Drivetrain Lack of Performance Parts Development
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,446
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From: L.A ca
Originally Posted by andy@ross-tech.com
Someone should build an intake hose that looks like this:
I don't want royalties ... just one of the hoses.
I don't want royalties ... just one of the hoses.
Randy
Team M7
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: L.A ca
Originally Posted by Eric_Rowland
Hey! Quit wasting our NorCal water!
Less time washing, more time developing?
It's been said, but companies have to do what pays the bills. Cars have been around for 100 years, so most of the good ideas are already taken...
Less time washing, more time developing?
It's been said, but companies have to do what pays the bills. Cars have been around for 100 years, so most of the good ideas are already taken...
I agree with the doing what pays the bills part and it is hard to pull youself away from a new idea to go pack product but being a small firm that is part of the deal.As for good ideas I have to differ with you . We feel that there often times ways to do something better and some new problem to solve. For an example why in the world is it that if 10 Minis roll off the assembly line all in a row one or two of them will be faster than the rest. They are made the same way by the same people but some are NOTICABLEY faster. We have one out here with a 15% pulley , K&N intake and Borla exhaust. For the most part all tried and true items that do NOT really add a lot of performance , however this is one of the fastest straight line cars around no matter what the mods. There was ,up until last night anyway ,no reason for it. We think and I stress THINK we have found the reason and will start working on it as we have time. No promises, no delivery dates and no price until we have built and tested our theorey.Once we find out if it works or not we will post the results either way. That way if it isnt the rite path others will know not to waste there time as well. I only mention this in rebuttle to your comment about most of the good ideas being taken. Around here it is the opposite , we have too many ideas some good and perhaps some not so good but never enough time to sort them outRandy
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From: L.A ca
Originally Posted by Mini-///M
Hey Randy,
Ever thought about adding a slightly higher buldge for the hood? I bet if you could put more airflow over that IC you would see a lot less heatsoak. If you then had a splitter for the incoming air on a hood with a power buldge you can partition the air and get additional airflow to other parts of the engine bay. My guess is that there is a ton of stagnant air under the hood causing power loss due to heat soak that can be eliminated with a larger hood intake and proper ducting.
If you could save people weight (however marginal) and at the same time reduce heatsoak for $800-900 then you would have a real winner.
Patrick
Ever thought about adding a slightly higher buldge for the hood? I bet if you could put more airflow over that IC you would see a lot less heatsoak. If you then had a splitter for the incoming air on a hood with a power buldge you can partition the air and get additional airflow to other parts of the engine bay. My guess is that there is a ton of stagnant air under the hood causing power loss due to heat soak that can be eliminated with a larger hood intake and proper ducting.
If you could save people weight (however marginal) and at the same time reduce heatsoak for $800-900 then you would have a real winner.
Patrick
We hadn't thought about a larger bulge in the hood as we are looking to provide better flow thru the engine bay with proper venting . That being said if the idea doesn't work as well as we expect we can try your route and we thank you for the suggestion. The mini is interesting in that when underway it has a very good cooling setup in that engine temperatures stay in the acceptable range but when you come to a stop the engine begins to cook itself. No this is not a performance issue that is a separate deal all together . I am just referring to the everyday wear and tear on the car especially where we are in Southern California. We have to wait usually 90 min to 2 hrs to be able to work comfortably deep in the engine after it has been fully warmed up. Each time you come to a stop the temp can be seen raising on any accurate temp gage but as soon as you are moving again it drops just as quickly. I just hate the idea of the hoses and wires remaining in that type of atmosphere for no reason when something like the vented hood could alleviate the situation. I think this would be a added benefit of such a hood in addition to any performance gains which I am sure will be discussed at length in the near future. Again thanks for the suggestion and please keep them coming we are open to discussion of all ideas.
Randy
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I am impressed by Randy's thought process. I have seen aftermarket device developers that ONLY consider what will increase power with no consideration for engine life or reliability.
Such things are almost always a compromise. If you pick up power at the cost of cutting engine life in half you have not really done your complete job of engineering. Engineering involves understanding many parameters and improving as many parameters as possible while not letting the others go negative.
I've been messing with cars since the early sixties and have seen a lot of modifications that added lots of horsepower, but resulted in engines that could have their life measured in minutes.
May hat is off to you Randy!
