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MG MGF Technical - Re-mapping MEMS or fitting of a power-boost module

Has anybody experience with a re-mapped MEMS system or electronic power-boost accessories as offered by B&G and other suppliers for the MPi - F?
Is a modification worth the cost?
How strongly affected is the fuel-economy by these mods?

Thanks for answering.

Marcus

Mike Bees will probably be able to answer the question on re-mapped ECUs authoratively. If you plan to undertake a number of modifications, a fully programmable ECU is probably the best choice- such as those available from Emerald etc.

Superchips ECUs (as sold by a number of suppliers) are not as sophisticated, altering ignition timing (only), and releasing a few bhp here and there. Their main advantage over standard is better throttle response. A similar improvement in throttle response can be achieved with a power boost valve (scroll through the threads below- this has been discussed quite recently.

Marcus, what has been done to your car already? If standard, then there are other modifications you can consider that'll give better power gains for less money.

IMO the best next step after a replacement air filter and exhaust system is to look the cylinder head. On a 1.8i, the port design and size is shared with 1.4 litre K-series engines, so by some simple porting on the head, significant power gains can be found (reckon on 12-1500 GBP for this kind of work)... Getting 150-160 bhp is, I am told, easy!

Loads of other options, but serious power costs serious money unfortunately :o(

Rob

Rob Bell

The boost valve will improve throttle response. I still think I will do this as the grunt in low revs has evaporated in exchange for more power with the K&N filter and SP exhaust fitted to my car. A ported head is a little out of budget at the moment for me (oh lord, won't you buy me, a Turbo Technics supercharger for my F :-)

Tony Smith

This months MG Enthusiast reports on an MGF fitted with a programable ECU from Lumenition.

Costs £650 plus VAT and gave 5bhp. Gave 8bhp on a Rover 218 after some 'tweaking'.

For a total of £1475 plus VAT you can have throttle bodies as well as the ECU which gave an increase of 20bhp.

No mention of compatibility with VVC.

The article points out that there would be better scope for improvements from the ECU if a sports exhaust and filter were fitted.

Then the real killer - the guy who provided the rolling road says (and I quote) "I don't think it (the ECU) will sell too well with the MGF. Its more of a ladies car...."

Shall I publish his phone number so we can hassle him??

Paul
P9 VLS
Paul

I don't think that the ECU will sell well if it costs that much money for so little gain, with installers not having a particular helpful attitude!!! >:o(

AS for fitting the ECU without a replacement air filter- how daft can you be? If you are restricting inlet air flow, and exhaust extraction, exactly how much power can one expect to see???

Rob
Rob Bell


>Costs £650 plus VAT and gave 5bhp. Gave 8bhp on a >Rover 218 after some 'tweaking'.


>"I don't think it (the ECU) will sell too well with >the MGF. Its more of a ladies car...."


and what a Rover 218 is a serious man's race car?

That's the best laugh I've had all day...
I'd better remind myself how close my F is to it's
60k service, that will wipe the smile off my face.

-matt
M66 MAT
matt

The MEMS isn't reprogrammable (unless you work at Rover and have access to the equipment!). There's really only any point in replacing it with a programmable ECU if you're going to fit throttle bodies or change the cams.

On the subject of exhausts, the bit of the exhaust which can make a difference to the engine is the manifold. Changing things behind that is just tinkering. QED sell a good 4-2-1 manifold for the Elise which probably fits the 'F too.

Mike
Mike Bees

There is quite a difference between the Mpi and VVC casting in the area of the port to manifold mounting, and whether what I have been dealing with is representative there is serious mistmatching on standard components here.

From what I have found on two new heads I have, there is a real question mark on the ability of the VVC inlet gasket able to seal the VVC inlet when fitted to a MPi longer term, such is the dimensional difference.

Transpose that to the fitting of throttle bodies and I wonder whether the manufacturers of these have catered for this difference. Not that I have achieved any back to back comparisons of standard mismatch to matched, but it usually has a beneficial effect.

In respect of the original question I would leave MEMS well alone. If you tot up the money you would spend on the add on bits and pieces FSE and perhaps an ECU add on module, then your well on the way to a replacement ECU like the Luminition, which opens a whole new world and allows settings to be tailored. This will negate the need for add ons as you can do the job properly, and have future flexibility to go further or later remove and simply go back to standard.

Rog
Roger Parker

Rog - I've used the paper-like VVC inlet gasket on a VVC head with throttle bodies for 3 years with no probs. The bodies have been on & off a number of times and the gasket reused every time. Mind you it only costs about a quid so perhaps I'm being a bit tight...

Mike
Mike Bees

This thread was discussed between 28/11/2000 and 01/12/2000

MG MGF Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGF Technical BBS is active now.