Skip to main content

MadaboutKitcars

This is a read-only archive of the old Madabout Kitcars forum. New posts and replies are no longer possible, but every thread is still here to browse and read.

WCA on the Road - Video blog

19 Aug 2015, 9:07am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlrITmeJGFU

Well that is it fitted. The bracket they supplied didn't fit because my power steering reservoir was in a different place so I couldn't bolt onto it. A bit of bodgery and I got it fitted though.

A quick blast last night showed that it sounded okay. I didn't do the formal acceleration test as I had someone else in the car, the fuel was low and it was a cool evening which would give unrepresentative results. Having said that, a quick informal test showed near identical acceleration (within 0.1 for most intervals) so it will be interesting to see when the weight and temperature are standardised,
19 Aug 2015, 9:28am
Good luck with the performance testing on your private road. I suspect the device will be worth it for the noise alone.
Just noticed in Blog3 that registration TOY123 is now on a Fezza- time was when it was only used on Masers.
19 Aug 2015, 9:34am
Meridian Modena own TOY123 so stick it on whatever they like on their forecourt I guess. They used to use it on their own Maserati I think.
19 Aug 2015, 10:06am
Told you so !!!
Hope the good vibrations don't mullah the MAF!!!
19 Aug 2015, 10:11am
You like it. I love the top end rasp from about 6,500rpm

I plan to give the MAF a clean today before the proper test runs. I think last nights quick blast should have shaken the loose oil out. Now just clean the MAF every now and again. Easy job.
19 Aug 2015, 5:44pm
Don't be greedy WCA, painting the engine top red gave you better results, you should have left it at that!
Now you've wasted your money. :-)
19 Aug 2015, 7:06pm
You don't want to know what I have planned next!!!!



I will literally be ripping the tread from my tyres after fitting the "flower pot of unfathomable power" !!!
19 Aug 2015, 10:25pm
WorldClassAccident wrote:
Hmmm. The weather? The slippy road? The temperature?

Strange results with K&N filter. I would have expected a bigger difference one way or the other

https://youtu.be/89wng8R2ctk


You're easing off before 80 again.
19 Aug 2015, 10:26pm
WorldClassAccident wrote:
You don't want to know what I have planned next!!!!



I will literally be ripping the tread from my tyres after fitting the "flower pot of unfathomable power" !!!


Can't wait for the build thread
20 Aug 2015, 6:31am
Easing off before 80?

Possibly. As I said, it was raining and braking was a challenge. I still don't think that the new filters made much difference except improving the sound.
20 Aug 2015, 7:26am
WorldClassAccident wrote:
...I will literally be ripping the tread from my tyres after fitting the "flower pot of unfathomable power" !!!


Will you be piping a supply of cool air from the aircon?
20 Aug 2015, 7:31am
Will you be piping a supply of cool air from the aircon?

That might be a bit like leaving the fridge door open to cool the kitchen

:-)
20 Aug 2015, 8:15am
WorldClassAccident wrote:
Easing off before 80?

Possibly. As I said, it was raining and braking was a challenge. I still don't think that the new filters made much difference except improving the sound.


The filter won't offer any performance advantage until you protect it from heat and provide a feed of cold air.
It does sound nice though.

You've selected the low performance flowerpot option due to the holes in the bottom of it. The MSport version is solid with no holes - Tesco has them for 99p.

Here's a reminder of mine

20 Aug 2015, 9:36am
y cymro wrote:
...You've selected the low performance flowerpot option due to the holes in the bottom of it. The MSport version is solid with no holes - Tesco has them for 99p.


Didn't someone mention that the Schnitzer version uses a paint tin...

Now- Farrow & Ball or Hammerite?

Probably resonates so sounds even better. I do fear for the MAF though. When I was using cone filters on my Escort cabrio Zetec, I seemed to need to replace the MAF every year. Maybe if I'd tried cleaning them first...
20 Aug 2015, 10:15am
Okay, here are the results we have all been waiting for but before we start I would like to address the question of lifting off before 80mph.

I took advantage of the sunshine this morning to accelerate right through to almost 90mph on each run. This is foot firmly on the floor with the gear box in sports mode. There was definitely no lift off.

I get back and look / listen to the footage and it does sound like I lifted. I can assure you that I didn't. This also confirms my belief that I didn't lift on previous runs either.

Although there may be a lack of scientific rigor to these tests I am happy that the overall results give a good indication of the way performance is affected by the various modifications.

https://youtu.be/fARuk-nx3Pw
20 Aug 2015, 1:47pm
Mmmmmm, paint the rest of the engine red.................

This should give more performance and avoid wasting money :-)
20 Aug 2015, 2:29pm
Something definitely happens each time just before the 80 mark - watch the tacho, it drops from ~4750 to 4600 at that point.
20 Aug 2015, 2:55pm
I know - weird.

Previously I thought I might have possibly lifted early but on the last three runs I did not lift my foot at all until over 90mph but each time there was the wobble on the revs.

In my Merc the engine management kills the revs if there is wheel spin but I doubt the BMW is that sophisticated - or powerful enough to spin the wheels at 80mph despite my modifications.

It is after the gear change, so perhaps the new higher ratio forces the drop? Auto box remember - might be relevent

Any thoughts or theories welcome. It is bugging me now.
20 Aug 2015, 10:07pm
WorldClassAccident wrote:
I know - weird.

Previously I thought I might have possibly lifted early but on the last three runs I did not lift my foot at all until over 90mph but each time there was the wobble on the revs.
In my Merc the engine management kills the revs if there is wheel spin but I doubt the BMW is that sophisticated - or powerful enough to spin the wheels at 80mph despite my modifications.
It is after the gear change, so perhaps the new higher ratio forces the drop? Auto box remember - might be relevent
Any thoughts or theories welcome. It is bugging me now.


IIRC from your videos it happens in all your tests including those before you cleaned the MAF and fitted the new filter, so they're probably not the cause.
It seems to happen only in third gear, and you're running WOT in all the tests, so it appears to be related to velocity rather than engine speed or loading.
You haven't got a flux capacitor and it's unlikely to be caused by the red-painted engine cover. I was kidding when I suggested it could be the traction control kicking in, and you probably haven't got ESP in any case.
I googled it on your behalf and found only one hit- http://forum.roadfly.com/threads/2219845-325i-flat-spot but at least you're not alone.

Switch your auto gearbox to its other modes and try again (and video it for our edification) to see if it's only happening in sport mode. Does your test track offer sufficient length to accelerate from 4000 to 5000rpm in fourth gear - unless that's ridiculously fast (don't video this one!).
Does it happen at partial throttle settings? Worth trying this again at 4500-4800 in third at partial, steady throttle, as well as accelerating throughout the rev range looking for flat spots. Or you could just ignore the problem and enjoy driving your good looking, good sounding car.
21 Aug 2015, 7:50am
if you didn't break the speed limit, it wouldn't happen...
21 Aug 2015, 7:59am
Seriously WCA, if you think you have a strong engine, stick a nitrous kit on it with a 50 BHP jet, you won't need a stopwatch to see the results, just a sturdy seat-back.