GTT 230 MCSa Review

[Wondaboy]

So it’s review time at last. A couple of weeks ago I took delivery of a new MCSa convertible. Last week I took it GTT to have the following work carried out:

GTT230 ecu remap
Optimised bypass valve
High temp iridium sparkplugs
GTT supercharger pulley
JCW drive belt
GTT twin bearing idler pulley
GTT tensioner limit stop
GTT 'cold ram' induction system
GTT large top mount 16-tube intercooler c/w GTT diffuser
GTT 63mm large throttle body
Cooper S tailpipe surround

Basically this is the 230 package, without the exhaust reroute, with a JCW drive belt, an upgrade on the idler pulley, tensioner limit stop, 63mm throttle body and shinny bit on the back.

The story so far:

I’m on my third Mini, a One, a manual Cooper Convertible, and the current MCSa Convertible, as well as having run about in numerous other manual Cooper S’s through work. I used to run an online car sales company called oneswoop.com, which was taken over by Norwich Union last year. As well as our own website, we ran car sales sites for Autoexpress, EVO, Norwich Union and others, and shifted 100’s of Mini’s. As such I’m no Mini virgin, but my previous experience of the wonderful world of Mini tuning could be written on a stamp.

Just for a moment I’ll throw away my Mini owner bias, and make an honest statement. Cars don’t get much more girly than mine. Its a fashionable make, it’s convertible, it’s purple, its automatic and it’s got my wife’s name on the number plate. I acknowledge the yogurt eating image, but feel no desire to justify any of the above on the simple grounds that its exactly what I want. Likewise, I’ve spent far to much on a car of this type, by the time I’ve added sat nav, climate, full leather, heated seats, wife number plate etc, the car has cost far more than a car of this type should. Indeed I recently took in an M3 on a 02 plate with 11000 miles on the clock as a trade in, and gave about the same money for that. Why? As I said, it’s exactly the car that I want. Well almost, it needs to be quicker, and that’s where GTT come in.

Most people in the MCSa forum love their cars, love the sports mode on the auto and love using the paddles for greater driver involvement. Personally I bought an auto precisely so that I didn’t have to mess about with the gears. If I had wanted to be involved in every change, I’d have bought a manual. I use the car 99% of the time in the standard auto mode, mainly using the paddles to up shift earlier not later, for a smooth relaxed in town drive. Am I getting as much driver involvement as the manuals or other auto users? No, am I getting exactly what I want, yes. I’m trying to set a theme for the rest of the review here, I’m not saying what’s right for the greater Mini community, how could I, I don’t know what presses your buttons, but I do know what presses mine. As such please take this review as the perception of a Mini2er with very specific ownership requirements, which may well be quite different to you own.

My first impression on the 05 MCSa was mixed. On the up side, the car felt much more solid than my 04 Cooper. It’s impossible to say why, but I narrowed it down to (a) the sports suspension better suited the convertible body, (b) the cooper chassis had flexed over 9000 miles, (c) the cooper was due a service so was not running at it’s best, (d) the 05 car was better built, (f) I had just spent a lot of money on the car so it was bound to be vastly superior in every way. The truth probably lies in a combination of the above. On the down side, the Cooper S additional power seem evident up front, but did not always seem to find its way to the road. At times, the auto box felt like it was slipping the clutch in anticipation of the gear to come. This was fine when driving hard, or when feeding the power gently, but anything in between felt like all mouth and no trousers. My driving style is smooth and reasonably fast, but I’m no maniac and stopped thrashing a car at every opportunity 15 years ago. As such I soon got used to this perceived flaw, and it became a bit of a game to deliver the power in the perfect fashion. Quite rewarding actually. There are two types of powerful cars, I’ll give you examples of each. In a Seven Series, when you are doing 100mph you feel like you are doing 30mph. In an M3 when you are doing 30mph you feel like you are doing 100mph. In either car, once you get up above 50, you almost certainly going faster than you thing. Basically one is set up for relaxed speed, the other for involved, and as such they both brilliantly meet their design objectives. The MCSa, having a small engine is always going to be the second type, albeit with much less power, but with the auto box it’s trying to add in a taste of the relaxed style, which I think it succeeds at, up to a point. And the point is what is the design objective? I guess it’s to retain the cooper s feel whilst appealing to new markets, but don’t forget that the ‘new markets’ covers a host of personal taste. Is it to my taste? Almost.

I booked the car into GTT some time ago, ignoring sensible advice offered on this forum to wait. After all, why wait for a technology to be proven when you can be the first to kill your car that’s no longer under warranty! This despite the fact that my Mini One had a new gear box fitted under warranty. On hindsight, it was a foolish decision, but not entirely out of character.

