I have an 05 MCS. I am interested in the convenience of getting a flash from the dealer versus sending it out. Has anyone had the JCW software downloaded and then used it with a 15% pulley? Can you describe your satisfaction? Does anyone know how the JCW compares to GIAC, for example? What did the dealer charge? I will most likely use this with a JCW CAI and a Cat-back exhaust, yet to be chosen. All opinions are welcome. Thanks so much.

 

My friend and motoring advisor Donovan has a 15% pulley, Dinan intake and exhaust. He is using the JCW software and hasn't had a problem. I think he paid the shop foreman twenty bucks to have it upgraded. I myself have a similar set-up without the JCW software and the difference seems very minimal.

I hope this helps
John

 

I originally had the JCW software when I got my 15% pulley. It basically does nothing, I have heard that your performance could possibly suffer with it. Really though, I had no problem with it but it did nothing. I later got MTH and it did help quite a bit. Go with a real tune!

 

My 2003 MCS was bone stock and the dealer had a special on the following, JCW CAI, 380cc injectors and ecu flash. Not the ideal really, but a pulley and exhaust will be added shortly.

In terms of seat of the pants difference, it was definitely noticed! i would estimate between 6-10hp. The car feels signifcantly more torquey which is strange considering the car isn't much louder. Also the powerband seems smoother... i've heard others say the same and i would have to agree with the same opinion.

If you're doing just an ecu flash, you may slightly disappointed. It's best if you can do a few basic mods (intake, exh, pulley) and get it flashed at the same time.

 

I have a MCSCa with a CAI and a 17% pulley. I had the dealer flash the JCW file after several months and it made a huge difference in smoothness and daily driving. It cost me about 100 dollars at the dealer. I plan to change when the smoothness deteriorates with more mods - exhaust, header, then head. If everything remains smooth I'll wait for a custom tune until after the PWI (likely next year).
I'd wait until there is a noticable change in smoothness with your mods (after CAI and exh) before the JCW. Mods become an addiction after the pulley and a tune or tuner files after each upgrade could get expensive (I'm not sure if the MTH upgrades are free or low cost)

--Diosdado

 

Sounds like your plans are like my plans. I'll have a JCW intake and cat-back on soon, 15% pulley will follow; perhaps the Dinan w/ fuel regulator. Have not decided yet as Dinan seems to be the only tuner out there who thinks the fuel pressure regulator in needed. Service manager at dealer will reflash the ECU w/ JCW for about $115. He claims to have done this to other MCSs with very good results. He does state that it is not the ultimate powerhouse but give very good bang for the buck.

 

Does anyone know if the JCW flash raises the rev limiter, or raises the top speed limiter?

 

I believe the JCW limiter is 140, whereas a stock MCS is 135. No big difference. Don't waste your money on a JCW flash!!!

 

Gonna agree with that one and I have it... Does nothing for AFR. Might be doing the Mynes Performance/FBT flash this weekend...we'll see.

 

I have to get down to Mynes sometime soon...I've heard nothing but good things from all the AZ Mini folk about them. Let me know if you do it and how you like it, I have MTH now and while its pretty good, I think there is more to be had. Do you know how much they are charging?

 

But the deal with a lot of us in the middle of nowhere is the BMW/ MINI dealer is two or three hours away and a "real tuner" is on the other side of the world.So unless I remove my ECU and send it out (I've read that the car should be tuned as a unit on a dyno making a "send out" not optimum). Or maybe a tuner could come to Iowa It seems the JCW flash is the only option.

 

MTH dude...its all done by your own computer. Doesn't matter where you are, you send them the specs on your car, and they send you a flash file to "match" your mods.

 

I have been thinking about the same set-up: 15% with either a JCW or GIAC flash.

I know the GIAC for the 15% is not designed for higher flow 380 injectors. However, I would think the JCW flash is "looking" for the JCW380s. Does anyone know if this is true?

 

There is no electonic speed limiter. The only limiter is horspower vs. aerodynamics. Have more power, go faster!

 

I tried that. 15% pulley.

The difference was marginal. I'd say even less than the effect of the Shark injector.

After removing it, I had the LDG tune done and it's been awesome.

 

I have plenty of power. How come when I had my stock software, the car would distinctly stop accelerating at 135 when I hit this "non-existant" limiter?? (All done on the track of course... ) Also, I believe it even says in the owners manual that the car is electronically limited.

 

Indeed the car is electronically limited . I don't know of a car in North America that was made in the last 10 years that ISN'T Electronically Limited. The DOT makes it illegal to remove electronic speed limitation. You can raise it, but you can't remove it . Even the Bugatti Veyron has an Electronic Limiter! It's 253 MPH but it's there .

 

I do.