Hello
First of all my name is Mihai, and I am from Romania (Europe)
I read this forum for some time now, but this is my first post..

Today I put my car on dyno, Copper S 2007 R56 MT with some upgrades
- Forge Silicone Boost Hose Set
- Typhoon Kit (SR)
- Borla Cat Back Exhaust System
- Forge Blow Off
- catch can

The results are in the picture, I did 4 runs and all are with the same results +/- 2hp.

As you can see the torque is fine 310NM, but I think my hp is too low.
I have a software tuning by TCM (http://www.tcm-fahrzeugtechnik.de/).

Few days ago I ordered from Ebay a new JCW turbocharger, (part number 53039880146).

I have some questions:
1. Is my software ok with only 195HP?
2. After I change my turbocharger and decat, is really necessary to change the intercooler too? Romania have a moderate climate, not too hot, not too cold.

 

nobody ? :(

 

Is that brake horsepower or wheel horsepower?

I don't understand why you got an ECU tune without getting a bigger intercooler. A downpipe, bigger intercooler, and ECU tune all need to be done at the same time. They go hand-in-hand. What I think looks strange on these power/torque cuves is that your peak power was at 4500rpm. Most people peak at 5500rpm and then fall down from there. This might be due to inexperience with the tuning company.

The stock intercooler is so small and when you start jacking up the boost the stock intercooler isn't optimized for all the extra heat. You really need to buy a larger intercooler if you're customizing for high performance.

Now that you've bought a JCW turbo, you've opened up a new can of worms. The potential for you to damage your pistons, especially after additional ECU tuning, is now higher. The stock pistons are not designed to take that much boost, especially from the JCW turbo. This is why the factory JCW has a lower compression ratio.

If this is car is your daily driver, I would return the turbo. I think the risk of damaging the pistons is too high, especially after ECU tuning. If it's your fun second car, I can see the fun in experimenting, but you have to decide how you want to manage the risk.

I've had my R56 S since 2009 and have done a lot to it. The biggest thing I've learned is that power isn't everything and should be one of the last things to modify on this car. Tires, suspension, and brakes make this car MUCH faster than trying to throw money at it to gain 30hp.

 

+1

Obviously, more power is king in a straight line, especially when combined with lighter weight, but even a heavily modded JCW isn't going to keep up with a lot of stock vehicles out there in a straight line, think Mustang GT, Porsche, Corvette, Dodge SRT, Camaro, STI, etc., etc. The main reason most of us love our MINI's is because they are quick and fun to drive in the twisty's and that's obviously where tires, suspension, and brakes come in handy.

As you see from my signature, I have a 66 Porsche 912 which is a 4 cylinder variant of the 911 using the old 356 engine. It gives up about 30hp and 30 lbs ft of torque to the 911, but due to a little less weight in the rear, it will keep up with a stock 911 of the same vintage in the twistys, but when things straighten out, the 911 pulls away.

I haven't done any real performance mods on my MCS yet, and won't until I need to replace something or it is out of warrenty, but when I do, it will be tires, suspension and brakes.

 

Thanks guys for the input.
I love this cooper S, and Yes this is my second car (fun car).
My turbocharger just came today (see the picture), now I am waiting for the Forge intercooler, and for the decat downpipe I will go for OBX (I saw one on Ebay).
I had a Sprint Booster installed today (WHAT a difference!!), in sport mode, my Typhoon filter sounds louder and it's more fun to drive this MINI car.

Back to my software, is it possible that my hp levels are so low because of the stock intercooler ? or the software is crappy ?

 

countryboyshane regarding the pistons, will this set work wint my r56?

SC7511 set from cp carrillo.

http://cgi.ebay.com/CP-Forged-Piston...ht_3212wt_1007

 

Again, is your graph showing whp or bhp?

What power/torque numbers are you expecting from your current powertrain configuration? It is unfair to try and benchmark it to another car since they all will produce different numbers. This is especially true if you're comparing different aftermarket ECU tunes.

All speculation aside, the stock intercooler is a piece of garbage. It absolutely needs to be replaced if you're running some other high-boost tune. A larger intercooler is the best powertrain hardware modification you can do besides running a high-flow downpipe.

