I just got the ultrik 15% pulley and BMP Intake installed by the dealer. Will post my review shortly. Im curious if anyone else has done this yet on a MCSA.

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I'm curious how it is becuase I am waiting my MCSA right now and am considering those mods.

 

here is the review i posted on mini2 -

ECU remap, 15% pulley and BMP cold air intake. The car feels rock solid and smooth, sounds great, and pulls a lot! harder in each gear.. I shift sooner now, and the car will pull in both 5th and 6th. Huge improvement over stock and its very noticeable.

After reading several threads I was especially looking for -

1) the infamous yo yo effects,
2) Drove it in D, SD and manual
3) Tried to feel for any strange noises (well the fist time i revved it to 6k, i was a bit shaken up since i wasnt expecting the supercharger whine to be that loud)
4) Make sure the idling rpm had not changed. The car does not go upto 5 mph in D without giving it some gas.
5) No odd vibrations in the engine compartment.

Contrary to info in some threads and from shops like madness etc.. the foreman strongly suggested not to use the stock belt. We used Napa 060535 which is the right size for the Ultrik 15% pulley.

I could have done the pulley upgrade myself, but decided to get it done at the dealer for the warranty concerns and for the ECU remap (true or not true only time will tell, im just happy that atleast a certified MINI mechanic worked on the car, vs a regular tuning shop which would definately void the warranty - both MiniMania's and Mini's - ive got the receipts and hopefully there wont be any problems) . Again, i read several threads that the ECU remap is not required for a 15% pulley and intake, and yet again the guys there strongly suggested that i get it done. (and they decided not to charge me for it - their usual price is around $300)..

The increased sound from the supercharger can be heard as soon as you step on the gas. While i was there i test drove a JCW on the lot.. to be very honest these upgrades cost me a fraction of the works kit and the car just as smooth as the JCW for what i can tell. I really felt it pulled harder in 1st and 2nd than the JCW equipped mini. Granted i dont have the JCW brakes, the carbon fibre interior and what not, but do i really need more power than this ?

 

Thanks for the info. Do you think that the added power will hurt the auto tranny?

 

I have checked around on several boards an no one seems to post any hard performance data from any mods. Does anyone have a Gtech that can tell us if you add the 15% pulley, 0-60 goes from 6.9 to ___? Same for intake, exhaust. Also I am curious about the 0-60 difference between a JCW and MCS with mods. Just wondering if those 18" wheels are making you look good but slowing you down?

smoke05s

 

aquaanox,

ECU remap, what are you referring to here? I had the dealer do the Ultrik and new belt as well.

Thanks.

 

Its a remap of the existing ECU. The Invoice states - "Recommended ECU performance reprogramming".

 

not according to the dealer.

 

Who is your dealer? Mine won't even install EBC Green brake pads unless I agree that voids the warranty on the brake system! And yours is willing to install a 15% pulley? Nice!

 

Which ECU remap did they use ... JCW, Shark, GIAC, etc?

 

Nice writeup up above on the automatic! I have read somewhere, either here or MINI2, that the '05 MCSs are not too far behind the '02-04 MCS JCW. Hopefully, someone can correct me, but I thought I read that with the extra 5 bhp (minor), and the new gearing (big plus!) that the '05s are very close. In fact, I thought I read that the '02-04 JCW has to concentrate on their launches more in order to get the initiative and thus the win. I would be curious as to the difference between the '02-04 MCS JCW and the '05-'06 MCS JCW with LSD...

As far as 0-60 times, I remember reading someone's post that states it is easy to get the MINI to the low 6s (6.0-6.2), but after that it hits a brick wall due to traction... That's with the pulley, ECU, CAI and exhaust... Could be wrong, just giving my $.02 as to what I remember reading!

 

Mini of towson.. very enthusiastic bunch of guys there.. i actually bought the parts from a different dealer (mini of sterling) since they were out if stock at towson.. and got them installed at towson for a lower price. Both dealerships have contracts in place with mini mania.

 

Gosh makes you wonder why I go to the other Maryland Dealer of Tate MINI? There just conveint to me I guess. I wish they didn't hate aftermarket things as much.

 

I understand that you can go to any dealer that supports the minimania.com upgrades and get this done from them. It doesnt matter where you got the car - lets say you moved states for example.. you could then get your car serviced at any mini dealer. i bought the parts from sterling and got them installed at towson bec they are just freindlier guys and didnt have the parts in stock at the time. If the mini dealer sells you the parts, and you get them installed at a mini dealership.... you have a very strong case, just keep your reciepts.

 

I was at Downtown Mini and they had just completed thier first install on an MCSa. They said it was a tighter fit than the 6-speed, but not a problem.

 

i think the only difference is the location of the pulley on the MCSA. Its 10mm further to the right than on the manual so its harder to get to. I talked to several shops in the area before getting this done at the dealer. Esp those that specialize in mini's, they had already done this on MCSA's without problems other than the one difference noted above.