I had serious stumbling probelms when I first got my MINI in January'03. Some months back I replaced the intake with one from BMP.....which resulted in significant reduction in the stumbling... but its still there.

Today I upgraded the ingnition system with one from Pilo Racing....and the STUMBLING IS GONE. I am so excited. Since replacing the ignition system I have driven around for about 10 miles, on streets and freeway..... and I must say the drive is smoother. I am not so sure (maybe I IMAGINED IT) but somehow I seem to detect some quickness is accelation response as well.

I am having the ECU upgraded sometime next week and I think I am getting the MINI where I want it and maybe even where the BMW should have the MINI at to begin with - BPM intake, Mini Mania Pully, Pilo Racing Ignition sysyem, OZ Racing Superlegerra Wheels, YOKO ES100 215/45-17 tires.... next week ECU (Powerchip)and (maybe) after that Exhaust system.

 

Can any of our more techie members explain how an ignition system take away a stumble? I'm definitely not a techie, but it seems to me that once an ignition has done it's job, it goes to sleep until the next time it is awakened from it's slumber. Don't get me wrong, if it is taking care of stumbles while it should be slumbering I'm happy.

Ken

 

you said you drove 10 miles and stumble is gone
shouldnt you drive it a few hundred more miles before being sure?

 

>>you said you drove 10 miles and stumble is gone
>>shouldnt you drive it a few hundred more miles before being sure?

I agree... I should wait... but for now there is no stumbling. It's like being reborn. Don't get me wrong, I love my MINI. I have always loved MINIs. I wasn't originally from the US and the first car (1979) I drove was a MINI (a 1972 Morris Mini) and the first car I owned was a MINI. But I always hated the stumble in my new MINI and it was just so liberating to drive without the stumbles. So my comments may be premature but what I experienced was great. I fact I will be going out for another spin in about half an hour..... so even if what I am experiencing is temporay until the EUC caught (hopefully it never does), I will enjoy the stumble free drive as much as I can. That is why I got the MINI in the first place... to enjoy it which I have expect for the "stumble".

 

>>you said you drove 10 miles and stumble is gone
>>shouldnt you drive it a few hundred more miles before being sure?

He's happy right now and wanted to write about it....no crime in that. I'm sure he will drive it a few hundred more miles (inevitable, isn't it?) and I hope they and the thousands to follow are stumble-free.

Felix - now that you've opened this can of worms you almost owe it to the forum (skeptics and all) to update us once in a while....even if there's bad news, ie, even if the dreaded stumble returns.

For now, enjoy!

 

>>>>you said you drove 10 miles and stumble is gone
>>>>shouldnt you drive it a few hundred more miles before being sure?
>>
>>He's happy right now and wanted to write about it....no crime in that. I'm sure he will drive it a few hundred more miles (inevitable, isn't it?) and I hope they and the thousands to follow are stumble-free.


i wasnt giving him crap about posting..anybody can post pretty much thier own opinion. i was just sayng, instead of saying the stumble is gone, he should wait to give the full review. the reason i say that is because many people are affected by the stumble (not me) and their is no reason to suddenly get their hopes up

that said..happy motoring :smile:

 

>>Can any of our more techie members explain how an ignition system take away a stumble? I'm definitely not a techie, but it seems to me that once an ignition has done it's job, it goes to sleep until the next time it is awakened from it's slumber. Don't get me wrong, if it is taking care of stumbles while it should be slumbering I'm happy.
>>
>>Ken


I'm not a techie either, but the ignition systems is the whole of electrics for the car, not just the starter. To simplify, The car is started with the starter, which fires the spark plugs to get the motor going (literaly :smile, then the ECU takes over on timing, firing the spark plugs faster or slower. The power to spark the plugs is by power from the alternator going through the coil, which ups the aperage to a proper temperature to burn the gas in the cylinders.

I drive a '65 Chevelle (no MINI yet), so forget the part about ECU, and replace that with distributer, and thats what I drive.

A bit of warning, I don't even think I typed that right , so don't take my word for it, go to http://www.howstuffworks.com and look up engines

 

Man. Wouldn't it be nice if this really did fix the stumble? Lots of us have speculated that it HAS to be fuel/air related...maybe this could fix it?

From PILO's website:

We shall see. Put some miles on that bad boy so we'll know! Also, Randy (if you're out there) have you Dyno'd this yet?

 

>>>>you said you drove 10 miles and stumble is gone
>>>>shouldnt you drive it a few hundred more miles before being sure?
>>
>>He's happy right now and wanted to write about it....no crime in that. I'm sure he will drive it a few hundred more miles (inevitable, isn't it?) and I hope they and the thousands to follow are stumble-free.
>>
>>Felix - now that you've opened this can of worms you almost owe it to the forum (skeptics and all) to update us once in a while....even if there's bad news, ie, even if the dreaded stumble returns.
>>
>>For now, enjoy!

Thank you for the kind words kurvhugr. I will give updates from time to time. At the moment I am enjoying my rides stumble free. Since installing it this morning, I have done 105 mile of which 70 miles is on the freeway..... still no stumble...which is good but I think my gas consumption is a little higher... although it is too early to be sure.

Anyone else out there that has installed the Pilo Racing Ignition System? What's your take on it?

