West Tuning 210/215bhp conversion review
I recently run a group buy for West Tuning for 210/215 bhp MCS conversions at a discounted rate, amongst other products including brake conversions and Milltek exhausts: http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=68334
As soon as the group buy finished I was eager to get my 210/215bhp conversion done at the earliest opportunity, so a couple of weeks back I booked my car in with Ray to have the work carried out on Friday 24th September.
After an early start and a traffic free 2 hour journey from my home in Essex, I arrived at West's at around 10am, parked outside his premises were various tasty cars including 2 tuned Cooper S’s (both wearing 18’’ wheels and huge brakes, which I am told both have the 240bhp conversion), a Noble M12 GTO and a BMW Z3M.Time for some introductions - After speaking to Ray many times on the phone it was good to finally put a name to a face and confirm what I already knew and what many others had told me - that Ray is quite possibly the nicest bloke in the Tuning industry
After our introduction I decide to leave Ray to work his magic on my Leccy Blue. The conversion takes around 5 hours to complete; the waiting time was made easier due to the fact that Thruxton Race circuit was a 5 minute walk away from his premises. After hours of watching Lamborghini Murcielago's, Ferrari F355 and 360's, Porsche 911 turbos etc blatting round the circuit it made me even more eager to get hold of the keys to my newly converted 'S'.
I opted not to have a before rolling road session as I pretty much guessed it would have been around the quoted 164bhp mark (before and after rolling road sessions are included in the price), however I did choose to have the after session which confirmed a healthy 210.8bhp @ 6710rpm and 192.2 lb ft of torque @ 4204rpm (see charts at the bottom of this thread). Ray went on to tell me that power output can vary slightly between S models, mine being a few BHP less than some others he had converted – still, I was more than happy with the final figure.
After the rolling road session, Ray wanted to road test the car to make sure everything was OK on it. I decide to go along with him as the co-pilot. As soon as we get out the Industrial estate Ray proceeds to boot the throttle – first impressions are – WHHHHOOOOOAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! The car feels seriously fast, the extra 46 odd bhp being VERY noticeable. Ray proceeds to floor the throttle until we are traveling at unmentionable speeds (all on a private road of course ). The biggest difference is the extra oomph above 4500rpm (not that it feels sluggish below this mark), this is when the car goes from being fast to feeling sub sonic all the way to the increased rev limit of 7250rpm – the extra 500rpm makes a really big difference and helps to get every last ounce of power out of each gear. We go around a corner at a speed which I would never dream of doing my self, yet the car just grips the road and power’s out of the corner with a slight chirp of wheel spin. A couple of things then come to my mind, firstly the sheer speed of the newly converted car, secondly the improved handling thanks to my newly fitted eibach springs (fitted a few weeks back), thirdly the impressive driving performed by Ray and lastly, why didn’t I bring a clean pair of pants with me!!!! Ray is used to test driving powerful machinery including Ferraris, Nobles etc so a 210bhp S must feels some what slow to him.
Ray confirms what he had told me earlier ‘’The engine feels a lot tighter than some of the other cars I’ve converted. You drive the car too carefully don’t you? You need to rag the car a bit more – those are the ones which have loser engines and ultimately feel faster. The engines are near enough bomb proof and like to be redlined!!!’’. Due to the cars self learning ECU Ray reckons I could see around another 4/5bhp in a few months time. NICE!
We return back to the workshop in one piece – me with a huge grin on my face, I can’t wait for the drive home. With the bill paid up and handshakes and thanks all round I leave his premises. The first chance I get, I floor the throttle in first gear – before I know It I snatch second and keep it floored – I look down at the speedo and see that I’m doing 70 odd mph in what feels like a few seconds. Now to test the higher gears, the journey home being the perfect proving ground as I eventually hit the M3 east bound. Once in the fast lane and with an open stretch of road ahead of me I floor the throttle in 5th gear, the car begins to accelerate like it is in third, this really impresses me. Looking down at the speedo is almost comical, the car just seems to leap forward in 10mph chunks – the needle looking like its going to burst out of the dial – seriously impressive stuff. Rep mobiles – move over !!!!!!!
I rejoin the M25 in record time, only to be greeted with a massive traffic jam. Its Friday night rush hour and the rest of the journey home is a slow crawl – Doh!!!I Eventually I arrive home tired but elated and ready to take family and friends out for a test drive. My brother claiming that it doesn't feel far off the accelartion of a BMW M3 SMG (he used to be a BMW car sales man).
Am I glad I got the engine conversion? – HELL YES, it’s the best money I’ve ever spent and gives the car the power it so rightly deserves at a fraction of the price of similar conversions. Subjectively it feels faster that the JC Works I test drove a few months’ back, the acceleration feeling more instant than the Works, with more power higher up the rev range. Above 4500rpm in any gear the acceleration is very impressive and doesn’t tail off even when reaching the increased rev limiter and the supercharger whine is noticeably louder . I can’t even begin to imagine what West’s 255bhp MCS must feel like (unfortunately I didn’t get to test-drive it as the car wasn’t at the premises). To me, 210bhp feels plenty fast enough!!!
I can’t recommend this conversion enough. I am a very satisfied customer!!!
Next on the list – Big brakes!!!!!
Cheers, LB
Source: http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72347 - 28/01/2004
