Many thanks to Gabe Bridger for his site that posted this info-
http://www.bridger.us/mini/

http://dinancars.com/newsletter/news...6-10-2003.html

Dinan has just released a press release on two MCS upgrades. Stage 1 upgrade with added 15 HP includes intake, software changes, throttlebody upgrade and exhaust for under $2000 and 6 hours labor. Stage 2 upgrade brings HP to 198 and is similar to the JCW kit but does not require cylinder head removal, it has all of the stage 1 upgrades plus upgraded pulley, software upgrade tuned for the pulley upgrade. Under $3000 cost, 10 hours labor and full new car warranty for both upgrade options up to the 4 year limit. Very nice.

Later on expect suspension upgrades:
Performance Springs
Matching Struts and Shocks
Larger/adjustable antiroll bars
Camber Plates
Strut and Shock Tower Braces
Lightweight Forged Performance Wheels
Non-runflat matched performance tires

I'm sure there is more to come down the road and the upgrade for the MC is still in the works but likely to be:
Intake (3-4 HP)
Software upgrade (3-4HP)
maybe throttlebody (3-4 HP)
cat-back exhaust (3-4 HP)
I would guess about 12-16 HP difference and about $1500-1900.
With up to four year warranty.

It doesn't look like the ECU upgrades are as powerful as many of us would like-more like the kind of change seen with the JCW kit in the MCS.

Stage 1 and 2 kits for the MCS shipping from March 2004.

I like it.

 

Well I know Dinan makes top quality stuff but I feel they are too late to the market for me.

 

"Stage 2 upgrade brings HP to 198 and is similar to the JCW kit but does not require cylinder head removal, it has all of the stage 1 upgrades plus upgraded pulley, software upgrade tuned for the pulley upgrade. Under $3000 cost, 10 hours labor and full new car warranty for both upgrade options up to the 4 year limit."

This kit is a steal relative to the JCW (but I'm still going the DIY performance route with aftermarket parts). I bet the kit puts out more than 198 but MINI didn't want them to undercut JCW sales

 

Hmmm, Let's see. I've already done the pulley, but a Dinan intake, throttle body, cat back and ecu upgrade sound pretty damned tempting.

Dear Santa,

I've been a good boy (so far) this year. Please bring me some Dinan goodies for my MCS. I might even let you take it out for a spin when you're in town. It will sure beat milk and cookies.

p.s. Mrs. Claus doesn't even have to know.

_________________
BLUBELLE - 2003 MCS IB /W Premium, Sport, Cold pkgs, Lapis blue interior, Magnecor wires, Alta Pulley, Moss Skid Plate, Chrome Trim Interior

 

>>"Stage 2 upgrade brings HP to 198 and is similar to the JCW kit but does not require cylinder head removal, it has all of the stage 1 upgrades plus upgraded pulley, software upgrade tuned for the pulley upgrade. Under $3000 cost, 10 hours labor and full new car warranty for both upgrade options up to the 4 year limit."
>>
>>This kit is a steal relative to the JCW (but I'm still going the DIY performance route with aftermarket parts). I bet the kit puts out more than 198 but MINI didn't want them to undercut JCW sales

 

so am i reading this right. for the stage 2 which is $1k more than stage one. the only thing you get added to the stage 1 is a pulley and software (included with stage 1)tuned for the pulley. so for anojtehr grand you get a pulley and newer software? not sure if that sounds worht it to me. yeha you keep the warranty, but i really don't care about teh warranty anyways. but that is jsut me. i've never had a car wiht one, so i'm used to fixing it myself anyways. but the stage two just gets you a pulley and software for the pulley, even though software comes wiht the stage 1 just not for the pulley. sorry sort of confused

 

Man... I got scooped!

I have a friend that's the Dinan guy in Va Beach, and he faxed me this info this morning... I finally get it scanned in...and boom..it's already on MCO. ah well... It sounds pretty nice!

Ben

 

>>so am i reading this right. for the stage 2 which is $1k more than stage one. the only thing you get added to the stage 1 is a pulley and software (included with stage 1)tuned for the pulley. so for anojtehr grand you get a pulley and newer software? not sure if that sounds worht it to me. yeha you keep the warranty, but i really don't care about teh warranty anyways. but that is jsut me. i've never had a car wiht one, so i'm used to fixing it myself anyways. but the stage two just gets you a pulley and software for the pulley, even though software comes wiht the stage 1 just not for the pulley. sorry sort of confused

When you do the pulley and ECU upgrade with aftermarket parts you risk "voiding" the warranty. You'll have to fight it out with your dealer if you should have any trouble.

What you must build into the DINAN price is the warranty. In a stage 1 upgrade the warranty is not worth as much because the level of upgrades is pretty tame. For the stage 2 kit and about $1000 more you get a much more serious 15% reduction pulley which stresses the engine much more and even with the ECU upgrade, it's the warranty on the pulley upgrade that is making up a chuck of the cost.

