Not sure if the thread I just tried to post actually went through since I don't see it, so I apologize if this is a double whammy...

Anyway, I'm looking to increase my throttle response. In my experience, you buy a lighter flywheel and tighten your throttle cable to do this, but I have been told there's an electronic kit you buy for your mini instead.

Problem is, I don't know where to find the kit. Is it something like the Sprint Booster, because that honestly seems like a scam to me.

Anyone have any experience or suggestions?

 

I'm quite new to the Mini world, but my understanding is that the throttle in the Mini is "fly-by-wire," which is why there is no throttle cable to adjust, etc. The Sprint Booster supposedly helps out with throttle response, but I too am skeptical. That said, everything I've read seems to indicate that it does work.

 

Yeah, I'm a mini-modding newb myself (switched from a Honda del Sol this year), and too am skeptical of things like the SprintBooster that claim such dramatic gains right out of the shoot.

But yeah, I just ran across a thread where a couple people mention having (and liking) the SprintBooster...

 

It doesn't really change anything, it acts to amplify the signal to the throttle, so it moves the throttle further open for the same given movement of the pedal - I don't see how that's any different than just pushing your pedal down further.......or faster.

If what your'e after is more response from your engine, that's a different story, there are performance mods you can do to help it respond better, depending on which car you have....since you don't say what you have in your post we can't help with those options.

 

Yeah the drive-by wire (or fly-by) sucks on BMW/MINI's. Pretty much every newer vehicle uses one in some respect, but they all react differently. I definitely think it's more noticeable when driving manual. I've heard some really good things about the Sprint Booster. I don't have one so maybe someone else can comment, but as far as I know them seem to work well.

 

Good point, Dave. I have a manny-tranny r53.

That's the kind of thing I am trying to investigate with this post -- what's the most bang for my buck?

 

Many well respected mini modders have and swear by the sprinbooster...
The other way is to have the values adjusted when you get a custom tune...the danger is it will be too sensitive in traffic, and might not be just right, but a tune is $350 or so, so as an added feature, it is a good plus.
The sprintbooster is expensive...but the simple fact is it actually works...ask anybody who has one...as a general rule, things that work stay on peoples cars, things that don't get resold in the market...and when a car is sold used, many mods are sold but the SB stays on the car to help sell it. Nuff said.

 

Get a pulley!! The best bang for the $$. Period
Then a CAI to help the sound, and a bigger rear swaybar for the turns.
it will feel like a different car.

 

Thanks, Zippy. That's good advice and well stated.

As a matter of fact, I was looking at pulleys today too. Is it recommended to get a tune after putting on lighter or smaller pulley? If so, maybe I'll just get a pulley and a tune and call it a day...

I was reading about the pros and cons of 15 and 17% pulleys, and I can't really decide. Seems like you would recommend the 17%. Where did you order yours from?

 

I was skeptical of the SB, but since it has a money back guarantee I bought it anyway. It works, it does exactly what it advertises, and I'll never take it out of my car. I turned it off once accidentally, and I thought my car was sick. It can not be replicated by just mashing the throttle harder.

Love it, one of my favorite mods.

 

Check these recent threads on throttle response:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...hese-cars.html

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...***-valve.html

More if you search.

 

+1
You really have to try it to see the difference.
Makes the R53 much more fun.

 

I have a Sprint booster on my '04 S for about a year now. The newer version where you can select the response you want. Off, quick resonse (green), or slam the throttle open when you touch it (red). Off makes the car feel very sluggish now. I keep it on quick response. Full causes to much tire slippage off the line for the daily drive. Also, if your happy with the quick response, or full you can remove the booster and that setting will remain programmed and you can resell the booster. I frequently see boosters for sale on the NAM site. IMO it's worth the money if you are a "spirited" driver.

 

Thanks, those were some very helpful links, and comments.

I guess my only questions now are:

If I get a lighter pulley will I need a tune or will my engine simply react accordingly?

Will a good tune do the same thing as the SB, but also provide me with a little more power? Or will I still benefit from buying the SB even with a tune?

Thanks, everyone.

 

A tune is not necessary on mild mods such as pulley (15% - 17%) with a CAI.
You will notice an improvement in performance and in my case the DDM intake gives a nice scream above 3000 rpm.

After I went to a header, catback and JCW 380 injectors a tune seemed worthwhile to take advantage of the mod investments.

