My 2005 MCSc has 58K miles on the engine, with a JCW intake and JCW catback exhaust, and an Alta 15% pulley.

I have noticed since the get-go that my car runs rich - lots of black deposit in those nice JCW exhaust tips. What I am primarily interested in is making sure that my fuel mixture is optimized for my mods, and that I am not producing any more carbon than I need to...secondarily, I would like to optimize power with my current setup.

My questions are:

1) Would changing to JCW injectors help, or hurt? Would they be an advisable mod?

2) If I did change to the JCW injectors, would I need to remap my ECU?
(Don't laugh - dumb question - but is remapping an ECU the same as a tune? )

3) If I do need to tune my car, who should I go with? RMW or WMW seem to be the names I see bandied about the most...
a) What would I be looking at in terms of cost?
b) Is the tuning a one-time thing, or is the software something that can
be re-used as I go along (say, if I were to make further mods)...


Thanks!

 

1) It will Help.
2) Yes you will need remaping.
3) For me RMW.
A) If remote tune it will cost around $750, Other $350 as I remember.
B) No, It can be re-used any time in the future.

 

It will help...(you are likely a bit lean WOT, but most all mini's run rich much of the time) the jcw kit has a 11.5% reduction, more or less, with a slightly ported head....when you get a tune it will make the car run better...it will run richer WOT with the JCW till you get the tune though...but fine on cruising/light throttle since the engine will be using the o2 sensor under those conditions.
As to who tunes the car...whoever is more convient, and more acessasable. Jan has a good reputation, and does more tunes, but WMW has a good reputation too...so I'd go with convience.

 

JCW injectors will not help with the black deposits on the exhaust. The MCSs run rich at low loads. My 03 MCS ran rich when stock and after similar mods to your mods (plus reprogramming). I ran my modded 03 MCS with stock injectors with no problems.

However, if you have the money, JCW injectors and a tune (ECU reprogram) would be a good improvement.

 

A tune would lean out the mixture, and you do not need JCW injectors - the only function of the JCW injectors is to pour even more unneeded gas into the mixture. When you get a head and header done, maybe injectors - until then, save your money.

 

You can use the stock injectors with a 15% pulley, CAI, and exhaust. Don't forget the NGK BKR7 plugs for a colder range.

The MINI computer is designed to attempt to maintain a 14.7:1 air/fuel ratio up to 80% pedal. After that, the computer goes into WOT mode and throws all the fuel it can. With boosted engines, too much fuel is better than not enough. You don't want detonation. Stock Cooper S' run really rich, like a 10:1 mixture.

Tuning is where it's at. You want the mixture as lean as possible without too much heat and/or detonation. This six-part writeup can explain more about leaning out with a tune: http://www.europeancarweb.com/projec...ect/index.html. They leaned our their test MINI to 11.8:1. Some tuners I've talked to prefer 11.5:1 as a safe spot for boosted engines.

 

When I asked my dealer about mods they advised exactly what you're getiing at. JCW intake, exhaust, alta 15%, jcw injectors,spark plugs and the jcw ecu remap.
He says they've done quite a few and it works very well.