Question: Is there a method for consistently getting the turbo to kick in? Sometimes, when hard accelerating, I feel a noticeable extra jolt of power from the turbo that gives me that great pressed-in-seat feeling. But, other times, I put my foot down, and I don't feel that sudden extra boost in power; just plain old linear acceleration.

What gives?

 

Maybe something like this would help. You can hold the boost for a bit longer.

http://www.waymotorworks.com/forge-blow-off-valve.html

Slightly cheaper version

https://www.altaperformance.com/hard...blow-off-valve

or the cheapest solution (I have that one)

https://www.altaperformance.com/hard...spring-upgrade

OR just get a catless downpipe. =D

 

It's the over boost feature.

 

The alta blow off valve spring will help. I installed one last week and it makes a difference.

 

I spy, with my little eye, an automatic transmission in your pics. Are you sure it's the Turbo not kicking in that's the problem and not that you're in too high a gear (or that it takes a few seconds for the kickdown to occur)?

EDIT: Nevermind. Just saw in your sig that you list a Manual. Weird; I would have sworn that was the auto **** in the picture.

 

I find that the shove in the back feeling is best when you have RPM right around 2500, in the right gear, and your right foot stuck to the floorboard.

 

The sport button makes a big difference in throttle response making the car respond immediately to even mild throttle input. Without it on I feel tthe car lacks responsiveness unless you kick the gas pedal quickly and firmly and far.

I have not played with mine enough to know when the overboost is happening and when it is not so it is either a subtle difference or I have not gotten into it much yet.

 

I've heard you have a manual, but for Automatic owners this trick might help...

I know in my 11-year-old Subaru WRX winter beater (unfortunately an Automatic), the sure-fire way to get that push-you-into-the-back-of-your-seat kick-down is to mash the throttle to the floor really fast, with great vengeance and furious anger, versus putting it down to the floor slow or at normal speed.



The faster you put in YOUR input, the faster it'll reply with its' output...

That's the only way to get the car to understand that I want the surge\RIGHT NOW/, and not 5 lazy seconds from now.

Driving a car like my WRX auto really makes me appreciate having absolute full control over my manual MINI. Automatics just don't do what you want. Add in a transmission that is inconsistent at best, and lazy, and doesn't do what I want, and I have a car that I pretty much loathe driving...

(but in the snow, it redeems itself, thankfully).

 

It's called lag. Welcome to driving a turbo. Installing a spring in a bov isn't going to do anything other than hold boost a little better as a bov doesn't release until you let off the gas. If installing a spring really makes that big of a difference all that it's saying is that the stock one is too weak to begin with.

The best way to fix lag is a tune, and to lean spool it. You can also try a wot box, I had one on my neon, it makes a world of difference (I was also lean spooling, which lead to almost all lag being eliminated). Not sure if Jay developed it for the mini yet but I'm sure he could if people wanted it.

 

You forgot Sprint Booster for those who don't want a tune.

 

i notice this with my MCS manual also.......

i dont know whether im just shifting right (wrong?) but there are times when the car accelerates just as fast as normal, but i feel no "in your seat" acceleration...

and its actually quite dangerous....because when im pinned in my seat, i know im going fast.....but when the acceleration is smooth and linear, i often find myself doing 10+ over with no idea how i got there....

 

So then, I guess my question is now how to trigger boost more consistently? I love that extra "jolt" of power under hard acceleration, and I wish I could get it going at will.

Today, I experienced a first, too. I was driving along the freeway and put my foot down, got the "jolt", then I got about two more extra jolts. Felt like I was riding a rocket! LOL.

And, are there any downsides to triggering the boost and/or installing any of the equipment to do so (i.e., increased wear and tear, other problems)?

 

True story:

I owned a Subaru WRX before my Mini. And before that, Miatas. So when I was shopping for a new (post-Miata) car, the local Subaru dealer gave me the keys to the WRX on their lot, said "have fun, don't wreck the car" and waved as I drove off. I go to merge onto the highway, and see some trucks that are going to make it painful if I don't hurry things a bit, so (coming off a Miata) I downshift and mash the throttle. Next thing I know, I'm on the highway @ 120+. Next thing after that, Trooper Bob is on my *** all up in arms (and lights, and siren, and stuff like that). I guess I didn't notice the state police car in the pack of trucks? "Damn, this is going to hurt." I think.

So I pull over. Trooper Bob gets out of his car, clamps his hat on his head, and walks up to my window (already down, keys on the roof, license, registration, and insurance in hand). At which point I heave a huge sigh of relief. Trooper Bob really is Trooper Bob, who lives down the street from me and at one time had more of my tools in his garage than I had in mine. So we shoot the breeze for a few minutes (mostly talking about how stupid fast the WRX was compared to my Miata, with not-so-subtle emphasis on the "stupid" from Trooper Bob), then he says "consider this your stern talking-to and verbal warning" and we went our separate ways.

Needless to say I bought the WRX.

 

Did you pay attention to your RPM and what gear you are in? Then you can try to reproduce what you did.

Yeah, those extra jolts were probably from the VANOS system adjusting the valves and cam shafts for you.

Our mINIs have adaptive software that senses our driving style. If you are constantly aggressive, it will give you more throttle response, etc. so my point is, there is probably a tune out there that will let you shove yourself in the back more often.