Any one knows who sells colder plugs for MCS locally in Hawaii? I know that Redline Auto does not have them, and neither for some of the NAPA stores. Hate to order them from the mainland (shipping is almost the same as the plugs).

Any one has the Pilo Ignition kit installed in Hawaii? What is your experience?

Mahalo...G :smile:

Did you check Checker, Carquest, Hawaii Import Parts...and some of the tuner shops?

Isn't Pilo a furniture store?

>>Did you check Checker, Carquest, Hawaii Import Parts...and some of the tuner shops?
>>
>>Isn't Pilo a furniture store?


Thanks, I finally have it special ordered from Hawaii Kai NAPA (NGK plugs). It comes in a set of 10, so if anyone wants a set of 4, please PM me. While checking for the plugs, I realized that the NGK website recommends the same plug for MC and MCS. So I am wondering if a stock MCS will benefit from one colder range below what was recommended.

(BTW, I was referring to PILO Racing).

>>Thanks, I finally have it special ordered from Hawaii Kai NAPA (NGK plugs). It comes in a set of 10, so if anyone wants a set of 4, please PM me. While checking for the plugs, I realized that the NGK website recommends the same plug for MC and MCS. So I am wondering if a stock MCS will benefit from one colder range below what was recommended.

If you ordered the one setting colder NGK plugs I might be interested in 4, let me know the price.
I have the Pilo Racing ignition kit-wires/coil/Accel plugs one setting colder. I was going to replace the plugs at about 12,000 miles.

The ignition kit should not be considered a must upgrade until you have done all of your other upgrades. It gives your ignition system a bit more reserve but will not give you that much performance gain.

Both MC and MCS can use the colder setting plugs but only a pulley upgraded MCS will really benefit from them.

>>Any one has the Pilo Ignition kit installed in Hawaii? What is your experience?

===>Hi, ghui! Had mine installed at (per another minihune top-notch referral)...

*B & B Auto Service Center In Waipio Gentry (676-2334)

Here's what I (& others) had to say (scroll down some)...

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...mp;topic=19947

One more thing --> I PMed Dan (MiniPilo) before ordering then regarding those two options. He responded real quickly in saying that the 'colder' option is for those in cold climates (yes, S only). Well, I THINK that's what he said & as when he said S only, I switched myself off to that issue

GOOD LUCK!!

_________________

Coop Dogg & erik808

>>One more thing --> I PMed Dan (MiniPilo) before ordering then regarding those two options. He responded real quickly in saying that the 'colder' option is for those in cold climates (yes, S only). Well, I THINK that's what he said & as when he said S only, I switched myself off to that issue

I found this post on MINI2.com-
The JCW Kit includes new spark plugs, NGK Part number BKR7EQUP. These plugs are one heat range "colder" that the stock plugs for MC's and MCS's, which is a BKR6EQUP. They are also more than 4 times the price of a stock plug at $36.50 EACH at the BMW Dealer. I spoke to NGK USA and they do not list them as being imported to the USA. The stock plus is available from parts sources for just $8.50 each. MINI recommends all future replacments for the JCW MCS's be these "7"plugs.

"Colder" heat ranges are usually plugs that go into higher performance or racing applications. These plugs
usually require the engine to be working harder to be efficient. A "hotter" heat range plug is normally one
for standard operation, including very light duty. If you put too "cold" a plug in an engine and don't work
the engine, you can get fouling on the electrode of the plug.

see
http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39716

Erik808 and Minihune,

Thanks for the info and advice. So when I get the 15% pulley installed in two weeks, I should just keep the stock plugs because I never take my car to track and I mainly use it for city/highway driving? :smile:

George,

You might want to go with the colder plug as the overdrive pulley will make your engine work harder. This is because you will have more air going into your engine and the sc temps will also increase. Hopefully, the stock ecu programming can handle this increase in air induction and adjust fuel accordingly. If not, you may have a lean condition which is very bad for your car. In high school, we sc'd a friends Corvette and knew nothing about the additional fuel requirements. Everything was installed and we ran the motor. It was running so lean that the headers were glowing red!

>>Erik808 and Minihune,
>>
>>Thanks for the info and advice. So when I get the 15% pulley installed in two weeks, I should just keep the stock plugs because I never take my car to track and I mainly use it for city/highway driving? :smile:

===>You're welcome, ghui! Though I didn't contribute much

>>George,
>>
>>You might want to go with the colder plug as the overdrive pulley will make your engine work harder. This is because you will have more air going into your engine and the sc temps will also increase. Hopefully, the stock ecu programming can handle this increase in air induction and adjust fuel accordingly. If not, you may have a lean condition which is very bad for your car. In high school, we sc'd a friends Corvette and knew nothing about the additional fuel requirements. Everything was installed and we ran the motor. It was running so lean that the headers were glowing red!

