Yesterday I had installation of my new Helix/OBX header and JCW 380cc injectors, and to get my first non-OEM tune from the guys at Fireballed!

The experience was easy -- no, better than easy -- fun. Everything went just as expected and explained by Brian. Their "studio shop" is so cool. I got to see the famous machines they've built for the drags and some of the ones they have built for new sale at South Bay Mini (e.g., "OddJob", and friends). Ultra cool body work. About as custom as one can get. What it must be like to work there. Wow! Also got a peek at their street and race heads. Pretty nice. They have an OEM version for comparison, too. Man, the OE ports look totally anemic -- especially the exhaust. Tempting, but more $$ than I'm ready to do right now.

The new header (thanks to Helix and OBX!!) has further enhanced the sound and performance of the exhaust, which was deep and throaty before, but is now just killer rich and powerful ; and downright mean sounding from 4000-up, anywhere from about 3/4 to WOT. I drive even more with my windows down now than I used to with just the Milltek.

The tune has improved the whole RPM range making the car pull really hard up hills, and out of turns at lower revs when needed. The red line is now 7500, but I have only had it up to 6500 so far (that's not why I got the tune, anyway, but it is there when I go to AMVIV next month. LOOKING FORWARD TO IT!!

The throttle seems somewhat more responsive, but I think that only a lightened flywheel will get that to where I'd like it to be. I have not dyno'd so I can't swear, but the butt-dyno says, "I likee!!" And the injectors give me some breathing room, and therefore, confidence, even if they most likely are not yet getting any workout. I did not feel timing being retarded since the tune, even on or after my ugly commute down the 405, from El Segundo to Long Beach.

Bottom line is I am one happy camper.

 

Very nice! I'm torn right now between doing waht you did...injectors/obx or suspensions upgrades or a water/meth system...I have a problem with pinging...bah...I'll sell my soul and do them all

 

Phoenix is probably tougher on the ping than So Cal. Maybe the water/meth system is the way? there are acouple of threads lately that address different brands. If I were experiencing timing retard, I think I'd go scoop, IC insulation, intake insulation/cooling and 380 injectors before going to water/meth. They look to me like some VERY involved installation, but I have not investigated that much, and have not seen any "how-to."

Have you tried a bigger scoop? Say the m7 Extreme? I see you already have a JCW flash. Maybe just going to the JCW 380cc injectors would help cut the retard?

 

I had the issue after my pulley install, tried to alleviate it with plugs and then the flash to no avail. Injectors $300....scoop $300...IC $700-1000...Meth $400-800....I do have someinsulting tape on the way, but I know that isn't going to help much...I mix 100 octane to cut the retard, and have already tried the regular 91 in 35 degree weather with no difference.

 

A couple months ago, I had a few small upgrades/fixes that I wanted to do....


I've since sold my soul. You get used to it.

 

I think the injectors and insulation may help more than you think; and neither takes a tremendous labor investment for install. I also think the scoop and Alta IC diverter have helped.

Don't give up!!

 

Never!

 

About the higher redline, does that hurt anything? I mean, the factory redline was set at 6800 for a reason right? With stock valves is there any valve float at 7500?
About pinging, I don't think I've had any pinging at all. Then again, I've never been in a car that had, so I don't know what it sounds like. Aside from more s/c wine after my pulley I noticed no odd sounds.

 

Some say float on a stock MINI valve train starts at around 6800. Others say not. From what I have read, I would only be willing to test a stock valvetrain up to 7000. I plan to get upgraded head that should allow use of the higher redline, but not for about another 20-30,000 miles on the odometer.

As for pinging, MINI owners probably should never hear it because the system is SUPPOSED to retard the spark before your ears can detect detonation (to prevent damage).

I wonder how likely it is that a knock sensor could cause premature or unnecessary retarding of ignition?

Never thought of it before, but the varying experiences of MINI owners might indicate that some are victims of hypersensitive sensors or at least sensors that are "over-protective" of the engine somehow??

Maybe someone with more technical knowledge of the knock sensor "anatomy" and workings could chime in??