-x-x-

 

I have 65k miles on my MINI and wanted to replace the original coil with a MSD coil because I have a minor rough idle issue and found a little bit of corrosion on the #3 post.

One point I'd like to make that I didn't see mentioned is that the MSD coil has brass leads that will not corrode like the OEM coil. So there ARE benefits to using the MSD coil.

I believe the people in this thread when they say the OEM coil is more than adequate. However, if you were going to replace a coil, would you buy a OEM coil or a MSD coil?

BONUS POINTS - Tell me the cheapest place to buy your answer.

 

it's not the coil

 

I had a very rough idle...and I fixed it by cleaning out the fuel system. I did it by using 40% ethanol for several tanks. My rough idle is gone and I have much more power all over...with pure gas and with the 60/40 mix. Just a reminder that build up will kill power. Maybe try some seafoam if you are not up to using ethanol.

 

The thread that won't die.

 

Yeah, and magic Jan knows that it's not the coil because he is telepathic with all MINIs ever sold, and can remotely diagnose ignition problems without any information at all...

I sure get tired of self-appointed gurus who spend their time panning products that others find useful, but they don't sell.

Meanwhile, the pins on the stock coil, particularly the #3 pin, corrode like crazy on many MINIs, and can cause less-than-optimal running, particularly at higher RPM. I bought an MSD because the brass pins can easily be cleaned with an abrasive pad, should corrosion ever occur again.

Other than that, there is no advantage vs. the stock coil. Prices have about a $4 range from one vendor to another - shipping cost may be the determining issue for you.

 

Has anyone painted the MSD coil blue? We need a blind test with one red, one blue, and the drivers not knowing.

 

great idea but the dyno doesn't lie even though some here will try and lead you to believe different

 

Ok so I went out and got the MSD Coil Pack and wires. I want to put the oem stuff back on but...... I didnt mark the OEM wires. Does anyone know if they are marked, or could I just use the MSD wires with the OEM coil pack??? or does it Matter at all what wire goes where they all look the same length to me!!! please help. By the way No problems yet with Coil pack but I had to bore out the mounting holes for the OEM mounting screws so it sits a bit loose just want to put back the old Pack for piece of mind Dont want no trouble here lol

 

I was a bit confused on what you were asking exactly, so here's more than you probably want.

According to the Bentley Manual for the '02-'04 model years: When facing the engine, the cylinders are 1 - 4, left to right. The OEM coil pack shown has raised numbers, one each terminal. Should be easy to match them up. The firing order is 1-3-4-2 though that info may not help you. The pictures therein are too hard to follow the wires into the coil. If you need I can open my bonnet and tell you. Of course, IF you have an '02-'04 as I don't have anything on the '05 and later that I could trust.

The MSD wires should be fine as long as you route them to the proper terminals. The lengths don't matter either. I have Nology wires and they are all about the same length.

 

I do not understand why Jan keeps trying to torpedo the business of other vendors who sell a perfectly legitimate OEM-replacement product.

No-one will tell you that the MSD coil makes more power, and I do not get why this self-appointed master-of-the-universe keeps sticking in his half-cents worth to try to zap this product, aside from the fact that he does not sell it.

The MSD coil is in fact superior to stock, in that it has brass pins, which won't corrode and cause poor ignition like the stock coil. That's the whole story. It costs same as stock and won't degrade over time.

Sounds like the result of a massive inferiority complex, or not enough to do, to me...

 

I'm still trying to figure out why you are sending me emails trying to bully me?

 

I have not tried to bully you.

I wrote exactly one private email, to try get you to see that you are not behaving like an ethical person. I sent one note, trying to get through to you, in private, that your behavior is not appropriate.

You would be far more credible if you stuck to promoting your own products and quit trying to be the ultimate know-it-all guru about every product that other vendors offer.

It is NOT your responsibility to keep people from buying products, and you sound like someone carrying out a vendetta against MSD.

If your products are superior, they will sell themselves, and it is not your job to bad-mouth all the other products that you do not sell.

If other products have their own strengths, or not, state your opinion, and DROP IT!

If others offer quality products, let them be sold, instead of repeatedly trying to torpedo something which is simply an alternative to the defect-prone OEM coil.

If you have an opinion, say it ONCE and let it go, and people might believe what you say.

Keep repeating the same tired polemic, and you lose face with every repetitious inappropriate comment. So far, you have posted dozens of comments in this thread alone, basically trying hard to keep people from buying the MSD coil.

Why?

 

And the same could be said of you.........claiming the same weak vendor parts work best week after week.

 

Rick
you failed in your attempt at gaining my attention with the name calling in the first sentence of your private email. You sure aren't going to catch many flies using vinegar.

Here in California a bright Red coilpack that isn't CARB approved sits right on top of the engine where the cops will send you straight to the referee is one reason. Not to mention it doesn't even bolt up properly to the MINI. Lastly it hasn't shown any gains over the stocker. Most change it out before their coils ever went bad. People are looking for power and spend money on TBs, coil packs, plug wires etc when the stockers were doing their job more than adequate. Then , the customer finds out they don't have enough money left to buy parts that actually make them the power they sought in the first place.


Not quite sure why you are defending a coil pack that does nothing for power so vehemetly???. Maybe the vendors that do sell them should be posting data showing proof of their value?

For the record I have full MSD system on my 67 BB 502 cu in. Chevelle because there, it works better than the stock How do I know this? I dyno tested it

 

I would guess that he likes it so much cause MM sells it.......so it must be better.

 

No bigshot - that's not it.

The single advantage of the MSD is its brass pins.

When your OEM coil shows corrosion on the #3 pin, you will either replace it with another stock one, which is a 10% bet to fail in the same way (arcing thru the plating on the steel pins, and corrosion), or you will replace it with a coil with brass pins, which can easily be cleaned and continue to be used if it ever shows signs of arcing.

As to the comment that is a downright silly statement coming from a guy who sells completely illegal headers to people for use on the street. It's about 2 minutes to swap out a coil that How many hours does it take to swap out the non-CARB-approved-and-never-will-be hardware that you sell? Think you will get past a smog check with a catless header?

For the same price as OEM, I bought the MSD for its longevity, in spite of Jan's protests. I also spent about a buck to buy four allen-head bolts and o-rings to mount it (even though M-M supplied a set). I don't view that as a deal-killer, although the concept seems to horrify some people.

I don't keep defending it, I just keep responding to your repetitious posts telling people not to buy it. Try to understand that even if you have nothing better to do, you are not in charge of how other people spend their money. Some might even have enough money to buy more than one product.

Give it up. You've stated your point of view more than enough times to become tedious, as have I. I'll call a truce on the topic if you give up your ceaseless attacks.

 

wow.....................JUST WOW...............

 

Loosely translated, Jan thinks that if you spend $90 replacing a defective coil, you might not have enough money left to buy the products he sells.

Bad news - Jan isn't a clone of Ralph Nader, and not even the light entertainment that Mythbusters provides. His motivations on this are simply self-serving...

 

Rick, his 2.0l stroker passed emissions testing, they didnt even notice it was diffrent. And where did you get that the header was catless?


doing the research i see....

 

Since when doesn't brass corrode? Ever try dielectric grease on coils?

And Yes Rick I"M A FANBOY"

 

What the heck, I don't have anything better to do on lunch time, might as well get in on this too. "weak vendor parts" Ok, like MSD has been around..........forever. I think they know how to make top quality ignition parts. I give you this: Bud Yancer has been building engines since 1972. He's had his engine dyno since 1982 and has run hundreds of engines ranging from 100 to 1300 horsepower. Bud is known for his innovation and commitment to quality, and he wanted eveyone to know that he is still running the same MSD 7AL-2 box that he put on his dyno back in 1982. As Bud says, "When it comes to MSD products, just run it and you don't have to worry". Bud's never had a problem and he knows he never has to wonder if his MSD box will deliver. MSD thanks Bud and his staff at MACH Developemnt in Phoenix for their commitment to quality.

Hmm.......so you think putting on a cat, even a "CARB approved" cat on a header makes it "CARB approved"? Nope, don't think so. I know of no aftermarket headers that are "CARB approved" I may be wrong, but it costs a ton of money to get approval.

 

I think that this thread has run it's course.

Consider it closed.