Prices are not including labor which at $100 per hour is roughly $600 for the stage 1 kit and $1000 for the stage 2 kit.

Yes, I too was surprised to find this info but the credit goes to Gabe who had this all up on his site. I just stumbled along and found it.

 

>>You can't been the offer of a warranty. That what would stop me from performing the pulley upgrade. Does that $3K pricetag include labor?
>>
>>

Nope - 10 hours of labor required. It's still cheaper than the JCW and they both keep the warrenty.

 

well i already ave the pulley upgrade and ni issues wiht the ealer yet. just wiaitng on gaic to get his chip out there for us. but still anojtehr grand doesn't seem all that great. but that's just me
nice to know that they finaly have somethng for us though. i do like dinan

 

Sounds like it's extra to me...

 

Where will you be able to get these installed? Does Dinan have specific dealers they work with?

 

>>Where will you be able to get these installed? Does Dinan have specific dealers they work with?
Yes, with a warranty you must purchase and install the upgrade through one of the many DINAN dealers.
Go to:
http://dinancars.com/default.htm
select "dealers" to find one near you.

About the DINAN warranty:
From the DINAN site-
Product support is another important aspect of the Dinan philosophy since we insist on equaling the after-sale service and support that BMW owners expect.

With that in mind, we offer the best warranty available anywhere.

Dinan's warranty matches whatever period remains on the individual New Vehicle Limited Warranty for up to 4 years or 50,000 miles. Exceptions are turbocharged, supercharged or stroker engines for which a Dinan Drivetrain Warranty is available.

Our current 2 year/unlimited mileage warranty applies to products installed on those vehicles no longer covered by the manufacturer's New Vehicle Limited Warranty.

And the installation of Dinan products will not affect your new car warranty coverage. So you are covered mile to mile, year to year and bumper to bumper

 

>>well i already ave the pulley upgrade and ni issues wiht the ealer yet. just wiaitng on gaic to get his chip out there for us. but still anojtehr grand doesn't seem all that great. but that's just me
>>nice to know that they finaly have somethng for us though. i do like dinan
sanity29,
The one good thing about choosing all of the upgrade mods yourself is that you are free to stop at any time and get any combination that works for you.

With a kit you are stuck with the combination that they have provided for the average performance enthusiast.
While true the cost is close, your $3000 to mods is going to farther to improve performance than with the stage 2 kit because part of the $3000 goes to the warranty.

I would say that your intake,pulley, GIAC, exhaust combo is going to beat the stage 2's 198 HP by about 5 to 10HP and cost a little less than $1000 less unless you want to add the larger throttlebody or exhaust header.

And you can choose which exhaust (loudness, weight, appearance, power-HP vs torque, and tips) to install.

Those who buy the DINAN upgrades can fulfill the requirements (earn points) to wear the coveted DINAN badge.
Based on how DINAN handles upgrades for other BMWs I would expect more stages like a 3 or maybe beyond that would combine suspension upgrades and custom lightweight wheels with the power upgrades.

 

great news on the eve of my JCW kit installation... Why all the secrecy at mini usa. Its a shame... open lines of communication aren't shared with their customers.

 

near same here scoutd...i've already ordered milltek header, alta intake, nology wires to go along with the jcw kit intall.

still...i think the $$$ difference with labor is about $1500-$2k for stage 2 dinan vs. jcw. despite this, i still plan on going with works. somehow just the fact that it's a mini cooper that "matches" better to the jcw, whereas a bmw "matches" better with the dinan, appeals to me.

call me crazy, but it's kinda like buying nike soccer shoes vs. addidas soccer shoes 15 years ago, when nike was pretty much just known for b-ball and addidas was pretty much just known for soccer. although today, both nike and addidas have cris-crossed over almost every sport out there.

i guess i'm too much of a traditionalist?

 

again,
us MC's are snuffed.

and I know what you'll say, go buy an S. Never!



Danny

 

We're not snuffed... We just have to wait longer!!

I get 30MPG in the city (with AC off) try doing that in the "S". I had my reasons for getting the MC at the time. Gas mileage the biggest reason.

Probably get the "S" next year though...

 

>>We're not snuffed... We just have to wait longer!!
>>
>>I get 30MPG in the city (with AC off) try doing that in the "S". I had my reasons for getting the MC at the time. Gas mileage the biggest reason.
>>
>>Probably get the "S" next year though...

 

Hmmmm....after seeing a certain video in the Helix garage last week, I'm pretty impressed by what the Cooper can do on the track...I don't feel left out at all at this point by not owning an MCS. Let everyone underestimate our Coopers...bwahahahahaha