Such things are almost always a compromise. If you pick up power at the cost of cutting engine life in half you have not really done your complete job of engineering. Engineering involves understanding many parameters and improving as many parameters as possible while not letting the others go negative.
I've been messing with cars since the early sixties and have seen a lot of modifications that added lots of horsepower, but resulted in engines that could have their life measured in minutes.
May hat is off to you Randy!
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well i was thinking of having a forum of concept ideas from all the owners around these parts, i figure most companies do a sort of study group before coming out with the product so if we had a forum where anyone with a good idea can post it for vendors to consider and let it branch of to new ideas, plant the seed if you will.
if just the back yard mechanic comes up with something great they can have a place to post their concept or idea with pics and then the aftermarket can look at it get ideas and take it a step further, boom lots of stuff, ive been making my own concepts for a while now, and have a few possible one offs on my car that are maby truley one of a kind and i feel that they could with a little help be great, if the main stream buisness just like that little tube idea of randy's
onely forseeable problem is if the idea is used then i think the constructor would either like a little retribution or would like to be recognized, then both parties coul win!
oh well just a thought!!
im probably crazy
if just the back yard mechanic comes up with something great they can have a place to post their concept or idea with pics and then the aftermarket can look at it get ideas and take it a step further, boom lots of stuff, ive been making my own concepts for a while now, and have a few possible one offs on my car that are maby truley one of a kind and i feel that they could with a little help be great, if the main stream buisness just like that little tube idea of randy's
onely forseeable problem is if the idea is used then i think the constructor would either like a little retribution or would like to be recognized, then both parties coul win!
oh well just a thought!!
im probably crazy
Last edited by 4GAZM; Jun 25, 2004 at 11:56 AM.
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Joined: Jan 2003
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From: East
Originally Posted by maxmini
I don't want to list our entire product line here , most of it is on the web site. What's that url again? It's hard doing this all by ourselves. I hope that is the royal "our". 
Former Vendor
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: los angeles
Originally Posted by BlueMCS
And now back to our feature tonight......Italian Job.
Could you explain the sarcastic...
about the web site and "our"just curious..
peter
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From: L.A ca
Originally Posted by 4GAZM
well i was thinking of having a forum of concept ideas from all the owners around these parts, i figure most companies do a sort of study group before coming out with the product so if we had a forum where anyone with a good idea can post it for vendors to consider and let it branch of to new ideas, plant the seed if you will.
if just the back yard mechanic comes up with something great they can have a place to post their concept or idea with pics and then the aftermarket can look at it get ideas and take it a step further, boom lots of stuff, ive been making my own concepts for a while now, and have a few possible one offs on my car that are maby truley one of a kind and i feel that they could with a little help be great, if the main stream buisness just like that little tube idea of randy's
onely forseeable problem is if the idea is used then i think the constructor would either like a little retribution or would like to be recognized, then both parties coul win!
oh well just a thought!! im probably crazy
if just the back yard mechanic comes up with something great they can have a place to post their concept or idea with pics and then the aftermarket can look at it get ideas and take it a step further, boom lots of stuff, ive been making my own concepts for a while now, and have a few possible one offs on my car that are maby truley one of a kind and i feel that they could with a little help be great, if the main stream buisness just like that little tube idea of randy's
onely forseeable problem is if the idea is used then i think the constructor would either like a little retribution or would like to be recognized, then both parties coul win!
oh well just a thought!!
im probably crazyPersonally I think this is a great idea and I for one would check that forum out every hour on the hour if possible. I also agree that the " creator " of the idea should definatly get the credit not to mention a hell of a deal on the first production item to be made . If a suitable forum does not appear please feel free to email any thoughts or suggestions to randy@m7tuning.com
P.S I can't take credit for the tube ( device ) idea as that was a team project but thanks for the thought.
Randy
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From: East
Originally Posted by BlueMCS
And now back to our feature tonight......Italian Job.
1. Anybody mentions M7 (thanks Hune) and you pop up like a JackintheBox and find an excuse to start listing your products. Ever notice that none of the other vendors act like this? They are responsive, helpful, discuss the technical aspects of their products intelligently, etc. Frankly, its annoying to me. If you think that successful marketing is putting your url out there as many times as you can you're in for a surprise. Nobody chose to call you on it... I had a tough week so you got it.
