Hi All,

I know there is about a 1250 break-in period, however should I allow another break-in period after adding aftermarket parts (for example should I go easy on the car for about maybe 100 miles after adding a cold air intake to allow the engine to adjust to it)?

Also has anyone heard about a short-shift kit yet?

 

Hey there Velocity:
Judging from it being your 1st post, looks like you're new to the board. Welcome.
In response to your inquiry, it's actually the opposite.
What I usually have done in the past as well as others, is to disconnect the power from the battery before installing mods like plugs, intakes, chips, etc. Then once it's all done, connect the battery again and take off in the car like you just stole it. What the battery disconnection does is resets the computer so it's able to not only relearn your driving habits, but also adjust to the mods. So you usually want to give her crap and make her stink after modding. It seems to get the most bang for the buck by doing that.
But wait until you pass the original break-in period though.
Just my thoughts.
Good luck.
Cheers,

 

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Im sorry to be this implicit, but...
If you do that the self adjusting computer will adjust in two steps, you need to pushed from the beginig, and then you will set up you fuel mixture and the car be fine, I have 900 miles with my Cold intake and no problems.

INSTALL IT AND ENJOY IT, specially the sound of the supercharger.

 

O how long does it take the computer to adjust? That is, how long do you need to thrash it around before you can drive in a more average manner?

 

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the advice!! Does anyone know if my Nav. system is going to get all buggy if I disconnect the battery? If I don't get a response I'll contact my dealer and post the results of that conversation.

Has anyone heard of a short shift kit for the MINI yet?

 

I've had a '99 Cougar and a '01 Ford SVT Lightning as the last couple of vehicles before my Cooper'S'. And I gotta say that when I took off the negative battery terminal to install mods like intake, plugs, chips, etc, they work a lot more than iff you don't. I would disconnet the negative terminal every now and then sometime after that as well. About a few times each year. Just to reset everything. Like a new experience.
But with my Cooper'S', firstly I still have yet to mod it out. Secondly, it appears to be a little more computer enhanced than the last couple of vehicles I had (Fords). I don't have expereince with BMW's so I can't say for sure. But it works well on Ford's and other makes like Honda, Nissan, etc. So I can't say for sure what'll happen with your nav system or other parts. Ask your dealer for info on a disconnetion of the battery. But don't mention the modifying part. Most dealers tend to frown on that. Come up with some lame excuse as to why you want to do it.
It doesn't usually take that long for the car to re-adjust. Bag on it for a little while, but don't be too harsh. Find somewhere quiet, or a track/drag strip would actually be perfect. Rip around for a bit opening her up, go through all the gears, etc. Watch for cops, eh.
That's just been my experiences. I usually go with what works.
Cheers,

 

While this debate is interesting, it is possibly based on old wives' tales and assumptions. One must ask whether or not the ECM controls strategy is either a speed density based system or a Mass air flow variety. Furthermore, vehicles don't "learn" driving habits. ECMs store calculations based on many factors, to include: oxygen sensor readings vs load vs air temperature vs engine operating temp etc etc. The type of fueling strategy, whether it is MAF or speed density will dictate the effect of resetting the ECM vs wide open throttle (WOT) performance.

So, which is it? Speed density or Mass air flow?

Barb

 

Assuming the ECM is of the MAF persuation, it can calculate part throttle Air fuel ratio corrections by measuring the actual airflow of the engine. Upgrade the intake and exhaust and you change how the engine flows air. The ECM will set its short and long term fueling variables to achieve a AFR of 14.7/1 during part throttle cruise conditions based on sensor inputs, most notably the oxygen sensor. Why 14/1? This is the ideal Air Fuel ratio for economy and catlytic converter light off.

Unless Mini has an economical Wide band oxygen sensor (basically non- existant) the fueling at Wide Open Throttle (WOT) is still left for fueling tables in the chip, not the result of some "learned" fueling strategy. You see, 14.7/1 AFR is optimal for emissions, not WOT performance. 11/1 AFR is more like what most might shoot for when tuning for power, and since your stock O2 is incapable of measuring anyting other than 14.7/, it is ignored at WOT.
Most manufactures to date rely on only one AFR measurement (because most commercial O2 sensors are only capable of reading one AFR), 14.7/1 and only use this feedback from the O2 during part throttle operations. Using that lean of an AFR at WOT would damage pistons.
So what is the moral of the story? Reseting the ECM generally has little effect on WOT performance, but can surely effect short term, part throttle operation. Failing to reset the ECM normally does not cause a WOT performance issue and in reality is not as big an issue as some would lead you to believe, as the short and long term fueling for part throttle operation is usually quick to update and adjust to your new mods. Now, I have zero experience with Mini/BMW engine control, but am somewhat familiar with common stratagies, including Ford and GM EFI.

Furthermore, since most engine controls only store fueling updates while operating in part throttle conditions (Ford, GM, Toyota etc...), flogging your ride right after resetting the ECM isnt the best thing to do. Let the fueling calculations update by driving the car for 5 minutes or so before flogging it.

Sorry for all that, ECM tuning happens to be a hobby of mine, and like most hobbies I am not getting paid to do it, if ya know what I mean....

Barb's Hubby....

 

Thanks for the info frenchbuly. I was wondering if maybe there was a single book or maybe two that you would recomend for some one to enjoy the same hobby as yourself. Thanks again for the info.