I'm going to have to replace my upper motor mount. I'm totally new when it comes to modifying and wanted to get some ideas on what else I may want to consider doing while I am at it. There's some significant jerking when I let off the throttle and give it gas again.

I've done some research in the threads and I've decided that I'm going to go with the Vibra-Technics Upper and Lower street motor mounts. Does anyone have an opinion on whether or not I should replace the gearbox mount with VT as well?

Another repair I need to do is the control arm bushings...recommendations there? Do I need to do ball joints too along with that?

Aside from those repairs, I've been wanting to give my MINI a boost for quite sometime and I'm taking these necessary repairs as a sign that I should pull the trigger and mod my car while the repairs are being done too.

From what I read I think I should go with:

WMW 17% pulley reduction kit
DDM CAI
I already have Milltek Headers & Full Exhaust (result of a prior repair I had to make )

Anything else you all can think of that I should consider or get as complements to not only give me the boost I'm looking for, but also so that other things don't crap out in the process?

I live in a 4 season climate location (Utah), and my 2004 Cooper S has just north of 97K miles on it. So far everything is OEM aside from the headers and exhaust.

Thanks for any input you can provide and if anyone lives near the Salt Lake, Utah area and wants to help a noob work on his MINI, please reach out!

 

Powerflex is the name/brand I hear mentioned most when it comes to replacing/upgrading control arm bushings. My local mechanic also recommends 'em, so I'll be upgrading mine before the Dragon next year.

IMO the 17% WMW pulley kit and DDMWorks CAI are both winners. I've had both on my car for a couple of years now and am very happy

You could also look at a rear sway bar to enhance the handling even more. I have the H-sport 19mm RSB from WMW and again, very happy with it.

 

Thanks for the additional insight! Good to hear that you haven't had any problems with the 17% reduction. I'll likely be making those purchases in the near future. Those VT mounts are on their way right now, but man were they expensive!

I'll look into the sway bar -- that' something I hadn't looked at yet.

As far as installations go, did you do your own installs? And how did they go if so? I wish I lived closer to WMW since it seems like they have a great reputation and experience with MINI upgrades. It's been hard to find a local and reputable shop for the work. And the one and only MINI dealership in this state wants an arm, leg, and my first-born for the labor.

A close buddy of mine is pretty good around cars and has worked on his own E46 M3 so was going to have him help me, but it'll be the first MINI he's worked on so it make me a little nervous. I'd just hate to screw anything up.

 

You might check this site for more options to consider for a local repair shop. MINI repair Hope it helps! Also, if you have a local MINI club you might attend a function or at the least check out their internet site, see if you can find some references for mechanics there.

I'm lucky to have an experienced independent MINI mechanic near me, so he's done all my repairs and upgrades. It seems the CAI install could be done pretty easily, but I think the pulley is a bit tougher. You'll need a pulley remover, and my guy used a floor jack to raise the engine some to get at the pulley. Plus, there are the spark plugs and new belt too. I'm happy to pay my guy and help keep a small independent business going, tho there is something to be said for DIY.

The only other thing I was gonna mention: the 17% pulley is great for street use. If you're gonna track your car or do some autocross, you might be better off w/a 15%. But for spirited street driving and canyon carving, the 17% is just fine, and very nice upgrade.

 

The VT mounts are nice, but you could have saved a good chunk of money and gone with a TSW upper mount, and Powerflex bushing inserts everywhere else, as well as the PF control arm bushings.

Even though you already have options on the way, here's some ideas on what we offer and recommend. I run this setup on my car, and am very pleased with it.

http://www.detroittuned.com/powerfle...ushings-gen-1/

http://www.detroittuned.com/powerfle...bushing-gen-1/

http://www.detroittuned.com/powerfle...bushing-gen-1/

http://www.detroittuned.com/tsw-engine-mount/

Nick
Detroit Tuned

 

Thanks for that URL! I did a search and will reach out to a couple of the local shops that came up to see if they have experience with MINIs. Unfortunately, the only active local club that I've found around my area is ran by someone that works for the MINI dealership. I'd already reached out to him, but he "couldn't"/wouldn't recommend anyone but MINI to do the work...makes sense though.

Yeah, I don't plan on tracking my car much if at all. Mostly street driving and there are definitely some great canyons here in Utah that I plan to test my MINI on once the upgrades are installed thanks again!

 

Yeah, I read up a lot on the TSW on this forum and elsewhere and it seemed that the NVH from them was pretty intense...probably more than I would like. And I read in cold climates it's even worse, so opted for the VTs since they seemed like a good compromise with being reliable with less NVH...hopefully that'll be the case once I get them on my car.

I do appreciate the additional info -- I haven't purchased my control arm bushings yet. But plan to do those soon along with the CAI, pulley, and others...paychecks gotta come faster!

 

You're welcome; glad to help

I'm downright envious of the area you're in and what must surely be a veritable plethora of great driving roads. With so many twisties to conquer, definitely consider the rear sway bar to up your handling.

I'm not surprised that the local MINI guy pushes people towards the dealer, but what they charge for parts & labor is just crazy. If you can't find a shop that you're comfortable with from the link I posted, you could also call some places that work on Euro cars like BMW, Porsche, Audi, Volvo, etc. Odds are that someone who knows Euro (and especially BMW, or British marques) could help with your MINI.

Motor On!

 

That's a great idea too. I called one of the shops on the list and it seems like they've worked mostly on Audis and VWs, but have done a couple of MINIs, so I may entrust them with mine. The roads here are great summer through fall. But steer clear in the winter unless you're running some decent snow shoes!

 

Think about injectors and an RMW tune once you've got the pulley done.

While things are apart order up a gates belt tensioner and idler pulley. Gates makes the OEM parts. If the crank pulley is original, think about an ATI, stock size. Definitely need cooler plugs and a 532 belt.

A 19 or 21 rear sway bar is a good thing. As are some improved rotors and pads, I run stoptech.

 

Thanks, I found the gates belt tensioner and idler pulley on Amazon and ordered those.

It looks like the WMW 17% pulley package comes with cooler plugs and a belt. Is that they only belt replacement I'll need?

And yes...I didn't even think about better brakes. That's probably important lol.

My list keeps getting bigger! But I can't wait to get everything on the car.

 

Yeah you should be good with that belt. Also change the belt yearly, none of this 50k interval nonsense.

The list grows and changes over time. I never planned on having an RMW built motor and cam. All I wanted for a long time was a tune. And now I have both!

 

Great, good to know. With the RMW tune, I searched them and saw they were in CA. Do you know where? It could be fun to do a road trip to have them tune in person. Also saw that they could just send me the flash tool...I don't know if there's a dyno shop in town here in Utah that tunes MINIs...or should any dyno do? Please excuse my ignorance, I'm a total noob, but have learned a ton just from being on this forum for a few short days.

Haha...sounds like that could be me as well somewhere down the road. I suppose it'll depend on how all of these initial mods go too!

 

RMW is based in southern California. Check their site and call Jan, he will get you setup. He does do tune parties on location sometimes. For the remote tunes I know he prefers dynapak dynos. A road trip would definitely be a fun trip back

 

Awesome. I have family in southern California so could visit them and tune the car and kill 2 birds with one stone. Thanks again for the tips!