Brought my MINI to PATRICK MINI of Schaumburg this am. to get the new software (v38) and MAN what a difference!! No more jerking on engine braking or bucking between 2000 and 3000 rpm. It drives like a new car! Anyway, I got to talking to the service mgr about performance upgrades (pulleys, CAI's, etc.) and I mentioned Perfect Power in Libertyville IL. (here's the suprise) This service mgr. says to me, "Why don't you let us do the upgrades?" WOW. I said "What?" He repeated what he said. He said "You just buy the parts from whomever and we'll put 'em on." What a deal, hey. Talk about being mod friendly I had no idea this dealer was like that. I guess they're the same way with BMW's, too.
Just had to share that with you guys....


Bill

 

Back about a year ago and in the fall of 2003 we were promised by MINIUSA, updates to the ECU software that would do what V.38 did for you. Too bad it took until July of 2004 to see that version.

I hope others find it to be equally as good as yours. What version did you have before the update?

Some dealers will allow mods to be installed by the service dept. They don't warranty the part itself but at least they don't get sqeamish about doing mods as long as the products are of high quality. So if you install a pulley (part costs about $130 and belt about $25) don't expect the tech to do the install in 40 to 60 minutes like Randy Webb or Eric Savage can.

You can show them how it is done that fast from our DIY How to threads in Performance Mods forum but they have to know what to do and have the right tools. The older method for a pulley install took about 6 hours.

The other option is if there is some simple mod to install like springs. header, exhaust, etc any good shop can do the work for less than the dealer charges which is about $100/hr in my area.

 

[QUOTE=minihune]Back about a year ago and in the fall of 2003 we were promised by MINIUSA, updates to the ECU software that would do what V.38 did for you. Too bad it took until July of 2004 to see that version.

I hope others find it to be equally as good as yours. What version did you have before the update?


I believe it was v36??

 

huh, I should give v38 a try myself some day. Thanks for the info.
Im on pre-v36 right now cause I was reading reports of v36 not as
good as it sounded and I didn't want to take the chance.

btw, I got my MCS from Patrick. I was over there about amonth ago
to get my first oil change done.

 

I do not expect that is something goes wrong that it will be covered under warantee.

 

My MINI dealer has specific performance packages you can add to your MCS or MC. Not sure if they're covered under warrantee, but that would seem silly if a dealer would offer upgrades and then not cover them if it breaks something on your car. Of course, maybe its just a clever ploy to get more money...

 

The man at Patrick MINI is AL. He knows..... A LOT!!!

 

You're right about Al. He's the one that told me about Sol at PERFECT POWER in Libertyville. Just curious, where do you know him from?

Bill

 

Some dealers also sell their own "performance packages." MINI of Sterling has several including one for the Cooper. All run about $4k and have things like new pulleys, Borla exhausts, and/or ECU upgrades.

With the exception of the JCW, none are covered by the factory warranty, however I've been told by them that if a problem is caused by one of their parts, they will take care of the warranty issues, no matter where in the country your car is...

 

THE man at Patrick MINI is Al....ask for him......he knows....a lot....plus he races their MINI........he's got his own separate shop out back someplace......