I installed the device during lunch. Although I was skeptical, it was a night and day difference. Before lunch, I was hungry and lacking energy. Also my hands were clean. Afterwards, I was much less hungry and had more energy. My hands were slightly dirty.

I didn't notice any difference in boost behavior between the stock hose and the "device". My boost gauge appeared to move just as quickly. I'll do some testing along these lines to see if there is any measurable difference:

 

According to my 20 month old son, the "device" is best suited as a whistle. Last night he was marching around the house blowing into it like a whistle. I asked my wife to make sure he doesn't loose it. "It's just a piece of hose ", she said. I could only briefly tell her that it was much more than that, but I couldn't explain it.

Anyway, my device is now lost among 63,000 toys in the play room! She assures me that it is not lost...it's just not found.

 

I need some testing ideas from those who claim the device has an effect. What rpm would you suggest for doing this testing? I had been letting revs drop in 2nd gear with my foot completely off the gas. When the tach indicates 2k, I floored it as fast as I could and held the pedal down. I did the same thing at 4k. Would this be a good test of the device?

What I plan to do is log upstream and downstream pressure for these tests, using both the stock hose and the device. I'll do several runs from each, and randomly number them on the chart. Then, all of you can guess which runs had the device and which didn't.

 

Based on my experience the car's drivability issues (snatchiness, jerky transitions, yoyo, etc. are all at part throttle, not WOT.)

I'd suggest testing part-throttle acceleration and trailing throttle to part-throttle. Like when you're coasting to a light that turns green and you get back into it.

The problem, as I'm sure you've already guessed, is that it's probably hard to replicate exactly those conditions.

The FI on the mini reminds me of early motorcycle FI--just primitive.

Hope this helps, Jeff

 

Correct me if I am mistaken, but isn't this device intended simply to make the bypass valve work more quickly? It doesn't seem to be touted to fix yo-yo, stumble, etc.

 

BIgBrownDog,
Just to back up sfjames2... I can get high 30's (like 38, uncorrected computer) on highway driving if I don't rev much over 3K. I didn't used to get this until after 10K miles. I just figured it took that long for the engine to break in. I also noticed a jump up of a couple MPG after my 19% pulley install.

Only mod's... 19% pulley, K&N replacement filter

 

Yeah, that's what they're saying, but if it damps the action of the bypass valve the only place that you're going to see any difference would be in transitions. Frankly if it smoothed out the throttle response (cleaned up some FI sloppiness) it'd be worth trying for me.

Am I off-base in my thinkng as far as testing goes? Based upon your previous graph above I'd assume that you'd only see something in the first .75 seconds.

I'm getting the ECU upgrade at the dealer as we speak. It'll be interesting to see if the whole point is moot. (9/02 build.)

Jeff

 

Andy you are 100 % correct. All we wanted to do was make the supercharger do was come on a bit quicker. Ther was some talk about it possibly helping the yo yo etc. but this was not from our camp. Once that issue was raised we did one limited test on a car with severe yo yo with no positive results. One area for you to look into is at what RPM the valve closes between cars with and without the device. From the cars we have done personally maby 40 to 50 at this stage there is a noticable difference to the eye. Would be good to get a accurate number on that if possible. Good luck

Randy
Team M7

 

A Andy, I think this mod has help the 0-60 times. I have not timed myself, but do feel a difference on WOT in all gears. I noticed your testing the device with a 19% pulley on your car and from what I've read about that badboy, it
kicks hard in the low-end, so It makes me think that you or anyone with the 19% pulley, might not get much of a difference , can you test a buddies car with 15% or even a MINI w/o a pulley upgrade? So far I've been pretty blown away by some of the graphs you put up with #'s I had no idea existed, so any #'s would be cool in the end. thanks

 

A quick note here , We have found the divice already has the valve shut completely by 2k RPM. You might need to go lower on the RPM if possible to start the test. I think If you can perhaps measure from 1000 Rpm without the divice go full throttle then do the same with the device you may see something there . Just a idea , have fun.

Randy
Team M7

 

I tend not to drive below 2,000 rpm. Are you suggesting doing this while idling?

 

It would be nice, as suggested by sfjames2, to see if you can come up with a stock S to test it on, also. The pulley may be negating some of the effect as the pullied cars are already spinning the 'charger faster.

 

I'll see if I can find a stock MCS as well. Supercharger is always spinning and the device has no effect on that. What Maxmini seems to be claiming is the device changes the engine rpm at which the valve closes. I don't see how the size of the pulley would affect that.

