Upgrading the TSW R53 MINI Cooper S

Discussion in 'Car Builds, Projects, Idea's Experiments' started by Mike, Dec 21, 2009.

  1. Mike

    Mike New Member

    May 4, 2009
    403
    3
    0
    Ratings:
    +3 / 0 / -0
    me too!! Otherwise WTFudge could it be... seems way too loud and gutteral to be a few HLAs.
     
  2. k-huevo

    k-huevo Club Coordinator

    May 6, 2009
    683
    159
    0
    Pipe Creek, Texas
    Ratings:
    +159 / 0 / -0
    You don’t need to wait for the new one. Remove the current tensioner and look to see if the side holes are showing, if not, it is not fully extending. A wobble extension will be needed to allow the socket to fit on the bolt head, while providing a little clearance for the oil/coolant exchange body. A shallow universal socket is best for this task. I used to remove the wheel well cover to make sure everything fit right, but now I just lean over the valve cover, so yes it can be changed from the top. If the small holes are showing, time to look elsewhere, misfit chain guides, the new supercharger…:eek6:
     
  3. Mike

    Mike New Member

    May 4, 2009
    403
    3
    0
    Ratings:
    +3 / 0 / -0
    Ah good, I'll get on that tomorrow. I do have a shallow wobble socket. Pictures to be posted.

    I don't think it's the supercharger. That makes a noise, but this is very, very different, and it's coming from the engine. I'd be OK with the problem being misfit chain guides, though!
     
  4. Mike

    Mike New Member

    May 4, 2009
    403
    3
    0
    Ratings:
    +3 / 0 / -0
    Update to the update - installed the new chain tensioner according to BMW TIS instructions, and the problem disappeared. Of course, time will tell if the noise stays gone. My hopes are high!

    The old tensioner didn't look bad, but the ratchet mechanism was screwed up. It didn't feel right when I tried to close it to the locked position for installation. It's possible that the tensioner was locking up sometimes and making trouble.
     
  5. Thumper460

    Thumper460 Active Member

    May 26, 2009
    559
    94
    28
    United States Navy ..Retired
    Ratings:
    +99 / 0 / -0
    Great news!! How does it run?? and have a Solid and happy new year!!

    Just me..........................

    Thumper
     
  6. Mike

    Mike New Member

    May 4, 2009
    403
    3
    0
    Ratings:
    +3 / 0 / -0
    Runs great (see the long post above)! Tuning will really wake it up, though.
     
  7. Thumper460

    Thumper460 Active Member

    May 26, 2009
    559
    94
    28
    United States Navy ..Retired
    Ratings:
    +99 / 0 / -0
    Cool.... do you guys make the Dragon?? If you do I will try to look ya'll up!! This year, I will be more in Fontana than on the roads..

    Thumper

    Happy "Fast" new Year!!
     
  8. Mike

    Mike New Member

    May 4, 2009
    403
    3
    0
    Ratings:
    +3 / 0 / -0
    We have in the past, but the last couple of years, we've had to stay home. For me, it's a long haul from California!
     
  9. yellowbritishrocket

    yellowbritishrocket Well-Known Member

    May 16, 2009
    618
    277
    63
    Ratings:
    +277 / 0 / -0
    yea but oh is the dragon so worth the drive....btw thanks drmike for those part numbers....my mini is about to have the clutch/flywheel replaced so while they are rootin around in the engine bay i figure as a matter of caution to just have all the seals replaced too
     
  10. jiminni

    jiminni Well-Known Member

    May 7, 2009
    1,592
    262
    83
    Ca.
    Ratings:
    +262 / 0 / -0
    ? California ? thought you were from Texas?
     
  11. Mike

    Mike New Member

    May 4, 2009
    403
    3
    0
    Ratings:
    +3 / 0 / -0
    I am from Texas. Three years ago, I moved to California (Mojave area) to design, build, and test rocket engines and rocket-powered vehicles, and I'm still here. Here's where I work.

    I miss the heck out of Texas, though.

    At least I can get up Saturday morning and drive down to Mynes to have Mike tune my car! Can't do that in Dallas.
     
  12. danf

    danf New Member

    Aug 30, 2009
    33
    0
    0
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    Do you work for Burt Rutan?
     
  13. jiminni

    jiminni Well-Known Member

    May 7, 2009
    1,592
    262
    83
    Ca.
    Ratings:
    +262 / 0 / -0
    Very cool :cornut:
     
  14. Mike

    Mike New Member

    May 4, 2009
    403
    3
    0
    Ratings:
    +3 / 0 / -0
    NO, thank God, i do not. But I do see his warez around most every day.
     
  15. FUEGO

    FUEGO Club Coordinator

    May 4, 2009
    96
    5
    8
    IT Geek
    DFW Texas
    Ratings:
    +5 / 0 / -0
    Mad Skilz Mike! We miss you back here in Dallas! I'm glad to see your MINI making another "power" revival - especially after knowing the long history of it. I'm tilting a Shiner to you right now.

    Really looking forward to the final "reveal", and the results of the Mynes tune too.

    Cheers! and Gig 'Em!
     
  16. Mike

    Mike New Member

    May 4, 2009
    403
    3
    0
    Ratings:
    +3 / 0 / -0
    Thanks, Kevin!

    The session at Mynes is booked for this Saturday - looking forward to it.

    As of now, the air/fuel gauge shows a ratio of 13.5 from 2000 RPM to 4300 RPM at full throttle, and then the ratio very quickly dips below 10.0 from there, and stays that way up to redline (regardless of ambient temperature, from 32F up to 60F). Now that's a crappy mixture plot.
     
  17. jiminni

    jiminni Well-Known Member

    May 7, 2009
    1,592
    262
    83
    Ca.
    Ratings:
    +262 / 0 / -0
    Say hi to Mike and Jason for me. So are we :cornut:
     
  18. mini_racer

    mini_racer Well-Known Member

    May 4, 2009
    1,046
    57
    48
    Engr Manager
    Austin, TX
    Ratings:
    +57 / 0 / -0
    So Drmike,
    Given all of your recent upgrades, it is a little surprising that you did not opt for any exhaust upgrades (i.e. header or catback). Are you trying to keep the car as quiet as possible?

    Performance gains via exhaust upgrades are not huge, but they certainly can be significant.

    Just wondering............
     
  19. Mike

    Mike New Member

    May 4, 2009
    403
    3
    0
    Ratings:
    +3 / 0 / -0
    Wonder no more! The fact is, I have no more money for hot rod parts. None. Zero. So, the stock header and cats stay for now.

    I do already have a cat-back system (Magnaflow) that has been on the car for several years. I like it a lot, and I really liked the price at the time I got it (straight trade for my brand new stock cat-back).
     
  20. mini_racer

    mini_racer Well-Known Member

    May 4, 2009
    1,046
    57
    48
    Engr Manager
    Austin, TX
    Ratings:
    +57 / 0 / -0
    Well then, that explains that! Now if you could only get the same deal for a header.......

    Good luck with that, and great build. :Thumbsup:
     

Share This Page