Hey guys I'm looking into getting a JCW ECU Flash on my car since I'm running a few mods that are included in the Works Package with the exception of the injectors....Alta CAI, Alta Air Diverter, One step colder plugs, 15% pulley, Catback exhaust, M7 62mm Throttle Body and a couple of suspension parts.
Would I benefit from going to the dealer and getting it or should I leave it stock???????
I just want and opinion if it's a good idea to do.

 

With the basic mods the JCW flash worked really well for me. Everything ran smoother with improved drivability. Now that I have a head, everything seems a little raw again. A custom tune seems the way to go. Your throttle body might not be the best fit with the JCW flash. It only cost me 100$, I don't think you have anything to lose, but people have reported some incredible improvements in their cars with mods similar to yours with a custom tune. I'm sure a lot of people will chime in where depending on where you live.

 

From what I have read, you really should get the 380 injectors with the JCW flash, as the JCW flash is set for the 380's and vice versa... Someone please correct me if I am wrong... PS: My next mod!

 

I know the 380 injectors are included in the JCW package .... what r the numbers of the JCW cars anyway???? Cause that will be kind of easy to resolve...just a new set of injectors...I'm gonna get them anyway...I rather have them.

 

I have the same mods as you do (less TB, plus header, no 380's) and I have the JCW flash. To be honest, I don't really feel 100% comfortable with having the flash since it was designed specifically for the JCW setup (XXX% pulley, JCW airbox, JCW cylinder head, 380's, and JCW catback, which some say is about as restrictive as stock MCS catback).

On the other hand I feel the car is very strong versus how it was prior to the flash, but then again I also installed the header at the same time so I am judging the combo instead of just the flash.

My humble suggestion: It really is not the optimal setup, but for $100.00 I think it's worth a shot; however, I would also invest in something to monitor AFR's or do a dyno run to check AFR's just to double check that you are running safe.

(I make this suggestion and I have run with the JCW flash for 6 months now without checking my AFR's , car is running great, but I don't plan to go to the track until I check them)

 

When you get the JCW flash its for the air box and injectors that were offered later. I did get the flash and injectors and it allowed the engine to pull through the higher rpm's . Makes sense, need more air(cai),more fuel (380's)and need to get the computer on the same page (flash)=more power at higher rpm's (when you would run out of air and fuel otherwise).

 

I've had the stock injectors with the JCW flash for more than a year without any problems related to the flash. Now I need new injectors b/c the new head not b/c the flash. I haven't heard of anyone with the JCW flash with basic mods having a problem without the injectors, and again for a hundred dollars worth a shot.
The main improvement I had was smoothness. I know that doesn't mean it's safer but if the 380's are your next mod, then I wouldn't expect the stock ones to fail for awhile. There are threads discussing the duty cycle with the stock injectors.

 

Hey guys Thanks for the Info and I'm leaning more towards getting the Injectors and save them because by the time Tax Time comes it's Mini Vacation here in Las Vegas and that will allow me to talk to the tuners and get their perspective on what to do and what else....
I'm hoping this year we get more people here and of course I would love to hear from the vendors here on their point of view and expertise, that will be awesome. That way Mini owners can be ready to some changes and improve their MINI-Monsters.

 

Hey guys one quick question with the Mods I have can I install the 380 injectors and run them with the Stock ECU ???????

 

Yes.

 

Just wanted to do a follow-up on this for someone doing a search and finding this thread.

Yesterday I went to the dyno for a custom tune and my AFRs on the baseline with the JCW flash were mostly fine, however the ECU was dumping fuel at about 5,800 rpm going to 10.16 AFR then gradually back up to 11.7 at 6,800 rpm.

My mods w/JCW flash: 173.48 whp / 154lb-ft tq

After custom tune: 194.99 whp / ???tq

The baseline torque number is rounded from what I remember asking. I forgot to ask tq# on the final pass and the printouts did not give torque so I have to get the info. The tuner said that from past cars he's tuned the torque is probably around 170 lb-ft.

Needless to say, you can get a lot more out of a custom tune than with the JCW flash. In my case 21.5 hp at peak numbers and 27.6 hp at 6,100 rpm. w00t!

 

Are you running stock injectors now? The stock injectors where topped out on my car without the head. They usually top out around 190 to 200whp from what i've seen on my dyno chart and from what i've heard from other people.

 

It gradually goes up because your injectors can't keep up. Take a look at my A/F chart in my gallery. That is a good example of stock injectors dying out in high rpms.