If you have some doubts about the performance of your MCSW, this might be an interesting read:

http://www.mini2.com/forum/engine-dr...o-results.html

The bottom line is this: to my knowledge, 3 out of the 3 '06 MCSWs I know in Poland (my retrofitted + 2 factory fitted) have all been running a standard MCS ECU map. According to some posts in the discussion thread above, people have had similar experiences in Germany.

In my case this resulted in poor fuel economy (especially in the city) and underperformance. The torque figures were very close to std MCS and HP figures in the range of 185-192 crank HP.

I do not know if this is a common problem in the US. But if you have invested in a MCS JCW, it might well be worth checking if you are really running the right ECU map next time when you take your car to service...

I just got my car sorted out today, and later even managed to do the Mini-Madness JCW airfilter upgrade and flap mod...now it is really like a new car!

Cheers,
Sam

 

Fascinating reading. Thanks. I have wondered about this, too. I've been feeling lately that mine was a little weak, but I also suspect a worn out bypass valve. I'm getting that replaced tomorrow, as it happens, so I'll see what the car feels like afterwards. My JCW, after it was initially installed and again after replacing a previous bad bypass valve, goes like snot, though now I'm a little curious as to whether I'm feeling 195hp and thinking it's a big improvement over stock, or if I'm getting the full 207hp that I'm supposed to be getting.

Glad to hear you got the problem sorted out finally. The JCW's fun when it's working right, isn't it?

 

It certainly is. After the initial disappointment, I already had a list of other mods lined up to get some more power. But as it is now, it is certainly a quite entertaining package and substantially better than stock MCS. I might as well enjoy it as-is for some time and save the mods for later.

 

Hello
What is the bypass valve?

Good post sam_a156 and welcome to NAM

Best Regards

 

Excuses, excuses...

 

I don't know exactly how the whole system works, but basically, the bypass valve releases the pressurized air from the supercharger when you're at idle or part throttle, so that you get forced air when accelerating, but not when you're at idle or just putting around.

The valve looks just like a small throttle body, and the butterfly is spring-loaded shut. There is a vaccuum diaphram that opens the butterfly under high vaccuum conditions. So, at idle or if you're at a constant cruising speed, when you have high intake manifold vaccuum, the valve is being held open and the pressure from the supercharger is relieved. When you step on the gas hard, creating a low vaccuum situation, the spring takes over and closes the valve, keeping the pressure in the manifold and forcing more air into the cylinders. In other words, closes the hole in the system between the blower and the head. I had the return spring break in the original bypass valve on my car, and so the butterfly was stuck open. Not fun driving a MCS that effectively has no supercharger.

Detroit Tuned sells a bypass valve that has been modified 1) so that the butterfly closes more completely in the closed position, and 2) has a stronger spring so it takes more vaccuum to open the valve. That's what I'm having installed. If you look through the recent thread titles in this category, you'll find a couple with pro/con arguments regarding modified bypass valves.

 

HUSH!! Don't disturb the fantasy.

 

70spop, did you get the valve replaced? The reason I ask is because I talked with Chad via pm about his BPV and a concern on my MINI that I have. He suggested the first thing I do is have my BPV checked out and make sure the ECU is the latest version. I have a flat spot around 2700rpm so maybe the ECU can correct a little of it.

BTW, if they update the ECU to the latest version. Would it show if the JCW software is installed? In the thread posted. It looked like a lot of running around for something that I would think could be easily checked by hooking the computer to the car. Then again. I'm no tech.

 

The car is in the shop having the DT bypass valve installed as we speak (well, I'm sure they've gone home for the night), along with the new suspension goodies. I hope to pick up the car at lunch tomorrow, so I can let you know tomorrow night about any difference it makes. If the old bp valve was malfunctioning, then I'll get the double benefits of a working valve AND the faster boost from the stronger spring. I haven't noticed flat spots really, but the car has definitely been yo-yo-ing lately, and I have to really bury the pedal to get the boost guage into the positive pressure side of the dial. The slightest lift of the pedal sends the needle back to 10-15lbs of vaccuum instantaneously. Those issues, and acceleration that doesn't feel as hard as when the car has had a fresh bp valve, make me think it's the valve.

While they're under the bonnet, I'm also having them remove the JCW airbox flap. I'm sure the car will at least sound faster from that mod.

I really don't know much about the ECU/programming stuff. I would think that checking for the latest version of the software would be a plug it into the computer thing, but I don't know. I'm going to have my car at the dealer soon (it's at an independent shop now - our dealer won't do any aftermarket installations), and I'm going to have them check for the latest ECU flash as well.

