R56 Product review: Gfb: Dv+
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2nd Gear
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 87
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From: Staten Island
Product review: Gfb: Dv+
Go Fast Bits DV+ for R56
Initial Thoughts:
Upon opening the box I immediately noticed the DV+ is a piston, NOT A DIAPHRAM! Right away I anticipated an improvement. The DV+ comes conveniently packaged in foam in several pieces, almost as an exploded view. The metal housing, two springs, a small piston, and a larger brass piston, along with longer screws for mounting. Just by looking at the parts I had in front of me, I didn’t quite grasp what the concept was, so I went to the instructions. There I found a diagram of the assembly with detailed instructions.
By the way, I’m installing this DV+ on a 2010 MINI Cooper S with a manual transmission and some modifications (K&N Intake, Invidia Exhaust, Helix Motorsports Stepped-Core FMIC, NM charge/discharge intercooler pipes and a Stage 1 Tune via Cobb’s AccessPort).
Installation:
Pop the hood of the MINI and locate the stock DV. It’s underneath the intake side of the turbo. Remove the intake hose and you should get a clear view of the valve. The tricky part is actually removing the 3 screws holding the valve in. Mine are 5mm Hex. (I have a Forge Motorsports BOV Adapter Plate that re-routes my factory DV to atmosphere.) The difficultly lies in getting to those 3 screws, specifically the bottom one, with that coolant overflow tank in the way. If you must remove that, it’s a 10mm socket. After fighting with the coolant tank and unplugging the solenoid, I finally get all the stock DV off the turbo housing and refer to the diaphragm for assembly. Basically, the DV+ replaces the OEM DV internals for a better design. The OEM DV is a diaphragm on a solenoid, which is really only intended to work efficiently with the stock boost. The DV+ replaces the diaphragm with a vacuum driven piston. The concept doesn’t actually come to life until the valve is fully assembled in the palm of your hand and you can see and feel how it’s going to work. Remember to oil the brass piston!!! Now, reassemble everything! Remembering to plug the solenoid back in!
Post-Installation Thoughts:
I start the car and immediately give the car gas to hear this new valve and… nothing. I’m so used to the Forge BOV adapter venting every little ounce of boost to atmosphere, I found the first few seconds of the great reveal pretty anti-climactic. No big deal, l knew I was going to lose the sound I was used to, but didn’t think there would be no sound at all. Anyway, moving on. I take a launch down my block in first gear, release the throttle and there it is! A small “Speew!” (the best way I can describe the sound). No whoosh or typical SSQ sound, just a light sneeze type sound. However, as soon at the valve releases the boost and seals shut again, the car is ready to take off again!
Previously, the OEM valve would release pressure and stay open a bit while the car rev’d down to idle. The DV+ seals shut and holds on to that pressure, ready to take off at a moments notice! After the initial shock wore off, I took my car to a straight stretch of road. Launching at WOT the valve opens and closes almost faster than I can shift gears. The boost regenerates so fast my clutch slips as it tries to keep up! I can definitely feel an improvement in acceleration and building of boost. The turbo lag is practically gone!
It’s been a few days since the install and I am pretty pleased with the DV+. I would certainly recommend the DV+ to fellow MINI drivers looking for an easy mod that will make their driving experience more exciting. The car responds much quicker, accelerates harder, and spools up sooner. Overall, a great, easy to install, product that delivers performance!
Initial Thoughts:
Upon opening the box I immediately noticed the DV+ is a piston, NOT A DIAPHRAM! Right away I anticipated an improvement. The DV+ comes conveniently packaged in foam in several pieces, almost as an exploded view. The metal housing, two springs, a small piston, and a larger brass piston, along with longer screws for mounting. Just by looking at the parts I had in front of me, I didn’t quite grasp what the concept was, so I went to the instructions. There I found a diagram of the assembly with detailed instructions.
By the way, I’m installing this DV+ on a 2010 MINI Cooper S with a manual transmission and some modifications (K&N Intake, Invidia Exhaust, Helix Motorsports Stepped-Core FMIC, NM charge/discharge intercooler pipes and a Stage 1 Tune via Cobb’s AccessPort).
Installation:
Pop the hood of the MINI and locate the stock DV. It’s underneath the intake side of the turbo. Remove the intake hose and you should get a clear view of the valve. The tricky part is actually removing the 3 screws holding the valve in. Mine are 5mm Hex. (I have a Forge Motorsports BOV Adapter Plate that re-routes my factory DV to atmosphere.) The difficultly lies in getting to those 3 screws, specifically the bottom one, with that coolant overflow tank in the way. If you must remove that, it’s a 10mm socket. After fighting with the coolant tank and unplugging the solenoid, I finally get all the stock DV off the turbo housing and refer to the diaphragm for assembly. Basically, the DV+ replaces the OEM DV internals for a better design. The OEM DV is a diaphragm on a solenoid, which is really only intended to work efficiently with the stock boost. The DV+ replaces the diaphragm with a vacuum driven piston. The concept doesn’t actually come to life until the valve is fully assembled in the palm of your hand and you can see and feel how it’s going to work. Remember to oil the brass piston!!! Now, reassemble everything! Remembering to plug the solenoid back in!