Yes. The_Beastmaster is correct.

Ghui,
Colder plugs are recommended for all pulley upgraded MCS. Some have even tried colder plugs (two settings) but it doesn't seem to help any. I would not leave the plugs stock with a pulley upgraded MCS.

yup. what beastmaster sez.

when they come in, don't forget to check the gap. also, torque to spec.

if you run an upgraded ignition or MAYBE some wires, you might benefit from widening the gap....did i mention might. it most likely won't be noticeable though unless it was off from before.

indexing plugs is a PITA and waste of time for 99.99% of us.

b

I spoke to Helix13 about all this and here is the bottomline.
With various ignition upgrades tested by Helix13 including coil,wires, different plugs and different settings- none of the upgrades could yield "measurable dyno gains".
So don't expect much in power gains, however you will have more reserve in your ignition system, and if everything is installed and running right- you'll get the best gas mileage and efficiency.

Huh??? Did I heard better gas mileage? That's what I need.

>>Huh??? Did I heard better gas mileage? That's what I need.
I'm not talking 5 mpg more but rather if everything is set up correctly you will get the proper and good gas mileage that would be normal for your model. It's like running your tires are the correct inflation for best results and gas mileage. Hey your wheels aren't totally flat, are they? Better go look.

Keikilee,
Your MC is a different and unique beast that doesn't really play by the rules. Any luck getting your mpg numbers above 15 yet? You must have gone through some additional tankfulls by now.

Thanks to everyone's advice and to Minihune's tip, the colder plugs (da iridium kine) are flying in. Hopefully, they will land before Eric does.

Iridium? You mean you didn't buy the unobtainium ones?

>>Iridium? You mean you didn't buy the unobtainium ones?
I was gonna get the ones made locally with the pineapple core and the firecracker fuse, but they ran out.

>>Keikilee,
>>Your MC is a different and unique beast that doesn't really play by the rules. Any luck getting your mpg numbers above 15 yet? You must have gone through some additional tankfulls by now.
>>

minihune....i'm still only 15 miles/gal. I dream of the days I can get 25-30mi/gal....gosh, I can save from $30-$40/month. That's a good $360-$480/year. Hmmmm......that's like a new exhaust right there!!!

Oh yeah...forgot to mention....I'm on my 3rd or 4th tank of gas since I got the latest software upgrade!

_________________

15 MPG? On the 2nd fillup, mom's CVT went back up to 24 MPG. Perhaps you should have the MoH service guys look at your car again.

What kind of driving do you do? Is is all stop and go traffic? Mostly city? Do you have a lead foot? Inquiring minds want to know.

I do only city driving. Drive from McCully to Manoa to Downtown to McCully on Monday thru Friday. Weekends....all over. Drive about 200 miles per week. Mornings I don't hit traffic...afternoons I hit light traffic. I have a medium weight foot and I drive half of the time using automatic...half manual.

I enjoy long walks on the beach and Italian food.....

I think it may be your car because with my mercury foot, I got 24 on the CVT. To me, something may be amiss with your car, especially since you don't commute in traffic. After all, I pull 15 mpg on my 540i w/ 300+ hp and 14 mpg on my 750il which is a 350 hp V12.

Keikilee,
Sounds like you drive just fine. I'd suggest taking it to your SA. 15 mpg isn't right. Maybe someone left half a potato in your exhaust system?

I took my MCS to a the track (spring fling) and still got 20 mpg that day.
On the street and driving my worst (too much city traffic) I get 25 mpg.

So what was the consensus on this? No "colder" iridium plugs available on the island? Hard to believe with all the Subbies around. Are you folks (especially those with pulley mod) getting the NGK or Denso? I ended-up ordering the Denso (IK22) from a OAKOS Automotive (Subura Impreza tuner) in Michigan for $50 (shipping included) - it took two or three days to arrive via USPS Priority mail.

BTW, what are you smaller pulley Denso folks gapping at?

>>So what was the consensus on this? No "colder" iridium plugs available on the island? Hard to believe with all the Subbies around. Are you folks (especially those with pulley mod) getting the NGK or Denso? I ended-up ordering the Denso (IK22) from a OAKOS Automotive (Subura Impreza tuner) in Michigan for $50 (shipping included) - it took two or three days to arrive via USPS Priority mail.
>>
>>BTW, what are you smaller pulley Denso folks gapping at?
Gap at 0.035" is fine for MCS with pulley upgrades.

IK-22 can be special ordered in lots of 10. See ghui's posts above.
The plug change is optional not mandatory.

Did I hear Eric is coming back???? If he does I hope he carry a big luggages for the ECU that everyone
are waiting for (GIAC)...... As far as the spark plugs, I am also interested. I had the stocks ever since no problem whatsoever and my gas mileage around 25-27 (300+miles per tank)
Cheers