Comments on: MF Review: MCSa w/15% Pulley

By: MIniMM

MIniMM — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:20:17 +0000

I have the MTH on my 06 MCSA with a 15% pulley and love it. It helps with low end power and generally helps out a little all the way to redline. It lessens the intervention of the DSC if you have it turned on.

As far as the engine my next mod is 380 injectors.

By: Jae

Jae — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 07:10:29 +0000

anyone know a good place to get the 15% pulley installed in the Los Angeles area? I do planning on asking Assael Mini to try in install it but knowing them I know they won't.

Also, if the dealer says my warranty is void because of the upgrade... what exactly would they deny as far as warranty goes? Powertrain?

By: MotoringFile » Archive » H-Sport 19mm Rear Sway Bar Reviewed

MotoringFile » Archive » H-Sport 19mm Rear Sway Bar Reviewed — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 12:36:17 +0000

[...] Truth be told, I never had a problem with the handling on my Cooper S. The car felt great at delivery, and it felt REALLY great after installing the JCW Suspension kit. For the life of me I never expected to tinker with the suspension again. But of course what sounds logical never really makes sense to a MODaholic like myself, so after finishing every possible mod I had originally set out to do on my car (see my previous motoringfile article for all of those juicy details) I was just looking for something to play with. Enter: The Rear Sway Bar. So much has already been written about this extremely effective (and inexpensive) mod that I won’t bore you with reiterating it all. But for the uninitiated I will sum it up as probably the single best suspension mod you can perform. Dare I say, even more exhilarating than my coveted JCW Suspension kit. But first a little bit on the install… [...]

By: drew

drew — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 14:30:22 +0000

Way to go barry – sounds like a monster!

By: Barry

Barry — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 11:32:53 +0000

I had Eric install a 17% on my MCSa he did the CAI and I went back in 2 weeks for a Miltek exhaust. Need less to say its a different car I have put on 4000 trouble free miles and raced my sons RX8 Manual at Raceway Park and guess who won? MEEEE

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 12:09:36 +0000

Opps, your right - totally forgot the drop toppers :-)

And in true Brit school tradition, instead of 1st Gen, 2nd Gen, it will have to be First Form, Second Form... lol

By: Edge

Edge — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 03:11:27 +0000

Mark, if you're going to get that specific, aren't you forgetting the "open" Motorers, not to mention the wrong generation? :-P (i.e. MINI, not Mini)

MINI Cooper S JCW House MINI Cooper S Convertible JCW House MINI Cooper Sa JCW House MINI Cooper Sa Convertible JCW House MINI Cooper S House MINI Cooper S Convertible House MINI Cooper Sa House MINI Cooper Sa Convertible House MINI Cooper JCW House MINI Cooper JCW Convertible House MINI Cooper House MINI Cooper Convertible House MINI Cooper CVT House MINI Cooper CVT Convertible House

Heh. It does start to seem ridiculous, doesn't it? Soon it will likely turn into "1st Gen" vs. "2nd Gen".

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 20:02:31 +0000

Now, now, fishbulb ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬" letÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s not rate non S Mini owners as 2nd class. I prefer to think of us as all grouped in ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œHousesÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â like in Brit schools. Each house member is just as proud of itsÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢ own type of Mini as the other house memebers are:

Mini Cooper S JCW House Mini Cooper S House Mini Cooper Sa House Mini Cooper House, Mini Cooper CVT House

And now adding the new Mini Cooper Sa JCW House

By: drew

drew — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 15:22:22 +0000

civil indeed fishbulb!

still somewhat stunned ; ) - drew

By: Fishbulb

Fishbulb — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 15:12:41 +0000

thank you for the great write up on the 15% on the MCSa.

After I pulley my 06 MCS, I am sure that my wife will want one on here 05MCSa. I just need to figure out which one i am going with on my 06 first and get that job done!

also, thanks so much to everyone for keeping this civil. Much love to all the supercharged MINIs!

...It's those cooper guys we have to watch out for!!! :) :) :)

By: Gabe

Gabe — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 13:57:15 +0000

Hey Gabe, is there anything on the horizon indicating that JCW will ever do chip upgrades (U.S) for MiniÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s with the auto trans, like they do for the sticks?

There is no a la carte JCW software available for the MINI. There is the JCW upgrade kit meant for 02-04 JCW owners who want the 210hp of the 05-06 kits. This kit includes an intake, injectors, and a ECU flash.

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 17:04:32 +0000

Yup, at least we have the choice to walk away from low-ball trade in offers. Just that many dealers actually follow the trade-in values posted in books like the Kelly Blue Book, the Black Book, the Yellow Book, and Manheims Auto Auction guide – makes for better customer relations and repeat business. Hey Gabe, is there anything on the horizon indicating that JCW will ever do chip upgrades (U.S) for Mini’s with the auto trans, like they do for the sticks?

By: O(=^=)O Capn

O(=^=)O Capn — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 05:58:53 +0000

Yeah, it’s called wholesaling. Buy it for a nickel, sell it for a dime. Just don’t sell it for wholesale and sell it yourself. If it is worth it to lose a few thou so you don’t have to market it yourself then there you go.

By: Timmee

Timmee — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 05:25:23 +0000

When my 2005 MCS was in the shop for repairs I got a 2005 MCSa loaner from my dealer.

The difference between the two cars was mainly the amount of control the driver has over the transmission. Your approach has to be very differnet when "taking a gap" in overtaking another vehicle, or more acutely when turning across lanes with oncoming traffic with the auto transmission, as the car reacts slower/differently in terms of speed. In these situations the power seems to come through too little too late. I guess that could be said of most auto transmissions.

This is purely the viewpoint of someone used to driving a manual. There is no doubt that you driving style and time will need some adjustment when driving an auto.

That said, that same MINI feeling is still there with the MCSa. It certainly is the most fun I've ever had in an automatic car.

By: Gabe

Gabe — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 20:26:45 +0000

Actually I don’t consider this practice sleezy or a rip off. Dealerships need to make money and sales persons need to feed their families and send their kids to college. I don’t fault them at all for doing any of it actually. As long as I have the freedom to sell my car myself, more power to them :)

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 19:48:41 +0000

"The dealerÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s trade in offer was 25% below the blue books.

Unfortunately that seems par for the course."

Guess your right, Gabe. But Mini owners like to think that their Mini dealers hold true to the Mini spirit, and aren't just another sleazy car dealership bent on ripping off the customer.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 17:13:05 +0000

I need to clean out my MINI. Too much junk in the boot and rear seats right now that are making noise. All of the noise is making me think that the car has problems (Things rattling and clunking around).

Once thats done, it might be time to visit Eric at Helix. I have been on the fence with the pulley since... forever. I just cant get over the worry about it, but now the modding has been going on for a good long while, and the miles have stacked up with almost no trouble for others. I just hit 20,000 miles and this, and the sway bar, might be just the ticket!

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 16:30:00 +0000

Gabe – Any idea where in Miami I can have a pully installed by someone that knows about Minis? Thanks.

By: Seth L

Seth L — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 16:17:58 +0000

Great writup, thanks!

Only two months in and I'm itching to start modding my MCSa!

By: Gabe

Gabe — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 15:38:15 +0000

The dealerÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s trade in offer was 25% below the blue books.

Unfortunately that seems par for the course.