My base run on the dyno gave readings of 176 whp @ 6700 rpm and 164.8 ft.lb. @ 4200.
After tuning, 189.5 whp @ 6700 rpm and 178 ft.lb. @ 4400. The torque reading increased significantly from 3000rpm. on up. So, the tune did bring out the performance mods true potential. But you can see there was an improvement over stock without the tune.

After my tune, my throttle response was very sensitive but after time
tailed off. I think this is a common situation as the computer re-adjusts to daily driving. (more to come)

 

Thought I'd ad my thoughts on the Sprint Booster too!
All the negatives I have read are made by people who have never tried one,
or sampled their friends' drive.

After my tune, I decided to try the Sprint Booster 2 ( 3 modes- off, mild, wild)
There is a one month return for full refund available, so, you can give it a go and decide if its for you without worry.

For me, the Sprint Booster, returned the sensitivity that my tune had given my pedal. I decided it was worth the investment and keep it switched to mild all the time. Its not the same as mashing the throttle but instead adds a much more sensitive modulation.

I like it....it staying....

 

Thanks, Eggburp.

That is pretty much exactly what I needed to know.

Looks like I'm gonna have to set aside some cash for an SB, intake, and pulley.

Just gotta finish paying the car off (December can't come soon enough!) and get a little routine maintenance done (new tires and a tune-up).

 

Just a quick correction, you can take off the SWITCH portion and the cable and the SB itself, the part wired into the pedal, will maintain the last setting. However, if you remove the whole assembly it will revert to stock, so you can't just buy one SB and share it between a bunch of friends.

 

... I was wondering exactly how that would work; thanks for the clarification!

Good to hear! That answers one criticism I've heard about the SB. Maybe "they" were referring to the Mk1 unit or the current version set on red... or perhaps didn't have any actual experience w. SB at all! Anyhow, if I get the chance to see for myself how I like it -- whether or not it's "too much" -- I may have to revisit a Sprint Booster at some point.

 

i have a sprintbooster module coming this saturday, i'll let you know how it is.

 

I have the Sprintbooster 2 as well...I bought it last year and it was the first
"ah-hem" mod that I made to the 2004 MCS and it really does make a
difference. I typically drive it in "sport" mode (the middle one between off
and race) and it just seems to make the MINI respond a bit better...more like
the cars I used to drive (with regular throttle cable).

Since then, I have upgraded to the 15% pulley reduction, CAI, and uprated
to performance wires, plugs and coil. As with most newer cars...simply
upgrading the electrics will give you some nice throttle response. I
chose the Magnacore this time around....but I really wish I would have
stuck with the NOLOGY Hotwires. I know there are people that poo-poo
Nology...but speaking from experience and having had them in previous cars,
they really...REALLY make a huge difference. At some point in the near
future...I will be getting another set for my MINI and dumping the
Magnacores.

 

There are TWO differant pullies here that have different, but an interwined effect...
the first, and most often changed one is the sc pulley...
most common a 15 or 17% reduction...i have a craven, but thats what my shop/guy had...they are all pretty similar (mounting method of the alta2 is different, but generaly not liked...they brought back the classic)....coupled with a smallerbelt (waymotorworks sells a nice combo kit), this smaller pulley gets you about 4" more boost, and more hp, especially in the lower rpms most folks drive.
The other pulley, the crank pulley is the other....
A dampened one (like the factory one is recommended) if you want/need to change it....here going bigger gets you more hp....and a lighter one can improve throttle response....2005+ cars had a lighter one, but aftermarket ones are around, oem size and +2%...
so if you got a 15% and then wanted a bit beter response/more power, then you cound get a +2% and get basically a 17%....

 

The choice if a 15 vs 17 is based on the cars use+driving style, and perhaps to a lesser extant climate and maybe even fuel/octane...
Higher rpm drivers, folks in hot climates or even folks who have 91 octane as opposed to 93 might do better with the 15...mostly an educated guess....heat is the enemy, and the sc makes more heat with more boost, possibly making less hp due to hot intake temps at hi rpms...
for me the 17 was right.

 

Do the pulley and tune. Just a 15% is good for some better power and drivability. With the tune, the tuner whoever it is will be able to change the throttle mapping and requested torque maps to give better results than the Sprint Booster.

 

A tune with a pulley is by no means needed....the more the mods, the more the benifit...
the tune can be thought of as pulling many mods togather ...
kinda bringing the back to a factory feel..less tuner running wise if that makes sense...with a few nice benifits...dsc tweaks, throttle sensetivity tweaks....more effeciency...some cars gain lots, some little...just a matter of the cars condition/history/etc.