Is MINI Challenge ECU diff from S Works?

[dsakko]

Hey all,

I'm currently in contract to purchase an R56 Mini Challenge car and was wondering if anyone knows if there is a difference between teh ECU in a Mini Challenge car (the JCW class in UK) and a stock MINI Cooper S Works?

Couldn't find a thread, but if one already exists please direct me to it

[Eirik]

My challenge car use the same ecu as my JCW road car. I use the ista system at work to read out fault codes on both, but the airbag unit and abs have been removed and a 2D computer logging system have been installed by BMW Motorsport

[dsakko]

Awesome thanks for the feedback. Was worried by some rumors that the BMW Motorsport ECUs were removed and replaced with stock JCW units. Sounds like as long as the right features are enabled / disabled this shouldn't be an issue.

[dsakko]

Next Q:

Over roughly 2,500 RPM when I back off the throttle it starts banging away until revs drop or I get back on the throttle. Do these things have Anti-lag?

From what I've read you can do it by cracking the throttle butterfly and massively retarding the ignition, so no reason it can't be done in software with these beasties.

[dsakko]

Ok a quick update Not that this will affect many owners out there:

1. JCW doesn't have antilag, just the normal overrun due to valve overlap. Not that I'm complaining. With the open 3.25" exhaust it sounds wild.

2. The genuine Challenge ECUs appear to have the following:
a) stock JCW maps
b) modified parameters to make them less prone to dropping into limp home mode
c) environmental / fuel conservation features disabled eg shutting off fuel when over 1800 rpm and 0% throttle.
d) tweaks to let it run with the waste gate controller disabled. (sounds like the waste gate is set up in a fixed position but I have no idea how they stop it overboosting? - the actuator is removed and blanked off).
e) further tweaks to let the ECU be swapped between cars without coding to allow for the ECU ballots.

[Eirik]

I have just started using my challenge in the Norwegian GT championship, and i am allowed to remap the ecu in this championship. So i ordered a Evolve R-cable tune wich worked fine on my road car, but i cant remap the ecu on the Challenge car. There is some kind of restriction to access the ecu. Is there a way around this?

[dsakko]

Did you go through the process of downloading the maps specifically from the Challenge car and send off to Evolve?

Sorry to hear you've hit that hurdle. Could possibly be by design to stop people tweaking them?? Sounds like I'm lucky to have a road going ECU that I can remap at will. That might be your only other option.