21 replies to this topic

[smorg]

Hi guys I have been looking for a performance ecu for the mpi and im woundering is there such thing or any simple mods I can do to the current ecu (standerd) to get a bit more performance?

Thanks

//Sam

[minicooper1.3i]

The only 'mods' that can be done to a standard ECU as far as I'm aware, are to overchip the ECU. They cost a couple of hundred quid and offer something like 20% more power (i may be wrong there. Sprocket will correct me if I am). After that, you're looking at 4-5 hundred quid for a programmable ECU (Emerald make them I think). If your MPi is standard at present, then I personally think you should do the mechanical mods first. Cylinder head, camshaft, exhaust, etc, which if done proplerly will get you up to a 50% power increase maximum without any ECU mods (to simplfy things, you can get kits from most leading Mini parts specialists). Afther that, you should then consider ECU upgrade and overboring, etc, or possibly supercharging.

Hope that helps!

[smorg]

thanks for the reply but what do you need or is involved in over chipping the ecu

i also noticed this on ebay a few mins ago.. is it worth getting?

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...O...A1|240:1308

[nicksuth]

thanks for the reply but what do you need or is involved in over chipping the ecu

i also noticed this on ebay a few mins ago.. is it worth getting?

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...O...A1|240:1308

That looks like Bini stuff not Mini - follow link for icon race Superchip on Fleabay..

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...e...A1|240:1318

[smorg]

thanks for the reply but what do you need or is involved in over chipping the ecu

i also noticed this on ebay a few mins ago.. is it worth getting?

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...O...A1|240:1308

That looks like Bini stuff not Mini - follow link for icon race Superchip on Fleabay..

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...e...A1|240:1318

thanks il keep an eye on that

[minicooper1.3i]

thanks for the reply but what do you need or is involved in over chipping the ecu

i also noticed this on ebay a few mins ago.. is it worth getting?

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...O...A1|240:1308

Standard MPi ECU is not re-mappable so don't believe anything you read to the contrary on eBay. The MPi ECU was programmed, I believe, using a unique language that Rover/BMW developed and never released to the general public, so nobody, as far as I am aware have been able to develop a re-mapping tool.

You'd be very very lucky to get 100 bhp out of a standard ECU. Mid 80's should be easily reachable, and at a push, 90. But you have to do some serious mods to get there and it'll start getting very expensive.

[Ethel]

Injecting a 5 port engine is a bit of a nightmare and the Rover Mems unit would be hard to beat. It's a fairly sophisticated 'learning' system and will adjust itself if you make mofications to the engine. I doubt it would let you extend the rev range, which is one major drawback for performance tuning. The only other alternative I've heard of is Megasquirt, I think someone's written some 5 port code for it.

The Metro Turbo ECU is only a boost modulator, they still used a carb.

[welshdan]

i reccon you could get somehwere near 100bhp running standard ecu.1380 rebore, swiftune cam, cooper works head, 1.5 roller rockers, lighened/balenced flywheel. decent exhaust system. gas flowed inlet manifold, larger throttle body. this is what me and my dad are looking to put together for his car.

will be along with 3.44 fd, maybe sc drops, 4 pin diff.


if its not 100bhp, it should have a nice torque curve.

[DaveRob]

You can do near 100BHP with the standard ECU.....problem is it gets VERY lean at approaching this value..... Sprockets already hit 100BHP on the standard ECU but thats at the hard cut and was reportedly looking lean at that point.... not good at all......... however....their is a way that he has found works and Im building it into my 1380 rebuild as we speak...... This is some idea of whats needed..... and the collection of parts to get an SPi Mini to 100 horses

http://www.theminifo...x...c=79995&hl=

The way the MPi works its unlikley to get to 100 horses....... the SPi is the injection Mini for tuning

Hope this helps

Rob

[welshdan]

it hopefully wont be too far off. not too bothered about figures etc. just looking to improve and make the mpi move fun to drive, more responsive , im sure that anyone will agree that it is flat and sluggish to drive, especially with the sportspack.

[welshdan]

i also have an spi, am replacing the loom with one from a carb car so that i can ditch the injection. can see this as the only way to go, ie beyond 100bhp mark

[minicooper1.3i]

i reccon you could get somehwere near 100bhp running standard ecu.1380 rebore, swiftune cam, cooper works head, 1.5 roller rockers, lighened/balenced flywheel. decent exhaust system. gas flowed inlet manifold, larger throttle body. this is what me and my dad are looking to put together for his car.

will be along with 3.44 fd, maybe sc drops, 4 pin diff.


if its not 100bhp, it should have a nice torque curve.

If you're going to do that level of mods and invest that much dosh, you may as well go the whole hog and buy an Emmerald ECU to go with it, and release the extra horses the standard ECU is holding back.

Seriously though, for a much more fun drive with minimal hassel, just get a 90bhp / Stage 3 kit from Mini Sport or similar, or spend a tad more and get an Ex-JCG Conversion done. It'd probably be more than enough and whoever you get one from can probably fit it for you too.

If off-the-line poke is also an issue for you, then see about changing the diff in your box too. There's an excellent article in this months Mini Mag explaining about diff conversions.

[welshdan]

can change diffs no problem, and build up engines. all i would need sorting is the machining work to the block. have the head, rockers, cam, decsnt exhaust inc manifold, its cost just over £300 so far. also have the diff. reccon for the price of a rebore and set of pistons its well worth it. much cheaper and much quicker than any of those bolt on kits. plus it should last a good deal longer, rebuilding the whole engine

[Sprocket]

There is no ECU that can replace the MPi ECU like for like. CANEMS claim to have resolved the port injection problems and boast figures of 138bhp, but that is not with the MPI Manifold, which kind of defeats the point of its original inception.

You will be limited to circa 90 bhp with the standard ECU even with the Superchips Race ICON, it only alters the ignition, has no effect on fueling.

Its all very complicated and no one has come up with a truely workable answer to the factory fit injection systems. The Megasquirt option fell on its arse, requiring more work. I'm not saying that it wont work, just that its not working , yet!

For the ultimate injection system, bin the MPI manifold, build a custom manifold with the injectors further back near the throttle bodies, and use any programable ECU you want