Post-Installation Thoughts:
I start the car and immediately give the car gas to hear this new valve and… nothing. I’m so used to the Forge BOV adapter venting every little ounce of boost to atmosphere, I found the first few seconds of the great reveal pretty anti-climactic. No big deal, l knew I was going to lose the sound I was used to, but didn’t think there would be no sound at all. Anyway, moving on. I take a launch down my block in first gear, release the throttle and there it is! A small “Speew!” (the best way I can describe the sound). No whoosh or typical SSQ sound, just a light sneeze type sound. However, as soon at the valve releases the boost and seals shut again, the car is ready to take off again!
Previously, the OEM valve would release pressure and stay open a bit while the car rev’d down to idle. The DV+ seals shut and holds on to that pressure, ready to take off at a moments notice! After the initial shock wore off, I took my car to a straight stretch of road. Launching at WOT the valve opens and closes almost faster than I can shift gears. The boost regenerates so fast my clutch slips as it tries to keep up! I can definitely feel an improvement in acceleration and building of boost. The turbo lag is practically gone!
It’s been a few days since the install and I am pretty pleased with the DV+. I would certainly recommend the DV+ to fellow MINI drivers looking for an easy mod that will make their driving experience more exciting. The car responds much quicker, accelerates harder, and spools up sooner. Overall, a great, easy to install, product that delivers performance!
I assume in the picture with the unit put together and sitting on the foam by the screw, you didn't have the spring installed for a good picture. The spring in mine wouldn't let the two sit together unless I was holding them together.
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2nd Gear
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 87
Likes: 2
From: Staten Island
I did have the spring in... the two pieces snapped together pretty tightly. my only issue was the piston and spring falling out when i turned it upside down...
This review is for the N14 engine design model.
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3rd Gear
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 201
Likes: 1
Mine actually did not snap together at all and required pressure to hold the sprats together before I screwed in the screws, but my brass piston stayed in its housing just fine. Also, I will have to say, there is a pound audible woosh with my Alta CAI and it defiantly is quicker than the stock!
here is my review of this awesome product!
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...dv-review.html
here is my review of this awesome product!
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...dv-review.html
ThEgMaNofCourse... I have a gut feeling you should double check installation. the spring that goes between the DV+ and the OEM part should be strong enough to keep the two pieces separate from each other. With the fat spring unde the piston it should stay outward when partway installed in your hand. The long skinny spring should keep the DV+ separate from the OEM part.
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 512
Likes: 3
From: New Orleans, LA
I have a similar setup to OP except I started with a WMW recirc valve rather than OEM. I actually reinstalled my Forge BOV and removed the DV+ because I missed the sound. There may be a TINY improvement with the DV+ over the WMW valve alone, but it's not a big enough difference for me to accept missing my BOV sound.
I still have the DV+ on hand and am planning to reinstall it if ever the diaphragm or turbo to recirc valve plastic part fail on my WMW recirc valve. That way I won't be down but a few minutes.
It's a great product, and I recommend the DV+ as well, but only if you don't want the BOV sound. If you want the BOV sound, go WMW recirc valve and Forge BOV adapter. I bought the DV+ thinking I could install longer screws and use it with the BOV adapter, but when I saw the way it works, I realized having it accessable to the atmosphere would interfere with the design and not allow it to properly work.
I still have the DV+ on hand and am planning to reinstall it if ever the diaphragm or turbo to recirc valve plastic part fail on my WMW recirc valve. That way I won't be down but a few minutes.
It's a great product, and I recommend the DV+ as well, but only if you don't want the BOV sound. If you want the BOV sound, go WMW recirc valve and Forge BOV adapter. I bought the DV+ thinking I could install longer screws and use it with the BOV adapter, but when I saw the way it works, I realized having it accessable to the atmosphere would interfere with the design and not allow it to properly work.
I have a similar setup to OP except I started with a WMW recirc valve rather than OEM. I actually reinstalled my Forge BOV and removed the DV+ because I missed the sound. There may be a TINY improvement with the DV+ over the WMW valve alone, but it's not a big enough difference for me to accept missing my BOV sound.
I still have the DV+ on hand and am planning to reinstall it if ever the diaphragm or turbo to recirc valve plastic part fail on my WMW recirc valve. That way I won't be down but a few minutes.
It's a great product, and I recommend the DV+ as well, but only if you don't want the BOV sound. If you want the BOV sound, go WMW recirc valve and Forge BOV adapter. I bought the DV+ thinking I could install longer screws and use it with the BOV adapter, but when I saw the way it works, I realized having it accessable to the atmosphere would interfere with the design and not allow it to properly work.
I still have the DV+ on hand and am planning to reinstall it if ever the diaphragm or turbo to recirc valve plastic part fail on my WMW recirc valve. That way I won't be down but a few minutes.
It's a great product, and I recommend the DV+ as well, but only if you don't want the BOV sound. If you want the BOV sound, go WMW recirc valve and Forge BOV adapter. I bought the DV+ thinking I could install longer screws and use it with the BOV adapter, but when I saw the way it works, I realized having it accessable to the atmosphere would interfere with the design and not allow it to properly work.
. Plus, there is less noise do to performance gain, albeit small, with how the valve is operating. Less pressure initially released, less noise. So as you said if you dont want the BOV sound go for it! If you 'gotta have it' then Forge it. Or WMW, even though its just an uprated stock valve.
Thread Starter
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2nd Gear
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 87
Likes: 2
From: Staten Island
ThEgMaNofCourse... I have a gut feeling you should double check installation. the spring that goes between the DV+ and the OEM part should be strong enough to keep the two pieces separate from each other. With the fat spring under the piston it should stay outward when partway installed in your hand. The long skinny spring should keep the DV+ separate from the OEM part.
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