2. "It's hard doing this all by ourselves." Ourselves as in team M7 or as in the entire vendor community. What do you think he meant?
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Joined: Oct 2002
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Originally Posted by ColoradoMark
Friedduck: The LEDA's are externally adjustable shocks. and the GRS AA IC looks promising.
Great idea but it didn't fly last time
Originally Posted by 4GAZM
well i was thinking of having a forum of concept ideas from all the owners around these parts, i figure most companies do a sort of study group before coming out with the product so if we had a forum where anyone with a good idea can post it for vendors to consider and let it branch of to new ideas, plant the seed if you will.
if just the back yard mechanic comes up with something great they can have a place to post their concept or idea with pics and then the aftermarket can look at it get ideas and take it a step further, boom lots of stuff, ive been making my own concepts for a while now, and have a few possible one offs on my car that are maby truley one of a kind and i feel that they could with a little help be great, if the main stream buisness just like that little tube idea of randy's
onely forseeable problem is if the idea is used then i think the constructor would either like a little retribution or would like to be recognized, then both parties coul win!
oh well just a thought!! im probably crazy
if just the back yard mechanic comes up with something great they can have a place to post their concept or idea with pics and then the aftermarket can look at it get ideas and take it a step further, boom lots of stuff, ive been making my own concepts for a while now, and have a few possible one offs on my car that are maby truley one of a kind and i feel that they could with a little help be great, if the main stream buisness just like that little tube idea of randy's
onely forseeable problem is if the idea is used then i think the constructor would either like a little retribution or would like to be recognized, then both parties coul win!
oh well just a thought!!
im probably crazyI did have a few supporter's as you can see but I think Mark was really busy at that time. Here's the link;
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=22368
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: L.A ca
Originally Posted by BlueMCS
Explanation:
1. Anybody mentions M7 (thanks Hune) and you pop up like a JackintheBox and find an excuse to start listing your products. Ever notice that none of the other vendors act like this? They are responsive, helpful, discuss the technical aspects of their products intelligently, etc. Frankly, its annoying to me. If you think that successful marketing is putting your url out there as many times as you can you're in for a surprise. Nobody chose to call you on it... I had a tough week so you got it.
2. "It's hard doing this all by ourselves." Ourselves as in team M7 or as in the entire vendor community. What do you think he meant?
1. Anybody mentions M7 (thanks Hune) and you pop up like a JackintheBox and find an excuse to start listing your products. Ever notice that none of the other vendors act like this? They are responsive, helpful, discuss the technical aspects of their products intelligently, etc. Frankly, its annoying to me. If you think that successful marketing is putting your url out there as many times as you can you're in for a surprise. Nobody chose to call you on it... I had a tough week so you got it.
2. "It's hard doing this all by ourselves." Ourselves as in team M7 or as in the entire vendor community. What do you think he meant?
Not quite sure where you were going with this but I will try to answer your concerns. As a paying vendor here which helps keep the site alive so you have a place to vent we are obligated to respond when there is a mention of one of our products we do take notice. We are obligated to respond in many instances which we do. Lately there has been a lot to talk about do to the release of new products as well as discussion of the device in a couple of other threads. It is a damn if you do or damn if you dont situation and I do recall once recently where we were hung out to dry because we didn't respond within 24 hrs. This particular thread was dealing why there is not a lot of new innovative products and we felt that the other side of the coin should be presented. We feel that there is some validity to that statement but hopefully we are the exception to the rule as many have stated and we thank them for their support. As for the other vendors not reacting like this perhaps many just don't have a lot to talk about? I have tried to be as responsive as I can which you are now giving us a hard time about. I have tired to provide as much information as was necessary and discuss as best I could our products. As for annoying you , thank god you are in the minority and that Mark has provided a out for you which is the delete button. Please feel free to use it whenever you feel the need . As for putting our url out at the end of each post it is just part of the format and I wasn't aware that it automatically took you to the site . I thought you had to actually click on it to go there and if you didn't want to you didn't have to. My bad
As for the comment about it being hard to do by ourselves I was referring to us as a company and the normal trials and tribulations of any small firm trying to do so many things with so little time available. In any event i wanted to thank you for your post which of course gave me another chance to post our URL. Thanks for the support and have a great day .
