I did a couple of searches, and either used the wrong words, or...just didn't find anything but advertisements for the "pedal booster" goodies.

I decided the other day that I was tired of my throttle manipulations going unnoticed by the throttle body !
So I started looking for a...pedal booster, commandor, monster, enhancer...etc.

The more I looked, the more disenchanted I became with both the advertisements, and the "claims" by the buyers, shops, owners, etc. Plus, some companies that made them, don't have the Mini on their list of cars...

So, I ask the experts here, on the actual Mini board, what are you folks running to enhance the throttle feel in your cars ?

Thanks for any opinions.

Mike

 

I found this in an old thread in the for sale listing:The Velocity Throttle Booster
These cars are basically BMWs in disguise. Call one of the companies and see if it is compatible.

 

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mMS20zM

This should bring up color, yeah I know, 875. I had to cut off, used a razor blade less than a minute, a couple of tabs but it works great.

Once I find the right setting I’m probably just going to tuck this in the dash. I used PayPal, just in case, got it in 9 days.

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...edal-feel.html

 

Don't waste your money. Contact Adrian Nastase on this forum for a remote tune instead.

 

Thanks for the comments everyone.

After watching MANY videos on the subject, currently leaning toward the Dinan or the Sprint Booster.
Anyone have any good, or bad to say about these two ?
All comments welcome.


Cooper -

Yeah, I thought of that a long time ago, but being that I live in California, I can't even put a vacuum/boost gauge in my car without getting in trouble ! So...yeah, any computer mapping changes are out, being that I don't know anyone in the business anymore to get preferential test treatment.

Thanks all

Mike

 

I don’t understand why you would spend the extra money for the same thing I got off alibaba for under 30 shipped, I’m telling you this thing works. But your money, your car.

 

Is there any reason why you won't try the $28 controller ? Minima Adam, j Cornelius and I already tried it with great results.

 

Mods in signature, stock throttle body, no more dead pedal. Best $28 bucks I spent.

 

I'm working on my 73rd year of life, and still going strong (well everything but my hair !).
My 72+ years of experience has taught me a great many things...99% of the time, you get what you pay for.

But again, thanks for the opinions, still learning.

Mike

 

I get it, I’m 45, just picked this thing up in January, and have a wife that’s not found of me spending money. $30 was worth the gamble, 2.5 and 2.6 are fun and you have to feather the throttle a little bit more. I won’t run this anymore than 2.6, no need.

 

Based on the lack of quality I generally see in no-name electronics coming out of China, I would be hesitant to put one in the signal chain between my pedal and the DME, too.

 

I totally get that, I too was a little weary, but I can unplug and have a scan tool so figured 30 bucks was worth a shot, which I do believe is like a tenth of the cost of a sprint booster. I don’t expect everyone to believe what they read on the internet, I can tell you it works on my R53. I’m going to be at MOTD this year with her so if anyone wants to drive her with and without it, I’ll be there for a week. I will most likely have tools in the car, n14 nightmares might still haunt me 😁

 

Yup...I've used one in my other mini for years with 0 issues..
Lol no they won't fry ur ecu guys...that's just silly.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...edal-feel.html

 

no offense because i praise Adrians tuning skills but this is cheaper by far and allows the ability to change it on the fly... if you've bought a sprint booster ect , then you've wasted 200 because for 30$ this does the EXACT same thing..

 

Nobody said anything about frying the ECU, Adam, though I suppose it could be a possibility if the design is incredibly stupid. I don't know enough about how they're designed.

 

Me either, but I let my brother who drives a Tesla model 3 performance try it. He said "wow! " Annnnd had a stupid grin on his face. Not bad for $30.

 

I bought a Sprint Booster for my 2003 R53 due to the sluggish throttle response and was very pleased with it. After the car was totaled in a hail storm last year I bought a 2006 R53 and was intending to install it in thar car but the throttle response was much improved already over the 2003, I haven't installed it. Did Mini do something in the later year models to improve the response? Yes, the Sprint Booster is expensive, but I wasn't aware a tune could be a cheaper alternative

 

Interesting that the earlier models have an ever slower throttle response.
I'm used to driving older cars, with the throttle that is "mechanically" (shaft or cable) connected to the carburetor / fuel injection.
When I get into my Mini, it feels like the throttle cable has come off its guide, and is loose and sloppy !

Mike

 

In my 05 R53 with the alibaba one, set on 2.5, you barely have to touch the gas . I’m extremely happy, can’t wait one week till I get to shake her down on the dragon.

 

When you say throttle response, you mean throttle sensitivity? Does this actually decrease the time it takes for the engine to rev up, or just make the throttle more sensitive to your inputs? If its the former, I'd love it as I hate how slowly the engine increases in revs when I heal and toe, and double clutch. Also how long the revs hang in between shifts!

 

Definitely sensitivity, from just messing around I would say 1/2 pedal is almost like going full pedal to floor. Soul if you are close to the dragon I’ll be down there next weekend or if your going to MOTD, to hesitate to find me or reach out, I don’t mind letting you take her out for a spin, especially if we’re down in Fontana.

 

I have a sprint booster (2nd gen I think) Mine has 2 or 3 different settings. I originally had it in my first 2003 to improve the pedal response and thought maybe it made a little bit of difference. When I bought a new 2003, I moved it over assuming it would need it, but honestly I feel like it makes the throttle too jerky. The biggest benefit is when you're trying to heel/toe it does raise the revs a bit faster with less pedal input, but it makes it harder to get on the throttle smoothly when exiting the corner, thought I think that may be less of an issue now that I have an LSD in. I like the selectivity with it, and the newer version has 9 different levels of adjust ability which might even be better but honestly I leave mine off 99% of the time.

 

All these things do is sit in between the pedal and the DME and modify the signals coming from the two Hall effect sensors in the pedal, presumably with a microcontroller. At least that's how I would do it if I wanted to, and I don't see how they're capable of doing anything else based on their placement.

I'm sketched out by the possibility of cheap Chinese electronics chucking the car into limp mode unexpectedly since the DME does a plausibility check on the output of the two sensors. I mean, it's probably fine, but still...