Nice turbo! I pray your stock MCS pistons love it as much as you do in the long run

 

Thanks
This is bhp, and I already have an obx downpipe and forge ic on the way.
I talked with one tuner today and he said the stock pistons are fine , as long as the mixture gas/air is correct. (a bigger turbo brings more air, but the gas remain the same, witch is bad) He recomended as a precaution a meth kit, and a new software).
For the moment I will consider he's advice , its logical.

 

The pistons in the above ebay sale, are NOT designed for the N14 turbocharged engine, they are designed for and will only fit the W11 supercharged engine, found in the 1st generation Mini's.

See this link: http://www.shop-cppistons.com/categories/minicooper/

 

czar thank you , I will go for the meth kit at first, maybe later I will go for the forged pistons.

 

And how much boost are you looking at running with the JCW turbo ?

 

max 19psi, I think everything over 20 psi is too dangerous.
About this :
https://www.alcohol-injection.com/en...jection-nozzle

Where do I position my water injection nozzle?
regards

 

You'll be really pushing it with the peak pressure in the cylinder if you're at 18-20psi of boost with the stock MCS pistons. Why take the risk of doing some major damage in the name of a LITTLE more power? The meth kit will help a bit with peak temp/pressure, but I don't have much knowledge of it's long term effects. I think the UK tuners have had more experience with meth injection so I'll stop there.

It looks like you're going down the "big power road." I would contact ABF Motoring to see if they have pistons available for the MCS yet. I know Carillo has ZERO solutions for the motor right now. While you're at it... PORT & POLISH

 

Hmm I think you will find that CP-Carillo do have a piston offering for the N14 engine, here is an image of a set of CP-Carillo pistons specifically for the N14 engine.

They are not listed in the online catalogue!



You will also find that JE offer piston for the N14 engine too.

 

Be very very careful running your suggested boost figure, your quoted figure "19psi" needs to absolute, taking into account the over boost additional 2.17psi (150mbar) these engines are unforgiving, with even the slightest incorrect fuel and boost mapping by inexperienced so called "tuners"

Everything maybe fine for a while, after your "tuner" says, ok it's ready and it's got X hp, torque and boost figures, to show your mates and the MINI community but then, if your "tuner has got anything ever so slightly wrong with the re-mapping, Kaboom, and you'll be left with a self destructed engine, as quite a few have found out the hard costly way, just do a search on here, to see what happens, from incorrect tinkering, and the inevitable detonation, which will occur.

As for nozzle position, this is very much your personal preference and understanding what exactly you want from water/meth injection, again have a search on here and you will find good info with images of installations, here is a link to one such thread: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...t-hfs-3-a.html

 

yah, I saw some posts with "kaboom", you are right 10hp may destroy an engine, you guys are the best, everything I think of doing to this car, someone here has already done it.
I have big plans for this car, I can't sleep at night, next step will be a big brake kit from wilwood.
I like the Brembo JCW but the wilwood rear kit looks better, and they fit with my 16" winter rims.

Back to boost, what's the maximum safe boost level with stock pistons? (taking into account the software that might not be perfect)

 

Meh that's been debated for a while here on NAM. The '07 models used to run at 17psi boost. In '08 they cut it down to 10-12psi as standard. I'm guessing because of early piston/cylinder wear and any other concerns with excessive heat in the turbo.

 

Don't take this the wrong way, (countryboyshane) but where are you getting your misinformation from ?

The 2nd gen MCS has been out since late 2005 here in Europe, and all through it's production, worldwide, incorporating the N14 engine, it has never ever seen 17psi of turbo boost pressure, out of the factory, the stock factory working turbo pressure for a N14 engined MCS is and always has been 0.8bar (11.6psi) - 0.9bar (13.05psi) with 2.17psi (150mbar) of over boost pressure for a maximum of approx 12 seconds, in anyone throttle application.

As for the JCW N14 engine, this has a working turbo pressure from the factory of 1.3bar (18.85psi) again with 2.17psi (150mbar) of over boost pressure for a maximum of approx 12 seconds, in anyone throttle application.

 

If the software (re-map) programming is not perfect, then there really is no safe limit, as soon as you or your "tuner" adjusts the otherwise factory stock ECU software, you are putting your engines future life expectancy into your hands, and as the saying goes "if you want to play, then you must pay"

 

Apparently the information I received is incorrect. Are you a BMW factory technician? You seem to know a lot of insider information.

 

Prodrive?