Randy
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From: East
[font=Times New Roman][size=3]OK, lets talk Mini performance parts and innovation.[/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3][/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3]Here are my top 10 choices for Mini performance parts. The criteria include originality, time to market, measurable substantiated performance and an expectation of a reasonable market given the pricing of the part.[/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3] [/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3]I’ve purposely left out the bars, shocks springs, etc. that are basically adaptations of standard performance parts to our cars. These are the ones that have significantly changed the way the Mini “goes”.[/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3] [/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3] [/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3]1.[/size] [size=3]P&D Pulleys[/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3]2.[/size] [size=3]Randy’s How-To’s/Pulley Install – Jackup Method – GreatGro???[/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3]3.[/size] [size=3]Helix/Randy Quaife Work[/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3]4.[/size] [size=3]M7/Venom Nitrous Kit[/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3]5.[/size] [size=3]Randy AK Wheels[/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3]6.[/size] [size=3]P&D Camber Plates[/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3]7.[/size] [size=3]Ian Cull’s Window Up/Track Mode DSC Board[/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3]8.[/size] [size=3]Pilo Racing – Tach board/Most innovative mods designed in house[/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3]9.[/size] [size=3]SPI – TwinChargedMini+FuelControl+Intercooler[/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3]10.[/size] ????????[/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3] [/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3] [/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3]What did I forget?[/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3] [/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3][/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3]Here are my top 10 choices for Mini performance parts. The criteria include originality, time to market, measurable substantiated performance and an expectation of a reasonable market given the pricing of the part.[/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3] [/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3]I’ve purposely left out the bars, shocks springs, etc. that are basically adaptations of standard performance parts to our cars. These are the ones that have significantly changed the way the Mini “goes”.[/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3] [/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3] [/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3]1.[/size] [size=3]P&D Pulleys[/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3]2.[/size] [size=3]Randy’s How-To’s/Pulley Install – Jackup Method – GreatGro???[/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3]3.[/size] [size=3]Helix/Randy Quaife Work[/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3]4.[/size] [size=3]M7/Venom Nitrous Kit[/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3]5.[/size] [size=3]Randy AK Wheels[/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3]6.[/size] [size=3]P&D Camber Plates[/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3]7.[/size] [size=3]Ian Cull’s Window Up/Track Mode DSC Board[/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3]8.[/size] [size=3]Pilo Racing – Tach board/Most innovative mods designed in house[/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3]9.[/size] [size=3]SPI – TwinChargedMini+FuelControl+Intercooler[/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3]10.[/size] ????????[/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3] [/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3] [/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3]What did I forget?[/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman][size=3] [/size][/font]
4th Gear
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Numbers, numbers, numbers
I do not believe that it matters much that Mini owners spend more money on their cars. Bentley owners spend way more and have few speed parts to choose from. Its simple math. Very few places in the world allow people to hop up their cars and still use them on the street. You can't change the exhaust system in Germany and keep the car on the road!
In America, there are only 75 Mini dealers pumping out cars. 60% of them are Coopers, 40% are S's. Just how many people do you think are buying after-market speed parts that void their warranty, when they can get a JCW kit that is warranted to last? What other car offers a warrantied performance kit of the caliber of the Mini?
There simply are not enough people who are going to spend money on performance parts for these cars, and if a significant investment in R&D is needed, there is no pay-back in the future. There is talk of a whole new engine in 2006. Who is going to invest in performance of an engine that is going to be dropped?
In America, there are only 75 Mini dealers pumping out cars. 60% of them are Coopers, 40% are S's. Just how many people do you think are buying after-market speed parts that void their warranty, when they can get a JCW kit that is warranted to last? What other car offers a warrantied performance kit of the caliber of the Mini?
There simply are not enough people who are going to spend money on performance parts for these cars, and if a significant investment in R&D is needed, there is no pay-back in the future. There is talk of a whole new engine in 2006. Who is going to invest in performance of an engine that is going to be dropped?
5th Gear
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From: East
Originally Posted by JoeDentist
Just how many people do you think are buying after-market speed parts that void their warranty, when they can get a JCW kit that is warranted to last? What other car offers a warrantied performance kit of the caliber of the Mini?
IMHO the Mini is short on performance these days in its price point. So, I'd have to say a lot of other manufacturers offer superior warrantied performance. Have you looked at an Evo or an STI lately?
