Hiya, wonder if you guys can help me out. I just got my MCS last month. I've put aroud 700 miles on it now, and i'm thinking about getting the Alta CAI, 15% pulley, and exhaust. Would all these Mod hurt my engine during Break-in

 

Also, how much MPG can i save from these mod?

 

if your already at 700 i would wait till you finish break in, you dont have to but its what i would do. A guy in my local mini club started modding his the day he got it. And it hasnt had any negative effects so far.

 

i see, it just that i can't wait to Mod it before the break in period hehe Thanks! Also, does Mod really would improve MPG?

 

I popped a CAI on my car @ 100 miles so modding

Well here is my .02. If you wait until after the break-in period you get a chance to see how the car performs without the mods. Meaning after the break-in drive it hard to feel its full potential. Then mod so you can feel the difference.

As for saving MPG, if you can keep your foot out of it you will gain a few mpg but not enough to say that your investment in your mods is saving you gas.

 

I agree with mdsbrain, I'd wait until after the break-in so that you can drive the car hard stock and then feel the difference after modding it. How many miles do you have left? It can't be too many...

 

I've got an 06 and waited until about 4k miles for mods very similar to what you are getting. I waited until I was convinced I wanted the mods despite warranty issues; it took me about 4k miles to decide.

If I hadn't bought all kinds of extended service and warranty agreements from the dealer it would have been an easier decision, I would have gotten the mods right after break-in was over.

Despite warranty issues, I'm a happy camper and would get the mods again in an instant. Performance improvement is significant.

The clincher for me was talking to a post-purchase 05 JCW performance kit owner and hearing from him how much nicer things work on hot days with the AC on. I live in a hot climate with my family of 4 and this is a daily driver car. He was right, with my 06, on hot days with 4 people in the car and the AC on, the car still performs better than it did in its stock confuration with 1 person (me, the driver) and the AC off.

I've seen about 5mpg improvement -- IF I can keep my foot out of it. Cruise control helps. Freeway @ 70mpg, 39 to 42. City, keeping RPM low and easy, 19 to 24. Average, 26 to 30. If I goose it, I avoid looking at the mpg altogether; why torture yourself?

I would not recommend doing these mods primarily for mpg gain -- after mods, it is MUCH harder to drive for good mpg.

Btw, you might want to consider getting colder plugs with your mods. There is a likelihood of detonation otherwise, even with top tier 91 octane gasoline, especially in Southern California (I live there too, had my mod work done at Steve's Auto Clinic in North Hills).

Have you joined Mini Maniacs yet? ( http://www.scmm.org/ )

 

I don't think it makes any difference. If you bought a JCW car it would be modded out the door. Already with pulley, CAI, exhaust, injectors & SW so whats the difference?

 

As long as the break-in process is observed, mods should make no difference. The only reason to wait post break-in and baseline the stock configuration is for purely subjective reasons (as in butt-dyno).

 

Right, some of our butt-dynos need a pre-mod calibration

 

Especially if there is a perceived need to justify the expense of the mods....