6/21/08 ALL GONE! THANKS FOLKS!

ALTA Announces NEW ECU Tuning option for R56 Cooper S Owners. Read more inside!

ALTA is pleased to finally officially announce the relationship and partnership with UNICHIP of North America! The contracts are finally signed, the vehicle prepped for the SEMA release, dyno results completed, packaging approved, and final approval from UNICHIP North America to make this announcement.

As soon as we got our hands on the R56 Cooper S we instantly knew that MINI had locked away power, both in airflow as well as within the ECU (Engine Control Unit) programming itself.  We instantly set forth to produce hard parts (exhausts, intakes, intercoolers etc.) to improve the performance as well as find the best way to add boost, timing and fuel to get further advantage from the airflow improvements. Needless to say, we didn’t have to look far as the corporate offices and US testing facility for UNICHIP was located less than 10 minutes from our new facility. Some lengthy meetings with the President Jack Friedman of UNICHIP and their Sales Manager Joe Pucciarelli resulted in the partnership we are announcing today.

So what does this mean for you? What this means is you can now go directly to ALTA for ALL your performance needs for the R56! From bumper to bumper we have you covered with a comprehensive program of both hardparts, and software to get the maximum performance out of the car.

The ALTA Plug-n-Play ECU is a simple half hour installation that is completely reversible at anytime you choose. There are no wires to cut, or sensors to mount. Simply follow the included directions and within minutes you can have LOTS more power. For more information on the power potential please click HERE for a link to the Drivetrain Section of North American Motoring and a thread with dyno plots and detailed explanations of where and how the power is coming from.

How it works: Essentially, the ALTA Plug-n-Play ECU is a separate computer all its own. It takes signals from both the engine sensors as well as the existing ECU and modifies them to establish changes in ignition timing, boost levels, etc. What ALTA brings is extensive dyno testing and tuning of the mapping to make this power. We offer programming that is specific to the level of performance you desire as well as with the other ALTA components you have added or will add to your vehicle. Thus if you have a bone stock R56 or one that has the entire ALTA catalog added to it already, and you wish to add the ALTA Plug-n-Play ECU you can do so immediately and see significant gains in power. The beauty of this is, that if you change things along the way you can get an updated map from ALTA to match that for a nominal fee, and no downtime. For example if you have a map for a stock R56 with ALTA Cat-Back Exhaust, then add an ALTA Intake you can then call us and request to update your ALTA Plug-N-Play ECU! The possibilities are endless.

Safety: All ALTA mapping is designed with both power and safety in mind. We understand both the greed for more power as well as the need to keep the reliability of the motor in place! Each map is designed for a specific application, fuel grade etc., but with some cushion left as well. Meaning, the power gained does not put your engine in jeopardy of a catastrophic failure just to gain a couple HP.

Future: In the first quarter of 2008 ALTA will release an in-car tuning, performance meter, upgrade that works with the ALTA Plug-n-Play ECU. Compatible with most Pocket PC, and Windows Mobile devices. 

What does this cost? Well we have good news there as well. The entire package with mapping MSRP is a mere $749.99. This includes the ALTA Plug-n-Play ECU,  2-map selector switch, installation instructions, hardware, how-to guide, technical support via phone or e-mail and warranty. Mere pennies when you see the results HERE!

ECU

Harness

Map Specific to your Mods

Installation Tool

Mounting Instructions

WARRANTY (Please note this item is only warranted through UNICHIP USA and not through ALTA Performance.) 

Reprinted from UniChip Website:

