Thanks but my new one is already in the mail for only $60 more and a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, no questions asked. It's also the latest version (v2).

Sent from my iPhone using NAMotoring

 

There must be something in the way that your driving that is causing it to bog down like you say. Either you're letting the clutch out too much too early or you're not giving it enough gas OR a combination of both. If you already have a high flow filter changing to k&n won't do a thing. The cause of the problem is either related to the way you drive or something more serious than an air filter that is wrong with the car.

Perhaps you're just used to driving manual the way you did in your old honda? Every car is different and your Mini likely requires more finesse to get it right. Maybe have a friend you trust try driving it and see if he/she experiences the same thing.

 

Interesting post Andy. Fortunately for me I drive the same unless I chose to drive more aggressively. That being said, the bogging down happens (as I've said), sporadically under the exact "same" driving conditions (operator initiated).

Cheers
David

Sent from my iPhone using NAMotoring

 

Yeah i know what you mean on the sporadic bogging down, cause the same thing happens to me. No idea of why, it just happens. Let us know if the sprint booster will help.

 

Hesitation on the launch/take off could mean a lot of things. I too had that same issue. I cleaned the air filter & MAF with no improvement and replaced the plugs, SeaFoamed, Techron gas treatment every 1K - still the same result UNTIL it lead to the HPFP. I do not have any technical data to back this up but it fixed the problem. Luckily it was still under warranty and there were no out-of-pocket expenses except for my time. This occurred around 70K miles on the clock, still very capable at 37.X mpgs and no CEL...

I use Shell 93 octane all the time and Costco 93 for my obligatory weekly hotdog & a soda.

I do not mean to scare you but I would prefer to re-establish the integrity of the engine before adding a mod. In my opinion, "some" mods can camouflage problems and ending up costing more at the end. Though, a 30-day satisfaction guarantee sounds divine so have fun with it and go from there.

Excellent choice on the AFE!

Good luck and keep us posted with the results.

 

Joey - My Zippy just broke 17k. I think if it were the fuel pump MINI would have detected it as I have complained about it in my 10k service. As I said, it happens sporadically and today it didn't happen at all. I'm going to try the SB and report my findings. Believe me, if it doesn't fix the issue back it goes.

Cheers,
David

 

True on the detection at the dealer if there are fault codes on HPFP. On N14 engines, it is very intermittent and could go under the radar when it's being diagnosed at the dealership but let not concentrate on that for now.

Yes, keep us all posted on the results after the booster install.

 

I'll keep everyone posted.

The device made it from California to Florida (Tampa) this morning at 4:00am. I doubt I'll have it today, and with tomorrow being a holiday I'll have it Friday sometime. Unless it makes it to our local post office today and I can pick it up.

Otherwise, this will give me the weekend for install and first impressions, and the daily commute (70 miles a day) to work next week. That's all the time needed to make a determination of its effectiveness.

More to come ...

Sent from my iPhone using NAMotoring

 

PS: Looks like it made it here already. I may actually have it installed today, pending delivery time.

"Your item arrived at the Post Office at 8:28 am on December 31, 2014 in LEHIGH ACRES, FL 33936. The Postal Service expects to deliver the item on Wednesday, December 31, 2014. Information, if available, is updated periodically throughout the day. Please check again later."

Sent from my iPhone using NAMotoring

 

So here we go.

First, I notice a "significant" decrease in response time. Heck, I can take off on second from an almost stand still. Response at 3-4th gear is incredible.

Having said the above, I need to run/test this some more before making a final judgement call. The reason for this is as follows.

1- Installed device exactly as shown on instructions.

2- Turned car on and immediately noticed a check engine light followed by an icon that looked like a tachometer.

3- Pressed gas peddle and nothing happened. Check engine light still on.

4- Turned car off then back on again and everything worked. Ironically, my interior lights which I had set to blue, turned back to red. Odd, but I set them back to blue.

5- Drove car a few blocks, came back home and double checked all connections. They appear tight and in place. Turned car on and noticed item #2 again. Proceeded to step #3 -- same thing, then step #4.

Returned home to double check the instructions and confirm I did everything as suggested. I did.

I'm writing this now then will go back and try it again.

Best,
David

Sent from my iPhone using NAMotoring

 

send it back and get a JB+...

 

I wonder if this would be considered "low" RPMs with the AC off (manual transmission).

