Is the JB+ worth purchasing? Will I feel or notice any power difference?

 

They have sold hundreds of them with great success. I had great results, but I wanted more power and bigger turbo so I went with a tune.
I have a JB+ for sale $210 shipped in the US.
Thanks
Mario

mQubed Motorsport, Manic Tuning Dealer

 

Yes, It's the best bang for the buck out there in my experience. You can and I have wasted a lot of money on empty performance improvement promises with exhaust systems, cold air intakes, and the list goes on, but the Jb+ actually delivers. I have one on both our current Mini's and suggest just plugging it in, leaving the setting alone, and enjoying.

 

^^^^ +1. Best $300 you'll ever spend.

 

Mine should be here tomorrow, I'll try to update you in a few days.

 

Waiting for warranty to expire to install mine!

 

Only 50 miles driven on mine, but I certainly feel the difference. This is the way the car should be from the factory. You shouldn't need to drive in sport mode under normal conditions with the JB+.

 

Do you plan to remove the JB+ prior to any scheduled maintenance? I don't want to but I also don't want crap from the dealer.

 

My warranty is up next month and since I've owned the car I have not had any scheduled free maintenance. Moot point for me.

 

I would remove it, literally takes 2 minutes...

 

Sorry to hijack. Last question, does it take a long time for the JB+ to remap itself back once removed?

 

Thanks

 

It's not the JB+, it's your ECU that's 'relearning' things. As I recall when I removed mine and re-installed it, I think it took a few days for it to settle back in, although there was a discernible difference right away.

 

Further reflections on my JB+, after about 400 miles I'm 75% pleased. I'm kind of bummed out that it doesn't really address the 1K-2K rpm range. Anyone else see this, and have a solution? It is better in sport mode, but I prefer not using sport mode all the time, especially on the highway.

 

Ditto!

In this thread JavaAddict suggests pairing the JB+ with a sprint booster. This might be the solution you (and I) are looking for.

 

Yeah I posted on that thread, but then someone threw in the monkey wrench of a Manic tune and I guess I lost track of it. I'd have done the Manic if someone was close to me, but sending my ECU in the mail or Fedex is not something I'm willing to do. If it got lost or damaged I assume I'd be in major poo.

 

You have to remember, you're still dealing with a small 4-cylinder turbo in a car that's actually heavier than what that motor was originally intended for. We're running around 500 lbs heavier than a hatch, so there isn't much that's going to give you noticeably more punch in the lower RPM's ... until they get around to putting that 2.0 in it.

All that being said, I'd have to agree with you on the 75% -- I'm not thoroughly blown away by the performance, but I am much, much happier with it than I was. (Also agree with you on the ECU and the Manic tune -- something just doesn't make me feel all warm and fuzzy about shipping it off to who knows where.)

 

I don't understand how the weight issue has a bearing on the low rpm stumble/hesitation to move the car. If running in sport mode, it isn't nearly as bad and yet the car still weighs 500lbs more according to your thoughts. I guess I just don't understand this stuff, give me back my old drive by mechanical rod attached to carb.

 

I have a hatch, and still feel the hesitation/delay :(

 

Picked up a used one on here, and will be embarking on a 400+mile trek tomorrow. Should I throw it in today, or wait until I get back Sunday. 400+miles one way to NJ and back on Sunday.

 

Now, why wait?

 

Was my thought, but I figured I'd ask.

 

It will be a great test, by the time you are home you will know if you like it or not. If any issues pop up, taking it back off takes under a minute. Use the best quality gas you can find.

 

Yup, exactly my thinking. I pretty much run 93 all of the time. On the rare occasion I run into 91, I'll get that. But I'm a Cumberland Farms SmartPay kinda guy..and they only have 93 around here. Still going to run the jb+ at 50% even with 93.

 

The car does weigh more, which is why you notice the hesitation so much more than you would in say the hardtop. You will get the same delay/hesitation effect in the hardtop, it's just not as noticeable because it is smaller and weighs less. The all4 system also will contribute to the hesitation quite a bit.

The reason you see an improvement with the sport button is because it makes the throttle more responsive. Same power, just applied faster. This is what the sprint booster does and is the reason so many people suggest adding the sprint booster and JB+ together. The sprint booster handles the 1k-2k RPM range (similar to how the sport button does). It's not making more power, it's just applying the power faster.

The JB+ can't help in the 1k-2k RPM range because it's not physically possible. At that low of an RPM the turbo isn't really spooled up and isn't creating much boost. The JB+ just tricks the computer into pushing more boost from the turbo, but it has to be spooled up and already creating boost for this to work. Once the RPMs pick up into the 2k-3k+ range, the turbo spools, creates boost, and then the JB+ can kick in.

The same thing happens with the hardtops, but it's so much more noticeable in the paceman because of extra weight, and the loss from the all4 system. The manic tune is really the only way to get any added power in the 1k-2k RPM range, since it does much more than just trick the computer like the JB+ does.