UNICHIP Is it worth it ?

[butter5784]

Well, This weekend was a productive weekend. I installed a Perrin FMIC, SRI, Vis Evo II Carbon fiber hood, Carbon tail lights, a Perrin BOV, and relocated my MAF. What's next?

I'm thinking about the UNICHIP.... but is it worth it ? I've searched on here and had mixed reviews. It's my wife's car and I want it to be fun for her to drive as well as be reliable. I don't need the car blowing up. It still has the stock Exhaust. I'm cheap and an exhaust is on my list but I'm patiently waiting for a good deal on ebay or a local sale on one. The reason I'm looking at the UNICHIP is they claim awsome gains and they also seem to be available used and on ebay. Will I be wasting my money or will it make a big difference ?

 

[Pirana]

More than the Unichip, it is the programing used that makes it work...if you are running the factory Unichip tune, then you are just running a map to up the boost to 10psi safely, with some moderate gains. If you have it custom tune or at least close to your mods, then you will have a fast MSP...I have been running the Unichip for over a year now...and very happy with it and most importantly, happy with my tune by JDM Sam. At one time I went to the factory tune and me and Sam raced...there was no chance for me!

 

[jmv]

if its working i'd imagine it would be worth it.

 

[exNeon]

it likely saved my motor. i have a unichip that is programmed for stock (which i still basically am) and left it on stock boost, hoping for some milage (minimal).
however when my waste gate actuator crapped out on me one day i was thinking man, im accelerating fast....look at boost guage - 12psi. thats not good.
i credit the unichip for still having my engine. i figure if that happens without it, boom.
i have yet to get my wga fixed, but its on the to do list and i watch my guage much closer now.

 

[alexB]

More than the Unichip, it is the programing used that makes it work...if you are running the factory Unichip tune, then you are just running a map to up the boost to 10psi safely, with some moderate gains. If you have it custom tune or at least close to your mods, then you will have a fast MSP

I have had the u nichip before and loved it. Even on the base map. I now have more modifications. FMIC, relocated maf, and 626 manifold. I am running into the tuner problem. Cant find anyone who is anywhere close to me who can tune it.

 

[exNeon]

alexB -
you might be able to find somebody who can tune it for you via the mail. sure it wont be as great as a real tune for your car, but if you can find someone with similar mods and a map, you might be able to get something updated enough to get more out of what you have.

just a thought.

 

[210_ZOOM]

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123656225

Read the thread.

 

[butter5784]

Sounds like it's worth it. I haven't heard anything bad and I don't plan on doing anything crazy with the car so it should be good for what I'm looking for.

 

[Pirana]

alex, JDM Sam has a lot of maps based on different mods...it will get pretty close and way cheaper than driving to a tuner and paying gubus of cash for a tune. There are a lot of members here running his tune via email purchase.

 

[Ryoga28]

alex, JDM Sam has a lot of maps based on different mods...it will get pretty close and way cheaper than driving to a tuner and paying gubus of cash for a tune. There are a lot of members here running his tune via email purchase.

That sounds great, I'm going to PM him now.

Is $300 for a custom map at a local place worth it? Their dynometer won't work with FWD cars and the map will be tuned on the road.

 

[jmv]

that seems expensive for a street tune to me.

 

[tehturbo]

Seems expensive for even a dyno tune. My understanding is that someone trained on the unichip can do it rather quickly if they have done a MSP before. In my area the dyno is $70 for 3 runs or $110 for an hour. so I would expect to pay less than $200. just my .02

 

[ChopstickHero]

For the purposes of getting this for you wife, it will be a good choice. It's simply Plug and Play. the maps on it work for this car and if you go get a custom tune, it will work better with your mods. I got it and it works very well with my mods, and I didn't even get a custom tune.

 

[butter5784]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. It looks like I've also sparked a discusion on tuning that seems like good knowledge as well. I'm going to end up getting one. Hopefully sooner than later. I'll be contacting JDM Sam I think shortly because it's over an hour away to the nearest tunner and it sounds like that may even be a waste of time to vist.

 

[jmv]

FWIW i tried to put mine on my car, and it was kinda fubar. I'm driving to dallas when i get a chance to get JDM Sam to take a look at it. I did buy mine used though, maybe that was a mistake.

 

[butter5784]

I was kind of nervus about buying it used but hopefully I won't get screwed. If I can save 250 or 300 it's probly worth it. Last time I saw one on Ebay I called UNICHIP to ask them about the product and them servicing a used product and they were realy cool about it. Most companies are only interested in talking to the original purchaser but they even wished me luck on the auction.