If it does it again, I'll remove and reinstall. If I continue to get the check engine/tachometer indicator back it goes. :(

Best,
David

Sent from my iPhone using NAMotoring

 

Removed device and restored back to original setup. No engine light or tachometer notification observed. Car is back as before.

I will wait 5+ minutes as suggested on the instructions (step #1) and reinstall SB again. If the engine/tachometer indicators return I'll need to send this back. I can't help but wonder if I received the latest version (v2) of this product (as promised). :(

Best,
David

Sent from my iPhone using NAMotoring

 

The original version had no adjustment. The new version has the adjustment controller. You have the newer version.

 

Guys - Is it normal for MINI to cycle through the check engine light and tachometer (yellow) then go away? I'm also trying something else. I removed the mode switch and it doesn't seem to do it. I'll check again and keep everyone posted.

Now, aside from the above. There IS DEFINITELY A RESPONSE GAIN. Zippy feels fun to drive, I can run in lower gears without stalling. Don't know why this is, but it's great. Except the diesel type sound she makes when to low in gear.

I also hear more of the purrrrrrrrr sound. Could it be she's sucking in more air?

Oh, I let my wife drive it to make sure it's not my butt dyno and she noticed it right away. In fact, she hardly ever "runs" Zippy, but today she had her flying. Kinda had me scared!!

Hmmmm Regards, David Sent from my iPhone using NAMotoring

 

Check engine light comes on and stays on. The only way to make it stay on a few seconds then go away is to turn the car off then back on again.

Sadly ... it needs to go back. :(

David

Sent from my iPhone using NAMotoring

 

did u leave the door open for 5min BEFORE the install? i had SB since 2011 in mine (R60 S Manual) and have no issues..

Edit: i see that u did. i think i left my door opened for more than 5 min for a good measure. try again.. it should work..

Steven

 

Hello Steven.

I did that twice. However, I'll do it again for good measure before sending it back. What's odd is if I turn the car off then back on, the engine light shows briefly then goes away.

It's sad, because if nothing else it eliminated the bogging-down I was desperately trying to get rid of.

I found out the tachometer light is indicative of cruise control failure. :(

Don, the owner of MINIMania sent me a FedEx return label. No offer to send a replacement, no apology for the device not working, no comments at all. Amazing!

Regards,
David

Sent from my iPhone using NAMotoring

 

PS: I also left the door open "without" the key fob in the ignition for almost 8 minutes.

These are the lights I'm getting. Again, if I turn the car off then back on only the check engine light shown briefly shows then goes away. :(

Sent from my iPhone using NAMotoring

 

I sam sorry to hear that it did not work out.

I may have missed this detail but did you get to pull the CEL codes via OBD? If not you can replicate it and take it to Advance Auto where they can read the error codes.

Also, I just realized that you have a Just a. Did your vendor specify compatibility to your year and model?

 

Did you make sure to leave the drivers side door open for a full 5 minutes before you unplugged anything? If you didn't then thats why your getting a cel.

 

Joey: Yes, MINIMania specifically said they would send me the "latest" and "compatible" unit. Guess not, huh? It's a sad day indeed, because aside from this, the unit works flawlessly. :(

Andy: I most certainly did. However, here's what I'll do now.

1- Restore everything back to factory
2- Turn car on
3- Confirm all is OK (no warning lights)
4- Turn car off and remove key
5- Wait 5+ minutes with door open
6- Reinstall SB and test.

Here's a video of exactly what happens. Note what happens after I turn the car on, off then back on again. In the first session, the warning light remains on. On the second cycle, it comes on briefly then remains off.

I had to upload the video to my Dropbox account as I couldn't upload it here.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/lhizwkpxo...zZV1yLYNa?dl=0

Regards,
David

Sent from my iPhone using NAMotoring

 

PS: Don't mind that chirping sound. That's not the MINI, it's my radar detector.

It appears to be directly related to the cruise control. First session while light remains on, I'm NOT able to engage the cruise control (engine light on). Second session the cruise control light works when I engage it (engine light off).

Sent from my iPhone using NAMotoring

 

Note the center selection says, "2002-2013" for the MINI Hatchback. When I select that product it's the same part number I was sent. Note this site is also "A division of MINI Mania" which is where I purchased my SB.

 

The sprint booster was the best money I have spent for the fun factor. I have the sport package as well, and there is no replacement for what the sprint booster adds. I too picked mine up here on NAM for $150, but at retail it is still worth the money. Driving a Non-S, the change in the car is incredible and even better when pressing the sport button. There is nothing for a non-S that can bring this type of performance gain.