Does anybody think the CAI is worth the $250 for a few additional ponies if you have the JCW kit? Who thinks the ECU changes might add power and why?

http://dinancars.com/Mini.asp?Series...is=40&Model=91

 

No. The only air intake worth the money is probably Andy's HAI (hot air intake). Search for the thread if you haven't read it. It's cheap and possibly the most powerful. Otherwise, I can't see spending a couple hundred on an intake when you already have a pulley, head and exhaust. You'll never notice any power the intake gives you b/c the % increase is miniscule.

As I've mentioned in other threads, I think the best mod for the JCW kit would be a good ECU program tuned for the kit. From what I've seen and heard, I'm fairly confident that the JCW ECU may be a detune. If that's the case, an ECU program should really do wonders.

 

I recently had the resonaotors removed from my JCW exhaust and then added the Alta CAI a week later. The seat of the pants dyno said there where noticable power gains with each as well as more sweet noise. :smile: I did keep the OEM air intake because of interest in the upcoming JCW upgrade.
A catalog of JCW stuff is due this fall. The suspension kit already has part numbers but an adequate description is lacking. I will restrain from furher mods until there is more information and better descriptions.

 

Buz - I'm assuming that you meant resonator (singular), right? The bit just behind the exhaust manifold? I've considered swapping that out as well. Is the sound noticeably louder? Any drone?

I am totally with you on waiting for the JCW stuff to be released. I really like the idea of an all-JCW car.

 

I've owned 2 Coopers w/ JCW Works kits (my current is an 04' w/ Works) and tried 3 different intakes with the JCW package: Alta, BMP and the new Dinan intake.
-IMO the one that gives the best throttle response, mid-range torque gains and improvements in the overall engine performance is the Dinan. The downside may be that the Dinan unit is not an aural treat like the BMP is. It's a quiet unit for the most part and some people will not like it as such or get the same "rush". What I see as the Dinan advantage is a very consistent torque curve w/ what may be a better management/control of intake box air pressure at low and high speeds. The thermal advantages of the Dinan unit can the measurerd as can some of the other Dinan R&D data such as box air pressure.
-While I find the Dinan intake to be a good addition to the Works kit I personally will not do any non-JCW's software additions to my car. I will wait until the JCW software upgrades are out this fall.
PS: Dinan does not approve or recommend adding their software to Works cars. From my experience adding a straight pipe to the JCW exhaust (Supersprint S Pipe should be a direct bolt on part) will make for a pretty loud system that may be a bit too much for some drivers. It sounded like an angry Ninja bike at WOT, nasty and mean and pretty cool BUT it was loud from the outside. It became very problematic for me on long road trips & required ear plugs. Droaning was not an issue per say but the system it was better suited to track driving (hearing shift points w/ greater ease) than city driving.

 

I will probably wait for the JCW goodies too, like many of you but while at the dealer the Dinan airbox looked somewhat inviting .

 

I'm putting both the Dinan air intake and throttle body on my JCW 2003 MCS tomorrow. Concur that Dinan does not advise there ECU despite what their website says. The JCW air intake on their website (available in Europe) was not that inspiring. The "hot air intake" post neglected to discuss water intake. I wonder if it was tested during a tropical downpour?

Glad to know there are others looking for tasteful ways to improve an already impressive tuning kit.

Aloha

 

Not true. Read the post.

 

My .02 here regarding rain...
Last night, on my return from the track, I drove through an absolute deluge of rain. Not a problem. Well the Azenis tires were a problem, but that's another story

 

Same here, the filter stays dry as a bone, even in insane rain. Like your situation, the Azenis get pretty scary in standing water, especially now that mine are on the wear bars.