I replaced both the hot and cold side pipes with the NM set. Like you said, probably nothing gained but looks better and definitely makes me feel better!

Butt dyno=debatable
Head dyno=AWESOME

 

+1 on any part from NM

I have their springs, sway bar, and maybe even their boost tubes now. Haha.

 

Call Alta tomorrow and ask for Jeff. He’ll point you in the right direction.

Mark

 

Can do. Thanks a lot, Mark!

BTW, how did the seat thing work out? Last I heard, things were going rather well. And yes, I know this is off topic. Haha.

 

You mean the water issue?? The dealer stripped the interior down and let everything dry out.

Got everything back and all is well. (so far or until I have to take it back again..lol) I think after this last episode, the dealer will handle my car with kid's glove.


Mark

 

Awesome. I am happy everything worked out with that. I noticed I had some wetness in the boot of my car, so I checked the drain in the rear and it was kind of clogged. Of course, I did not have Noah's ark visit my car though. Haha.

Also, I talked with Alta yesterday. They said I was crazy not to get an intercooler, because of the heat soak. I think it was more of a scheme to make me buy something else, but whatever. But, they did explain the AP to me and what not. It was a lot to take in for a person with very little experience. I am going to have to think it over, I suppose. I think I may just put the cash into boost tubes and the Forge FMIC. Alta was talking about their mapping for a completely stock car would give around a 20hp increase. I think I may just do the intercooler to make the car run more efficiently on long runs, or since I am possibly moving to TX, run better on a hot day.

 

Though I respect Alta's opinion and agree that the intercooler WILL help with heat soak, I'm simply saying for a daily driver, right now at this minute, you will be fine.

If you beat on it CONSTANTLY or track the car, then I'd say you don't have a choice but for the few times the normal person nails the car going down the road, an intercooler isn't necc. at the moment. You can add it later.


Mark

 

I agree with you. Believe me. Haha.

Also, with the AP, I have heard and read of horror stories where the tunes messed something up in the computer and whatnot. I assume the tunes which come on the AP are nearly foolproof. I figured these horror stories were from custom tunes gone wrong. Another MINI owner and I, who I think has contacted you, as well, are concerned with this. I would go out tomorrow and grab an AP, but for some reason messing with the computer mapping freaks me out. I guess it is all part of being a newbie in the MINI tuning world. Haha.

Also, I do not think I am gonna get the Magnaflow. I think I am gonna just cut out the 2nd cat and live with it. The exhaust has an awesome tone now with the resonator gone, and I do not think it needs more volume, which the Magnaflow will add. I know it will breathe better with the Magnaflow, but I just like the way it sounds now. Haha.

 

A few thoughts....

First, DO NOT be scared of the tune. As with even a stock tune, I can find someone that had a problem. The tunes they use are nearly foolproof and if you ever have a problem, I assure you Alta will fix it immediately.

Second, I didn't want to say anything but IMO the Magnaflow is too loud on a Mini. I've known several people that have had it and they've all taken it off.

It sounds great but going down the highway with a droning, headache is no fun.

Mark

 

I have heard the exact same thing about the Magnaflow. I even know guys that have put on an aftermarket resonator to try and knock down the drone. Needless to say, it was all an epic fail. Haha. I think my plan will work out fine by dropping the resonator and eventually the second cat.

Lucky for me, I will not be buying any more large items (i.e. EXPENSIVE) for my MINI until during the summer, so I have plenty of time to think about it. Also, if all else fails, I can always tune it back to stock in a few minutes. For now, I am focusing on the looks of the MINI. I am getting Challenge/911 GT3 combo side graphics done this weekend, as well as, roof checkers. Then it will be time to find black mirror caps and a black spoiler package. Hmmm.

 

Mark,

Even though you say an intercooler is not necessary, what do you think of this one?

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...r-for-r56.html

 

Just to make sure we're clear... it's not that I think an intercooler is not necc, I'm just saying unless you're doing track days, you can get away without getting one right now.

An intercooler doesn't make HP, it merely keeps the air temps down to prolong heat soak sucking up HP.

The intercooler you listed above looks good, the only question I would have is how much the condensor affects it.

What I mean by that is a condensor pulls the heat out of the ac system and allows the freon to stay cool. Having plenty of experience of putting too big on an engine in a too small car, I can't tell you the number of times I've had a condensor give off enough heat to ruin my plans for the cooler I have sitting in front of it.

I'm not saying that is the case but I assure you that a condensor gives off a ton of heat and may end up heating up the intercooler thus removing some of it's effectiveness.

