Ahhh got ya...

 

i have an 07 MCS with the Forge BOV insert.
auto trans.
will this part help me?

 

I stopped by Alta last week and asked one of their Tech guys, if the stiffer recirc/blow off valve spring would help on a car with an automatic transmission, he said, "no."

Dave

 

The res. bolt is a 10mm and it is much easier if you remove the move the res. like Big. suggest.

 

Bought a new set of Allen wrenches so that I could attempt the install today. Guess I didn't get a long enough 5mm because there was no way I could get access to two of the three bolts. I was able to loosen the top one, but the bottom ones on the left and right were virtually impossible for me to get to. Someone said a novice could perform this install - well, I guess I'm less than a novice because I had the res tank moved, the turbo intake tube removed, and I still couldn't complete the job.

If anyone can suggest the exact 5mm Allen tool you use to remove the piece, I would really appreciate it.

 

Dallas, We used a socket wrench with a 5mm allen to get those allens out. or a ball socket style allen will work too. One that's pretty long, so you can reach the allen.

 

Save yourself some time and a headache. Get a 1/4" drive ratchet with a 6" extension and a 5mm socket to do the work. It only took me about 15 minutes to do it with a engine that was 1000 degrees. I couldnt wait

 

Here is a pic of the tools I used if you need a reference.

 

Thanks for the help - using the socket did the trick. By the way, is the o-ring yellow in color? If so, it was still attached to the BOV in the groove. If not, I don't know where it went. I was looking around for a gasket, as if I dropped it, but I'm pretty sure the o-ring is the yellow rubber piece that was still in the groove when I removed the BOV.

I'll let you know my impressions tomorrow.

 

chris- or anyone else who has done these mods:
i've just ordered the AP, and also have the upgraded DV (the vw/audi part ending in -710D) from another vendor (not way's) that others have discussed on another post. does anyone know if this alta spring is an upgrade (ie stiffer) than the one in this DV? or this spring an upgrade only for the jcw oem DV?

 

I put this in the AccessPORT thread, but thought I should put it hear, too since I just installed the BOV spring.

I'm told in the other thread that this CEL means something regarding charge pressure variance within boost tables. "That is the generic code. 2855 is charge pressure minimum 2856 is maximum 28aa is the "hey that wasnt quite right so let em know" code."

Has anyone else gotten this code after the spring install? I'm wondering if I should go back to the stock spring, or if I did something wrong on the install.

The only thing I didn't do from the instructions is re-grease the yellow o-ring when I reinstalled everything. The o-ring never separated from the assembly when I removed it from the car, so I just left it the way it was.

Thanks

 

Hey Dallas, good talking to you today. I'm hoping that it was a fluke, since it hasn't happened before, so if you get that code again, let me know, and I'll take a look at some datalogs and see what could be causing the problem.

 

many will tell you no... but to be honest lots of people do it. To close the system complealty your best bet would be to run a block off plate. one of the vendors on here sell one, I think its alta...? but more importantly the trick is either tricking the ecu to ignore the bypass or allow it to see the surge.

 

Just installed the spring and an Alta drop in air filter in a bone stock clubman. The off boost 1-2 shift stutter is gone and the car feels quicker to respond to throttle input. Boost builds a lot quicker. For $75 shipped I am extremely impressed with the results.

 

We've been getting a lot of good feedback on the spring! From looking at the VW/Audi BOV which can leak, this is a recommended mod.

 

Just picked up this spring and will installing it asap when it comes in.

 

The forge insert is just for sound and your losing air out of the system... it doesnt help

 

Why are you guys paying $25 for a spring. Seems extremely pricey.

 

It works, i was able to find the same if not stiffer density spring at a hobby shop... rc suspenion ftw lol

 

Ok guys, having now had the ALTA uprated spring on test for a few weeks now, I have nothing but good news to report back from my test findings.

Firstly before I did any installation I did a spring rate pressure, coil count, coil bind and weight comparison test on the ALTA spring VS a new stock spring, and the VAG recirculation valve too, and although I have the test result figures, I promised ALTA I would NOT publish these figures, sorry.

However the results as I'm sure some of you are now aware of, speak for themselves, as do the results for the VAG valve too, so for the purposes of the ALTA spring test, I will leave out the VAG results, as that can be found in another thread.

After all the testing was complete, I first installed 1 of ALTA's uprated springs into my 2009 factory stock Clubman Cooper S, now before the install
of the ALTA spring, no matter how fast I shifted into 2nd I could NOT introduce any break in traction or interference from the traction control aid, on a warm day on the dry test track.

Once I had installed the ALTA spring, on the very first test run, as I shifted into 2nd gear I immediately experienced a break in traction, now don't get me wrong this was no tyre shredding smokey rolling burnout wheel spin, however it was nonetheless a break in traction, and no matter how many times I launched and shifted fast into 2nd gear, I got a break in traction every time.

So bring on my 2010 Countryman Cooper S all4, again factory stock, now again no matter how hard I tried when shifting fast into 2nd gear, I have never managed to break traction, on a warm day on a dry track/road.

Now although my Countryman has the latest (N18) engine, the recirculation valve is exactly the same as the 1 found on the (N14) engine!

With the ALTA uprated spring installed, I had many practice launches whilst shifting as fast as I could into 2nd gear, and although I could feel the positive difference, I could only realistically manage a slight churp from the front tyres as the onboard computer did it's level best to limit the slipping grip.

Now what about normal driving situations, well with the ALTA springs now installed in both of my factory stock cars (2009 Clubman Cooper S and my 2010 Countryman Cooper S all4) I have and do notice a positive difference in the recovery speed of the boost between every gear shift, and the increased duration of holding boost throughout the upper RPM range.

What if you have a tune and have increased boost pressure, will the ALTA uprated spring for the recirculation valve still offer me a benefit ? YES it will, I tested this theory out on my 2009 Clubman Cooper S, and although it is factory stock, it is also my development/test vehicle too.

I therefore on the initial test day, installed my intercooler, my air filter, and tune, which increases the stock boost pressure to 19 psi AMP allowing for the overboost increase of 2.1 psi which is only available for approx 12 seconds at any one time!

Those of you that are running more than 19 psi AMP will be experiencing boost cut from the overboost facility cutting in, but more on this subject another time.

Anyway back to the ALTA spring test on my now modified and tuned 2009 Clubman Cooper S, although I and some of you reading this will have noticeably more power, there is still a positive overall difference between the ALTA uprated spring and the factory stock recirculation spring.

The ALTA uprated spring still managed to hold the increased boost, provide a faster recovery rate when building boost between shifts and hold the boost duration further into the RPM range, just as it did on a stock engine.

So all in all, I give the ALTA uprated spring for the factory stock recirculation valve a YES and a worthwhile mod, however the only negative I can see is the initial purchasing cost of $24.99

The VAG valve is on the right in the image below.





Notice that the BMW Mini spring on the left is exactly the same as the VAG spring which is on the right, and the ALTA spring in the centre in the image below.

 

Wow. Now that's a review!!

 

I still want to know why they are charging $25 for a spring??

 

That's without shipping cost too...

 

lol profit margins

 

Why do you pay $1.50 for a 2 liter of Pepsi. It only cost them .05 to make it. Why do you pay $8.00 for a beer at a ballgame when it only cost them .20?

Its called staying in business..

Its worth exactly what people are willing to pay.