I really can't wait to get the car back tomorrow! It should go faster, sound better, handle better and sit a touch lower.

 

Dziękują, Sam.
billie in California

 

Does anybody know if "checking for the latest version of JCW software" is a free service offered at the dealership?

If not how much do you figure they might charge one for this?

My car is an 03' with a German installed JCW kit, this post makes me wonder.... Is there a more recent version of the software available and do you think it would increase performance on my car?

Also, to update the software, is this something that the dealer should do for me because I already have the JCW kit installed, or will I be grabbing ankles for the service?

On my car this may be a nice alternative to going for an aftermarket ECU flash...

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks, Jasun

 

Nie ma problemu billie. In fact, that about sums up my Polish skills I am actually a Finn living in Poland. This is part of the problem - the language issues makes it challenging to figure out what's been going on with my car and what EXACTLY have they done to fix it. I cannot unfortuantelly talk directly to the mechanics doing the work.

When I first recognized the problem, thanks to the feedback I got @ MINI2 I immediatelly suggested ECU problems. Why they wanted to do numerous dyno tests etc etc to confirm this and wait almost two months before plugging my JCW into the computers is beyond me. Might have to do with the BMW-dealer dialogue on who is going to picking up the bill for the works? Beats me.

Here is what I do know.

They first installed the "latest US JCW ECU map" into my car. This immediatelly boosted the power...however, the next day I had the yellow engine emmission light on...and had to drive the car back to the dealer. Ouch...not again Apparently something to do with slightly different emission filters in US vs. EU or something?

Yesterday they again updated the ECU, this time with the "latest EU JCW ECU map". They also faxed me the new dyno results last night, 212hp/240Nm - the best results so far. My understanding is that these new maps have been delivered to the local dealer by BMW AG just now.

I will pick up my car today and I will also try to understand better how this works. If I am any wiser tonight, I will share what I learned.

Na zdrowie! (Cheers)

 

Ps. I also did the Madness JCW Intake Filter mod, I like it!

http://www.mini2.com/forum/engine-dr...ilter-kit.html

 

Sam,
A Finn in Poland sounds like a fish out of water. I have some wonderful multi-lingual engineer buddies in Polen, however, they live far south of Warsaw. They are in Krakow. If you become desparate, they can help you by telephone. One is a very talented with auto mechanics.

Another idea is for you to drive West to Germany. Then you'd find master auto mechanics that speak English.

I sympathize with language barriers. I've experienced this, too. It can make the most simple things most difficult.

One final thought, perhaps for my own amusement: A Finn named Sam is like a (can't think of something humorous).

billie

 

Billie,

Krakow, well that's not really so far from here - at least not in terms of distance. Driving time is another story A very beautiful city.

I actually talked to a couple of German tuners, Hamann and MK-Motorsport - I was considering their kits as an option for JCW. But as you say, they are in the Western Germany - a fairly long drive from Warsaw. As my JCW experience demonstrates, even the factory kits are not bullet proof... But they really seemed to know their stuff.

But perhaps you can PM me some contacts? Now the car is working like a dream, but knowing myself I doubt my tuning ambitions will end here...

Ps. Actually my real Finnish name is Samuli, perhaps that will be more inspiring?

 

OK, both of those mods are done. Woohoo! Nothing earth shattering, but a definite improvement. Boost comes on quicker, and the car accelerates much smoother than it had been - no yo-yo. There was mention in another thread that the DT bpv deadened throttle modulation - that it rendered the throttle an on/off proposition. I don't find that at all. The throttle feels like it did before, and the car drives in regular traffic just as easily as before. But now I don't have to push the pedal down as far to get the boost coming on. It comes on quicker, and it feels stronger than before. I'm sure it's not really making any more power with the new bpv, but it feels like the power that's there is getting to the wheels more urgently. I haven't had a chance to really get into it, as it's been rainy all day and even in third gear mashing the pedal will quickly break the tires loose.

As for the intake flap removal, I notice a LITTLE more intake noise - like barely - nothing that's annoying. The cars with aftermarket foam filter intakes are probably noisier. The s/c whine still doesn't really become noticeable until about 3,000 rpm. Like I said, I need a good dry day so I can really do some hard acceleration.

for both mods.

 

I just drove some 1000+ miles with the flap mod + also removed the blanking plug from the lower part of the box (it sits inside a fold in the rubber gate between the airbox and the plastic engine bay shroud).

I was a bit hesitating at the beginning, but at the end of the day the noise is not intrusive at all and I got used to it very quickly.

Other than that, now that the JCW kit is working as it should, I did have some fun chasing Maseratis and top end Audis/BMWs on the German autobahns

 

Fun!