Looking to upgrade my stock 2004 MCS. About time to do a tuneup and what not so figured why not throw a few upgrades on. I am looking at 15% pulley, upgrade the ignition system, cold air intake and possibly cat back exhaust. I was told from a buddy that he put a chip (ecu upgrade) on a different car and had great results. Would possibly like to do that too. Altec does not offer an ecu upgrade for 04 MCS and mini mania seems to have several options.

What has everyones experience been with these or other companies. Looking for ease of use and most bang for my buck. Thanks in advance....

 

How far do you want to take your mini? do you want to go as far as a tune? How many miles are on the car and have you done all the maintenance to be sure that after you modify things won't start to break?

My advice, call up waymotorworks and get a 15% pulley kit (pulley, belt, tensioner stop, NGK plugs), kingsborne wires, screamin demon coil, and a DDMWorks cold air intake. Getting it all from Way will actually be cheaper then getting it from Alta and I believe he does pulley puller rentals, but I don't know how much he charges. I can say Alta Charges 199.99 for a rental, which to me makes no sense because they are less then that to be purchased...
http://www.waymotorworks.com/wmw-pulley-package.html
http://www.waymotorworks.com/kingsbo...nce-wires.html
http://www.waymotorworks.com/screami...-coil-pak.html

I've ordered from Way probably 5 different times now and everything comes to me very quickly, usually ships same day, and he is always answering his phone or calling back to answer questions or get updates. Nothing but praise from me for waymotorworks. I also ordered from alta, and I can say that the belt they send you with the 15% pulley is not the belt everyone recommends, its just what they use and what they recommend, most people end up changing it to a shorter belt... ask me how I know...

If you really want an exhaust, he has plenty of options as well and generally will advise you towards what is best for your needs. Price wise, the Invidia is on sale I believe with Motoringwerks for a good price or hold off till one comes up used in the marketplace because the exhaust is one of the pricier items.

If you want to go as far as a tune, pick up a set of JCW 380cc injectors and get a tune from RMW or another known mini tuner.

 

I went with outmotoring.com for my kit. It ran me about 1200 for plugs, wires, magnaflow exhaust, a new belt, alta cai, and alta 15% pulley.

The kit can be customized to include your choice of exhaust, intake, and pulley size.

I felt it was a really good deal and would do it again if I needed to.

 

...that was one of my concerns. My mini does have about 90,000 miles. As far as maintenance goes, I keep everything up to date. The car has not been babied, but has also not been driven too rough. Did not know if reducing the pulley at this point was gonna put to much stress on the supercharger or not. After those changes was it a noticeable difference or just a subtle change?

One of the biggest reasons I would like to tune it is to get rid of the delay that was programed into the gas pedal. Plus a lil better performance never hurt...

 

We offer several maintenance and performance packages.
http://www.waymotorworks.com/02-06-c...-r53/packages/

Feel free to call us tomorrow and we'll see if we can put together what you need. With 90k your smart in thinking of your maint first, but some mods can overlap. We've put over 400 pullies on and the highest mileage car to get one was about 140k and it is still working fine.

 

My advice, before you but pure performance upgrades, get your car up in the air and check into some known problem areas and see if anything may need to be replaced or on its way out. Check things like the power steering hoses (if never replaced), Control Arm bushings, oil pan gasket and maybe thermostat. If everything is all good, then I would move forward with your plan.

As for does it make a difference? I only have a pulley right now (16% Way pulley) and I put on a ATI Super Damper as well (so I don't have to worry about crank pulley failure), and then I changed plugs, and yes I can say there was a very noticable difference. My next plan (once my budget recovers) is to get on the phone with way and get a DDMWorks Intake, 380cc injectors, DDMWorks Intercooler diverter and get a tune.

If you want to get rid of the pedal delay, without getting a tune, buy a sprint booster, everyone raves about them and that is what they are made to do. But if you are in need of a new belt and maybe some ignition, I would definitely take the time to do the pulley while you are at it. Also check on your belt tensioner to make sure it is still in good shape as if it needs to be replaced now would be the perfect time and you can get that from pelican parts for like $111.

 

Fancy coils and wires won't make any difference, and neither will an intake (other than the sound)

Nobody on here likes to hear that since they paid good money for these parts -- but it's true.

Get a pulley and an exhaust and be done....

 

True (almost). We have isolated intakes on the dyno (same car, same day, etc.) and seen very modest gains with our (and others') intakes. I'm talking modest: 3-4 whp.

 

The maintenance is all just fine on my car. Engine is nice and dry with no leaks. Everything is tight. When I have problems I am quick to fix.

Figure since I have not changed plugs, now was a good time for ignition upgade, or atleast plugs and wires. Gonna do air filter, so figured cold air woul be way to go. Belt is original and though looks fine would like to change it hence new sc pulley and belt.

Exhaust is fine, and would not mind changing it, as long as I can settle on an exhaust that is not gonna be ridiculously loud.

I have read about the sprint booster and that seems like an option.

I wanna thank all you guys for your help so far, now if only I was not so indecisive....