Because I'm doing this pretty often. I never did this in almost 2 years in my Cooper, probably because going beyond 6k seemed kind of pointless - power really flattened out after that point. But my MCSW just keeps pulling all the way to redline and I find myself just letting it go.

Anyway, I'm assuming that invoking the limiter is not a bad thing, but just wanted to confirm.

 

I would drive up to about 6500 rpm if needed and shift more in the 5500 to 6000 rpm range if I possible. I'd avoid redline and the extra heat and wear it would result in. I want my MINI to last.

Check this out-
http://www.teamwest-tec.com/features...revlimiter.htm

Plus, there isn't more power to be gained above 6500 rpm. Shift earlier.

 

I too bump the rev limiter once in a while, but I try to aim 6800rpm

as my last squeeze of power before I shift up. Depending on the curves
and what not, some times squeezing is need to get that last bit of power
to setup the next gear. The Unichip keeps pulling to redline (and beyond).

 

Thanks. I'm guessing the the limiter is set pretty conservatively, so not a bad thing to trip it every now and then. It's not really a limiter in the strict sense of the word, though. It seems to actually cut the throttle and drop the revs, as opposed to holding them flat.

 

Whenever I push the car to the limit, I tend to hit the redline from time to time. Like Ken, I often like to utilize every last bit of the power and with Unichip, the RPM gets up to the red very fast with my lead foot. I wonder if a shifting light would help to minimize the frequency of hitting the redline since the light is easier to see than watching the little RPM pointer. Does anyone have a shifting light? :smile:

 

After 35+ years of shifting I tend to have an ear for it

 

I've got the unichip disease, too - as long as the engine keeps generating more power, I'll let her stay in her current gear.

That being said, the rev limiter is set conservatively, so don't worry about bumping into it. The bigger problem, in my view, is that it is such a dramatic fall-off that you are losing a lot of power if you hit the limiter. The best thing to do from a performace standpoint would be to shift right before you hit the limiter.

 

I hit the limiter for the first time yesterday and again, its due to the unichip syndrome better known as KFP (keeps f--kin pullin). I try NOT to do this often but there was a 5.0 'stang next to me just asking for it

 

It sure seems like redline comes a lot quicker with the 19% vs. 15%. I find myself bouncing the limiter almost daily. I also find myself going a whole hell of a lot faster!

The last 500 rpms just seem to fly by before it cuts. Therefore, I will be looking into a shift light. Plus, I have developed a slight hearing impairment . I think it is a direct result of my girlfriend's nagging about how fast I drive, and how much money/time I spend with "the other woman" (MINI).

 

I bop mine occasionally, doesn't really hurt anything. Used to hit it in a Jeep Wrangler YJ 2.5L, man did THAT thing cut out on you fast, was like hitting a brick wall, whiplash!

Ah well. I don't have the UNIchip yet... but once I do I'm sure I'll be bopping it more often. I usually shift a couple milliseconds before it hits. Its a complete different car with Randy's pulley in it.

 

dave- I use a shiftlight on my rex because the spool up is about 5x faster...
but even so, the light is there just as a warning and the very last bit of
power I push, I still go by ear and by feeling. I still bump the rev limiter
from time to time, but I don't think too much about it.




the MCS's spool up is imho, too slow on my car for a shiftlight because
I am still running factory pully. :smile:

edit: btw, that coil under the shiftlight is for my radar detector

 

I find it hard to go by ear/feel now that I've installed the unichip. With the pulley and chip the car sounds and feels like it can keep pulling, so the rev limit seems to be in an odd place on the power curve (although it's probably in a good place for heat/stress, especially 'cause the MINI runs way hotter now).

Unichip disease.

I'm hoping that with time I'll just get used to it, but I'm not ruling out a shift light yet, but I really want to avoid installing another component in the cockpit.

 

FYI. If the electronics in the MINI are similar to that in the BMW (which I'm sure they are) be careful about blipping the rev limiter. The electronics actually record your over revs and the dealer can download that info. People used to be rev happy with the E46 M3 and would over rev and on occasion would blow the motor. The dealer would then download the rev info and deny warranty service. This info was relayed to me by a BMW Service Manager, so I'm not pulling that info out of my ****!

 

Seems like if folks were over-revving, then the warranty should have covered the damage caused by the faulty rev limiter.

 

You have a point! If there was software [aftermarket] present, that would turn the table...but factory safeguards are...well safeguards.

Beastmaster is correct though. I read MANY stories of BMW denials for over-rev's right after the E46 M3 was released. I guess BMW's point was that owners were taking their "Ultimate driving machine" for what it is taughted for, and didn't anticipate the outcome. BMW's fault, not the owners. IMO.

 

I have done no mods to my MCS and I don’t see much need in revving much past 6500 rpm as that puts you in the meat of the power curve for your next gear. I have tripped the rev-limiter on as number of occasions and it has never caused me any concerns except I don’t like the lose of power when it happens.

 

I think you just gotta watch out when you downshift that you don't go 5-2 instead of 5-4 at high rate of speed. No rev limiter can save your motor
during off-throttle, if I understand correctly.

 

The E46 M3 S54 motor DOES have a reputation for "grenading" in the earlier models.....

 

I agree. If I had to fight with BMW on an issue, this would be a fight I'd take!

 

The only thing that results from you hitting the rev limiter is that you go slower than you want.......watch the tach.......shift when it says so......else get the nice big light like the man has.....

 

And to add, don't have your nitrous active when ya hit the limiter. That tends to blow holes in your pistons. Other than that, it's not terribly bad. But as said already, with how much software and hardware that's in these cars, they remember everything and will spill their guts to the MINI tech the next time you pull in. I heard of a few cases of denied warranty covered due to this as well.
Cheers,

 

If you are hitting your rev limiter "quite often", sounds like you need more practice. The limiter is there to protect the engine, not a crutch for everytime you run it through the gears.

Don't know how much experience you have with the car, but I am sure you will learn to shift right before it kicks in after a while.
Good luck!

regards,
Red:smile:

 

Practice, practice, practice.....and read that there tach........
Under do as i say not as I do....I am toast if they ever download my revs......last time ah raced the sucker at Mid Ohio, I sort of nudged the rev limiter oh....a coupla a times....on account of there were a LOT of cars around me and ole PKT RKT is LOUD and who needs a tach anyways....