 

since ive installed the device i noticed that w/o the ac on i now idle at 1200-1300rpms. the device might help in the transitions as it doesnt drop rpms nearly as fast between shifts. i dont like it so im removing mine as soon as it cools down. the check engine light came on as well, though i had my 10,000mi service done and they didnt reset the service counter so its reading past due. maybe this is why it came on or did the device trigger it and will it go off after returning to stock? i hope so.

 

It sounds like you have a vacuum leak. Your warm idle should be nowhere near that hight. The check engine light has nothing to do with service intervals. Check your rubber intercooler boots.

 

i plan to check all that, however in reading all the previous posts i did feel all around to make sure i had no leaks. ill definately check again tho. thanks.

 

Thanks, I'm sure you'll find some differences in #'s with a stock MINI.

I know I feel and hear a difference out of mine.

 

Have you swapped back the stock hose to see if you feel a difference going back?

 

I have not even thought about putting the stock one back on, I might before I take it in for next maint. though.

 

after a week of 70 miles per day commuting with the Device ,here are two inputs from a purely subjective driver.It was stated early on in this thread by someone that they weren't as inclined to downshift at normal intervals due to lowering RPM's and that the "sweet spot" which normally started at 4000 RPM's seemed to have been lowered to about 3500.I would totally agree on both counts.I have a bone stock 2002 july build mcs.there just seems to be more squirt at lower Rpm's than before and the full throttle response seems to be much smoother,IMHO.I'm glad i put it in ,I won't be taking it out,and the porice was definately right.One thing that confuses me about installation questions posed here:the lower end of this tube installs as a female onto a nipple of a very defined OD,and the upper end( the one with the restriction tube installed) fits as a slip fit into something accepting the OD of the device.with the restricor installed,I would think it impossible to fit the reduced ID over the nipple in the lolwer position-only goes one way folks. Peace

 

'It sounds like you have a vacuum leak. Your warm idle should be nowhere near that hight. The check engine light has nothing to do with service intervals. Check your rubber intercooler boots." : well i thought i checked everything twice at least. you were correct andy, one of the boots was leaking. on a short drive that problem is solved, now is there a difference with the device? i think i can feel a slightly quicker response, but i need more driving time to say for sure. thanks again.

 

You are correct Andy the device will close the valve quicker wether the car has a pully or not.
I wasnt suggesting you drive below 2,000 RPM but that you factor into your testing that the valve is already fully closed below 2K RPM.
If you can it would be a interesting measurment to see just how much lower in the RPM range the valve is fully closed now verses a non " deviced " car. Just guessing we see the valve closed at between 1200 and 1500 RPM on most cars with the device which appears to be 500 to 1000 RPM sooner than most non modded cars.
Good call on the vacume leak situation mentioned elsewhere on this thread. We had another car do the same thing even having the check engine light come on and it was the boot leaking slightly underneath the intercooler.
Have a good weekend and thanks for the interest.
Randy
Team M7

 

OK, it's Sunday morning ... time to go to Church ... Church of the MCS ...

Installed the "Device" ... wish my hands were 1/2 their current size ... had to remove the cast aluminium intercooler bracket %$^& ... took about 45 minutes all told.

Test drive ... sunny day ... 56 degrees F ... back country roads

Effect ... none that I could tell ... bummer ...

On the positive side ... I did clean out the intercooler with a carb cleaner ... used the whole can until it came out clear at the bottom ... there WAS a bunch of oil in there!

Oh well, I didn't expect much ... at least Church was more fun than usual!

 

Fasterbonnet I am sorry you were not able to feel any type of difference after the device install. We knew that some cars might not respond as well as others but you are one of the first that has mentioned it here. On a positive note your visit to " church " today did not requier a donation As a simple test next time you are with a friend with a S that does not have the device try to compare at what RPM level both of your by pass valves close. Yours will close much earlier and quicker than his and why this does not translate to a quicker response to throttle input on your car is a mystery to me. On a positive note yes you were able to clean out the oil residue in the intercooler which is a un detected problem on many cars. We have a really nice fix coming for that in about 30 days so keep an eye out for that announcement. Thanks for the post.

Randy
Team M7
www.m7tuning.com


>From: "North American Motoring Mailer" <dave@northamericanmotoring.com>
>To: randy30@hotmail.com
>Subject: Reply to post 'M7 " device " AVAILABLE'
>Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2004 08:11:32 -0500
&g

 

When you say the valve closes more easily and quickly, do you mean under load? If the valve closes earlier while just revving in neutral, what effect would that have on driveability?

You claim that this causes boost to come on sooner, but if as you say, the valve is already closed by 2k rpm, then what effect can this device have while driving? I'd be happy to document any test you can suggest that shows a difference in boost response, but it wouldn't make any difference if it doesn't happen during the range of real-world driving (2k-7k rpm).