anyone have it? if so how is it and can u tell me about it?

 

it's good. it's a nice fit. TSW's "kit" comes with a specific bracket. LOTF has a bracket for 02-03 MINI's, washer brace for 04-06. 10 min easy install. noticeable difference right away.

 

Yeah, its worth the 100 bucks or so. Some complain of more resonance inside but I didn't notice any. Much easier shifting, more precise. And if it was there, I surely didn'y notice it after I took the seat out. A great cheap mod on an 02 or 03.

 

so it helps out with throttle response?

 

Yes, it helps shifts and smooths out throttle response some. Don't expect night and day differences, but subtle (at least on later models like yours).

There are a couple of threads out there with good info and pictures, do a search and read up... TSW vs. LOTF/Helix, I don't have experience with the LOTF/Helix so I'm no help. I can say that I have minimal tools and experience and I did the TSW install the first time in about 20 minutes going SLOWLY.

I took mine out yesterday and I miss the feel. I did get extra nvh, specially with the A/C on. I don't miss that.

 

so their basicly worth the buy

 

I would have to say yes.

If you don't like it, it's an easy sell here on the forum marketplace.

nothing to lose IMHO and its a good, well made product.

 

I have the TSW fitted alongside my Proflex bushings and mounts for the gearbox and engine. I had a load of NVH with the mounts, but the TSW damper helped get rid of a lot of them. I find I can now shift at 7k under WOT around corners and the car doesnt loose its balance, unlike before.

Took me an hour to fit, but thats because everyone always stops to ask about Ellie and what I am fitting to her engine this time.

 

this does NOT improve throttle response.
what it DOES do is help to put the power down to the wheels/chassis with less delay because there is no sway in the engine. it firms up the engine to the chassis. this is more of a comfort improvement to your car than it is a performance improvement.

if it transfers too much vibration there's a chance that the damper is set too stiff. the damper itself is the same one that LOTF is/was selling. you're mainly paying more for the bracket.

 

In my specific case I ranged the setting from loosest to stiffest and the same vibration was there. However, there are plenty of other people that have not experienced any vibration.

My guess is that my damper has something funky in it, since the previous owner had similar results. Again, a lot, if not most people don't seem to feel any additional vibrations.

 

I installed one myself in about 20 mins. Have no vibrations, good product .

 

I have installed the TSW Damper and believe that it works fine. While I was driving at the Spring Mountain Race Track in Las Vegas during AMVIV4, I found that I had difficulty down shifting into second gear under heavy braking conditions. I was unable to find second gear. This resulted in me either coasting through the turn out of gear or leaving it in third gear a lugging through the turn. I spoke with several other MINI drivers at the track and they had experienced similar problems in the past and a few suggested that I try the TSW damper.

I have installed it and have yet to have any problems downshifting. Although I have not been back on the track, I have done some "spirited" driving and it works great. I will know for sure next time I get out on the track.

I also get the "feel" of a quicker throttle response.

I am not in the position to argue the mechanical merits of how this works. I can say that I have been totally happy with the product.

 

Seems like a good mod to do. As a mountain biker, a bike that didnt compress its suspension when you stood up and put the power down was always nice. You really noticed it after riding for a few hours and you dont want to waste energy compressing things (MTB suspension/Engine mounts) whn you can get that energy translated to forward motion.

 

I just installed mine yesterday and it was a nicely done kit. But I did have to modify the fuel tank breather bracket a little to keep it off the sc horn. No extra vibration.Now the engine does not "wind up" and loose time getting the car moving. So it could feel like a better throttle response. Better in between shifts too, because of the same effect. The car should have had something like it from the factory.

 

FYI I sell two kits - one for 02/03, one for 04-06.

The 02/03 kit comes with a bracket "kit" as seen below:



The 04-06 does not come with a bracket and mounts directly to the block. Granted the space is tight but it ain't rocket science.

So before you post with such confidence, perhaps you should do a little research first.

Oh and the 04-06 kit is half the price of the TSW kit.

04-06 kit:

 

cant help but notice the later pic looks like it would be a bit more difficult to install...is this true? or is it just the angle of which the picture was taken? Looks like not a lot of room to navigate.

 

totally correct. its a PITA. you have to get some shorty wrenches if you dont have them already. and I lost my nuts (easy there) a few times and had to rely on my good old extendable magnet.

p.s. I think its much cleaner of an install. you really dont see anything, untill you look for it.

 

Heres a shot of my TSW damper . The mounting was very robust.I was impressed with it but I have not seen the LOTF. But by looks of the lordoftheflies photo it seems the LOTF's mounts are not in a solid area like the the TSW's. The TSW's brackets use existing motor/damper mounts with big bolts.

 

The LOF is very solid, just tucked away on the 05 and 06. I have it and it works great. Not a bad little mod.

 

sorry for my ignorance. ive corrected my post.

 

Yesterday, the Day 2 Course of the Slalom@Slemon (biggest Solo2 event in Eastern Canada... http://www.mmsc.ca/web?service=album/216 ) included a quick/tight right turn right off the start line, followed by an easy slalom taken under full acceleration. On 3 of my 4 runs, I could not shift into 2nd from 1st when taking the start/first stage. It was only after I let the rpms drop and I was basically at slowing that I could find 2nd gear. I figure this problem cost me at least 2 seconds on my final run times.

By comparison, the Day 1 course included a straight shot out of the start gate and my shift to 2nd was without incident. My times were on par with a group of Street Prepared E36 M3 BMWs.

I had the TSW engine torque damper in my toolbox but hadn't gotten around to installing it on my '06 Cooper S JCW before the event...

I plan to install it this week and test it out in a private parking lot under test conditions similar to this past weekend.

Any one else have a similar experience?

 

uhh... not quite the same scientific experience or search for better times experience, but:

i went to a dyno last year and watched a few MINI's do their 3 pulls. the first few had a LOT of swaying/rocking of the engine upon changing of gears and getting on the throttle. about 3-4 inches of jutting. then i saw one pull with shoe's (LOTF) damper and it barely budged an inch or two with no swaying, it just seemed to settle back down quicker.

 

So what are the negative impacts of this type of mod?

Has anyone lived with this type of mod for a couple of years? Or does anyone have some long term wear data?

The cars were engineered to twist at both the engine and transmission mounts. It seems to me that keeping one spot still would just transfer stress to the existing stock mounts. It sounds like a recipe for a torn or sheared mount.

Opinions?

 

I have no long term data, however its not a solid strut, there is some give ,so I don't think stress fractures will be a problem. The energy goes to propelling the car not twisting the engine on its rubber/fluid filled mounts. The TSW damper mounting areas are very robust, only solid strong cast alloy,no sheet metal attachments. I think there should have been something like this mod from the factory, it works that good. I have adjusted mine a little more stiffer than what it was shipped with ,for a more postive feel.

 

Thanks! I apreciate your feedback.