Lately I have become aware of performance chips for the Mini. Anyone have experience, opinion or advice? A tad more low end torque would be welcome, and probably mileage would improve. I have an '03 Cooper S.

 

There are literally hundreds of threads on this subject. Check out the performance mods drivetrain forum and you'll find 'em.

p.s. Get the Unichip for your S, it's what I've got and it's fantastic., Oh, and welcome to the Tribe, eklein.

 

Just as I thought. I appreciate the response.

 

hows the MPG's after?

 

to MCSDMN: I doubt you/we will get an answer on the MPG's after chipping, since most Mini-modifiers just press the "go" pedal and don't measure mileage. Still, maybe some detail types will reply.

to MGCMAN: I did a bit of reading last night to educate myself on this and other subjects. It seem smarter to install a pulley and/or larger CAI BEFORE installing a chip, since the ecu readings will be altered with these mods. I would expect the specific design of the chip would likewise be affected. Is this how you did it? I like the idea of a pulley change and a chip to get the low end torque, not going overboard with expense and potential stress the the drivetrain. One member's input advocated the 19% reduction pulley, kind of implying "if you're gonna modify, go big". That is a pretty big increase in the supercharger rotation rate from stock, but I suppose the chip will compensate to avoid frying anything. I also have to do more reading on the "warrantee void" subject. I also don't want to compromise my "free scheduled maintenance". After all, this is my wife's car......although I pay the bills. Ha!

 

MINIclo, who just came across the US from CA for the Dragon reported that with a UniChip and 15% pulley, she was getting up to 41.5 MPG through Texas.

 

I can't imagine that chipping a MCS could do that much. Chipping a turbo car with electronically controlled boost limits (such as VW and Audi 1.8 and 2.0T's) gives a HUGE gain in horsepower/torque. Changing the supercharger pulley on the MCS does the same thing mechanically. Altering the software for better "driveability" may be possible, but I wouldn't expect big gains in power from chipping.

 

sndwave, is that what the computer said?
I was thinking of a 15% and then the MTH tuner file......i would like to not kill the milage but also want to be able to keep up with my friend's subaru wrx or anything else that may pull up.

 

I did the 15% pulley first. Following with a CAI, cat-back exhaust and then the UNICHIP especially "tuned" for the MCS with my mods (15% pulley, CAI and cat-back). As far as the voiding of your warranty goes, well it's a subject you should take up with the wife beforehand. These mods won't void everything, just the supercharger and related pieces, the air-intake and the exhaust. CAI and exhaust are really non-issues IMO, but the pulley is not. If the warranty is a major sticking point, consider a "guaranteed" version like a dealer installed Dinan or depending on your dealer, a JCW.