intercoolers & pullys?

[c4c23]

i would like some information if any1 can be so kind....

I have a 2003 MCS,
Im thinking of getting a reduced supercharger pully, 15%? will i need to upgrade my intercooler if i do go ahead with the pully? has anyone done this? if i dont upgrade the intercooler will my engine temp rise alot and not be able to cope?

thankyou

[Defcon5]

I beleive you only really need an intercooler above 15%. However it cant do any harm!

[c4c23]

thanks for the info, do you know if the JCW cooper S has a different intercooler with it having a 11% pully? also which intercooler should i go for? preformance and price?

thankyou

[Defcon5]

Im a new MINI owner myself, so not too clued up. I beleive a GRS intercooler is quite a popular upgrade

[Loui]

Over the cold months the stock cooler will cope ok. As we go into summer I would recommend a better intercooler with any sort of pulley change as intake temps can really shoot up! In regard to what to get I'd recommend GRS Motorsport, great product, great service!!

The stock jcw sticks with a stock cooler but they heat up really quick, the GP had a larger intercooler which worked well.

As well as an intercooler I'd recommend a scan gauge so you can keep you eye on inlet temps

[Chr1sch]

Mine had a 15% pulley as well as cooler plugs, and a DaveF airbox but it did get hot in traffic etc, if I had kept it I would Definitley put a GRS on there and be happy :-)

[Defcon5]

When you say it gets hot, do you mean coolant/underbonnet temps, or just inlet air?

[Hyde]

Before starting to increase the power of your MINI it would be worth getting a health check by some of the MINI specialists to make sure everything is ok.

15% pulley will be fine with the stock intercooler, mine runs a stock intercooler with a 15% pulley and has done for 3 years.

17% pulley or smaller then you really need to uprate the intercooler

GRS get a good reputation for after market top mounted intercoolers for the MINI
If you like the stock look then the intercooler from the MINI GP is an improvement but looks standard.


If you are going for a pulley you really should improve the induction.
There are only two proper choices here, either a JCW airbox or the DaveF.
ITG filter in these airboxes is good.

Add a set of colder spark plugs to the above and you are of to a good start.

[c4c23]

Thankyou for all the informaion... i already have a dave-F induction and colder plugs, also have a MSD coil pack.... I have ordered the 15% pully and going to get if fitted asap...i think i will see how it goes for a few months and then probibly get the GRS intercooler...( i cant stop spending on it)

as for the guage? is this just to tell you the temp of the air coming in through the vent at the front and going through the airfilter??

anymore info is welcome

Thankyou again

[Defcon5]

c4c23 said:

as for the guage? is this just to tell you the temp of the air coming in through the vent at the front and going through the airfilter??

Scangauge is a semi permanent mounted OBD reader, you can get it to display all sorts

[Chr1sch]

I didn't have any sort of gauge however the fan would come on a lot in traffic and there was a significant drop in performance when it hit 20 degrees plus in the summer...

Saying that it was totally reliable and took 3 blokes to Le mans last year perfectly well :-)

[MX-5 Lazza]

Changing pulleys will have zero effect on the temperature at idle

[Chr1sch]

i'm well aware of that, but the heat developed whilst giving it beans before hitting traffic is massively increased in my experience.

[hyperblue]

Once the intake temperatures exceed 55C, the ECU reduces power. The supercharger generates a lot of heat, especially with smaller pulleys. An uprated intercooler can help reduce this.

Unfortunately the MINI intercooler is on top of the engine, and when stuck in traffic you're just cooking the intercooler.