4th Gear
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JoeDentist raises an interesting point. I honestly think BMWs early announcement of the Peugot engine killed a lot of interest in the aftermarket. No one likes to hear that their upside is limited--just ask anyone who has to release earnings estimates ;-)
On the subject of european laws governing aftermarket, the germans require TUV approval, methinks, but will allow a/m exhausts. In the UK you have to notify your insurer to maintain coverage, but it's permitted.
When you think about it, the States are the least fertile ground. Schnitzer, hartge, digi-tec, BBR, GGR, and AMD all have kits at various price points. Some of them even warranted.
Jeff
On the subject of european laws governing aftermarket, the germans require TUV approval, methinks, but will allow a/m exhausts. In the UK you have to notify your insurer to maintain coverage, but it's permitted.
When you think about it, the States are the least fertile ground. Schnitzer, hartge, digi-tec, BBR, GGR, and AMD all have kits at various price points. Some of them even warranted.
Jeff
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From: Louisiana
Back to the question of air flow (sort of), Randy, I had thought about removing the pad that is on the underside of the hood. It seems like it "seats" with the cowl gaskets. This makes me think that as well as preventing heat from radiating out through the hood, it resricts air flow.
Of course I don't know if this might adversely affect the hood (paint job) by it heating up more.
I have been thinking about this in general because of the MUCH increased performance I see in my MC when cooler air is part of the equation. I don't know about the MCS, but for the cooper, cooler air seems to go a long way!
Of course I don't know if this might adversely affect the hood (paint job) by it heating up more.
I have been thinking about this in general because of the MUCH increased performance I see in my MC when cooler air is part of the equation. I don't know about the MCS, but for the cooper, cooler air seems to go a long way!
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: L.A ca
Originally Posted by J-Didi
Back to the question of air flow (sort of), Randy, I had thought about removing the pad that is on the underside of the hood. It seems like it "seats" with the cowl gaskets. This makes me think that as well as preventing heat from radiating out through the hood, it resricts air flow.
Of course I don't know if this might adversely affect the hood (paint job) by it heating up more.
I have been thinking about this in general because of the MUCH increased performance I see in my MC when cooler air is part of the equation. I don't know about the MCS, but for the cooper, cooler air seems to go a long way!
Of course I don't know if this might adversely affect the hood (paint job) by it heating up more.
I have been thinking about this in general because of the MUCH increased performance I see in my MC when cooler air is part of the equation. I don't know about the MCS, but for the cooper, cooler air seems to go a long way!
There is no doubt that the cars run better when cooler. When you first get the car going ,just after that initial warm up ,they always seem to run better. We are working on 3 different areas to help maintain that " first warm up " period. One is the hood of course, second is the improved oil cooler and thirdly we are working on different thermostats and should have the rite one picked out and available within the next 3 weeks.
Randy
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From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
If it makes anyone happy, I'm trying to build up a brake master cylinder brace. I noticed during a brake bleed that it pushing the pedal hard, flexes the firewall a fair bit. It's just a DIY project right now, but we'll see how it turns out. :smile:
Steve
Steve
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From: Los Angeles, CA
Originally Posted by BlueMCS
IMHO the Mini is short on performance these days in its price point. So, I'd have to say a lot of other manufacturers offer superior warrantied performance. Have you looked at an Evo or an STI lately?
For people like me who want a little extra performance, the MINI aftermarket does a pretty good job. I realize it may not be pumping out new products the way McDonalds introduces new breakfast sandwiches, but the primary products available - pulleys, intakes, chips, exhaust - as well as some of the more exotic products - cams, heads, nitrous, turbos, etc. - allow people to customize the performance to their liking and budget.
I'm sure things could always be better for MINI owners, but they really aren't all that bad now.
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: L.A ca
On a side note regarding warrenty coverage in the L.A area the local Subaru dealers denying warrenty coverage has reached legendary status. They have become so tired of replacing driveline components with the WRX line that they are voiding coverage for any change they can find. I know about the consumer protection act etc. but they are making you use it every step of the way. Not to spread rumors and inuendo I have a personal friend , WRX 7500 miles with cat back exhaust ONLY. Clutch went bad fought like hell to get it covered under warrenty and LOST. Now perhaps he could have done something different or somone else out there could have put up a better argument to the dealer but the fact remains it is going to be a battle for those guys every time. For the most part Mini dealers are at least over looking intakes ,exhausts etc . but I am sure there are exceptions to those events as well.
