O.K. to start this out I will give a brief description of myself, driving history to give you a feeling of why I like it and why you might or might not like it depending on driving style. I'll also include what I found out on researching nitrous. Then I'll give my feelings on this system.


Me I drove a pick-up for 9yrs before the MINI Cooper S so this is my first experience driving a "performance" car for any length of time. I have had the car for about 6 months. I have 10,000 miles on it and it is a daily driver. Ihave taken it to a performance driving class(Track) once and plan on doing it again in Jan. I'm still learning to trust the car around corners ( I take them fast but not as fast as the car could handle it) At the track I was passed by Coopers ( goes to show what experience can do) but I'm not ashamed or threatened first you must walk before you can run. On highway driving I do flow of traffic or about +5. I get a little spirited but not crazy and don't weave in and out of traffic. So I have little experience probably am not using the "S" for what its worth yet but.......I'm learning and I am happy with my car purchase and thats all that matters. I also bougth the car for its style and ability to personalize and got speed and handling thrown in for good measure.


RESEARCH: I looked up a few sources for this stuff on Nitrous about three different written publications (Not My cousin told me this or so and so said that) So I'm accepting the research as fact (if you have publications that say different please let me know I want to read alternate resources but found none) I'm quoting from "How to install and use NITROUS OXIDE" by Joe Pettitt but all other sources said the same thing. "N2O is harmful to the environment" FALSE this is often confused with NOx which is poisonous to anything that breaths air. OSHA recommends disposing of N2O by venting it to the atmosphere. It is also used in hospitals as an analgesic. (I know this I work in the O.R.). "YOU CAN BLOW YOURSELF UP" Nitrous is not flammable itself. it works by forcing more Oxygen into the engine. "YOU WILL DESTROY YOUR ENGINE" FALSE(of sorts) Nitrous provides power to your engine your components can only take so much if you overestimate your engine you destroy it. just like if you redlined your engine all day every day you will destroy your engine. moderatioin moderation moderation that is the key to nitrous. this also can happen with the Push button nitrous (think Fast and the Furious) The M7 Venom kit does not work like that the cmputer monitors everything so you don't lean out and blow the engine. This was a major concern of mine before ing this kit in. I feel confident in the research I did and the system I have that this won't happen. ( I also will probably use it less and will wait longer before moving to the higher injectors because of this)(I'll also be more conservative for awhile) The MINI can handle the purple injector .40" stock anything higher and you have to modify the engine.

Why did I put it in my car? I won it at the Long Beach Poker Rally one of Peter's many generous raffles.(technically my roomate won it) I never wanted N2O in my car, I was scared of all the myths. I wasn't going to need all the extra power ( I am still learning the ones I had stock) The whole Illegal Fast and the Furious thing I didn't want. Then I won it did a bunch of research and now I feel comfortable with it. I still don't street race ( Iably would probably stall or something stupid) let alone accidents or arrests. Can't use it on the track ( its used for 1/4 mile events not prolonged racing( thats how you blow up your engine.


How do I like it? It tooke me about a week to get to test it. bust schedule and the few chances I had I couldn't find a "dead" enough area to test it out( If I gonna crash I would rather do it alone) but I LOVE IT my god the extra power, the boost, being pushed back into your seat IT IS AMAZING. I have played mostly in the upper gears( O.K. on how this thing works it monitors air fuel mixture before it injects if the mixture isn't right it doesn't inject. there is no push button so no missed shifts which can cause blown engine. the Nitrous is realesed when you have the pedlal flored no matter what gear. when you are acclerating and you feel the lag when you are supposed to shift you get extra power that puts you back in your seat( these are all layman terms and descriptions I'm just stating how it feels to me)) I'm still working on the starts haven't had a good place to practice. But on the higher end it is amazing extra power when you need it great exceleration. I can't tell you how much I enjoy it and look forward to playing more. If you are worried about warrant then this isn't for you(I'll have to cross that bridge when I come to it.......but its my money) if your looking for that extra power and boost DO IT. If you have questions let me know I can provide layman answers or questions on my research. For tech stuff talk to Peter.

 

Nice overview.. Do you have an intake and a pulley as well, or is this M7 Venom the only thing you've put into your vehicle? All the pros about this system are good, and it seems the only con is that it takes more space in the car that the MINI doesn't have!

