1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: 2003 MCS P1688 - Please Assist

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  1. minimark

    minimark Well-Known Member

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    #18 minimark, Dec 9, 2011
    Went from the Densos to the NGK Iridium plugs, they work great, can be found at your local Advance Auto and are a bit cheaper. :thumbup:
     
  2. robncar

    robncar New Member

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    #19 robncar, Dec 9, 2011
    Other than price, any experienced difference in performance?

    The Denso's I bought (IK22/5310) were $9.74 each (incl. ship and tax)

    I can get NGK's (BKR7EIX/2667) for $7.85 each (incl. ship and tax)

    The Denso is a 0.4mm fine wire with u-groove and the NGK is 0.6mm.

    I plan to monitor the Denso wear every 5K miles or so and replace them at 30K as recommended.
     
  3. mini_racer

    mini_racer Well-Known Member

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    #20 mini_racer, Dec 9, 2011
    I had that code twice while on the hwy for a few hours on-cruise. It went limp, and cleared after a key cycle and never came back.

    Even if your OEM crank pulley/damper is 'good' it likely on it's way out anyway given the vintage. You may consider replacing it anyway as insurance, I recommend as Nathan suggested OEM or aftermarket with a damper. I have the ATI.

    Many cars make big HP on stock plug wires and coil, if you like the looks of the aftermarket great, but it will not make or free any hp/tq unless what you have is in poor condition.

    And Welcome to MA.
     
  4. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    #21 ScottinBend, Dec 9, 2011
    The NGK OEM JCW plug has been the most popular. 4 prong, no gapping or indexing needed. And it performs great.

    I also went with the MSD coil after seing the corrosion problems I and many of my club-mates had. I just drilled out the metal sleeve and used the OEM bolts, worked fine.
     
  5. k-huevo

    k-huevo Club Coordinator

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    #22 k-huevo, Dec 9, 2011
    The center electrode on the Denso sparkplug often deteriorates in less time than a thicker wire plug when used in the MCS. I've seen a Denso electrode disintegrate in nine thousand miles. Denso plugs also have a history of ejecting along with head threads. This can happen with any sparkplug not torqued properly or allowed to loosen over time; the Denso plug just has a stronger correlation with this failure.

    Power performance wise there's not a difference, and really no advantage with special metals plugs in most cases. Thirty thousand miles is pushing the service interval for a single ground plug in a high performance application. Denso life is around fifteen thousand miles.
     
  6. robncar

    robncar New Member

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    #24 robncar, Dec 9, 2011
    Okay, here's one I haven't bought as of yet. Opinions, please...

    Cold Air Intake

    Mini Madness, Craven Speed, Alta, etc. ???
     
  7. robncar

    robncar New Member

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    #26 robncar, Dec 9, 2011
    Thanks, Nathan. Yeah, I was wondering about Betty and Reefer Madness too...

    I'm leaning toward the Craven 2nd gen, thanks for the vote of confidence!
     
  8. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    #27 ScottinBend, Dec 9, 2011
    I have the Alta and am very happy with it. Foam is the way to go for sure.
     
  9. Nitrominis

    Nitrominis Banned

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    #29 Nitrominis, Dec 9, 2011
    Welcome to MA.
     
  10. mini_racer

    mini_racer Well-Known Member

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    #30 mini_racer, Dec 9, 2011
    Agreed, good ole OEM works great.
     
  11. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    #31 Metalman, Dec 9, 2011
    Aw man.... Sorry, I thought I was in "Older Than Dirt".... Can they be moved? I must be dyslexic.... Where's my meds?
     
  12. k-huevo

    k-huevo Club Coordinator

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    #32 k-huevo, Dec 9, 2011
    First off I don't think there is much advantage to an aftermarket intake for a street car with conventional bolt-ons. It is much easier to discard the stock cellulose filter and replace with a clean new one. Nanofiber is fairly easy to clean, but vacuuming the filter became a chore for me after a while. Cellulose does a great job of filtering, much better than foam, and filtering airborne particulate is what an air filter is supposed to do. Now if you dig the additional noises aftermarket intakes make, that's as good as reason as any to own one.

    The real reason I posted is to plug my most noisy intake of them all offering. http://www.motoringalliance.com/forums/1st-generation-parts-sale/10698-alta-air-intake-w-hose.html
     
  13. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #33 Nathan, Dec 9, 2011
    Moved
     
  14. robncar

    robncar New Member

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    #34 robncar, Dec 11, 2011
    MSD Coil Differences

    In the light that this may help someone...

    MSD offers two coil packs for the Mini, one with ROUND (#8229) terminal pins and one with FLAT (#8239). Our car had the flat, thus we installed the #8239 coil.
     

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  15. robncar

    robncar New Member

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    #35 robncar, Dec 17, 2011
    UPDATE:

    Last weekend, we replaced the ignition with the following:

    - MSD 8239 Coil
    - MSD 32879 8.5mm Wires
    - Denso IK22 #5310 Iridium Plugs (in prep for 15% pulley)

    The idle is smoother, no MPG data yet.

    This weekend, the plan is to first install the new ATI 917992 damper ($339 @ Summit!) with a new belt (Gates K060539) and attempt to duplicate the P1688 scenario.

    If successful, the Alta 15% pulley will be added along with a tensioner stop.

    We'll see...
     
  16. robncar

    robncar New Member

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    #36 robncar, Dec 30, 2011
    UPDATE - SUCCESS!!!

    I just completed (finally) the install of the ATI damper, "39" belt, and 15% SC pulley. Major difference!!! No more limp mode, pulls very strong to redline. No codes!!! Bye, bye, P1688!!!

    So I treated her to an oil change and new air filter.

    Who's a happy car... :D
     
  17. Onramp

    Onramp Enjoy the Hiways of Life!
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    #37 Onramp, Dec 30, 2013
    Another cause of the P1688 is a loose oil filler cap. Don't ask.
     
  18. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    #39 Dave.0, Dec 30, 2013
    ^^^^ yup I have seen pictures of them splitting in half and cooking and ECU and the MSD coil is not worth the risk.

    OEM coil and wires are are best.
     
  19. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    #40 ScottinBend, Dec 31, 2013
    Changed mine out and went back to OEM.
     
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