Randy
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Randy
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6th Gear
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From: New Jersey
Ill throw some comments out. Im Xing out names to protect the innocent.
XXX @ XXXX can afford to sell his knockoff intake for whatever he'd like because its not his "real job" and he doesnt have to turn the same profit as people who have to lease office space, shop space or pay the monthly payment on their dyno.
The hot air intake came out my R&D of a MCS intake system. I've got lots of data and boxes of filters and tubes, elbows, reducers, etc that are all prettymuch worthless to me now. Thats all R&D costs that I ate and I never even sold anything. The main reason I never came to market with a product is that in testing, nothing beat whats become known as "The HAI" and a stock K&N filter and a clamp in a box isnt really a marketable idea. I never wanted to share the info because I wanted to develop a sellable product and didnt want to be competing against my own design.
I understand that everyone is interested in bang for your buck but I found myself in an ethical quandary when I decided to cease development. I made a lot of friends in the mini community and a few of them were vendors. I didnt want this "design" to take away intake sales that pay their bills and feed their families. Granted Im sure they dont sell earth shattering quantities of intakes but its just how I felt. I know that some will argue that the best performance or the best price is in your best interest as the mini community but I was just thinking that a stronger/successful vendor base is more beneficial.
Don't stop supporting the vendors that made this community like Helix and Webb. Keep pushing the envelope. Keep challenging the vendor claims and keep the creative juices flowing.
--
Cheese
PS- you can get the same results as pictured above on the alta rubber hose by adding a hose clamp further upstream that pinches the hose closed slighty
XXX @ XXXX can afford to sell his knockoff intake for whatever he'd like because its not his "real job" and he doesnt have to turn the same profit as people who have to lease office space, shop space or pay the monthly payment on their dyno.
The hot air intake came out my R&D of a MCS intake system. I've got lots of data and boxes of filters and tubes, elbows, reducers, etc that are all prettymuch worthless to me now. Thats all R&D costs that I ate and I never even sold anything. The main reason I never came to market with a product is that in testing, nothing beat whats become known as "The HAI" and a stock K&N filter and a clamp in a box isnt really a marketable idea. I never wanted to share the info because I wanted to develop a sellable product and didnt want to be competing against my own design.
I understand that everyone is interested in bang for your buck but I found myself in an ethical quandary when I decided to cease development. I made a lot of friends in the mini community and a few of them were vendors. I didnt want this "design" to take away intake sales that pay their bills and feed their families. Granted Im sure they dont sell earth shattering quantities of intakes but its just how I felt. I know that some will argue that the best performance or the best price is in your best interest as the mini community but I was just thinking that a stronger/successful vendor base is more beneficial.
Don't stop supporting the vendors that made this community like Helix and Webb. Keep pushing the envelope. Keep challenging the vendor claims and keep the creative juices flowing.
--
Cheese
PS- you can get the same results as pictured above on the alta rubber hose by adding a hose clamp further upstream that pinches the hose closed slighty
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by dgszweda1
Have we hit the plateau for performance parts development? It seems now that it has been about 2 years after the April 2002 release of the Mini that new product development has really slowed down for the performance parts sector.
No really new exhausts have come out, the cold air intakes are all the same, same types of pulleys, headers, brake kits......
It seems to me that most of the parts manufacturers flooded the market quickly with pretty much cookie cutter products. You can pretty much buy an exhaust, pulley, cold air intake.... from any of them and they all pretty much perform the same. Even the exhausts are within a few hp of each other, basically just a different sound depending on what mufflers they threw on.
It seems now that most of the innovation is coming from the Mini owners (i.e. HAI from Andy, splitters and other parts from Peter....). None of the manufacturers really came up with ground breaking designs. It is neat seeing home grown products, but these are products people are putting together in their garages and doing their own testing. I can't believe none of the larger manufacturers are coming up with ideas like these. It just seems to be "lets get a high flow filter and put a shield around it." It wasn't until someone decided to move all the tubing around and hook one up directly to the TB for $30 that really changed the designs. How come these companies that spend $100,000's of dollars on research can't come up with unique designs. It is usually the same types of design constraints with a few small tweaks. Obviously not all manufacturers are like this in every way. Some have put out a few things with slightly larger twists on products from other companies.