Obviously the best intercooler is water to air rather than air to air. There are a few on the market and if you can afford it, that would be the way to go... (again, basing this on heavy and/or track usage)


Mark

 

Cool deal. I asked the folks there about it, and they said they did not see any heat issues, but then again, they are trying to sell a product.

 

Hi Mark,

I respectfully disagree. An intercooler will make HP especially when combined with software. All of our gains are based on swapping out the stock intercooler for our intercooler with no other modifications.

 

I understand what you're saying but tell us honestly, did you run the intercooled car first and then run the stock intercooler or the other way around?

I ask because your graph says TyrolSport FMIC vs. stock.

Assuming you ran your intercooler first, of course, subsequent results will show heat soak'd results, no?

Also, my point was it's not so much that it doesn't make a difference, it doesn't make enough based on the cost. I'm not sure how much your intercooler is but a Forge or Helix is 600-700 bucks.

So IMO, for the extra 4-5 lbs of torque (roughly according to your first graph), to me it wasn't worth 700'ish dollars.

My point was that if he has limited amount of money at this particular moment, I'd spend the money on a tune and worry about getting an intercooler later. Like I said, it's not that it doesn't help, it's just not mandatory to get it now. The difference in minimal IMO for the daily driver. Now, going to the track is completely different.



Mark

 

I agree with OC for everything except the intercooler. Get the AP first then IC later unless you have the money to get the AP and intercooler at the same time.

With the intercooler Alta will be able to crank the boost a bit more than they can with the stock IC. (and probably timing)

The more boost you push the hotter your intake temps will be. That's where the IC will help enough so you can run even more boost.

Anything you add after that will have minimal gains except for maybe a turbo back exhaust which would still have no where near the bang for the buck the IC and AP will give.

with the AP and IC I'm pushing 269lbs and 219 hp at the wheels (although I do have a JCW). I'm also pushing 23.5 lbs boost although with an S you can't get over 21.

 

Thanks MotorMouth!

I really appreciate you and Mark's advice. I think my next step will be the AP, then when I have some more cash, I will get an intercooler to increase the efficiency of the engine. Just for kicks: How does the new IC and tubes effect turbo lag?

 

The difference in the graph could easily be seen with exact same car in back to back runs even allowing cool down time. I've seen bigger fluctuations between 3 consecutive pulls with no changes - sometimes the later pulls had higher numbers.

 

Never used the tubes so don't know. The lag change with the IC was very minimal but I'm sure if you measured at a micro level there'd be more lag simply because there is more volume to pressurize.

 

For power I would go with a CAI, DP, AP, and FMIC. I got the JCW CAI for about $200 on ebay and would recommend going to K&N's website and getting a replacement cone filter.
I got the AP a couple weeks ago and have to say I should have done it as soon as it came out, it's really simple to use and you can upgrade the stages as you go. You can also quickly flash it back to stock if you want to save some gas during the weekly commute, and kick up the power on weekends.
I am expecting my Helix FMIC to come in delivery soon (group buy). It can't hurt to keep the temps down, especially since it's getting warmer now. Another good thing about the AP is that stage 1 can be divided into a and b, one for the stock cooler and another for a larger one.
Should be ready for the turbo-back exhaust by summer. I know I should have done this earlier, but I couldn't find the right downpipe. Now that I've got the AP I think i would stick with the same company since it's their tune. The cat-back is only necessary to reduce backpressure, wouldn't get one unless I had the DP.

I think that's all I'm going to do, it is my daily driver. Although I could probably go with a hot-side boost tube after the rest is done.

Oh who am I kidding, I'll never be finished.

 

as long as i drive "normal" my gas mileage is better with the AP tune.

Of course your mileage will take a hit the first couple weeks as you have fun with your new toy.

 

We understand that the title may suggest that our intercooler was run first. However, that is not the case.

Our testing procedure began on the stock intercooler first, at full operating temp, followed by our TyrolSport Front mount intercooler at full operating temperature. Our procedure is explained in our original post as follows:

The torque gains continually increase with each additional run. Some other intercoolers on the market may not advertise power gains, but we can only speak to our product.

We absolutely agree with you that upgrading the software should be the first step for any Mini owner seeking to increase power. We just wanted to correct information in regard to our product that may have been misinterpreted.

 

I look forward to seeing the coolant temp results from the data logging next week at VIR.

After I get the AP during the summer, I may be giving you guys a call.

 

I understand and my apologies for giving misleading information. I’m still of the belief that an intercooler isn’t worth the money unless you track the car or do some serious hauling butt in hot weather (constantly) but obviously, though minimal IMO, your graph does indeed show an increase with just an intercooler.

Thanks for clearing that up.

Mark