So you are getting 135 with an exhaust, intake, and ECU? Thats pretty impressive. What is your exhaust like?

 

Thanks, the exhaust is somewhat on the loud side when I run without the silencer(according to the wife) but I love it. By far, the biggest increase came from the ECU upgrade. When I drove home after having it done; it didn't feel like the same car. It makes power all the way through the rev range. I find myself shifting at 7100 alot more now! Now instead of a minor chirp, I can break the tires loose when shifting to third. Roy

 

As of a few minutes ago, there is now a forum specific to modifications for the COOPER.

 

sounds like a great ECU. I forget what thread it is but a cooper just dyno'd in at 112 at the wheels with: Exhaust, Header, Throttle body, intake, and plug wires. So that 135 is VERY nice

 

Wow! 135 at the wheels?

I'm curious about the software re-map. With K&N intake, Borla exhaust and Magnecor wires I can only muster 107.

 

That is pretty impressive I own an S, but always liked power without SC or TC.

 

Thanks DB, I can only assume that the Brits tune their ECU's to the grade of fuel that is available over here. For instance, I fill up my car with 98 octane premium. At first I assumed that their rating system for octane was different; one day I asked the attendant about it and he told me that it is indeed different and that their 98 equals about 95-96 on our scale. Which is still pretty high, I guess. Even before the re-map my car ran better just by using that fuel. Did you notice any difference by swapping ignition wires? I recently ordered a Screamin Demon Coil and some LiveWires from MossMini and I am curious as to what I should expect from them. What type of K&N intake do you have (panel filter or open element), I made my own using a flexihose that goes down in between the tranny and the radiator fan. The filter is held in place with a metal tab with a rubber boot over it. I had to take it off and put my first CAI back on because the rainy season is about to start over here and I haven't received my AEM filter bypass yet. (Stole a page from the Honda boys playbook!)

Cheers,
Roy

 

Thanks

I have always like NA power too. My last car was turbocharged and it was pretty quick. But it wasn't smooth, power was on or off and the car tried to cook itself whenever traffic slowed down. So, I am going to see what I can do with this one. The owner of MiniSpeed has a very impressive S last time I was there he told me he has gotten his up to 270+ at the wheels without nitrous or twin-charging. However he has thrown the kitchen sink at that motor. I think it is even bored out to 1.8 Litres! Really, Really cool!

Cheers,
Roy

 

The first time that I post on this thread may also be the last. I just bought a 03 Cooper S modded to 207 hp. (Dont get to drive it until mid next month though.) But I love my Cooper, and my mods are listed in my signature below. I guess its up for sale now too.

 

Well, I'm so glad we Cooper owners have finally got a piece of the NAM pie! Its good to see all of us fellow enthusiasts coming together to say, "HEY WE WANT MODS TOO!" So in that theme here is the list of my mods as well as my dyno sheet that I had done a year ago.....

EXTERIOR:
- SolarTech window tint (20% all-around)
- Rear brakelight mod
- Rear spoiler
- 4 - 100w 6" independent rally lights
- St. Andrew's Cross Scottish roof flag
- Aerokit
- Clear OEM tailights
- Chrome mirror caps
- Black foglight inserts for aerokit
- Foglights
- 16" X-lyte rims
- MINI emblem valve stem caps
- Frost center racing stripe
- Debadged Cooper rear
INTERIOR:
- All red interior LED's
- CG-Lock safety belt system
- MINI OEM door sill plates for aerokit
- Rubber floor mats/boot mat
- 6 disc changer w/cover
- Heated seats
- Misc. chrome bits

ENGINE:
- Screamin' Demon coil pack
- Magnecor coil wires
- Supersprint race exhaust (no resonator)
- Royal Purple full synthetic 10w30 oil
- Spec 2 clutch
- Spec 8.5 lb lightened flywheel
- PROMINI CAI
- MOSSMINI airhorns
- MTH ECU software
- PROMINI shortshifter
- Tach mounted oil pressure/oil temperature gauges
- RDR Racing radiator
- Cobalt heavy duty skid plate

SUSPENSION:
- 05 Cooper S (SS+) struts
- TEIN S Tech Sport springs
- H-Sport front camber plates
- H&R 27mm rront swaybar
- H&R 19mm rear swaybar
- Yokohama AVS ES100's (switched from Kumho Ecsta Supra 712's)

BRAKES:
- ATE Super Blue brake fluid
- Mintex Redbox brake pads (front/rear)
- Stainless steel brake lines

Future mods would be to gut out the entire interior and make this a nice project race car with full cage, twin racing seats and lots of seattime. Does track time count as a mod? :D



I had to do all of those mods to get the power of the MC back up to what MINI "claims" they get (when the really only get that at the crank). So if you factor in the 18% drivetrain loss (some people say a 20% loss, some say the drivetrain on the MINI is very efficient and will only lose 15%). So I just say 18%. Total power as of now: 135.7hp / 130ft/lbs of torque.

 

Wow, thats awesome! When you installed your flywheel did you have any take-off or stalling problems that supposedly come with installing a lightned flywheel? As for your race car project; you should checkout the UK John Cooper Works series. They run both Coopers and S's and their Coopers are pretty awesome. Alot of the Brits run MINI Ones and Coopers because S's are expensive and insurance for them is rather high.

