Hello to all Nubie here

Live up in the Road America area new somewhat new to NAM but loving what I have seen the past couple weeks on here. Always excited driving the MINI which brings ear to ear smile to my face all the time. Outside the MINI the current DD is a 1988 BMW 325is.

 

Enjoy! My first MINI was an 03MCS. That car was a start to what I am sure is going to be a very long MINI obsession. Have fun. The only upgrades I did on that car were a 15% reduction pulley and DDM Cold Air intake (oh, and a rear swaybar). I highly recommend you do those as it transforms your driving experience. The supercharger really screams and is such a great sound on the First Generation MCS's. I miss that sound for sure...

 

Thanks for the advice. May I ask what was the difference with going with the 15% instead of say the 17% or others? Have a CAI on it and cross/slotted with hawks on. Sway bar I was looking into any thoughts?
With living around Road America I have a plan to basically keep it at the track so performance upgrades that may make it slightly uncomfortable on the road interest me however I don't want to worry about trailering it to and from. Would appreciate your thoughts K_H_D with you being a previous owner of one.

 

Welcome aboard. Good luck. Your face will hurt every time you drive it.

 

Welcome to the excitement.

 

From what I remember the 15% pulley was a good compromise between spinning up the supercharger too much but still getting a good performance increase. Its hands down the most cost effective power increase you can do to the R53, and it really makes it sound great also. I would contact Way at WayMotorWorks. You will need a smaller belt as well when you go with the smaller pulley.

I put the H-sport Rear competition bar on my 2003 as well as on my 2012. Its a 25.5mm rear bar but hollow so its very light but equivalent to a 22mm bar. Its adjustable like most the aftermarket bars and I have always run it on the medium setting.

 

I second his opinion.

 

Welcome!!
I went with the 17%...
decided my driving style, the lower temps up in the Northeastern US, and the general availability of 92-94 octane made it a decent risk...can ran fine, then went on and did a custom tune, and bigger injectors later.
If I lived in an area with lower octane fuel, higher year round temps, or tracked the car, I would have done a 15%. I will say that the heat generated is the direct result of the air getting compressed...so IF i lived higher above sea-level, that MIGHT change the formula a bit...lower starting pressures would equal less heat cause lower ultimate PSI....
What ever YOU decide, know the differences are pretty MINOR in most cases!!
When/If you do a pulley, 100% go with a smaller belt...I have found waymotorworks to be a good source, with decent prices, and terrific service. HE DOES have a kit, with lower temps spark plugs (help prevent ping, and helps with the heat), a new belt, the pulley, and a tennsioner stop (prevents about 300-500$ if the belt breaks) for a discounted price, with one shipping fee...so IMO the best way to go.

 

As for the swaybar...I went with a solid 19MM...good for the street...kinda of a medium change.... predicable, especially if I drive the car in slippery conditions...leave it on HARD for summer, and soft or medium for winter. Some want a more neutral car, and go with the bigger bar, but IMO it depends on if the car is a dailydriver....to neutral, and a slick ramp or sandy spot can result in a spin...
a general rule is the gen1 cars (r53/r50/r52) needs one size bigger swaybar than the gen2 (turbo) cars.....

 

I read that all the time. I don't personally see it being a problem, if its slick or you see road conditions such as sand or anything that would effect traction then its a spot to slow down... Way generally recommends the h-sport comp bar for most people I think... However, if I was ever to drive in the snow, which I won't, then it could be problem.

Are there ever any reports of a car spinning and causing a wreck? If so then the driver was pushing way to hard on the street.

 

Welcome, if you need help with mods for your MINI let us know we can help you build a reliable track car.

 

Awesome!!

 

Another E30 nut in a MINI! I'm assuming since you live so close to a nice track, you aren't new to the automotive world? If you ever want advice or to talk on that E30, let me know.

 

I am on a restoration of the e30 have put eibach pro kit sways and springs koni sports mishimoto rad designed my own CAI for it but the stock maf seems pretty good it's a 325is and the parts car is a 325 es thinking a Frankenstein is in order which is why the two e30s are nick named Mary and Shelly. Cars are my drug of choice like a fat kid to cake.

 

Anyway there's an e30 thread for us to talk that lets stick to MINI here although good to see another around

Love the photos of the Audi too looking great does anybody else look at your old car photos like ex girlfriends wondering if you would've went that route what it'd be like? Just a question with me it's like my wife may look at another menu but will never order.

Thanks for other input too been trying to develop the right path to go.

@ waymotorworks was it Jan I read about that works there? Seemed like the "godfather" of the MINI culture here. Love to sit down with a bottle of single malt with him.