[hedgetrimmer]

Just bought an MCS and I am looking to start with 15% pulley upgrade. A local garage preps cars for the Cooper race series and will do the work. I have read through lots of threads and there does not appear to be a consistent answer on whether a remap is required or whether plugs are a must. I have heard stories of bluefin engine problems and I wonder whether the original map is sufficient to ensure that the engine does not run too lean with the extra air supplied by the supercharger.

The local garage suggested that they could supply a JCW 200bhp map to complement the upgrades which seemed sensible and probably includes a fair degree of mechanical sympathy ie not very lean. They were not too bothered by Bluefin as they said most maps are purchased from the same outfit in Germany.

I don't want to go down the route of intercooler and induction as I would like the car to remain pretty standard.

I would be grateful of your wise thoughts.

Carl

[Cooooooperslad]

Should be fine without a remap, even Rolands GTT300Turbo car runs on a standard map!

[DaFlake]

Carl, the reason that you are seeing inconsistant answers to your question is that everyone has their own opinion on it.

No remap is required to get it working, this is true.

However, it is my opinion and many others that you will not reap the full benefit of the pulley until you do a remap. As for Roland, he maps the car when the car needs to be mapped and it will very from engine to engine.

As for the JCW map, that is not the way to go unless you have all the upgrades that the JCW comes with. Adding a map that is not set for your car can hinder performance.

[Revolution Mini Works]

even the JCW tune is lacking... if you have seen the timing maps on them you might agree

[MiniDD]

I am looking to do the same 15% pulley upgrade but leave the rest of the car stock. I would like a little more performance but day to day driveable.

[DaFlake]

Quote: Originally Posted by Kumho Kid (original)

even the JCW tune is lacking... if you have seen the timing maps on them you might agree

You will get no arguments from me on that one...

[DaFlake]

Quote: Originally Posted by miniDD (original)

I am looking to do the same 15% pulley upgrade but leave the rest of the car stock. I would like a little more performance but day to day driveable.

My mods are...

CAI
MTH
15% pulley

and I am totally happy with the extra power that it provides. I did notice that without the MTH map, the car had more of a yo-yo. MTH helped to really even out the car making it more drivable.

[Revolution Mini Works]

Quote: Originally Posted by miniDD (original)

I am looking to do the same 15% pulley upgrade but leave the rest of the car stock. I would like a little more performance but day to day driveable.

depending upon which map was loaded from the factory we have seen 12whp+ in tuning and much better driveability

[hedgetrimmer]

Thanks for the responses guys. It sounds like a lot rests on the remap although I am not sure how you get from 163bhp to 210 when the pulley on its own represents only 15-20bhp. This suggests that the remap makes about 25bhp difference, or the quoted BHP that are on offer with the packs are based on the very best initial engines in the first place.

For reference, the JCW map that the garage wastalking about was the original 200bhp version, ie before the injector and induction changes. I still like the idea of this as it is based pretty close to the spec of the engine that I will be left with post changes. Does anyone know the size of the first JCW pulley with the 200bhp pack ie was it 14.5% as well?

I am also interested in the MTH map but cannot seem to find anywhere selling. Please could someone send me in the right direction.

Carl

[alski]

[quote=hedgetrimmer;3204592]Thanks for the responses guys. It sounds like a lot rests on the remap although I am not sure how you get from 163bhp to 210 when the pulley on its own represents only 15-20bhp. This suggests that the remap makes about 25bhp difference, or the quoted BHP that are on offer with the packs are based on the very best initial engines in the first place.

reality check req

if you look at a jcw spec there is a lot more than pulley and software, so you wont get the "210" without the upgraded supercharger, air box etc... IE thats all based on a 2005 170hp starting point... so your aim should be a good " 195" from a "163" base line

i think the whole point of any map is you should have a start and an end point and the best time to get a map is when your at the end of your journey [not good advice whilst driving folks]

so if you have a budget and no desire to go beyond 210 ...then map away? [but + more mods?]
but the cost of a map @ 300-400 will buy you the hardware to achieve much the same, at which point in theory you might then gain from another map

i call this the tuning cycle welcome aboard

[MINI-Morgan]

Has a JCW ever reached 200HP or above? Not joking, its a serious question! I've never been at a rolling road where one has that I can remember.

