I've participated in a pulley install... it's non-trivial, at best. On the one we did, the pulley was pretty well stuck on there, and it was pretty nervous getting it off...

I think the going rate for a pulley is about $400 installed.

The JCW CAI is a pretty straightforward DIY. Prices are all over the place - keep an eye out for deals...

 

reply to ken's post..

i stole it. package rerouted to los angeles.

edit: my internets is being slow so my posts are showing up like 10 mins late.

 

Ten minutes ??!! You have Pony Express Internet Service ??

Thanks for the info, Blimey. Going to have to shop around. MINI Mania is where I found the JCW CAI for $495.

 

i have dumb time warner cable.. formerly known as comcrap, i mean "comcast".

i should really wash geoffrey. but he's gonna be sitting in an unconvered airport parking lot when we leave for canada next week so i kindda feel like there's no point.

 

Mini Mania is usually the MOST expensive place to buy just about anything, in my experience. JCW intake is $270 at Outmotoring...

I heard that MINI recently raised prices A TON on the Gen1 JCW stuff.... so it may come down to finding someone who still has old stock to get the better prices... I'd order one TODAY if I were you...

 

Damnit, leslie!

I'm having doubts now. I don't think my wrench is coming today. Its past the UPS guy's normal deliver hrs.

Damn those local crystal lakeians.

 

Thanks... I'll check out Outmotoring. I prefer them anyway.

 

Hmmmmmm... yep, Outmotoring has the JCW CAI for $269.95.

And they have the Alta V2 15% SC Pulley for $134.95.

Damn, I can get both of those for less than MINI Mania wants for just the CAI !

Called my local shop. They say the SC pulley install is noooooooo problem. They have done many of them but not on MINIs. I told them it involves lifting the engine. Again... they say nooooooooo problem.

 

Your shop will need two special tools to do it right.... no matter how many other cars they've done it on. They need the RIGHT pulley puller and a MINI belt tensioner... I've done it without the right tools, but I wouldn't want to pay a professional to do it in the half azzed way I did.

 

Well, I see Outmotoring has those tools... $75 for the pulley removal tool, $21 for the belt tensioner.

Suppose I could buy them for the shop to use and then sell them here on NAM afterward.

 

Ups says delivered. My logistics guy can't confirm. Where did you hide it, leslie?

 

There's got to be a MINI shop in the area that can do the pulley install for you?

 

Found the package! but won't be able to take a look for another few hrs. (In a meeting right now).

 

My responses are also slightly delayed, apparently.

 

Did you ever get the feeling you were talking to yourself and nobody was listening to you?

Well, have you ?

Anyone ?

hello ???

 

Me? Nope, I just post watever I want. I got a wuick chance to check the wrench. Looks good! 7/08 build, tested 7/24.

...But the call tag was not in the box, so the issue continues...

 

Wuick. I can't type either...

so are people using the electronic valve on those JCW intakes? Something about the vent opening/closing per speed?

 

My JCW intake is installed as designed - so it opens at about 4200RPM... below that, is uses the same snorkel and grommet air sources as stock intake. It splices into a wire to detect RPM, and into vacuum lines to provide power for the flap. My theory is that they designed it this way to hide the low-RPM throttle whistle as well as the stock airbox.

Yeah, Chris.... I'd find a REAL MINI tuner to do your pulley, personally.... thought there was somebody in the DC metro area mentioned earlier.... or Helix in Philly...

Oh yeah... Lucky Dog Garage / Behe Performance...

 

Wuick !!! I think you were trying to type too wuickly !!

The Outmotoring website says you can re-wire the JCW CAI to open only at the high range of RPMs or leave it open all the time.

Says the re-wiring is really only necessary in Europe where the are more strict on noise ordinances.

Here in the good ol' US of A... no re-wiring needed. Leave the vent open ALL the time and enjoy the noise at all RPMs !!

 

Lucky Dog garage... yeah, i've heard them mentioned before in the DCMM club. I'll have to check them out. Thanks... again.

 

Wrong, in my humble opinion. The flap is there for a reason. Once you hear the whistle in a cabrio, it will drive you INSANE to get rid of it... If you don't want the flap, don't buy a JCW box, buy a Dinan, same thing but cheaper, without the flap.

 

Interesting... it whistles that much at the lower RPMs ?

Just called Lucky Dog... hell, they're only about 15 miles from where I live. They'll install the Pulley for $200 and the CAI for $90.

 

Some cars whistle, some don't so much. It's actually the air rushing past the edge of the throttle plate with a partially open throttle (maybe, say, 15% throttle).... crap, I was about to write this all out AGAIN... just read it in my blog:
http://www.blimeycabrio.com/?p=138

If you want to see if you have it in your car, on a clear and non-polleny and non-dusty day, take the top off your existing airbox and remove your air filter. Then drive around the block in first or second gear, experimenting with various throttle positions, around 10-25% throttle. If you have it, you'll hear something like a teakettle at a very specific throttle position - give it a tiny more or less throttle and it goes away.

With a CAI, the whistle will be much louder than what you hear in this experiment, because the airbox will open into the cowl. Unless you have a JCW with the flap. Then it only opens above the threshold for this noise. I think that's the REAL reason for the flap... not what you read...

 

Lucky Dog sounds like some authentic chinese dish.

plus, you sure you want to make your car a dog (slow)?

I would name it GarageBlimey or Blimey's Garage or something along
those lines.

 

I wish I could afford to open a speed shop... that would rock.