You've got questions, I've got your fix II

[greatbear]

kneescar writes:

I've been kind of a car guy since before I could drive. I never had any appreciation for classics and muscle cars, though. I've always liked the subtleties and the sophistication of European Cars, and the value and practicality of Japanese cars. (Big Honda fan from way back.) I used to read European Car magazine, and I wanted nothing more than to add "more power" to my 1987 Jetta GLI 16V. Since then I've owned 3 Audis and have gone back to Honda. So, here's my question, In your experience, or in your opinion, what are the most cost effective steps a person could take to add some minor power to: name your car, (Mini Cooper, Civic SI, NSX, Element, BMW 3 series) without messing up reliability and without making the thing obnoxiously loud.

Ah, car questions. I love 'em here in the Garage Of Mayhem.

Your 'classic' power adders still work with varying levels of horsepower increases in most makes. Free-flow intakes and catback exhaust systems usually net an average of 7-15hp or more depending on the enging and stock tuning. Cars with very quiet intakes and exhausts respond well to making them breathe more efficiently, and can be done without sounding like a buzz bomb if you pick the right stuff. Stay away from the APC fart can mufflers from Pep Boys. There is no shortage of every imaginable power adder for Hondas, from the easy stuff previously mentioned to turbo systems, standalone ECUs, cams, etc. You just have to pick your power and start shopping.

If you start off with a 'boosted' car, the easiest way to add power is simply turning up the boost. Supercharged cars just need a simple blower pulley swap to make a big difference. Boost control valves or an ECU reprogram work for turbo engines. The current crop of Big Three diesel engines can be boosted by 50-100hp and nearly 200lb-ft of torque from the driver's seat and without even opening the hood by using so many of the available 'power programmers'. Adding the usual crop of breathing improvers gets you even more. If you are willing to do some wrenching, adding dual turbos, injector upgrades and bigger intercoolers gets you crazy increases.

BMW upgrades are a bit more difficult in the ECU tuning department, since BMW makes life hell for aftermarket tuners. A good shop that has cracked the code and knows their shit can bring up some nice power increases. A local shop here called Lucky Dog Garage has been coming up with some incredible programming and packages for Mini and BMW rides. Anything from sane to sick.

The old adage still applies to performance: Money buys speed. How fast do you want to go?


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Comments

[sfmini.livejournal.com]

With a six speed automatic that you can operate in three modes with two different interfaces you'd think there would be more about it that I don't like, but there is one thing, the length it stays in first when you are getting going. There is no reason to wind it out like that. Fortunately it's become second nature to override with the paddles.

Can it be fixed/changed? Yup, a simple programming change. Will it ever happen, probably not, at least not from MINI.

My only hope is to get a cellular wireless card for the on board computer and download hacks! Then I'd have to deal with MINI if they ever caught on to it.

One thing that took a long time to get used to was the downshifting to provide engine braking whenever the computer decided it needed to. Not exactly a bad thing, just unexpected the first few times.

[furr-a-bruin.livejournal.com]

I think SoCal is one of - if not THE - center of Japanese car tuner culture. It's nearly impossible to spend much time on the road and NOT see a tweaked Civic or the like. Ever seen Honda Tuning magazine? Stuffed with ads for all kinds of stuff - Sturgeon's Law probably applies, but still the variety is amazing. My own Civic is stock - but were I to do anything it wouldn't be flashy... what can I say, I think RicerBoy body kit is tacky, tacky, tacky.

For myself, I'll never forget an article where a guy who got a tour of Honda's Tochigi R&D facility described it as a "cult of unrepentant gearheads."

I like Honda, and I think kneescar has good taste. ;)