I have read several places that BMW is bumping up the HP to 170 for 2005 across the board. What I haven't read anywhere is if this will be offered to 2004 and older MCSs as well. Anybody know? I suspect it is just a tuning (reflash) of the ECU.

 

>>I have read several places that BMW is bumping up the HP to 170 for 2005 across the board. What I haven't read anywhere is if this will be offered to 2004 and older MCSs as well. Anybody know? I suspect it is just a tuning (reflash) of the ECU.

It is unknown if an ECU tweak is just a reflash or if you need the new ECU plus the tweak version of the software out in the 2005 model. I would expect that the flash is not enough to add HP to the pre-2005 MCS models.

Here is the original MINI2 article about this 170 HP bump (ECU tweak)
http://www.mini2.com/news/news227.html

Or more on the cabrio and new colors (thanks Gabe)
http://www.motoringfile.com/

If you have an older MCS and really want HP then get the Powerchip ECU, UNIchip, Shark injector or GIAC. Of course gains will be rather limited for the stock MCS and much more for the modded MCS. But it ain't free. Sorry.

 

I'm 99.99% sure they won't offer an upgrade. This is what car manufacturers do all of the time. Add a few horses every couple of years.

 

aaaah yes, but you can gain most of that advantage with an Alta Intake, then an ECU flash too will allow you to surpass a 2005 MCS- in terms of power at least

As minihune said, not free, but an intake will give you most of the performance for about $260, ECU is more, however

 

Hypothetically if you'd reverse-engineered the chip you could analyze the differences and find out how mini added those 7hp, now couldn't you?

As a chip tuner I think that there'll be some interest in the new ECU.

Jeff

 

It's called MARKETING 101! Auto Manufacturers know many people will trade-in the older model for a new one with only minor modifications to the car. They need to have the latest version. Headlights, tailights, horsepower increase, bumpers, and alloy wheels are the cheapest ways to "remodel" an existing vehicle for the next model year.


2005 Mini photo


_________________
2004 MCS - PW/B w/Xenons

 

Well, after reading the report on the july 1 changeover, it seems pretty clear now. no change of just software update. It looks like exhaust change, supercharger change and new tuning.

I'd be interested to see what the change in the supercharger was, will it go up to 21% reduction ?

 

>>Well, after reading the report on the july 1 changeover, it seems pretty clear now. no change of just software update. It looks like exhaust change, supercharger change and new tuning.
>>
>>I'd be interested to see what the change in the supercharger was, will it go up to 21% reduction ?

The supercharger is just the same supercharger without the 15% pulley used in the JCW kit. That means the only difference is a new type of coating on the supercharger vanes. It hasn't been shown to increase boost any, just a new design process being used by Eaton. It has already been reported that this supercharger is already in later 2004 models.

The exhaust change may be just referring to the new type of hangars for the exhaust found on some later 2004 models.

I wouldn't get to worked up by the tuning. It is probably no better than the tuning that is currently on the market. I would be suprised what the effect of the new tune has on the current aftermarket products. If chip A produces 10hp extra on a 2003 MCS, will it only produce 3hp extra on a 2005?

 

So how much will curb weight increase?

M

 

I think I might have an idea where that extra horsepower may be coming from. See following post/thread.

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...912#post829912