Powerchip in the LA area is looking for a pulleyed car with the stumble to see if they can fix it. You get a free rental car for a day. Here's the details:

Here at last is some good news. I just loaded the Powerchip software (which contains Randy's mappings for the pulley etc.) Now, I still have the stumble, but Powerchip says they have not had a stumble car to test with. So, if there is somebody in the LA area who has the stumble he or she is invited to Powerchip, get a free rental car for a day and Powerchip says they can analyze the problem using all their test gear AND FIX THIS PROBLEM! Call Joel at 1-800 495 0777 for more info. I realize there are a limited number of people who would be willing to bypass BMW to get this fixed but some folks will.

Graham

 

Bypassing MINI for a FREE Fix?

Who Wouldn't do that?

 

>>Bypassing MINI for a FREE Fix?
>>
>>Who Wouldn't do that?
>>
>>


So far none of the cars they have had to work with had the stumble. If I lived there I would call and see what they are willing to do. They stand to be vanquishers of the dreaded stumble if they can fix this. Then distribute software (for a price) ahead of the MINI fix. What I can tell you is that my car has fabulous torque and power with Powerchip, but still stumbles off the line.

Graham

_________________
'03 MCS, Madness Intake, Rear Sway Bar, Control Arms, H-Sports, QS Exhaust, Alta Pulley, Powerchip ECU remap, & Big Bore Throttle Body

<IMG SRC="http://alltuneandlube1.homestead.com...005d.gif" >

 

This is very timely indeed. Thanks for the info Graham. I say timely because I have a stumbling, non-pulleyed S and I was just on the phone with a shop not far from me (who reckons he's done 3 dozen pulley installs) and I'm 'thinking' about having him do mine for me on Tuesday. Now here's the thing...I have been on the phone with both Powerchip and Randy on this very topic. Powerchip have told me that if my car has a stumble (pulley or no pulley), their chip will not fix it. I appreciated their candor. Randy has told me that a pulley and the ecu upgrade will eliminate my stumble.

Now here's the next thing...I am willing to do the 2,000 mile round trip to have Randy do both pulley and install but he's not returning emails at the moment (wife have baby?). Am I completely nuts for even contemplating that trip? No answers needed.

Here's another thing...the shop I called does the Mini Mania pulley. What is the difference between it and the Alta pulley? Plus he says he removes the stock pulley by drilling it. Does that sound right to anybody? It sounds like it would render it useless should I need to switch back. Would I want/need to switch back?

Oh, and I am 30 minutes away from Powerchip (20 minutes with a pulley?)

I appreciate feedback on this even if some of my questions are slightly off topic. I figure you guys are likely to check out this thread more so than another stumble or pulley thread.

Thanks,

Ken

 

efcMINI

The Powerchip software categorically does not fix the stumble. That's why Powerchip wants to get their hands on a stumble car and do some online analysis (driving the car with test gear on board).

To do the pulley right you have to have the right equipment. I have one of Randy's custom-made pulley removers. Only 6 in existence apparently. It's a heavy-duty two-piece device that totally encloses the circumference of the stock pulley and takes into account all the grooves and the two rim edges. Once you bolt this up, you can attach a heavy duty puller and exert massive pressure that breaks the pulley loose.

The Alta pulley is a two-piece unit made of billet stainless and has a taper bore fit. As you tighten the four bolts downthe taper clamps itself to the shaft with no need for heating for a shrink fit like the stock pulley and others on the market.

I hope this helps.

Graham

 

Any update on the stumble fix? Just kinda' curious!

 

Wait if u said u have the pulley and u just upgraded to the powerchip software and u got the stumble how come they dont just use your car to test?

I think i have the stumble but mines completly stock...

 

>>Wait if u said u have the pulley and u just upgraded to the powerchip software and u got the stumble how come they dont just use your car to test?
>>
>>I think i have the stumble but mines completly stock...

I'm assuming you are talking about my car. Mine's here in Texas and I ain't driving it all the way to LA. Why don't you give Powerchip a call and see if they'll look at a stock car and see what's up with it stumble-wise. They've got loads of test gear and it would sure beat MINI's response if they can figure this sucker out!

Graham

 

oh hehe... when u said u just loaded the software i thought u ment u went to their shop in LA and loaded it... didnt know u went with the laptop + mail way. :smile: