First of all, what I've got:
2005 MCS w/LSD, daily driven/only car(17k miles/10 months), only mods are aftermarket 16x7 wheels with 10mm more offset and 225/45 Hankook Ventus RS-2s, and One-Ball exhaust mod/hack. I will perform all work myself, the dealer only sees the car when the inspection counter says to.

What I'm shooting for:
A little extra kick/smile factor. The car won't be drag or street raced, and will see a couple of AutoX runs just for S&G(I realize a couple of these mods will bump me to SM in Solo II).

What I've got in mind:
-15% Pulley-don't know what brand-suggestions?
-CAI-thinking ALTA with the silicone hose coupling and a opened-up cowl.
-ECU upgrade-Shark injector worth the $400 for less than 10WHP?
-Exhaust-Invidia or a single-sided, or possibly a custom-built at a local
speed shop that I frequent.
-Catch can
-Minor suspension mods(I already have ideas here).

What I'd like to know:
-I've heard of a yo-yo effect, but only in reference to the '02-'04s, and using a VGS to resolve this. Could someone enlighten me on the yo-yo phenomenon and whether it is an occurence on the '05s?
-Suggestions on the above mods and their credible value on a street/daily driven car, as well as suggested other mods that have shown purpose.

Thanks and happy motoring!

 

I have an 05 MCS and didn't really notice the yoyo. I have the Alta CAI and love it, but it had a high pitched whistle at 3k. I did the VGS mod and the whistle is gone. I thought the Shark was only good for 02-04. I have the Alta Sport Tune ( single-sided ) and it sounds great. I don't think brand matters on pulley 15 is 15.

 

The pulley is a no brainer. There are lots of versions out there, and many have good reps. read around and see....

CAI is cheap and easy. You can go pretty far there, like the AGS from M7, there are lots of CAIs that don't go past the TB, Like Altas, Webbs, Helix, K&N..... Everywhere you look, there's a CAI! The cheapest is the HAI, a K&N filter on the TB.

ECU, there are lots of ways to go here as well. If you really want some good bang for the buck, get something that can be dyno tuned locally to exactly your mods. Don't worry about the "just 10 HP", as it can free up a lot of low and mid range torque. The Shark has a few "flavors" but search on ECU tuning to learn about all the others.

I'm not too high on most of the exhausts out there. With the stock header on the car, you're not going to get too much value for the rather expensive prices. Webb's got one with a cut-out, but I don't know if it's fully released yet. I've got the one-ball as well, and it works..... But I don't have good numbers for it. Check out a thread by Roland03 on Mini2, he's measureing backpressures.... And Will from M7 has been doing some flow modeling... Also look at the Willy69's thread about gutting the pre-cat on the stock manifold. He's gotten some good power from that as well.

Catch can is nice, but is only good for 1% or a bit more on air density... Don't overspend, unless you want a specific look.

The yo-yo was an oscillation in the drive by wire controller. Not all cars had it, and it varied by degree, some having it BAD. If you just wonder about it, there's a thread called the Yo-yo chronicals that goes into it. If you don't know what people are talking about because you don't have it, don't worry, and spend your time researching other stuff.

For the suspension, rear bar is a must to reduce understeer.

But watch to see what you do with your racing class, as you can mod yourself into classes where you'll get blown away. Others know much more about this than I do.

Matt

 

Depending on how far you want to go with your mods and what class you want to be put at when you go to autox. Your best bet is to start off with an intake and pulley. These will open up your car to a new level of fun! As for exhausts, there is a sticky that talks about the exhausts that are out there and have sound clips, if you want to get one, but interested how one performs and sounds, i would start there. As for a catch can, they do there job and do it well, my catch can has caught oil and the inside of my intercooler is nice and clean! If you do not want to spend the money on a catch can now, you can go with the 15 dollar version of the catch can. Do a search for catch cans and you should see the thread about doing it for 15 bucks of so. For that money, it is worth the price! And for the yo-yo on the 05's, I have not experienced it much on my car if not at all! Best of luck!

Garrett

 

Well, I can only speak from personal experience, and a fair bit of research, but my suggestions, based purely on my own opinions and needs:

Pulley: I have a Helix 15%, don't think there's a bad choice in brands here. Where you will get some differing opinions is on the issue of 15 v. 17 v. 19%. I went a bit 'milder' with mine.

CAI: A lot of people like the Alta, and so do I, but there are a lot of smart people with fast Coopers who like other brands as well. For me, it was about the sound of the Alta.

Exhaust: I have the Milltek. Nice balance of power and amplitude. Not as loud as some, but has a nice tone. There are certainly other opinions on this. Will depend on how loud you want the car more than anything.

Plugs/wires: Kingsborne wires, IK22 plugs. This isn't going to net you much if any horsepower, but I noticed smoother idle and acceleration. Could be psychological, though.

