R53 new to me, normal traits?

R53 new to me, normal traits?

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fivepointnine

Original Poster:

708 posts

114 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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Background...my last two cars were an EP3 Type R and a highly modded Clio 182. I recently picked up a 04 MCS in absolutely perfect shape, 100k miles exactly. No codes stored on the ECU, no EML/CEL, idles, starts and runs smooth, getting around 30mpg on normal B road driving. Are the following normal? Slow to rev in comparison to the 182 (heavy flywheel?) The supercharger is only slightly audible, starts to come in at 3k RPM and is the loudest right before redline (but still pretty quiet). I thought I might have a boost leak at the BPV, but the actuator arm has a good spring action, sets on the setscrew and when revved moves about an inch or so depending on how much it is revved. I think I might be overthinking it a bit, as the power builds so linearly compared to my past couple cars. Thoughts? (Maybe I just need a 15% pulley kit lol)

Lohen

24 posts

187 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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fivepointnine said:
Background...my last two cars were an EP3 Type R and a highly modded Clio 182. I recently picked up a 04 MCS in absolutely perfect shape, 100k miles exactly. No codes stored on the ECU, no EML/CEL, idles, starts and runs smooth, getting around 30mpg on normal B road driving. Are the following normal? Slow to rev in comparison to the 182 (heavy flywheel?) The supercharger is only slightly audible, starts to come in at 3k RPM and is the loudest right before redline (but still pretty quiet). I thought I might have a boost leak at the BPV, but the actuator arm has a good spring action, sets on the setscrew and when revved moves about an inch or so depending on how much it is revved. I think I might be overthinking it a bit, as the power builds so linearly compared to my past couple cars. Thoughts? (Maybe I just need a 15% pulley kit lol)
Sticky Bypass Valves are pretty common so well worth looking into that. We'd strongly recommend a 15% pulley if you want fit and forget, or 17% pulley with intercooler if you want that little extra!

fivepointnine

Original Poster:

708 posts

114 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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Too bad you guys are so far from me, or I would just drop if off and have you take care of it haha

CarsOrBikes

1,135 posts

184 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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make sure the belt isn't slipping, there should be one of the two holes in the tensioner limit strap showing clearly, if it isn't renew the belt and retry before looking into anything else. Belts don't last long, and are cheap and easy to replace.

Lohen

24 posts

187 months

Thursday 25th August 2016
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fivepointnine said:
Too bad you guys are so far from me, or I would just drop if off and have you take care of it haha
We have people travel from all over but most do tend to make a days worth of work out of their trip, as you can imagine. Keep us in mind if you need any repair, replacement or upgrade parts!

fivepointnine

Original Poster:

708 posts

114 months

Thursday 25th August 2016
quotequote all
CarsOrBikes said:
make sure the belt isn't slipping, there should be one of the two holes in the tensioner limit strap showing clearly, if it isn't renew the belt and retry before looking into anything else. Belts don't last long, and are cheap and easy to replace.
there is one hole clearly showing, and the belt looks pretty new, no cracks and you can still clearly read the part number writing on it. I think it is really boiling down to me not being used to the characteristics of the engine, as it does not "feel" as fast as it is. My Clio was so loud you knew what it was doing lol.

The supercharger whine that starts to build after about 3500rpm is starting to become addicting, now I want to make it louder!

kayzee

2,803 posts

181 months

Thursday 25th August 2016
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fivepointnine said:
The supercharger whine that starts to build after about 3500rpm is starting to become addicting, now I want to make it louder!
https://orranje.co.uk/shop-by-brand/orranje/orranje-stealth-cold-air-intake-kit

wink

fivepointnine

Original Poster:

708 posts

114 months

Thursday 25th August 2016
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kayzee said:
Price is good too! My wife is already mad at me for spending money on it lol...I am fixing all the tiny issues it has. Not many, mainly a blown speaker and a seeping expansion tank.

0llie

3,007 posts

196 months

Friday 26th August 2016
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Yes, they have a very heavy DM flywheel as standard. Supercharger should be audible pretty much everywhere in the rev range when over 50% throttle, even as standard. 15% pulley and colder plugs best thing I've done on mine, plus the Milltek stainless pipe.

If the bypass valve isn't working, you'd likely be going into limp mode on a regular basis. The 1320 bypass valve is probably the best out there if you want to change it anyway.

Is yours a facelift or non-facelift, 2004 was the changeover year.

fivepointnine

Original Poster:

708 posts

114 months

Friday 26th August 2016
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Mine is April 2004,so just before the facelift. No issues at all with limp mode, no stored codes etc, so I think it is just normal. I can hear the supercharger, just not as loud as I was expecting I guess (only other SC'd car I have drove was a 600+ bhp CTS-V)