I dropped the car off at 9 am. At this point it was booked in for a 220 conversion. I had always planned to talk the conversion through with Roland, aware that I could increase or decrease the selection on the day. Five minutes later I had spent an extra grand. I must point out that in no way did Roland pressure me, I just got carried away and forgot that I'd have to survive by eating twigs and moss for the next few months.

Having declined Roland’s suggestion of a lift into town, to catch a bus into the metropolis that is Poole, I opted instead to walk into Blandford Forum, buy every car magazine that I had not read, and proceed to the library. My plan was thwarted by the long forgotten British custom of closing half the town on the basis that it was a Wednesday. To compound my time killing plan the Blandford museum had not yet opened for the season, (cruelly the season started 3 days later). As to whether the museum offered seven hours of fun, I sadly will now never know. Just as I was beginning to get the feeling that I’d stumbled into Royston Vasey, I chanced upon a fine hotel, where I whiled away the next seven hours drinking excellent coffee in a library room much finer looking than the closed one. One strange thing about Blandford, there seems to be a disproportionately large number of barber’s shops for such a small town.

On returning to GTT, I discovered that Roland and his team had been held up my some challenges that the auto configuration had thrown at them. Basically the whole block was located about 10mm further over towards the off side, meaning that the pulley removal required hoofing the front of the car off. In addition the plastic fitting under the air scoop was changed (even against manual 05 models). I think there were some other challenges, but the long and the short of it was that the car was not ready.

I walked back to town via a different route (blimey, four more barbers shops! honestly!) wandered about for a couple more hours until I got the call the car was ready. Happy days. I paid Roland with next months mortgage and food bill, he showed me the mods and gave me a box of sorry looking parts. I started the engine, and immediately felt and heard the difference. The 'cold ram' induction system being so greedy for air, and the engines willingness to rev the instant I touched the throttle. On the A350 I quickly discovered the power transformation, and had to remind my self that cleanliness truly is next to godliness when it comes to driving licenses. A convoy of military vehicles on the A31 brought back a sense of reality, and then it was on to the Motorways. Whilst the car felt fantastically quick, the power delivery was not as even as I had hoped for, the solidity of the car felt compromised. Over all it did not feel like such a balanced package. I berated myself for not sticking with the 220, and decided to give Roland a call the next day. I talked through my issues, and Roland suggested a few options, a return visit to GTT was scheduled.

On route back to Blandford the car died. I called Roland, who advised me which dealer to take the car to, and talked me through some basic checks. An hour later the rescue van arrived, and much to my delight discovered that I had a faulty petrol gauge. Phew. A gallon of cooking petrol later and I was off again. The moment I drove off I could feel that the car was radically different, even with the low octane petrol it felt like a completely different car, and a brilliant, balanced, smooth, fast one at that. Just before I had dropped the car off at GTT the first time I had filled the tank (with Optimax), there was now no question in my mind, this petrol was definitely contaminated. Roland called to check up on my progress (I had not asked for a call back, that's just the kind of bloke he is), and was delighted to hear the news. I filled the tank with Total 98, a fuel I had not used before, and the car improved even further. Fantastic low down power, beautifully delivered.

I decided to pay Roland a visit anyway as one issue remained, that being that ever since the car was new (so pre tuning), the auto box felt like it had far to much creep. By that I mean that if I engaged drive and took my foot off the brake then the car would move forward at about 5mph. This in its self was fine, but with the brake engaged, the cabin, and particularly the steering wheel shook heavily as the brake and the throttle fought each other. Roland offered to adjust the map, but suggested I try another auto to see if the problem was specific to my car (I'll post a separate thread later about this). He also suggest I balance the wheels, which I have done (they were out).

So all's well that ends well. On hindsight there are a few things that I would do differently, and maybe some of you will find this advice useful. Firstly I would not tune a brand new car without running it for at least a month so as to give myself time to sort out any gremlins lurking due to factory faults. Secondly I don't think it's the brightest thing to be the first to get your car tinkered with who ever the tuner is, (I always wondered how tattoo artist learnt their craft). Thankfully the standard of work at GTT is very high, but even so I should have let someone else confirm that for me. Finally, as a novice to the tuning game, I think I should have tuned the car in incremental steps. I love the way the drives, but who's to say that I would not have loved the 210 or 220 conversion almost as much. The incremental cost for power between 220 and 230 is much greater than that between 170 and 220. Me thinks I've been a bit greedy. Also, rather like wearing a hat in doors, I will never feel the benefit. That said, I’m delighted with the results.

I would like to extend a very genuine thanks to Roland and his team, to Paul, and to all the members of Mini2 who have contributed to the forums. It is only because of the comment and arguments you have had that I have ended up with such a fantastic car and conversion. If anyone is thinking of tuning a MCSa, and you can get yourself to the London area, I would be happy to take you out in the car or chat about my experience.

Time to sign up for a Mini run I think.

