Just bought our first Mini, a 2012 all Pepper White Cooper S hardtop manual. This is a 4th vehicle in the household, and we are hoping to make some HPDE and Auto-X events in the coming year with it. We have had a lot of VW's in the past, so this is a departure and we're looking forward to having some fun with it. LOVE the quick steering and sharp handling. Would love advice on mods that will keep the car streetable, but also help out on track days. We are not looking to do anything much motor-wise, mainly just looking at handling/braking improvements.

 

Hello and congrats.

You can start with a H&R front and rear sway bar:

http://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2012-Cooper-R56-S-Coupe-L4_1.6L_N18B16A/Suspension/Sway_Bar/





Pads and rotors will help. Check out the EBC REds and Hawk HP options. Or just pads if your rotors are new.

Pads , look for the NON JCW ones if you have stock brakes for the Cooper S.

http://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2012-Cooper-R56-S-Coupe-L4_1.6L_N18B16A/Braking/Pads/

Thanks

 

Thanks! All things on "the list!" What are thoughts on a spring/shock setup vs. a coil-over setup? Also, opinions on intake/exhausts?

 

Coil-overs if you track and want adjustable, like ST or KW. Or just like the low look.

H&R springs if you want little lower, but want to keep the same ride, mostly. Tad stiffer at most.


Intake : The JCW Tuning intake box from the N14 engines , you will have to swap your N18 Cooper S box to and N14 set up. Pair with a pippercross tube filter.

Exhaust , most guys like the sound and feedback of the Factory JCW exhaust ( solid tips ) added to the mid pipe back.

Thanks

 

Enzo, congrats on the mini. I just purchased a '12 myself with the same intentions, RSB, brake upgrade (discs and pads) and possibly a jcw exhaust.

I'm hoping to have my Mini ready by February for the start of the autocross season.