Chitown, I too hope that this is the answer to my stumble. I am not a techie and won't pretent to be one and I really I don't care about the "why". All I care about is that the stumble issue is resolved so I hope this is the answer for my MINI.

 

Felix88,
I'm glad that you are stumble free now. It occurs to me that since many owners attribute various upgrades like intakes and such to improving or negating stumble problems that maybe the change has forced a resetting mode of the ECU which then allows for the stumble to be reduced or even absent. The stumble is a ill effect of something not right.
Since the resetting of the ECU is forced by the upgrade then the problem is to allow the ECU to keep these new settings and not change. If this could be crucial then I would suggest you drive for the next week or so keeping in mind that the ECU is sensitive to how you drive. Perhaps that is something to consider and also why some people do better and others do not in keeping the stumble away for good. In any event keep us posted every 1000 miles or so and surely if the stumble returns despite your nice Pilo ignition upgrade.
Anybody got this Pilo ignition AND the M7 Plasma booster in their MINI yet?

 

Hey All,

Have been a little MIA this weekend, but i'm back now. I have been running the ignition system for several thousand miles, and the stumble is still gone. Eric from Helix Motorsports mentioned that my car(with the ignition upgrade) was one of the smoothest acceletating car's that he has driven (though he did not state it was directly related to the ignition). Regarding the post about how the ignition kit works. The ignition it is constantly running. The ignition system ignites the fuel with a spark every time a piston is at the top of the cylinder with a fresh mix of gas and fuel. That is why this system can help out with stumble, as well as a gain of HP (possibally, still to be tested.)

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Thanks
Dan
Pilo Racing

 

Dan: Good to know that I am not just dreaming and to know that the stumble is likely gone forever.

 

And Dan, if this fix is permanent.... thank you very much.

Felix88

 

Pilo - Your link is "wacked"

 

Thanks for letting me know.. I don't always click on it Link is fixed

Thanks
Dan
Pilo Racing :

 

Felix and Dan,
I am reading here that Felix has put a lot of highway miles on and no stumble. The Stumble occurs at take off, mine mostly the first take off of the day or of an outing. Has this system eliminated the stumble that occurs when you first let the clutch out in the morning or after first starting the car? If so sign me up. Thanks.

 

Dan,

Call MINIUSA and sell them your ignition system, if it fixes the stumble, since they can't seem to fix it. They bought MINIFINI cup holders, maybe they'll buy your ignition system.

See ya,
JS

 

Just bumping this as I am sure interested to hear some more experience with this system and its effect on the stumble.

 

Last time I contacted MiniUSA to help them I was turned away. I will keep on selling parts my way, and if they decide to talk to me, then I will work with them.

I'm glad that people are happy with the system that I am selling

Thanks
Dan
Pilo Racing

 

For anyone who is interested: I had some fairly happy news today regarding the stumble. Please read my two posts in the main Stumble thread if you're interested.

Stumble

Cheers!

 

Remember that when upgrading to a higher voltage Coil, it is important to update your wires as well. The higher voltage need the thicker wires to run at peak performance, as well as lower the resistance that the current experiences. The wires we sell are only 25 OHMs per foot, the lowest in the industry, and are very reasonabaly priced.

Thanks
Dan
Pilo Racing

 

Pilo,
Are you suggesting that the wires you sell are better matched for your igniton upgrade than the Magnecor, MSD ignition wires, or Nology wires?

This is of special consideration for those who have already upgraded to those wires and want to get your upgrade too.
Best to use your recommended spark plugs or will any brand of one setting colder plugs work with your ignition upgrade and the Pulley?

Personally I plan to get your full ignition upgrade set- the whole deal and add the M7 Plasma Booster- anything wrong with that? Any known problems or any known good things with that combo? Will have to get the pulley first though. Otherwise the colder plugs might be premature with a stock pulley.

 

I have done about 500 miles since upgrading with the Pilo Ignition System....still no stumbles. I have been pushing my MINI a little harder than I normally would since upgrading the ECU, especially off the line and in the 1st to 4th gear ranges. Of the 400 miles before the ECU upgrade, about 300 miles was street driving and of the 100 miles after the ECU upgrade, 60 or so miles was street driving. At the moment I still very happy with the Ignition upgrade. Thanks Dan. And I am also very please with the ECU upgrade.... and since after putting in about 40 or 50 miles after the upgrade, there has been significant improvement in the smoothness in acceleration and quickness in acceleration. Since I do not have another MINI with just the ECU upgrade to compare the experience I am having now with my own MINI, I can't say if any of the "smoothness" and "quickness" are attributed to the Ignition System.

I am a little surprise that there have been no other imput to this forum from others who has the Ignition system upgrade? Am I the only one?

 

Felix, You are not the only person to have purchased this system. There are a bunch of other people running it. I am verry happy that your stumble is gone. I know that there is a Standard Mini Cooper out there with stumble that is trying the Pilo Racing Ignition upgrade to find out if it helps also.

Thanks
Dan
Pilo Racing

 

Based on Dan's 3,000 miles and Felix's 500 miles I have ordered the Pilo ignition upgrade (only $143).......sounds like it may benefit performance beyond just the stumble.....although my main goal is to get that little bugger out of my Mini's system. Already have the Pilo cold air intake. I'm still going to see my Lemon Law suit through no matter what happens with this.

Thanks for reactions guys........hope to be there smiling with you soon.......will keep you posted.