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I've got the MIMA (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/f-mima-36.html/) grin.
Yep. My sons and I installed MIMA on Red yesterday.

Finally I can control when background charging occurs (and doesn't occur), as well as smooth out mpg over hills.

I got 91.8 on my drive in to work on damp roads in 66 degree weather. Not bad. I would estimate that this would usually yield high 70s or low 80s without MIMA.

Although MIMA is functional, I haven't actually put the rest of the car back together. I'll get things buttoned up later in the week. Until then, no metal objects allowed to rattle around in the car. (ZZZZZTTT!)

Mike's on line instructions (http://www.99mpg.com/mima/install/) and accompanying video gave us more than enough confidence to tackle the job.

I'm looking forward to tweaking MIMA to fit my commuting needs.

Thanks, Mike for an excellent piece of equipment!

:bananahuge:

Thanks Eric,
happy to hear about another happy MIMA user.
I drove around with the back open for nearly a year. Just watch out for those HV terminals when powered up.
:Banane35:

Hi there.

I got mine installed myself few weeks ago and everything worked out perfectly in the installation--thanks to the video and online instruction. I would encourage anyone who's sitting on the fence for an installation to go for it after studying the info on those.

I am still learning and tweaking with the control. I did not realize a huge gain in MPG yet. I used to get 60-85 range and now it's like 65-92. I still have hard time keeping it in the 80's. Here on California freeways, we don't have many hills. On flat land mostly, does anyone have any magical touch to take full advantage of MIMA?

Regardless, I am enjoying it greatly, with my MIMA grin. Thanks to Mike and you guys, all.

Regards,
Jay

I certainly love my MIMA! I suspect everybody uses it a bit differently, which is one of the great things about it: flexibility. I rarely use it to add assist but frequently dial in regen, either under decel or on a downhill that isn't quite steep enough to FAS on. As I've said before, probably too frequently, the FAS option on it is wonderful.

My mileage is going up, but I'm not sure how much of that is MIMA and how much is "ME-MA". My route has not changed. Lately I've been hitting high 90's consistently on my daily commutes (34 miles each way, mostly I-95), with a high of 102.4. Last tank was 96.5. I never dreamed I'd get numbers like that out of this car, and MIMA is a huge help.

Congratulations Eric!

Which MIMA number is Eric - 35?

MIMA is only a tool to allow manual operation of the IMA, it is still up to the drivers skill at using that new level of control. I am still learning new ways to use it.
There should be at least 3 MIMA Insights at the hybrid gathering on Sunday, if anyone wants to try it out.
The most current user list will be at:
http://www.99mpg.com/mima/people/
Eric is #43

I'm hoping when Dan has his next Houston Hybrid & Hypermilers meeting in September, he can try out MIMA in my Insight.

I use mine for
- the FAS function.
- Cutting off regen when I don't want it, and know there is more appropriate opportunity coming up.
- Using assist to maintain up small hills.

I've already been playing with the PIMA function as well. It's nice to have so many options and being able to use the appropriate tool for the situation.

Kind of like hypermiling in general. There are lots of tools to choose from and the key is to use the one that fits the situation.

Even if MIMA doesn't change my gas mileage, I'm certain it will help with battery pack health.

I was wondering if you'd completed your install, DF. How did it go? Did you take any photos? I'd love to see what you've done with the display and joystick. Everybody's is different.

Mine looks like this:
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/522/sa550051-sm.jpg
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/522/sa550048-sm.jpg

Lightfoot, ME-MA is right. MIMA certainly increased my desire to strive for exceptional FE, as well as giving me additional tools to do so. Hard to say which has the bigger impact- the tools, or the desire. Either way I'm still grinnin' after ~2 years and ~30,000 miles! :D

Eric is #43 (goes by unit number, not order of installation). Mine is #20, built myself from a kit, pre-plug-in version. Does that make me an early adopter? I feel like I'm kickin' it old skool. :cool:

Eric, those are basically the same reasons I'll be the next MIMA install (FAS, battery health, better hill climbing....I confess - chance at a 100mpg work commute).

If any of you have some familiarity with programming, MIMA is like using machine language or C as opposed to a high-level language. Machine language is more efficient because only the essential code is written...but that requires the programmer to know where he is going and avoid all the pitfalls ahead.

I was wondering if you'd completed your install, DF. How did it go? Did you take any photos?

Current plan is early Saturday morning to make a five-hour drive from Dallas to northern Oklahoma to install it at highwater's (Randall). Will take pictures and videos. It will be good to have Randall to overlook the procedure. Don't think it's complicated, but obviously accuracy is critical.

In the meantime, I've been getting everything conceivable fixed on my Insight:

New brakes
Tune-up (which seems to have helped as much as 5%).
Replaced driver's side seat belt harness under warranty.
Today - fix or replace driver's side electric door unit. For some reason Insight's have this problem a lot. It could be just lubrication - not replacement. Window rolls up fast the first half, then slows...lately can't go the last 3-4 inches without a 2nd guy pulling. :(

Current plan is early Saturday morning to make a five-hour drive from Dallas to northern Oklahoma to install it at highwater's (Randall). Will take pictures and videos. It will be good to have Randall to overlook the procedure.You'll be in good hands.

Today - fix or replace driver's side electric door unit. For some reason Insight's have this problem a lot. It could be just lubrication - not replacement. Window rolls up fast the first half, then slows...lately can't go the last 3-4 inches without a 2nd guy pulling. :(If anything needs replaced, it will probably be just the window run channel, not the regulator itself. I squirt some silicon spray in my window run channels about once a year, and have never had a problem with the window not moving up or down.

It will be good to have Randall to overlook the procedure. Don't think it's complicated, but obviously accuracy is critical.

Yep. Accuracy is a must.
My boys (ages 8 and 11) and I did the conversion. When it came to pulling pins in the wiring harnesses, I would read off what I was doing and someone else would double check against their copy of the instructions. I can't stress enough how great the on-line and video instructions helped provide that last bit of needed confidence.

If the boys and I can do it, so can you!

If anything needs replaced, it will probably be just the window run channel, not the regulator itself. I squirt some silicon spray in my window run channels about once a year, and have never had a problem with the window not moving up or down.
Or get the special Shinetsu silicon grease* from Honda and use a Q-tip to ease some into the rubber channel. My driver's side window was getting a bit lazy and that fixed it perfectly. Pricey but it's a lifetime supply.

*amusing side note: The parts lady at the Honda dealer says that the guys from the Chevy dealership next door come over and buy tubes of it from her!

Well, I got things all buttoned back up tonight.
Of course, for some reason I have one stupid bolt left over!!!!
It'll go in the glove box until it's position shows up at a later date!

Eric, were you subconsciously trying to save weight sparing the bolt? :D

Hi Eric,
About that left over bolt.......
I would bet it's one of those 6mm thread, with 10mm hex head, that goes on the IMA cover. There are about twenty fasteners that hold that cover on, so it's easy to miss one. I would also bet it goes up toward the front under that lip of the carpet, as those are easily overlooked.

Randall

Of course, for some reason I have one stupid bolt left over!!!!
It'll go in the glove box until it's position shows up at a later date!:D I have a collection of those. Some have been purposely omitted, others just showed up...

I would also bet it goes up toward the front under that lip of the carpet, as those are easily overlooked.That's exactly what I was thinking, as that happened to me.

it wont save you any weight if it stays in the glove box... ;)

You may also want to look at that aluminum panel on the passenger rear side of the cargo area. I have forgotten to install one of those bolts before.
;)