I started a thread on gt tuning headers but it was a dud. My question is from reading this review on GT Tuning out of the UK. My question is...
Is there any way I can have this smoothness/part combo/dealer not noticing, but with something availible in the US, ie alta/webb? Also since this guy has a JCW tuning kit, like I will have, that adds another piece to the puzzle. What TonyT3 in this article is referring to is EXACTLY what I want; about 230-235bhp inc. JCW 210 Kit. My goal is to make that horsepower with parts made to U.S. compliance (theirs only has a 120 cell cat, that apparently is illegal and burns out very fast.). He also had a download, idler pulley and the 2% larger pulley somewhere .

What I would like:
230-235bhp with american parts, download, and pullies, that dealer will not notice. BUT I DEFINETLY WILL!!

I probably could get the same thing this guy has, but with duty, shipping and just the royal PITA of getting something from overseas I would like to get something domestic. RandyBMC I hope your listening!

Thanks

Mikey

 

c'mon people!

 

My experience is that when power starts to drop off at high RPMs, the air filter element needs changing, no matter what the dealer says about replacement intervals. I needed one... so it was the perfect excuse to get a JCW airbox.

 

The simple answer is most likely no. The real question is what do you really want to do? Accelerate faster? Higher top speed? Assuming its acceleration (not much you can do with top speed since thats a function of the front end drag). ...

More HP is only one SOLUTION. There are others.

The most fundamental thing is physics. F=MA or A=F/M You only talking F (power). If you want more power, there is unlikely ANYTHING you can do that the dealer wont notice. That certainly includes headers. BTW, Tony's solution is ILLEGAL in US. Its a federal offense to remove a working cat (not that anybody really cares) Just "dont do the crime unless you can pay the time".

About the only thing you might get away with is a chip provided you take it out (or the MTH way) BEFORE going to the dealer. That can be a mighty pain if you need to do it quickly and if the dealer sees you messing with the JCW maps ... The problem is that most things are pretty obvious.

That leads to M. This is YOU can. Dump the unsprung weight. Dump the R90s, go Comp SSRs and you gain 45 pounds of unsprung weight. What else can you do. Read the threads about reducing weight, there are all kinds of ideas. People get lighter batteries, Remove the rear seat (see that thread), etc. The l ighter you are, the faster you accelerate. Its all in the physics.

There is another way and thats to change the gearing. Aint going to happen in a MINI since its not like you can swap out the rear end.

If you remove the caveat about the dealer not knowing, then you can add headers, cam, better IC, etc and get incremental gains.

Best of luck in doing it the "stealth" way I understand what you want and think losing the weight is the best way.

 

Yea I fully know what my dealer will do even if they see I have mods on... Absolutely nothing. I go to Dryer and Reinbold for my service. The last time I went to get my car serviced, I had recently put on the r90s with the BFG KDK 2( not runflat tires), M7 Grill, JCW Strut Brace, etc. When I went out to get into my car the parts manager, my MA, service advisor, and the sales managers from both BMW and MINI were out looking at my car. There biggest question... WHERE DID YOU GET THAT SWEET GRILL? I told them and my MA, and service advisor both told me to email them a link to M7's site. I believe as of last week when I went down there, that my service guy and motoring advisor both had front AND rear M7 grills on their cars! So unless I have engine troubles, I really doubt whether they are going to notice, nor care. NOW if it was something durastic like Nitrous, exhuast system, intercooler, turbokompressor, I think they would have a talk with me, but with the larger pulley, manifold and download, I really think I'll be fine, dealer and hopefully randybmc in terms of warranty.

Thanks

Mikey

Speaking of Randy, where is he??

 

I would really like some low end torque and acceleration, now my car doesn't get going until about 3500-4000rpms, I was thinking something around 2500-3500.

 

Wow if it doesn't get going until 4000rpms and starts to fade at 5000 that's not much of a window

Since you already have an '05, you already have the lower gears and don't need to spend as much time at lower RPMs. Adding a reduction pulley would do the absolute most for low-rpm torque--19% for the most gain, JCW 15% is OK and more stealthy.

 

Your comments are confusing. Your first post says you do NOT want the dealer to know your mods. Here you say they don't care

BTW, they WILL notice a new manifold (i.e., headers). They will notice a new chip if you dont dont unplug it.

Randy is doing a pulley party in DC today. Probably been on the road.

 

Chile

Randy is in the DC area doing a pulley party this weekend. I went over and talked to him while he was doing some work (very nice guy) Since I have the same as you want, I asked the questions and he said (forgetting about the dealer) and I am summarizing because he was working ... Go with a bigger IC, forget the chips (JCW is fine), maybe headers. Lightweigh flywheel w stage one clutch, Lightweight wheels like the SSRs.

Good luck!

 

See I don't want to change the wheels. I see no need to. Yes, it probably would make a difference, but I really wouldn't like, and do not like SSRs. I believe now that I came accross wrong on the dealer situation. I would like to get as much horsepower as possible, with as little/non durastic ways as possible. A crank pulley and header are good for about 8 apiece, randy said as for the chip I don't know. I'M REALLY NOT PLANNING ON TRACKING THIS CAR, I JUST WANT A SLEEPER. Thats why I really don't see a need to change anything like the intercooler.

As for the crank pulley it makes the 15.5% JCW Supercharger pulley act more like an 18%, which in my opinion is good, plus it decreases "spool up" time and allows the supercharger to getting going faster in a shorter amount of time.

I would really somehow like to talk to Randy on the phone. I don't know how I'll do that, but I would like to, sometime. Really I'm not going to get my JCW until January, but if I'm not satisfied with just that, (which will more than likely be the case), I'm just getting ideas for a few more horses. In reality I probably won't get this done before May, but you can always dream!

Mikey



BTW the thing I'm most worried about at this point is if my parents will allow to do this. That is the other reason I want to talk to Randy, and more importantly have my dad talk to Randy so he can be assured nothing catastrophic will happen to my car. My dad really is fine with getting JCW parts, brake kit, susp., etc... But with aftermarket, he always has to second guess me, by either calling the dealer (which is a no no because that tips them off) or talking to my uncle who is a professional mechanic. Either way I would like to get someone that is on MY-SIDE for once, not someone who is being paid to sell something else.

 

He did mention the 2% crank pulley and was installing them. A bigger IC is not for Racing. He has several on his website. Two under $1K (plus installation), the GRS seems to be his recommendation ..,. 10HP but makes it hard to get to the plugs. His other for $2.4K is for racing.

However, doing the IC will destroy your JCW warrenty since the TC comes with a nice JCW cover you will loose.

Talk it over with your dad. Let him read the FAQ at Randy's site. It explains a lot.

Good luck