 

No, I never did have any problems with the takeoff of the flywheel install. Its a good Spec unit and all I got was no flywheel noise (TAKE THAT S's!), faster revving for double clutching on the track and nice downshifts, and a lot faster engine ramp up to get into the power after 4500 rpms on a takeoff......all in all a GREAT mod for the Cooper to get to the power that much quicker.....

Cheers,

 

Guess i will update mine

Exterior:
Cooper S front bumper
Cooper S side skirts
Clear front indicators from powerbulbs
Oranges city lights
Supreme Power H7 Headlights
Supreme Power H7 Foglights
Clear side turn indicators
Smoked side reflectors
Blacked out Grill
Smoothed out chrome grill surround
Debadged Cooper rear
Custom bonnet stripes with black pinstriping
Custom checker roof with help of Idle Gear in the UK
50% tint all around
Shorty antenna

Interior:
Removed back seats (flat floor being made)
Custom cooper emblems in place of door reflectors
Old-School horn and button in dash
Custom made Plaid Shift boot and ebrake boot
Bright white lighting in place of all stock bulbs

ICE (in-car entertainment):
Alpine 9833 HU
Alpine crossover 5.25 speakers up front
Alpine 350 watt amp under custom plaid/plexiglass enclosure
Infinity 10 inch sub
All easily removable for track days or mountain runs

Engine Performance:
K&N typhoon intake
Borla Exhaust
MTH ECU remap

Suspension
H-sport sport sway bar in the rear
H&R springs
Koni struts

Wheel/Tire:
17x7 Flik wasps in anthracite running Falken Ziex tires
15x5.5 OEM steelies for the winter...gotta get some wicked rally/snow tires for this year Twisted Evil
15x7 Konig Rewind wheels with 205/50/15 Kumho tires (in love with this combo)

 

So, I modded it, like I do anything I drive- it's never fast enough. K&N cone-type airfilter mounted right onto ported throttle body(including the edges of the plate), teflon spacer under throttle body, Accell sparkplug wires(1/5th the resistance of the originals, Autolite 5224 sparkplugs gapped .005 larger to take advantage of low resistance wires, cut open and modified original muffler(worth the time and money saved- more power, only a little more noise), cut open the lower chromed "grill" and the aluminum bumper behind that, so I can get the engine to run at 180 degrees(180 thermostat installed), put spacers between heat exchangers to get more air space between them, cut open a slot at the top passenger side of the engine room to allow heat to escape(can't be detected with the hood closed, same with the grill mod), ported the intake side only thinning the divider between valves(needs shift points raised above 6000 rpm, feels like it wants to give more before shifting, but, for now, no change in performance), removed spare tire & stuff, removed back seatbacks(they're heavy and no body sits back there), Yokohama AVS tires. This car is definately faster and more fun to drive than when I bought it. I also get 35mpg. With an automatic. I want to get a chip/program to optimise higher rpm power. I will next port-match the intake to the head(the intake openings are much smaller than on the head). -Jeffy.

 

18 mm rear sway bar, k&n typhoon, borla cat back, quad spot lamps, euro front plate, aero grille, painted stripes, obx header.

 

I never expected to be in this thread since I planned to keep my MINI Cooper stock. But I found a way around that by installing the JCW Tuning Kit (not the new Sound Kit). So my MC is still all OEM equipment. I think I'm the first one in this thread.

List of mods and accessories:

John Cooper Works Tuning Kit:

• Machined cylinder head
• "Cat-back" sport exhaust
• Improved-flow air filter
• Cover injection tube
• ECU reprogramming
• JCW rear, side, and engine badges (No. 475)

German OEM center armrest
German front license plate [HH CN2004]
Sunshine MINIs grille badge











James

 

James,
How does the JCW exhaust sound compared to a Borla or any others you may have heard?

 

I don't have anything to compare it to, but it has a nice deeper tone with a slight burble when letting off the throttle. It's definitely not the stock sound but not too loud either. I don't notice much difference in sound when motoring at highway speed (70-80 mph). It's exactly what I wanted: more aggressive than stock but not over the top. I'm very satisfied.

James

 

thanks

 

Updated list of mods on my 05 MC:
(so far..all done myself or with help of friends)

Performance:
Borla exhaust

Exterior:
Bonnet Stripes
MCS front bumper
Stubby Antenna
Booty wipe
Front aero grills

Interior:
Cocomats

Upcoming/Planned:
De-chroming beltline (awaiting shipment)
Rspeed rear swaybar (awaiting shipment, 10/11/05)
Rear wiper removal..never really used it

M7 or H-sport springs (whichever I can find better deal on )
Intake
MTH Tuner (will probalby be early in 06 sometime)
50-60% tint all around

 

What's a booty wipe

 

removing rear emblems, sorry for being unclear :D

 

getting rid of the mini one too and painting over the holes?

 

I don't think I would get rid of the MINI ones, I like those

 

I finally get to post to this thread as a Cooper owner.

'06 Solar Red / Silver MC

Mods installed to date

• 15" Konig Rewinds with 205/55 R15 Avs ES 100's
• Euro Parcel Shelf
• Clear side repeaters off of my '02 S :smile:
• Audi TT replica antenna

Mods that I have that still need to be installed

• H-sport springs
• Short shift kit
• Aero Kit spoiler

Future Mods

• Rear Sway - Most likely Randy Webb's rear bar
• Custom Bonnet Stripes once I get tired of the new factory U stripes
• Tint
• Schroth Harness
• (possibly) rear seat delete