Piers

[Rickys'S]

Thanks for the interesting read Piers, i have the exact same conversion as yours, great is'nt it!

I think i saw your car on the ramp (wed after easter me thinks) went down to blandford to talk about a future cam upgrade, car looks very,very nice too mate

I also would like to thank Roland and John at GTT, as i agree with you Piers, a great improvment

[Wondaboy]

Your right, that's the car. It was the day of the England match.

Let us know how you get on with the upgrades


Piers

[beekman]

Wow, great write up and thanks for acting as guinea pig - you're a brave man!

Personally, I'm planning to wait and see how I feel about the stock MSCa before chucking money at it (I'm coming off a manual cooper) - but I already feel the pull try and add some power, and I haven't even recieved the car yet. Sounds like they treated you well at GTT.

As for the girly car image, all the better to take the big boys by surprise . . .




.

[john_o]

Thats a great write up Piers , thankyou.

And yes the cost difference to go up in 10bhp increments from 230bhp upwards is steep.
I would only really consider an intercooler change now , if I wanted more, then a turbo twincharge conversion seems a more cost effective route
Especially as for normal driving the low and mid range gains might not be so noticeable.

Hows the fuel economy? Any additional ECU mapping changes you get for a MCSa upgrade ???
In the real world on a scale of 1-10 how much quicker is it?

JohnO

[uae mini]

i'm happy things worked out for you
About the first time bit... well over here its nearly impossible to find a garage that has worked with Mini's. So you have to find a garage with alot of experience (the technicians repair rally cars, and the place has the only person in this part of the world that maps Motec ecu's), which I found out after a first encounter

Modding all at once is not an option for me.. First I got to pay for the parts then the freight and lastly the labour
It aint cheap but I can't help myself, I got to have something different and better, well to me atleast.

Hope to read more from you..... could you make a video of you in action or pics?

[minibee]

super write up

Neil....not long to go......

[shazam]

Brave guy- good on yer.

Have you considered a strut brace to keep all those horses under control?

S

[minibee]

Quote: Originally Posted by shazam

Brave guy- good on yer.

Have you considered a strut brace to keep all those horses under control?

S

spoken to Roland about a strut brace he is looking into doing a GTT strut brace for the mini the Audi one on his web site is a very sexy looking thing

Neil.

[HObzy]

An honest and informative write up - you should go for a job on top gear!

[Wondaboy]

Thanks all

JohnO.. Fuel Economy has remained largely unchanged at just under 25mpg. It's impossible to do a true comparison as I'm driving much harder than I was prior to the conversion, plus as the miles rack up, the engine will be loosening. As to the mappings, I understand that there are some changes, but frankly I have no idea what they are, all I know is that it's quick.

I don't think I'll go for more power, 230 is plenty for a trainee like myself. However now that the car is quicker, I could definitely do with more stopping power. Those Porsche units Roland's got on his development car look interesting. The other thing I want to change are the tyres. On the new bits of road around the M25 where the surface is perfect, the ride is a smooth as can be. But on anything else I'm getting to much of a choppy feel.

Shazam, Neil (or any one else).. Sorry to be the new boy in town but what's a strut brace, and how does it work?

uae.. Fair point well made, we are very spoilt for service. The wife's over sea's with the camera, but on her return I'll post the pictures up

Others.. You are to kind


Piers

[beekman]

A strut brace is a metal rod that goes over the engine to add structural rigidity.

here's a link to a picture:

http://www.mini2.com/forum/attachmen...chmentid=62077

Might be helpful as you have a convertable . . .

[shazam]

Wondaboy

I'm getting mintex brake pads fitted on monday- about £100 for the full set- these are the ones used in the jcw brakes upgrade, so hopefully it will give me a bit more braking power without the cost of the big brake conversion. I'll let you know if they are any good.

The strut brace may improve the 'choppy' feel, and tyres are definately worth changing to improve the ride.

S

[Wondaboy]

The brace looks like a good idea, what do the cost? Let me know how you get on with the brakes.

Piers

[s_and_m]

Its a small old world ain't it?

One of my old colleagues (Fyl) went to work for oneswoop before leaving to set up a curry house in Cornwall (mind you he did drive a MX5!)

Back on topic, glad to hear of another write up rating GTT. Am seriously thinking of getting my 05 MCS warmed over to 220 (I can always add a manifold and exhaust later).

On the subject of brakes and tyres, I did these first, light wheels and good quality sticky rubber transform the way the car handles - well worth the cash.

As for brakes, I went for an AP Big Brake conversion,Roland hates 'em but I love 'em, Does what it says on the tin. Ugrading the front stoppers is a must as the stck units struggle to loose heat and go "spongy" far to quickly. Also the pads have a tendancy to bind to the disc once they go over temperature.

Any way thanks for the write up.

Cheers

s