Like you, I'm using my MCS as a daily driver..I love it. I've got the Alta intake and am getting a pulley installed in early January, so I'm really wondering if nitrous is even worth it. The definite stealthiness of a MINI passing a regular car from 50-80 at WOT is invigorating to imagine!

Does this system have an on/off switch that you can use so that sometimes it turns on at WOT and sometimes it doesn't?

 

Rune
I also have the Alta intake ( love it by the way) and Magnecor wires. I haven't done the pulley yet but will probably later in the future. I think (my opinion not based on fact just my observations) the Nitrous would boost the pulley even further. Peter probably could answer that question. One thing with the Alta intake it made for an interesting install for Peter. He did the Install so talk to him about that.

Yes the system has an on/off switch. mine is mounted just to the left of the steering wheel. It has three led lights that constantly monitor the fuel air mixture. Red means high air content( usually lit when braking, this is normal) the system will not engage at this point. green light for high fuel content ( usually lit when accelerating hard again normal engine condition. Red and green flashing alternately normal fuel mixture. Blue light only lit when nitrous is engaged. This whole monitoring system is nice for watching the fuel mixture while driving. You do have to turn on the bottle in the trunk first. but then you can turn on/off from inside. As for loss of room in boot can't argue that one. I'm thinking of using cotter pins in the mount so I can put it in and remove it as necessary or a different mounting location. but I have to look into that more and see what will work what won't work and what is safe. I have some ideas I am going to look into. I will post pics of the installed kit including engine, dash , and boot hopefully tonight or tomorrow. anything else I can help with let me know.

 

I have an aftermarket intake and 15% pulley along with the Venom nitrous.
It's awesome. Must learn to use the nitrous judiciously though. Went thru a bottle in one week! Tomorrow I'll be giving nitrous joyrides to a buch of MINI buddies too, so there goes anther 40 bucks!
Link here to see pics of my install: http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47099

 

>> Tomorrow I'll be giving nitrous joyrides to a buch of MINI buddies too, so there goes anther 40 bucks!



I think he passed me a few minutes ago! Seriously. He was going too fast, so I couldn't see if it was his plates!

 

I never got to give any joy rides. There were 11 MINIs delivering a few hundred toys in Rhode Island to the Make a Wish Foundation. I had so many toys in my car there was no room for a passenger. After the meet the traffic was so thick we didn't bother. Oh well, next time.

 

O.K. here are the pics of the install done by Peter











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MCS DS/B Premium, Sport Package, Rally Lights,M7 Venom nitrous kit, Alta intake, CF hood scoop and door cups

 

Nice dash install and nice engine bay wiring.
I see the jumbo foam filter by alta. A notch in the intake box for the strut brace!
I like the saddle bags in the boot area.

$40 a fill up? Get a bigger tank-fill up that boot area!

Thanks for posting the pics.

 

My question is:

If you turn on the nitrous switch, how much time can you run the nitrous before the bottle empties?

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*GRENDEL: Love your switch locale/install!! Dig your pics -- thanks

 

>>My question is:
>>
>>If you turn on the nitrous switch, how much time can you run the nitrous before the bottle empties?
>>
>>_________________
>>

From my experience with Venom N20 and their tuned Computer, Etc
Turning on the switch does NOT squirt nitrous, it only turns on the Venom Computer, which begins to read for lean and rich conditions... allowing or hindering the squirting, making it safe.

So the answer to the question I assume you meant is... How many "squirts" does a bottle hold?

This is something you would have to ask each user... It would depend on the lenght of each shot and nozzle size.

Hope that helps Ya!


- WCC

 

Another idea for the gas bottle- with an Alta (one-sided) exhaust system, I would like to explore mounting the bottle underneath the vehicle where the driver's side portion of the stock exhaust system used to be. Any thoughts?

 

It's a big obtuse to mount down there. And I would be more concerned with safety. I do not believe NO2 is not flammable ( it's been used to extinguish fires at the track in a pinch), but a good bump or dip could ruin the bottle, crack it or break the fittings. And I think it would be inconvieniant to recharge.


That's my thoughts on it.
Would like to hear more though!

- WCC