Im not an idiot. I am quite aquainted with how combustion engines work and especially BMWs and Minis operating systems such as the DME,EGS,ZKE whatever. This goes against every rational thought about cars i have but i still have to ask. its just one of those things. Also im sure i will take alot of garbage for this, so if anyone wants to call me an idiot, then eat me. so here goes...
I was wondering if such a thing called a "factory freak" exists? this is a name i came up with to describe a vehicle thats identical to alot of others but for some reason seems faster then all the others. Assuming all the factory programming is the same ( progman versions ) and the car is stock. Is this outlandish? am i just imagining? could it be my perception or do "factory freaks" exist and if by some wierd miracle im not alone on this one, can anyone tell me why?
thanks for humoring me.

 

1. the only stupid question is one that is not asked (although, timing and tact may be in order)

2. "factory freaks" exist, however, their level of performance isn't tremendously greater than average. Factory freaks were more common in the past due to manufacturing methods and systems that were more mechanical today. In addition, nearly all automotive manufacturers today have very high quality control (QC) which tends to better assure the same outcome is attained every time.

You can have a factory freak, even with modern electronics. Sometimes you'll have a chip that has a slightly better crystal in it. The converse is true. Sometimes you'll have a IC that doesn't have a good ground. As far as the programming goes, that'll be the same in every electronic system. Where variation occurs is with the subsystems driven by the electronic system. As far as more conventional electronics, you can still find an ignition coil that gives a little more zap than the average one. Here, too, QC is better so it occurs less often and the variation is closer to the designed performance standard.

When I think about this concept, I recognize it can be applied to a subsystem (Ex. transmission) or the entire automobile. Things that are still handmade or partially hand made, exhibit more of this freak behavior. For example, play every model of a specific guitar on the rack in a music store and there will be noticeable differences. The smart shopper plays them all and takes the best one.

 

As far as I know it can happen. Whether it happens at the factory or during the break in, I do not know. Maybe someone else can give more input.

 

this is great, thanks alot already! im curious to read all the feedback from this post

 

It does seem MINI's have a pretty decent range of power output at the wheels. Some of this can be contributed to variances in testing equipment and methods, but if you were to wind up with an engine with slightly better tolerances, a cylinderhead that flowed just a little better, a supercharger pulley that was just a bit smaller, a pretensioner that held the belt a little tighter, slightly better grounds, a slight bit less friction in the gearbox....well it can add up to a car that's measurable quicker than others.

I doubt there's much variance in the ECU programming itself, but add these variances up, as well as variances in the fuel you might be using (could that 93 Octane fuel actually be 94 octane?) and the ECU can maybe accommodate a slightly higher level of performance as well.

 

You mean like Herbie the Love Bug?? Haha i love that car, but only the original, not the crappy remake with Lindsay Lohan.

My R53 was pretty quick for being stock. When i finally put an alta intake on it, it was just as fast as my friend's, which was nearly identical to mine except it had a K&N intake and Milltek exhaust. So im sure theyre out there.

 

Absolutely! No two cars, even built to spec are exactly the same, ask any pro race driver. In 1976 I bought a 280Z, two weeks later a....friend bought one EXACTLY like it. Mine would blow the doors off of his. After about $2500.00 (1976) including a very early turbo he came back wanting to race. Mine was still stock and it wasn't even close. Loved that car!

 

im going to try to research this a bit. i am feeling a gain of confidence since being backed up by a few great people ( you guys duh ) anyways i am going to do a little investigative looking ( made easier since i work at a mini dealership ) i want to see if i can actually back any of this up. check this thread from time to time to see if i found anything. ill keep you posted and thanks for the responses

 

It can also go the other way and an exact car can be a dud. The Z I had would go really well against other Z's too but I think that.....friend might have gotten a DUD.

 

I would think this is the more common scenario. A manufacturing tolerance or variation is more likely to affect the engine or other component in a negative fashion than in a positive one.
But I bet if you took a poll, 90% of the people think that their car is better performing and looking than the average one.

"Every driver in the United States thinks their better than average drivers."

 

My brother had the factory freak. When they brought out the R/T Dakota he bought a blue standard cab. All the mags were really bashing this truck, but his was busting the WS6 I had at the time by 4 cars at every light. We tried it at Rockingham Qtr mile speedway against a S\C Dakota R\T of the same year and he beat it by over a tenth. We finally after a few years pulled the cam and heads to find they were not the stock spec and the cam was a more agressive low to mid range set up. He bought it new in case you are wondering. The guy he sold it to had it tuned only to lose power. So to answer your Q's I have seen and driven a factory freak. I was told by a guy that worked for Mopar performance that they experimented with a few of the R/T cars and trucks.

 

When the E36 M3 lightweight came out they tested all the M3 motors and made sure the ones going into the lightweight were the strongest of the lot. A buddy of mine here in Charlotte had one for a few years and he'd let me drive it. very nice and fast. here's a link of the BMW factory freaks.

http://www.usautoparts.net/bmw/models/m3_ltw.htm

 

True but how many stock 1976 280 Zs have you heard of that would smoke the rear tires well into 3rd gear?

 

all the ones with the stock tires from 1976.

 

76 stock 280Z tires 195-70-14


I can spin 14 inch tires into 3rd gear.

 

Oversize Michelin, believe they were xz, their pilot sport then.

 

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I worked for a datsun Z specialty shop several years ago. There were two different differentials that very few people know about. The 2+2 diff was geared slightly lower and made the car a hell of a lot quicker. Some cars came from the factory with the 2+2 diff in the standard coupe and were immensely quicker than the standard.

 

Deviant said all the other stuff I returned to the forum to add. 'Nuff said from me on this topic.

 

this is a commonly held belief, and as others said there is an easy answer to why a few cars are better than others.

everything that is manufactured has a tolerance, because nothing can be produced perfectly. obviously within that tolerance you can have an exceptionally good specimen or an exceptionally bad one, but every one within the tolerance is acceptable.

on the average, most cars thousands of parts fall into a "middle ground" of some high end of the tolerance parts and low end of the tolerance parts.

Could you have a car where everything working together just happened to get all high end of the tolerance parts, sure!

 

Factory freaks work both ways. If it were the other way, it's called a "lemon". Most people don't say anything if it were on the advantage side (possibly like your car). But if it's a lemon, we all pretty well hear about it.

 

yep. My 06 was one. It always felt strong but after having it at the dyno with another MINI, same year car, same dyno, same weather conditions and it was quite a few horses higher, I knew it.