Manifold or Intercooler or both!

[hedgetrimmer]

Considering my next upgrades including manifold and sport cat and/or intercooler. I am currently running and really like the free revving nature of the engine:

15% pulley
K&N panel filter
JCW v40 200bhp map
Running standard exhaust but would probably put elbow in.

I am after more power and torque but I am concerned that the manifold will make little difference. I also wondered whether there was any really benefit of an intercooler with a 15% pulley as well.

Some of the websites quote big increases for each upgrade yet I have seen as little as 3 bhp impact of manifolds on here.

I would be grateful of your wise thoughts.

[Ant FR]

the manifold ( assuming a good one) will make more noticable difference this time of year than the intercooler. I personally would get the manifold then save up to get intercooler before summer get here

Remember BHP is a load of tosh, yes you may only get 3bhp from a manifold, but you may complelty change the way the engine performs and feels, along with how it performs in midrange, never forget about torque

[hedgetrimmer]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ant FR (original)

the manifold ( assuming a good one) will make more noticable difference this time of year than the intercooler. I personally would get the manifold then save up to get intercooler before summer get here

Remember BHP is a load of tosh, yes you may only get 3bhp from a manifold, but you may complelty change the way the engine performs and feels, along with how it performs in midrange, never forget about torque

Good point about torque. I guess the change in primary length sorts out the torque lower down and from what I have heard a good 4:1 is the best set up even through 4:2:1 is normally the way.

I am still a little unsure whether the intercooler is really needed on a 15% pulley though even in the summer. However, I am not averse to moving to 17% and changing the plugs as it is an easier job than having to pull the original pulley off so less expensive to do. The i/c would then be a must in the summer. 17% and manifold would be torque fest!

[neilobe]

I would opt for the manifold first, and whole system if you afford it, As said, the car will feel better in terms of pull in lower gears with a new exhaust system on,. I ran the milteck manifold and cat back on mine, and did notice a diffrence, as well as the nice sound

I had fitted the GTT large intercooler at the same time as the exhaust system , in the warmer weather here, ( although not that often ) it was practically cool to the touch after a good thrashing about....

[Ant FR]

a good intercooler is needed even on a standard car, as the one BMw fit standard is woefully unfit for even 163bhp, its a real bad design. You can get away with crap intercoolers if they have good air flow ( ie on Mk4 golf 1.8T's however the BMW one is placed in a bad place first off, so with crap design it just gets worse.

[hedgetrimmer]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ant FR (original)

a good intercooler is needed even on a standard car, as the one BMw fit standard is woefully unfit for even 163bhp, its a real bad design. You can get away with crap intercoolers if they have good air flow ( ie on Mk4 golf 1.8T's however the BMW one is placed in a bad place first off, so with crap design it just gets worse.

Looks like I need both then. I need to sell my spare S spokes at the same time so that the wife doesn't notice the movements in our bank account!

[3rdpillar]

Quote: Originally Posted by hedgetrimmer (original)

Looks like I need both then. I need to sell my spare S spokes at the same time so that the wife doesn't notice the movements in our bank account!

You need a seperate bank account for your MINI

[hedgetrimmer]

Quote: Originally Posted by 3rdpillar (original)

You need a seperate bank account for your MINI

I did have a seperate account but she found it after I had spent some money on my Caterham!!