Hi,
got a MCS and I've got the problem that most of you have with the coolant leak.....still not solved....
so I've some questions....do a change of supercharger pulley involve more heat? so more fears (for me ) about the coolant effect on my engine?
Moreover, I've read that if you change the pulley, the water pump could blow and that you have to take care of that problem too....? Is it true? If not, I gonna change it as soon as possible ! :smile: And finaly, do a change of the pulley without an ECU modification worth it?
Maybe dumb questions....but thanks for your help ! :smile:

 

I read somewhere there is a new tank design available.
You would think we'd be notified but I haven't heard
from MINIUSA yet. (on 2nd tank)

 

Hi:

I had my MCS recovery tank replaced, with the first 3 weeks, with a different designed tank, the center joint is smaller and has not leaked. My dealer replaced the tank, but did spill fluid on the heat shield which smelled during burn off. No complaints, even got a 2001 BMW 325 loaner for the overnight repair.

 

Maybe stupid question...but how do you know if your coolant is leaking????

 

Look at your coolant overfill resovoir sandwiched between the cabin end of the engine bay and the engine. There is a heat shield under it. Look on the heat shield for crusty white/green/brown color crap. Or you could just drive like you always do and wait for the tell tale smell it produces. When that coolant gets on the exhaust manifolds...well PEEEEEEEUUUUUU!!!! Smells like burning electrical. YUCK!

R

 

>>Hi,
>>got a MCS and I've got the problem that most of you have with the coolant leak.....still not solved....
>>so I've some questions....do a change of supercharger pulley involve more heat? so more fears (for me ) about the coolant effect on my engine?
>>Moreover, I've read that if you change the pulley, the water pump could blow and that you have to take care of that problem too....? Is it true? If not, I gonna change it as soon as possible ! :smile: And finaly, do a change of the pulley without an ECU modification worth it?
>>Maybe dumb questions....but thanks for your help ! :smile:

No such thing as a dumb question :smile:

The supercharger pulley does create more heat, but not in coolant or even CHT. The heat is in the intake charge to the intercooler. No worries - it works just fine. The increased boost more than makes up for the heat caused by the higher compression at lower RPMs.

The water pump blowing came from some early speculation that the water pump may cavitae at the higher speeds a 15% reduction in pulley size creates. We have found that this simply doesn't cause any cavittation, and as I said, the CHT hasn't increased significantly, which indicates that air is not being introduced to the cooling jackets.

The pulley mod can be done without the ECU change - the car runs plenty rich - but you could gain more from doing a mod to the ECU that is associated with the pulley. You will still see a gain of 15+ hp with the pulley alone.

Let me know if you have any other questions (there aren't any dumb ones - well maybe a couple - but I'll even try to answer those).

Randy

 

Thanks Randy....It's more clear now... :smile:
So I will maybe go for a pulley and ECU mod...now I have to find the best provider...maybe could you recommand me some? and you maybe know roughly hom much will it cost

And a last thing....I'm really upset by this coolant problem....do you think it would be better to by a new coolant tank (I've heard about a steel one but I can't remember where) or to wait until BMW has found the solution (which seems to be a really long wait to come!!)?...as I told before, it's been the fourth time they changed the tank and it' stil leaking (last time I had to fill the tank with coolant each 200m to reach the dealer place!!!!...)... :???:

 

>>Thanks Randy....It's more clear now... :smile:
>>So I will maybe go for a pulley and ECU mod...now I have to find the best provider...maybe could you recommand me some? and you maybe know roughly hom much will it cost
>>

I'm assuming by the wink, that you know this already. But if you don't, check out Randy's MINI-Motorsport

 

Randy,

Are you selling a pulley with an ECU? What is the horsepower increase from a pulley with ECU that you have seen.

 

>>Randy,
>>
>>Are you selling a pulley with an ECU? What is the horsepower increase from a pulley with ECU that you have seen.

I haven't found an ECU mod to go with the pulley that I'm happy with yet. I'm working a couple of leads to determine the best solution.

As far as numbers go, I've seen 22 hp from the pulley and Superchips/Graham Goode racing setup, and 16 hp from the pulley alone.

I have the pulley for $200, but I won't sell the ECU stuff until I find one that I'm happy with.

Randy