You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, at no cost, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, so please join our community today!
I recently inherited a Mini Cooper S (R53), either a 2003 or 2004 model, and I have always been interested in learning more about the car, but my access to it has been limited until now. I don't have terribly deep pockets as I am a college student, but I definitely want to start working on the car and I was hoping for some advice on good places to start. Ideally I would like to end up doing most of the JCW engine mods/other mods to the car, but I will only be able to do it part by part over time with my budget and learning curve. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, keep in mind that I am pretty new when it comes to working with the insides of a car and how certain parts affect performance but I'm also a fast learner! Thanks in advance!
Just keep reading everything on here and you will learn very fast.
Most start with the 15 % pulley and a CAI for engine upgrades, but it is really a matter of what you like. read all you can here, check out the Vendors, and look at pictures of everyones cars, you will find very few are alike, that is the one real joy of owning a Mini, you can make it your personal car as there are so many Mods you can do.
Welcome to the crazy world of Mini ownership!!
__________________ Burn-em upus asphaltus,04 MCS Indi Blue, Auto Climate Control,Cruise,Heated Seats, Nav,JCW Carbon Fiber shift knob, Blue LED Speedo and Tach, Front and Rear Fog lights, Sports Package with DSC, M7 Air Diverter, 15% Helix Pulley, Helix CAI, Aero Grill, 17 inch Rota RBs in Hyperblack
The key is to create yourself a mod plan so you can do it piece by piece but still end up with a group of parts that work together in the end and that meet your driving style/objectives. You need to think about what you want in the end because there will be compromises.
For example, I love loud exhausts but that is not for everyone. I also like lowered cars but sometimes that brings wheel well rubbing, going slow over bumps, or a rougher ride.
Things like 15% pulley, Colder Spark Plugs, Larger Fuel Injectors, Cold Air Intake, and Exhaust can all be done separately with the ECU being able to compenstate. Once you are done with the engine mods it would be good to get a custom ECU tune to take more advantage of the combination of mods.
My favorite suspension mod is front camber plates because they help resolve two common Mini problems (strut tower mushrooming, top strut bushing/bearing tearing) and they provide negative camber for much better handling. Fixed are cheaper than adjustable.
I also think lowering (shorter springs) is a must because I like the look.
The other popular suspension mod is a thicker diameter rear sway bar. The size depends on whether or not you add front camber plates.
__________________
2006 MCS JCW GP #1405: Adj Front Camber Plates, 19mm Rear Sway Bar, MM Front Lower Brace, Milltek Cat-Back, TCE 13" Front/11.75" Rear BBK, 15mm Spacers, Wheel Studs, JCM Modified Intake, MM Filter, Gauges
Thank you for your advice, I am making my plan right now and I have a quick question. What is the importance of a CAI vs IC? If it is the case that both are important to have, which I assume they are, is their a particular order that you should get them in and does anyone have any suggestions of ones I should look at. I am in the states so some UK parts are hard to get. I am under the impression that the CAI is what draws in the cold air to the supercharger and the IC cools the air as it leaves the S/C? Thanks again for the help!
One other thought, with winter coming up so quickly here (Minnesota) would I really notice the difference from a CAI or IC? If not, would it be more worthwhile to do an upgrade on the exhaust first (which was next in line in my plan)?
I larger IC is nice but expensive for the gain. It does not add any HP but help keep HP when the engine get hot and the IC gets heat soaked. There are a lot of threads on the subject. The IC from the GP model (with two extra rows than stock IC) is a good option. I would do the exhaust first then CAI. Depending on what mods you do in the future then you might want to think about an IC but I would do a lot of other mods first.
__________________
2006 MCS JCW GP #1405: Adj Front Camber Plates, 19mm Rear Sway Bar, MM Front Lower Brace, Milltek Cat-Back, TCE 13" Front/11.75" Rear BBK, 15mm Spacers, Wheel Studs, JCM Modified Intake, MM Filter, Gauges
Yeah...general censuses is the factory inter-cooler is good until you are out of other option to add horsepower....and many find the oem adequate for even racing. The advice I keep on hearing is get a CAI(JCW is pretty, but mostly bling...most want more whine), a pulley (with cooler spark plugs and new belt), and sway-bar. Then you can do a one-ball exhaust for 50$ or so and have a great ride. Then you get into big$$$$ to add each hp. The high performance exhaust is 400~950+ install, injectors 400 or so, inter-cooler used 500+ for a unit barely better than stock, 1000 for a better one, and maybe 400-600 for a tune.... But the first 3 items will give you great bang for your buck, And 70+% of the gains or so for maybe 800 bucks or so.
The stock intake is sooo restrictive....you will notice a difference not like night and day...but a bit.......it was my first change....a Dinan intake...looks stock, pretty quiet, similar to JCW, but most opt for others to get more supercharger whine!! If that is what you want...go for it!!
Remember to Reset your ecu after each mod....so the computer will relearn and and "find" the new air/fuel etc you just gave it so it can make more power!!
Good luck, and have a blast!!
__________________
l 2005 MCS l 11-04 Production l owned since new l RMW Tuned l Craven -17% Pulley l Craven Speed STD l Dinan CAI l JCW 380's l H&R 19 MM Swaybar l MSD Ignition l Power Steering Fan Duct l LightInSight l "EURO" MINI Armrest l Euro Parcel Shelf l Brake Light PULSAR(gen2)l Detroit Tuned Tensioner Stop l Blitzsafe/xmradio l Cobra 19IV CB l 4.5' Francis CB25 CB Antenna, mounted on the rear tow rig!!
Last edited by ZippyNH; 10-07-2009 at 09:11 PM.
Reason: spelling etc + add last paragraph...
Burn-em upus asphaltus ,04 MCS Indi Blue, Auto Climate Control,Cruise,Heated Seats, Nav,JCW Carbon Fiber shift knob, Blue LED Speedo and Tach, Front and Rear Fog lights, Sports Package with DSC, M7 Air Diverter, 15% Helix Pulley, Helix CAI, Aero Grill, 17 inch Rota RBs in Hyperblack
