Can MINI dealers tell if you have had your ECU re-mapped?

[ben10]

Just wondering if the dealers can actually tell if you have had a Re-map because i know they put your key in the reader and they can see all sorts about your car and its diagnostics, during services etc..can they tell through this or any other way during normal services?

Thanks

[Eviltad]

No replies?

I think "yes" but that would just be a logical guess.

Maybe ask member Mad4Mini (who is a Leeds Indi) or someone else in the know.

Minitorque site might help too.

[Chr1sch]

As far as i understood the answer was no, hence the concern if they flash the ecu during a service it could wipe your map?

[emicen]

There would/should be no reason to flash the ECU during a service as its a separate part of the ECU's memory that stores data for the service indicator etc. So there shouldnt be a risk of the map being over written.

However, there is a flash counter in all modern ECUs, so whilst its likely a flashed car would go un-noticed in a regular service, if you grendaded the engine, one of the first things they're going to do is look at the flash counter

[blueg33]

emicen said:

There would/should be no reason to flash the ECU during a service as its a separate part of the ECU's memory that stores data for the service indicator etc. So there shouldnt be a risk of the map being over written.

However, there is a flash counter in all modern ECUs, so whilst its likely a flashed car would go un-noticed in a regular service, if you grendaded the engine, one of the first things they're going to do is look at the flash counter

Some remaps set the flash counter so that the remap doesnt show

[emicen]

Yep, its also possible for BMW to compare the map loaded to a standard base map.

If faced with the choice of warranting a new engine or a few minutes of proper diagnostics, they'll take the latter option first every time.

[tim79]

Just had my '08 plate R56 MCS tweaked by DMS Automotive. They claim its undetectable by Mini but then I guess they wouldn't say otherwise. It's not a massive power hike, 40 bhp and 40 lbft I believe, which from my point of view is almost a good thing as that is more or less what a "standard" JCW gives which I'd assume is an output tried and tested by Mini as something that the powertrain can manage without imploding it, but for obviously a fair bit less cash than the official Works pack (it was £595). It makes quite a difference to the power delivery and I haven't see any downsides yet in terms of worse mpg etc etc.

[ben10]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. I think i will Give it a miss. i get the maps done for free soeven if it was wiped then it wouldnt particularly matter. It seems like more hassle than its worth on the warranty side though.

I know i could get them to set the map back to origional before serivcing etc... but they are quite a journey away and it would be easier to make do how it is.

Thanks for everyones input

[fivesixseven8]

tim79 said:

Just had my '08 plate R56 MCS tweaked by DMS Automotive. They claim its undetectable by Mini but then I guess they wouldn't say otherwise. It's not a massive power hike, 40 bhp and 40 lbft I believe, which from my point of view is almost a good thing as that is more or less what a "standard" JCW gives which I'd assume is an output tried and tested by Mini as something that the powertrain can manage without imploding it, but for obviously a fair bit less cash than the official Works pack (it was £595). It makes quite a difference to the power delivery and I haven't see any downsides yet in terms of worse mpg etc etc.

Out of interest, how does the car cope with that extra power? I find that the wifes car struggles to accommodate the stock power (traction issues mainly!)

[tim79]

To be honest with you, it struggles in first and second but with torque-steer more than wheelspin. Anything in third and above and the traction and shove is very impressive though, 50-70 in top being noticeably quicker.

[Pro Map co uk]

Hi there - hope this is of some use but only Volkswagon / Audi group cars may have a flash counter.

neither the R56 or the R50/R53 variant MINIs have a flash counter.

All mapping is invisible to Dealership diagnostics - however the power difference maybe noticed by an experienced technician on a test drive.

We offer a back to standard free service for anyone who is still worried when they want to take their car in for warranty work - however my car (R56 Cooper S) has been in many times since an ECU Remap and has never had a query.

[ben10]

Pro Map co uk said:

Hi there - hope this is of some use but only Volkswagon / Audi group cars may have a flash counter.

neither the R56 or the R50/R53 variant MINIs have a flash counter.

All mapping is invisible to Dealership diagnostics - however the power difference maybe noticed by an experienced technician on a test drive.

We offer a back to standard free service for anyone who is still worried when they want to take their car in for warranty work - however my car (R56 Cooper S) has been in many times since an ECU Remap and has never had a query.

Thanks, greatly appreciated

[GR33NIE]

My old R53 was mapped and they never noticed, on decent test drive they probably would of though considering it was a ONE but could keep up with most Coopers with no trouble