maps downloadable from the ALTA website (eventually) is a good thing but with them being downloadable in the future it would make committing this type of fraud that much easier.
So I can see why they would want to charge full price after all to replace a lost/stolen device. It is good to hear though that if one gets damaged, it can be sent in to be repaired.
I would also assume this is partly do to the fact that the AP can also be uninstalled and then used on a different MINI versus the Dimpsort tool that that cannot be re-used on a different MINI without sending it in and paying to have it reset. Having the maps downloadable from the ALTA website (eventually) is a good thing but with them being downloadable in the future it would make committing this type of fraud that much easier.
So I can see why they would want to charge full price after all to replace a lost/stolen device. It is good to hear though that if one gets damaged, it can be sent in to be repaired.
#529
The cost of the hardware that is an AccessPort is nowhere near the $900 price being charged for the AccessPort.
After thinking about this some more, I can only think of one reason why they would still charge full price if the AP was lost or stolen. There are dishonest people out there that would claim to have lost theirs or had it stolen when it wasn't. Say for instance you are part of a multi MINI family like I am and you were dishonest enough to claim that you lost yours so you could get one for the other MINI in the family.
But certainly, if one can send in a broken AccessPort, it shouldn't cost the whole $900 to repair or replace.
Last edited by fishbert; 09-20-2010 at 05:01 PM.
#531
What, there's no scenic route?!
#533
I agree, I wouldn't mind having one either
Also an $80k+ car that does 0-60 in *well* under 4 seconds (3.2s, with launch control).
It has a GPS that will remove the speed limiter if it detects the car is at a race track.
And was named Top Gear's Supercar of the Year for 2007.
Not that any of this has any bearing on the cost of its AP (other than its ECU was supposed to be "uncrackable")... just saying I wouldn't mind having one.
Top Gear review: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXFSVoVqhYw
It has a GPS that will remove the speed limiter if it detects the car is at a race track.
And was named Top Gear's Supercar of the Year for 2007.
Not that any of this has any bearing on the cost of its AP (other than its ECU was supposed to be "uncrackable")... just saying I wouldn't mind having one.
Top Gear review: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXFSVoVqhYw
#534
#535
#538
Update #2
My new AP came in this morning. Jeff had my new maps already loaded and ready to go. It is night and day difference. I guess I had a bad AP. Who knows. I took my car out for a 20 min test drive and it is running strong. My catless downpipe will be here tomorrow. I hope to get a few more HP out of that. I cant wait.
Thanks Jeff at Alta for taking care of me. To have a new AP sent overnight was great. I gotta get back to work but I cant wait to till I'm off so I can go drive!
My new AP came in this morning. Jeff had my new maps already loaded and ready to go. It is night and day difference. I guess I had a bad AP. Who knows. I took my car out for a 20 min test drive and it is running strong. My catless downpipe will be here tomorrow. I hope to get a few more HP out of that. I cant wait.
Thanks Jeff at Alta for taking care of me. To have a new AP sent overnight was great. I gotta get back to work but I cant wait to till I'm off so I can go drive!
#539
But it backs it up … to the device, right?
Does it back up to a PC so I can make redundant copies of it or include it with my usual off-site computer backup routine (for safety)?
Also, doesn't it require the very same AP device to re-load it back on the ECU? I can't use a replacement device or borrow a friend's device in an emergency to re-load the factory ECU data, can I?
Does it back up to a PC so I can make redundant copies of it or include it with my usual off-site computer backup routine (for safety)?
Also, doesn't it require the very same AP device to re-load it back on the ECU? I can't use a replacement device or borrow a friend's device in an emergency to re-load the factory ECU data, can I?
Rob
#541
Update #2
My new AP came in this morning. Jeff had my new maps already loaded and ready to go. It is night and day difference. I guess I had a bad AP. Who knows. I took my car out for a 20 min test drive and it is running strong. My catless downpipe will be here tomorrow. I hope to get a few more HP out of that. I cant wait.
Thanks Jeff at Alta for taking care of me. To have a new AP sent overnight was great. I gotta get back to work but I cant wait to till I'm off so I can go drive!
My new AP came in this morning. Jeff had my new maps already loaded and ready to go. It is night and day difference. I guess I had a bad AP. Who knows. I took my car out for a 20 min test drive and it is running strong. My catless downpipe will be here tomorrow. I hope to get a few more HP out of that. I cant wait.
Thanks Jeff at Alta for taking care of me. To have a new AP sent overnight was great. I gotta get back to work but I cant wait to till I'm off so I can go drive!
Soon! We are able to tune and flash, but there are some CEL's that come up that are not clearable yet. If you have a scan tool or a way to clear the codes you can buy one right now. We also found out that you can start and stop your car 4 times to clear them. This does leave a couple other codes on the ECU but nothing that lights up on the dash.
Not yet! This is something we are working on, but its not top priority until all our other maps are out and about.
#544
#545
Looking forward to become your first client in Russia Besides, I have an Auto, so guess it will take time to adopt PA to my car, but it is worth waiting.
#546
Soon! We are able to tune and flash, but there are some CEL's that come up that are not clearable yet. If you have a scan tool or a way to clear the codes you can buy one right now. We also found out that you can start and stop your car 4 times to clear them. This does leave a couple other codes on the ECU but nothing that lights up on the dash.
#547
I am running the standard Stage 1 tune on my R56 with the JCW kit parts [catback exhaust, JCW CAI] and an ALTA intercooler. Is there a custome map for my set up?
So far the boost in power has been great. Just need to refer to the several "entaglements" I've had with local police. One of them resulted in having to put off additional mods due to being 145 dollars poorer.
So far the boost in power has been great. Just need to refer to the several "entaglements" I've had with local police. One of them resulted in having to put off additional mods due to being 145 dollars poorer.
#548
#549
I am running the standard Stage 1 tune on my R56 with the JCW kit parts [catback exhaust, JCW CAI] and an ALTA intercooler. Is there a custome map for my set up?
So far the boost in power has been great. Just need to refer to the several "entaglements" I've had with local police. One of them resulted in having to put off additional mods due to being 145 dollars poorer.
So far the boost in power has been great. Just need to refer to the several "entaglements" I've had with local police. One of them resulted in having to put off additional mods due to being 145 dollars poorer.
#550
We do have a map that will work with those mods. We don't have a map specifically for the JCW intake and catback with our FMIC on stage 1, but the ECU will see the increased airflow and cooler intake temps to make a lot of power! You'll just need to keep your foot under control around cops or you're going to get tickets!