It is also amazing at the amount of the stuff that gets rebadged.
I guess I am posting this, to indicate my frusturation at a lack of innovation across a lot of the manufacturers of these performance parts. Just the same types of stuff with very little numbers to prove it. In fact a small individual out of his garage can make an innovative HAI and provide detailed numbers, but I have never seen any other product manufacturer put out any numbers on their intake except for some hp claims, which have almost always been elevated. This is just indicative of the perceived lack of innovation and testing. This isn't a rant against any single manufacturer, but just a general statement across the whole industry. There are some manufacturers who make some good products, or ones that are pursing the task of building good products at low prices. This is not even indicative of just the Mini industry, but across a lot of the SEMA related industries.
Anyway, maybe this is what we have to continue looking forward to for the next couple of years until the new engines come out and a whole slew of new products (i.e. tweaked turbo products from other cars such as the EVO...) come out for the Mini.
No really new exhausts have come out, the cold air intakes are all the same, same types of pulleys, headers, brake kits......
It seems to me that most of the parts manufacturers flooded the market quickly with pretty much cookie cutter products. You can pretty much buy an exhaust, pulley, cold air intake.... from any of them and they all pretty much perform the same. Even the exhausts are within a few hp of each other, basically just a different sound depending on what mufflers they threw on.
It seems now that most of the innovation is coming from the Mini owners (i.e. HAI from Andy, splitters and other parts from Peter....). None of the manufacturers really came up with ground breaking designs. It is neat seeing home grown products, but these are products people are putting together in their garages and doing their own testing. I can't believe none of the larger manufacturers are coming up with ideas like these. It just seems to be "lets get a high flow filter and put a shield around it." It wasn't until someone decided to move all the tubing around and hook one up directly to the TB for $30 that really changed the designs. How come these companies that spend $100,000's of dollars on research can't come up with unique designs. It is usually the same types of design constraints with a few small tweaks. Obviously not all manufacturers are like this in every way. Some have put out a few things with slightly larger twists on products from other companies.
It is also amazing at the amount of the stuff that gets rebadged.
I guess I am posting this, to indicate my frusturation at a lack of innovation across a lot of the manufacturers of these performance parts. Just the same types of stuff with very little numbers to prove it. In fact a small individual out of his garage can make an innovative HAI and provide detailed numbers, but I have never seen any other product manufacturer put out any numbers on their intake except for some hp claims, which have almost always been elevated. This is just indicative of the perceived lack of innovation and testing. This isn't a rant against any single manufacturer, but just a general statement across the whole industry. There are some manufacturers who make some good products, or ones that are pursing the task of building good products at low prices. This is not even indicative of just the Mini industry, but across a lot of the SEMA related industries.
Anyway, maybe this is what we have to continue looking forward to for the next couple of years until the new engines come out and a whole slew of new products (i.e. tweaked turbo products from other cars such as the EVO...) come out for the Mini.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by MINISQL
You know that big aluminum bumper behind the bumper cover? Why doesn't somebody make an intercooler the same size to replace it, and then cut slots in the cover for air flow? An intercooler more than 3 1/2 feet long and 8 inches wide! How about a larger capacity supercharger that would provide 25 psi at lower rpm coupled with an electric water pump? How about different ratio gear sets for the differential and maybe reworked and strengthened straight cut gears for the tranny? What about cams, anybody besides Schrick out there?
I read about Hondas out there pushing 350hp streetable with front wheel drive, why not us? If I had the time I'd start working on the IC for the bumper first and try to incorporate a CAI into the bumper too.
I read about Hondas out there pushing 350hp streetable with front wheel drive, why not us? If I had the time I'd start working on the IC for the bumper first and try to incorporate a CAI into the bumper too.
I beleive that M7 is working on cams for the Cooper S, and I called Web Cam about a month ago and they said they may be making one as well.
Keep an eye on autospeed performance, a company that I personally am a distrubutor of, not well known in the Mini community, but they make some of the most innovativ products for the Audi S4 and the Subaru WRX, and soon they will have a Mini to use for some serious R&D on a high hp turbo system. take a look at the website, www.autospeedperformance.com, just to get an idea of the quality of these products