This may be completely normal, but I wanted to ask because I've only had the car for a couple of weeks. Is it normal to sometimes have a little bit of delay before the supercharger starts pushing boost? I've noticed it usually when I'm going from coasting in gear to coming onto the throttle. For instance if I'm coming up to a curve, downshift to 3rd or 4th and let it engine brake a little, then get back into the throttle to come out of the curve, it seems like it takes a second before the power actually comes on. I was thinking about it and it would make sense if the delay is the supercharger having to get the intercooler and manifold pressurized because while engine braking it would be under vacuum. When you come back onto the throttle the intake tract would have to be re-pressurized by the blower before the blower could start producing power. Anyway, is this normal, or is there something I need to check on my car?

 

Do you have a boost gauge so you can actually see when the supercharger is making boost? I don't know if there is really a "delay" in building boost....but I know that if the rpms are under 3000 or so, you just aren't going to make much power. You have to have to supercharger spinning fast enough to make enough boost.

These little motors need rpms in order to make power and boost.....

Also, check your bypass valve....it could be weak and/or have a broken spring in it. My 03' was a dog, didn't have any power, and just felt weak. I found out that the bypass valve was not closing all the way because of a broken spring. I replaced it with a Detroit Tuned bypass valve...and WOW, it felt like the motor gained 50hp!

 

It's only for a quick second, basically I'll put some foot in it, and you'll feel it start to accelerate some, then right after that the power will come on stronger. It has plenty of kick to it, so it doesn't seem slow or weak to me, it just has that short little delay. I can see about checking the bypass valve. Is there anything to look for in particular?

 

Best way to check it is to simply zip-tie it shut and see if the hesitation goes away, if so there's a good chance it's not working properly. Usually the spring that closes the butterfly just weakens with age.

 

The feeling almost reminds me of turbo lag, just not nearly as bad. I'll go look for one in a minute myself, but does anyone know of a good guide that shows where the valve is, and how to remove it?

 

You could also be describing the normal lag with the gas throttle. MINI for some reason put a lot of lag in the electronic throttle.

There are two basic ways to address this:
1. Sprint Booster, a small electronic part that remaps the throttle. Easy to install but cost about $300.
2. Custom tune, more work to find the tuner you want and dyno time, but most of the tuners for R53 seem to charge only about $350 without the dyno time.

I have a Sprint Booster and am very happy with it.

 

The main advantage of a SC over a turbo is the lack of lag....
these motors do lack tq below 3000 rpm or so...so keeping them wound up helps...if the lag you feels is from a start, then it is usually due to IC heat soak....when moving, i'd be inclined to look towards the bypass valve.

 

The Sprint Booster will remove any lag, it is AMAZING!
I have a huge grin when driving with the Booster set to 'maximum'.
$300 and a 30 day money back offer....I do not think anyoune would return this item!!

 

It's definitely while moving. Not necessarily moving fast. Happened this morning on the way to a client site. I was coming up a right turn at a stop light, downshifted to 3rd and slowed to 25ish, took the corner, and stepped down on the throttle. Slight hesitation, then power. I should have time this weekend to mess with the BPV.

 

Oh, and since someone asked, no, I don't have any kind of boost gauge.

 

So people actually have good experiences with the Sprint Booster? It almost seems too good to be true in the comments on Mini Mania: http://new.minimania.com/web/Item/SPR2095/InvDetail.cfm

I actually just posted a thread about this -- sorry to stack 'em up like that. Guess that's what I get for posting before lurking!

 

From my experience 3rd gear at 25 mph your out of the power ban, need to keep the RPM's above 3k to have good power out, next time take it down to second you'll feel a difference.

Brad

 

It seems worse today. It took longer for the boost to come in this morning compared to the last couple of days. It's definitely not an issue of not being in the power band. I'm going to mess with the valve on sunday, and then most likely order a Detroit Tuned valve on Monday.

 

I was going to say the same exact thing. 25mph in 3rd is just no good. Gotta hit 2nd gear.

 

The issue isn't a lack of power, it's how the power is being delivered. This morning I went fairly easy around the corner, then started to open it up on the straight after, and it was wait... wait... wait... wait... then bam! power! Driving the car for the first week or so it was a very smooth delivery of power. Yes, you could tell a difference between being in the power band with the supercharger really kicking and not being there, but there was no sudden surge of power. As I mentioned earlier, it really reminds me of being in a turbo car, where it's wait wait wait while the turbo spools, then bam, power after it gets spinning. It shouldn't be like that in a supercharged car. Is the bypass valve the only thing you guys can think of that could cause this condition? I may just go ahead and order one and replace it.

 

Sounds like you have a problem with your bypass valve....maybe it's sticking open for a few seconds, and then it slams shut and then you get boost. From what I have read, and the problem I had with mine...the stock ones are junk. I put a DT Bypass Valve on mine MCS a while back, and I'm been nothing but happy with it.

Mine actually had a broken spring in it, so it wouldn't hardly close at all when I would get on the gas....it was only developing a few pounds of boost. Talk about a HUGE change when I put the DTBPV on there. I'd say that you have a problem with yours also....

 

Thanks, that seems to be community opinion so far. I went ahead and ordered a DT bypass valve. Here's hoping it gets here by tomorrow so I can install it on Sunday.

 

Well i know whenever i jab the throttle really quick at idle, it kinda hesitates , but it also makes a swooping noise mixed with super charger whine so i took it as normal... could this also be a bypass valve? I doubt it though

 

yje sprint booster, which is adjustable now, made a huge difference in throttle response. with it turned off there is a slight hesitation or lag when stepping on the pedal, with it on it is an imediate response when accelerating. I also lerned that the throttle body does not fully open at low speeds so you do not get that imediate response as you would with an old fashioned direct link cable type throttles. The sprint booster takes care of this as well.

 

Mine does the same thing....at low rpms, it just doesn't have any throttle response. I can quickly press the pedal to the floor then let off...and the rpms won't even chance hardly. It's normal.

 

It may be normal, but it still sucks. I wonder why they didn't just use a simple cable?

 

Things like traction control, where the computer must modulate the powerlevel (usually by reducing throttle by 50% when slippage is detected ) would not be possible...
technology moves on....simples does work, but it does limit what can be done by the computer...heck the sprintbooster is the equivlent of a gen1 sport button of sorts...

 

Yeah, I'm not a huge fan of traction control either.

 

I think it has more to do with the supercharger, and less to do with the "fly by wire" throttle body control. My truck has an electronic throttle body...no wire, and it has instant throttle response.

I can watch the boost gauge on my R53 mini, and it responds instantly to my blipping the gas pedal....but the actual motor RPM's don't move much. What that tells me is that the throttle body IS opening up really fast, showing an instant reduction in vacuum (as shown on the gauge), but the motor just doesn't have the ability to rev up that fast from an idle...because the supercharger puts a decent about of drag on the motor....kind of like having a big heavy flywheel on it.

 

Call your politition....the nany state thinks it knows what is best for you....stability control, airbags, anntilock brakes..(the low hanging fruit like seatbelts/safety glass were done years ago,so we are stuck with $$ items that may/may not help now)....should i go on....all have/will become manditory.

It canbe turned down/off pretty simply....and may still save your butt off the track.
the popular auto up window controler has a "track mode" for the dsc, or most any tuner can tweak it a bit to make it less agressive.