[DaFlake]

Quote: Originally Posted by MINI-Morgan (original)

Has a JCW ever reached 200HP or above? Not joking, its a serious question! I've never been at a rolling road where one has that I can remember.

Crank, I believe...

Wheel not...

You guys need to be careful when you are talking HP and make sure that it is clear where the numbers are coming from.

[hedgetrimmer]

Reality check revisited. I have now received advice from 2 very well known supplier who both confirm that a remap is not necessary. One quoted that the standard map is quite often better than the bluefin map by adjusting and supplying more fuel with the increased airflow even though throttle and revs dont differ. They also quoted just shy of 200 bhp on a standard map. Both suppliers can remap so they are not simply shirking their duties.

[DaFlake]

Quote: Originally Posted by hedgetrimmer (original)

Reality check revisited. I have now received advice from 2 very well known supplier who both confirm that a remap is not necessary. One quoted that the standard map is quite often better than the bluefin map by adjusting and supplying more fuel with the increased airflow even though throttle and revs dont differ. They also quoted just shy of 200 bhp on a standard map. Both suppliers can remap so they are not simply shirking their duties.

FYI the "reality check " comment was uncalled for and very rude.

Like I said before, it has nothing to do with if it should be done or not but rather if you want to do it. There is no doubt that the MINI ECU can handle the upgrades and that the adjusted values will be in the "window" so to speak albeit the far end of the window. Tuning is an art form and some will and some won't agree with a remap but I do know from my experience that the car runs MUCH better with a tune as it will help to re-center the car in that "window". I can easily point you to other tuners that are also well known who would disagree with the others but that is what makes it controversial now doesn't it.

Here is what I noticed with MTH.

1. More aggressive response in all gears.
2. Less yo-yo affect.
3. More lower end power.
4. Adjusted DSC to keep power loss at a minimum.

I ran my MINI with a stock ECU (15% pulley) for well over 6 months and there was a huge difference in driveability and I also noticed that my MINI was running rich with a gas smell . After the upgrade, the exhaust smell went away and the MINI just performed better.

So, the choice is yours but I think you would find more ponies with a remap. It is not required and for what it is worth, I wouldn't touch Bluefin with a 10 foot poll. There were reports of a few blown engines with them and I wouldn't risk it thus I don't ever recommend them. A lot of people are running Unichip or GIAC now as well as some of us still on MTH.

BTW, I think I mentioned early on that it wasn't required....

[lucachiarelli]

Ive had my bluefin along with pulley 15%, jcw plugs, maniflold, cat back, lighwieght crank pulley, intercooler and alta induction kit and have had no problems with my car whatsoever. Pulley and plugs have been on the car for 10,000 trouble free miles. Other parts have been added over the past few months.

[DaFlake]

Quote: Originally Posted by lucachiarelli (original)

Ive had my bluefin along with pulley 15%, jcw plugs, maniflold, cat back, lighwieght crank pulley, intercooler and alta induction kit and have had no problems with my car whatsoever. Pulley and plugs have been on the car for 10,000 trouble free miles. Other parts have been added over the past few months.

Many are trouble free but there are a select few. I even know a German here that had his engine trashed by it which is why I am gun shy on it.

[hedgetrimmer]

[quote=DaFlake;3205704]FYI the "reality check " comment was uncalled for and very rude.

Sorry Daflake this was not aimed at you. It was in fact in response to an ealier reply: "Reality check req".

It seems that certain bluefin maps have been run a little lean.

[DaFlake]

[quote=hedgetrimmer;3205743]

Quote: Originally Posted by DaFlake (original)

FYI the "reality check " comment was uncalled for and very rude.

Sorry Daflake this was not aimed at you. It was in fact in response to an ealier reply: "Reality check req".

It seems that certain bluefin maps have been run a little lean.

Thought about that after I re-read the thread, sorry that I took that the wrong way. No worries....

You will be happy with a 15% pulley though.

[hedgetrimmer]

[quote=DaFlake;3205704]FYI the "reality check " comment was uncalled for and very rude.

Sorry Daflake this was not aimed at you. It was in fact in response to an ealier reply: from alski of Reality check req.

It seems that certain bluefin maps have been run a little lean, although the Lohen one comes recommended.

No one has yet confirmed a UK supplier of the MTH map. I woudl be interested in where the other remap are available.

[futureal33]

I know www.essentialmini.co.uk did the MTH, hope this helps