I couldn't make it to the Cherry Run, today. But, I was able to get out to Maryland to meet Bluminiboy. He was very gracious to let me ride in his Lucky Dog flashed and tuned factory JCW since I was thinking about getting the same treatment for my car. I couldn't wait to get back in here and relay my experience.

First, he asked to ride in my stock JCW... Maybe to check out how I drive...or perhaps to feel once again what a "normal" JCW is like out of nostalgia. We took a quick loop for a few miles on some minor twisties in Olney. Bumped into a couple Minis along the way - one of them almost literally. He was flying around a corner on my side of the road and thank God for my JCW brakes.

Afterwards, we returned to the parking lot and switched cars. Bluminiboy was calm, very gracious, and even soft spoken, so I had no idea the fury he was about to unleash on me. In hindsight, I should have suspected something when he pulled on some driving gloves that he probably wears when piloting his crotch rocket.

Well, we got back on the road and through the first couple lights, it didnt seem different at all - ran smooth like a stock JCW. But, around the first turn we had maybe a few hundred yards of open road, so, he stepped on it! After I caught my breath a little and managed to reach for the roof handle, the only words that I could come up with were something to the effect of: " WOOOOOHHOOoooooooooo!!! HOoooLY SH*T!!! " From then on it was a mixture of fear, elation, disbelief, and awe mixed in with various expletives, while grinning from ear to ear.

So, lemme get to the point here. Don't have $5,000 to blow on an entirely new engine and exhaust set up? Want to keep your car relatively unmodded for warranty purposes, but have the itch to go faster? Like the idea of having a sleeper thatll put most cars to shame? Call up Lucky Dog Garage and set up an appointment. It will be the best bang for the buck you'll ever spend!

 

Hey Bluminiboy...I can't remember... did your car still have a burble?

 

sounds great.. dayum. so how much hes putting down?? my goal is just slight over 200 whp..

 

We are just about @ 200 WHP non JCW, so he is probably like 210 WHP. Not exactly sure though.

 

Burble is still there. Car has 200whp. and it's great and I love it!

I know John has been able to get a regular S to get 196whp with only a 15% pulley.

 

I was glad to give pl4y a ride, and am glad that you enjoyed it. haha, those gloves ARE crotch rocket gloves. i find they make the best driving gloves. I wear them whenever i drive the MINI. you can ask anyone.

that's the same grin that I can't seem to wipe off my face either.

and remember pl4y has a factory JCW that is very NEW. i was surprised to find out that he barely had 2500 miles on it. I wanted to ride in it, cuz i wanted to ride in a stock JCW again to feel the difference.

if you do have $5-6000 to spend LDG does have a package to get you over 220whp easy.

 

I've been contemplating getting a tune but I would have to send them the ECU instead of going there in person. Besides the extra power, hp and torque, I would like to have my car run up the rpm range a little more smoothly. Something I'm sure they could take care of better in person than just a standard ECU tune.

I keep reading how smooth the JCW is. On NAM and Motoringfile reviews. I just don't feel the smoothness in my 06 JCW. In the range of 2600 to 3200 rpm during normal driving there is a jerky feeling and what feels like lower power. Also when cruising at a steady 70mph there is a very noticeable feeling of a miss. No CEL lights though. I've had the latest software from the dealer and even tried a DT BP valve but it's still there.

I talked with LD last week and said if I do send them the ECU I'll get a dyno run file and send it with the ECU. What should I ask that the dyno show besides hp and torque to maybe help LD see that something seems to be up with my current software? I talked with Chad at DT and explained it and he seems to think it was an ECU issue. Maybe LD can correct this.

 

i know that more than likely he would want to see your dyno so he could see your power curve. if you have some sort of "jerky" feeling in that lower range more than likely it would show in the dyno chart.

so he would be able to see this and more than likely be able to take care of it. the JCW was smooth for me when i first got it, and it still is very smooth after the tune.

 

Dude. THat did not feel like 200 WHP Your machine was possessed. I mean "Sylvia". Granted I don't know a whole lot about tuning etc. Maybe it's cuz I never sat in a tuned Mini rolling at 7000rpms.

 

I knew a "Sylvia" once, and she was definitely possessed!

 

JustJay, was your car also flashed/tuned at LDG?

 

lol. sounds like an interesting story

 

Yes, Soulfire has been "touched" by John. And BOY DOES IT SHOW! Soulfire has SO much pep now and pizzaz and pickup!
John did a fantastic job in making SF what we wanted. I am sure if you wanted a ride sometime, Jay or I would be happy to give you one.

 

You might want to check your plug wires and coil pack. I had an issue recently where if I was cruising and then put a load on the engine (like I was passing a car) it would miss and then start accelerating. Last weekend I was cleaning the air filter and went to check the plug wires and noticed that the wire for cylinder 3 was fried. I pulled the wire from the coil pack and the connection was burnt and malformed. Needless to say I got a new coil pack and wires (and replaced the plugs yesterday just in case).

What you more than likely felt is a dramatic change in torque. That's the most significant change made by the tune. The torque comes on at a lower RPM and stays level longer.

 

I would think an ECU flash would toast your warranty on the whole drivetrain.

 

ECU flash is undetectable by the dealer. Can't toast your warranty if they can't find it.

 

Is there a log in the ECU of when you hit the limiter? If they see 7200 might have a question or two. I've got a LDG flash and it is the best money I've spent but I realized I'm messing with the warranty.

 

There are bits of telemetry that are stored on the key. I'm not sure what all of them are but I'm sure top speed is definitely on there. Don't know about RPM or anything else.

 

That is true, when ever I see Sherwin, he has his gloves on.

 

Thanks Mininurse I did get a chance to ride in Soulfire at the last MoS breakfast and fast it was but I have a feeling Jay was holding back since I was more focused on tires and rims that day LOL....

 

What other mods have you made to your engine? Do you already have a pulley?

 

• 15% pulley
• CAI
• Exhaust w/o resonator
• EVO Tech software (came w/ the MINI)

The next thing is headers. I was going to do:

• Head
• Cam
• Injectors

But since we bought another MINI, that is going to have to wait a long time

 

So what's giving you the extra 4 horse? Lack of resonator? Evotech is disconnected - correct?

 

The extra is from the removal of the resonator. John used the Evotech software for the tune instead of using his software. He told Stacey that it is good software and there was no need to change it out.