"Unichip Product Warranty

For 90 days following the original owner’s purchase of a Unichip, Unichip of North America (UNA) warrants no other ECU product generates more power from a specific gasoline engine than a properly functioning, custom tuned Unichip in the specific vehicle for which it is tuned.  If another ECU product generates more power from that engine within 90 days of the original owner’s purchase of the Unichip, the original owner can contact their Unichip dealer for a refund of all Unichip parts, Unichip installation charges, and Unichip custom tuning.  Shipping, testing, dynamometer costs and the cost of removing any UNA parts are specifically not covered by this warranty and will not be refunded to the owner.
To claim a refund, owners must provide dynamometer proof another ECU product produced more power when installed on the specific vehicle and that vehicle and all of its parts were in an identical condition other than the ECU enhancement.  Three repeatable dynamometer tests must be performed using the Unichip and three repeatable tests using the other ECU product.  The average of the three tests performed on each product shall constitute that product’s score for determining power.  The same technician, using the same dynamometer in an identical condition with the same settings, must perform all test runs.  All environmental conditions including ambient and IAT temperature and pressure altitude and the vehicle’s cooling system temperatures and drive train temperatures must also be identical for all six runs.  IAT and Coolant temperature data logged information for each run is required.  The vehicle must also use the same fuel for all six tests.  UNA reserves the rights to, at UNA’s exclusive discretion, re-tune the Unichip involved in a performance warranty claim at no cost to the customer making the claim or to provide a warranty refund; if after a retune, the Unichip still makes less power than another product, the owner will receive a refund IAW this warranty statement.

All UNA parts, including Unichip piggyback computers, driver modules, and harnesses also carry a limited warranty against manufacturer’s defect.  This warranty is valid for the original owner only, for one year from the date of purchase regardless of the installation date.  UNA only warrants Unichip products sold by an authorized UNA reseller.  If a UNA product is found defective, the original purchaser may contact the reseller from whom they purchased the product for a replacement component at no cost. Shipping, testing, dynamometer costs, and the cost of removing any UNA parts are specifically not covered by this warranty and will not be refunded to the owner.

The above warranties are expressly made in lieu of any and all other warranties, express or implied, including any warranty on the engineering or design of the goods as well as the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.

Any and all warranties on the Unichip are void if: 1) the custom installation or custom tuning of the Unichip was performed by anyone other than a UNA qualified dealer or tuner, 2) anyone other than a qualified UNA tuner or dealer alters or modifies or attempts to alter or modify any of the electronic data within the Unichip or 3) the UNA product is used for anything other than its intended purpose or is physically or electrically damaged.

For all warranty claims, the product return shipping date stamp must be within the appropriate time limitation from the time of purchase.  Additionally, proof of purchase in the form of either a properly completed warranty card or a sales receipt indicating both the date of sale and owners name is required and is the owner’s responsibility.  Customers with hard-wire installations are responsible for providing proof of when and where the installation was performed.  Warranty claims will be denied if the customer cannot provide proof of purchase.
UNA is not liable for incidental, consequential, or punitive damages attributable directly or indirectly to the Unichip or UNA’s actions or inactions with respect to the Unichip.  UNA is also specifically not responsible or liable for damage of any kind: 1) to a vehicle into which UNA products are installed or 2) resulting from the use of a vehicle equipped with any UNA products.

UNA believes high performance driving should be confined to appropriate venues such as racetracks or organized closed course events such as Autocross competitions, and does not sanction or participate in any street racing or other illicit driving activity."

Fits all US R56 Cooper S Models Manual AND Automatic

No EU or JDM models at this time. (Sorry for any inconvenience!) 

Click HERE! for a few postings we have done on North American Motoring.

Click HERE for some of the pages we have put together showcasing the different cars we have tuned.

STAGE 1 ALTA tune, 20ft-lbs and 25WHP!!

ALTA Stage 1 Unichip tuning is done on a bone stock R56. These are real world gains you can expect!

As you can see, the Unichip on a bone stock car makes an additional 20ft-lbs and 25WHP.   Like our other R56 parts, this provides a very noticeable gain, and anyone's Butt Dyno will be able to read this.   For 100% we can say that the Unichip is by far the single best part to buy for your Mini R56. The Unichip is the R56's "Supercharger Pulley".

If we look back at one of our initial tests (R56 with all the ALTA bolt ons installed) with the Unichip, the gains are roughly the same (20ft-lbs and 25WHP).  What we mean is that whatever your starting HP is, you can pretty much add above and beyond stock, if you compare these numbers.

From the 3-4 test and tunes we have done, we can solidly say that the ALTA Unichip is well worth its price, and with the complications surrounding flashing the new ECU, we feel the Unichip will be around for a very long time!  Look for more developments over time as we continue to make the Unichip a better and better!