ECU: I would recommend a 'custom' solution as opposed to a 'plug-in' chip. Yo-yo/stumble was present in my car initially, mitigated significantly post CAI/pulley, completely eliminated after the MTH ECU programming.

Catch-can: Purely a 'preventive' thing if you ask me, and not a big performance enhancer.

Suspension/brakes: I know almost nothing about these subjects. I don't track my car, and the MCS handles/stops adequately for my needs.

Tranny: Because the flywheel was going to be replaced anyway, my dealer suggested a lightweight flywheel, and I added a SPEC II+ clutch, Quaife limited-slip and Alta short-shifter at the time. Marked improvement, but I wouldn't do it unless you're having to go in there anyway. Labor would've killed me on this; as it was, they only charged me ~$400 to do the LSD and short-shift.

Good luck, and have fun!

 

Careful, the pulley changes the class the car is in very rapidly.

 

Yup. Bumps you right into Street Mod. Add in all your other mods and there's no escaping it.
That's where I am

 

If you are out there to just have fun in autox go for it, but if your looking to compete, you might want to rethink the ideas! Like we have all stated, decide on what class you want to run and go from there.

Garrett

 

Thanks for all the responses! I realize the mods will bump me into some hardcore classes, but I do it just for fun. I also realize that the catch can won't add power, I just want it to keep the inside of the intercooler and piping clean and reduce detonation chances from the oil vapors in the combustion chamber. I already had a rear sway and some form of damping adjustable coilover in mind. Thanks again and keep 'em coming!

 

For autocrossing, IMHO, put all the money into suspension and skip the go-fast parts... They don't make anywhere NEAR the difference a good suspension setup and seat time does...

For the street - mod the heck out of it and have fun! It'll make much more of a difference out there...

 

I don't know how much more I can stress the fact that AutoX events for me are purely for FUN. I don't have the experience or the money in tires to be competetive where that car is, in GS. When I first got the car, I had full intentions of competing regularly, but the local politics and drama of the whole thing vs. the fun factor is not worth it for me. I will at most attend 3 events this year, because some of the coordinators' attitudes toward 'non-member fun runners' have spoiled it for me . Sorry to rant. I think I'll head toward the intake and pulley for now, and keep my one-ball tweaked stock exhaust until I can replace it with the header simultaneously, and save the money for my suspension . Thanks again everyone.

 

It is a shame that some people can spoil things for others! Best of luck on your journey and have fun motoring.

Garrett

 

I started with EBC brakes and lighter wheels/tires, gong from S-lites with Pirelli run flats to SSR GT7s with Dunlop SP Sport 9000's, reducing the weight at each corner by 20 lbs. or so. The differenece was VERY noticeable. At the same time, I put Greenstuff brake pads on and the TMS brake caliper bushings with stainless steel lines and EBC slotted rotors. These wheel tire and brake mods practically eliminated all the black brake dust on my wheels and improved every performance parameter.

The only speed mod I've done so far is a CAI, but I have a 15% pulley and colder NGK plugs to go on this Saturday. I have ordered Koni FSD dampers to go on at the same time as the Alta 19mm sway bar I already got. I am NOT planning on lowering the car.

In the final analysis, it's up to what you want most. If yo want straigt line speed, then go for the speed ;mods first. But for me, "power is nothing without control."

 

If you are REALLY going to do autocross for S & G do the pulley, if you are concerned about being outclassed don't do the pulley, or do EVERYTHING (look at the solo 2 rules in SCCA)

Pulleys there are differences some are very light and others have sifferent mount systems.

The ecu isn't just HP... I know I am spending your $ but I did a shark at first but it is very generic. a Unichip is more but most retailers will do free upgrades as you progress with your mods.
(I will PM you some info on this)


a Catch can isn't really a bolt on HP gain more longevity and keeping all good... you have options, I saw a thread with $15 "can". Mine was $19.99 at a truck shop.

Suspension ... I am NOT a fan of coilovers ... springs and shocks (long discussion)

Good luck ... HAVE FUN !

 

I'm not sure that I want to lower the car, because I've owned a handful of lowered cars in the past that just had no suspension travel and bottomed everywhere I went. I don't mean bottomed like dragging, either; I mean that the suspension reached the maximum endpoint of its' travel! The tire size/ wheel offset combination that I'm running would rub anyway. I mainly would like adjustable damping to compliment a nice rear bar.

What heat range NGK plugs are you using with your 15% pulley?

 

I'm not much into the typical coilover; i.e., 'sleeve type'. If I were to do a coilover setup it would be a matched component setup, like what Bilstein, Koni, or H&R offer for the car. I had Eibach Sportlines and KYB adjustables on my last Honda Civic, a 2000 hatchback, and enjoyed it very much. I prefer a stiff/ uncomfortable ride to a plush/disconnected feel any day of the week!