Which intercooler?

[lucachiarelli]

I have a 2006 mcs with a 15% reduced pulley, milltek exhaust, bluefin custom remap, k&n typhoon induction kit. I think th next logical step is a larger intercooler. Just wondering which is best?

[s33gav]

id recommend the first step as using the search and reading up on the 000's of posts about this

[obehave]

You'd be better off with :
lighter wheels/tires
proper injectors with a real dyno tuned ECU map
track lessons
OMP lower frame brace
better rear sway bar
etc

If you feel you must then get the GRS IC.

BTW, I have all the above and the least impact on performance was from the IC. The stock unit does a very good job.

[lucachiarelli]

how much would it cost for a dyno tuned ecu map?

[Paul@1320]

We have seen very good results on the dyno with the GRS on and also on the dragstrip which is a real world dyno on our car and even a customers car.

We have a stock map in our car and have see 250bhp and 219.9whp

[Ant FR]

did'nt think the I/c was there purely for performance. The big thing is trying to lower those bloody intake temps to try to lower the temp the car runs at. Performance is always a buy prouduct along with the better and more sustained performance levels in hot conditions.

[Fisher]

I prefer an water to air design!

[lucachiarelli]

I only wanted the intercooler to keep the temps down. any added power is a bonus. thanks.

if I added a manifold to all my other mods would i still be ok with the bluefin?

[Paul@1320]

The Janspeed manifold and GRS IC would be a nice combo of parts added to your present combination.

[DaFlake]

Quote: Originally Posted by 1320autos (original)

We have seen very good results on the dyno with the GRS on and also on the dragstrip which is a real world dyno on our car and even a customers car.

We have a stock map in our car and have see 250bhp and 219.9whp

I know that you guys mean well, but it would be best to find out what this guy wants to do first. I mean, when you tell folks that you don't change the ECU and run this stuff on the drag strip and track most people will never do this and following that advice could quickly shorten the life of their engine. I would say that 95% of the people on the forums just want to increase HP and driveability not prep for the Indy 500. So advice should be given around that level. The Fireball Tim's or the group are the extreme and hopefully have the funds to replace what they destroy.

Most of the MINI's that I have seen are running rich when the stock map is used over a proper tuning with just a 15% pulley. That being said, there are one or two that I know that don't have this problem which shows that every engine is different and needs to be handled differently.

So my question to the original poster is...

What are you trying to achieve? Don't just strap on parts for the sake of strapping on parts.

[Paul@1320]

I believe Longboard on NAM was running a stock map with the famed Jesus head making 231.9whp.

I believe the stock ecu is very clever and its really hard to find extra hp/trq unless your name begins with J

I know where you're coming from Da Flake and we should also advise people to do a health check (compression and leakdown) first before any mods are made.

[lucachiarelli]

The car will never go on a drag strip or a track day. My car is for fast road use only.
I just want a faster cooper s, i have some money to spend on the car. Just wanted some advie on what the next stages in performance are and if they will be reliable.

[DaFlake]

Quote: Originally Posted by 1320autos (original)

I believe the stock ecu is very clever and its really hard to find extra hp/trq unless your name begins with J

It is very clever to be sure. One of the things that I tell people about a remap is that is NOT for HP but rather to simply let the car know what you have done to it. Nothing more. If a side affect of tuning is that you get a few more ponies, then so be it but that should not be the end state. What the end state should be is a car that runs smooth with good response when the driver needs it.

I have seen and read the mixed reviews with tunings and all I can say is that most of the bad stuff comes from the fact that they don't get what they expect because they don't understand it or buy the HP hype.

IMHO, you should be doing both evenly to get the best "street" performance which will provide good power without sacrificing engine life.

What I don't want to see are people that are strapping on parts just to get the immediate boost in power only to find that 500 miles later they need a new head because they cracked it or warped it. You suggestion of a health check is dead on.... NAM is solid proof of the utter confusion that is going on and also proof that more is not always better.

[obehave]

Quote: Originally Posted by 1320autos (original)

We have seen very good results on the dyno with the GRS on and also on the dragstrip which is a real world dyno on our car and even a customers car.

We have a stock map in our car and have see 250bhp and 219.9whp

Regardless, what I said is still valid. I have one of the first GRS units built. Graham is a great guy. IF you feel you have to get an IC his is my pick of the litter.

It is also true that everything I noted will make a greater performance impact than the IC especially on a mildly modded car like the original posters.

So bragging about your fast car doesn't really help the poster at all.
And lose the stock map and get a good tune and I'm quite sure that 250HP will look a bit weak.

[DaFlake]

Quote: Originally Posted by lucachiarelli (original)

The car will never go on a drag strip or a track day. My car is for fast road use only.
I just want a faster cooper s, i have some money to spend on the car. Just wanted some advie on what the next stages in performance are and if they will be reliable.

IMHO, the next step that I would look at is working the suspension. This is another fairly weak area for the MINI and proper tuning of the suspension may not make you faster via HP but it will in many other ways.