Hank, you have a Cooper S, correct? Just keeping this on topic, I was looking for regular MINI Cooper mods only. Tons of MCS threads out there, just wanted to see what us regular guys were doing to our MC's :smile:

 

how load is the new pipes on long trips?

 

minihune,
thanks for the info! One question, is the header a pain in the *** to install? would I have to take it elswhere? A brake upgrade is next, I can't do a suspension upgrade, until I finish fixing the ramp into the place i park the car (it's a steep slope).

thanks for the compliments, and happy motoring!

=D=

 

Yeah, I do own an 'S' Dandp, sorry about that. I noticed right after I hit the submit button that the question was probably for MC's only. I'll drive away.....................

 

hank,

I actually thought you had a an MC until I saw your post about the JCW upgrade, and thought maybe you had a connection in the UK for the MC. When I looked closer at your sig pic, I saw the chrom side vent and figured it must be an MCS (intake scoop was hard for me to see) I'll be real curious to see what kind of gains you get from the JCW upgrade- I'm just fascinated by everything people are doing to ALL the MINI's

Nice choice on the wheels & tires BTW

 

I just updated my original post with my newest mods. I suggest others do the same as you add things. Keep this thread current and alive. I love to hear what others are doing to their Coopers.

 

I now really want to add the rear adjustable sway bar...gonna try and go to the Meadowlands Auto-X on Sunday AM and throw my Cooper to the wolves. The only other frontier I am waiting for is an ECU upgrade. Guess I need to shoot some more weddings or Bat-Mitzvahs

 

Thanks HARMINI for keeping this one going! I just updated my original post to include my new parcel shelf, which I LOVE!!! Next for me is those nifty DIY magnetic bonnet stripes that JoeS475 posted about a few weeks ago...

 

Chris, How do you like the magnecors? What do they do for you? I am thinking of getting them. Some people like the Nology, but the price is high for me.

 

i'm thinking of getting for my MC
- rear sway bar
- H sport springs
- Helix exhaust

what i need help with for ideas is
- wheels - right now got those heavy R83 16 x 6.5 five spoke star rims
might change to Sport Edition Fox 5 or SSR Comp R if i feel wealthy
- tires - right now got those performance run flats
will change to Goodyear F1 GS-D3 or Yokohama AVS ES100

my question is: should i change the wheels also when i change the tires? will difference in weight really make that much of a noticeable difference? and will my gas mileage go up also?

if i do decide to change wheels and tires, it gets kind of pricey and i'm gonna have to break the mods up into stages. which ones should i do first?

last question is will all these mods have any negative consequences for the warranty?

thanks

 

Not many mods yet but I have a few...

Glove box orgainizer and center console cubby from R-Speed.

Brake light mod, using the pull the pins and crimp in a insulated jumper wire method....

16"X6.5" Ak Monza Wheels with Kuhmo 205/45/16 V700 R compound tires for solo events.

Magnetic #s from soloracer.com on order.. for said racing events... (H stock class)

Alignment

 

conecarver, was it hard to find a place to do your alignment? One local tire shop said they could do it, but the specs for the MINI weren't in their machine's database and they would have to do it manually. What does this mean?

 

>>Chris, How do you like the magnecors? What do they do for you? I am thinking of getting them. Some people like the Nology, but the price is high for me. <<

I agree with you on the price of the Nology wires; I didn't even consider them. As far as the Magnecors go, the one noticeable thing that they did was smooth out my car's idle. When idling, it would stay steady around 1100 rpm, and then drop down momentarily to around 800-900 every five seconds or so. With the new wires, I can still detect this pattern, but it's much less noticeable; the dip is only 100 rpm, if that. The idle just seemed smoother and healthier-sounding after installing them. (I'm still going to get the idle thing checked out at 10k, but it's much more bearable now.)

RandyBMC has posted a few times that the Magnecors seemed to make more improvements for the MC, while the Nology wires were more beneficial for the MCS. Not sure why that would be, but I think he knows what he's talking about.

And they look pretty cool, too Very easy install.

_________________


Borla exhaust, Moss intake, Magnecor

 

Thanks Chris. I think I will get the red ones. Any pics of yours?

Andy

 

>>Thanks Chris. I think I will get the red ones. Any pics of yours?
>>
>>Andy

I'll take a pic this evening and post it. As far as red vs blue goes, after I purchased them I had several people tell me that the size increase from blue to red (8.0 to 8.5 mm, or whatever it is) doesn't provide any real advantage, since even the thinner wires have more than enough capacity to handle the maximum load that the MINI would throw at them. Ths is in the most ignorant possible layman's terms because I don't actually know what I'm talking about, but I heard it from more than one source that I considered to be reputable, so... Anyway the red ones look good because my car is red. They're definitely not chili red, though - more of an orangey brick red. Next to my Moss intake they don't look red at all.

 

Haven't forgotten to do this! Maybe after work today...

_____________________________________
>>Thanks Chris. I think I will get the red ones. Any pics of yours?
>>
>>Andy

I'll take a pic this evening and post it.
______________________________________

 

At present:
Nice to see an MC only mod thread.
Performance:
-Remus exhaust
-K&N drop-in filter
Exterior Cosmetic:
-Alta antenna
-aero grills on regular MC bumper
-brake light mod
Interior:
-Hot Pocket
-glove box organizer
-storage armrest
-'03 style MCS pedals
-map light

 

Borla cat-back
Green drop-in air filter
Alta stubbie antenna (installed last night - looks SLICK!)

Coming in the next month or so:

G2 Caliper Paint (black)
EBC Green Pads
Magnecor wires
New tires for street - waffling between Azenis, Spec-2, ES100, and GS-D3

Since I'm running this car in H-Stock, I'm limited on the mods I can do... heh.

 

Added the RDR adjustable rear sway bar from HELIX the other day. My car is just just "regular" sport suspension, not SS+. I found that some of the tightness of the car was lost when I went up to 17's and fatter tires. While the car felt more planted in the twisties, I wanted to regain some of the snappiness. This bar is much thicker than stock, and has really improved the handling to where I think it should be. Have it set on the softest setting for now. This is the same bar that Grassroots Motorsports uses on their project MCS for Auto-X.

And an update on the Parada Spec2 tires - they really are a fantastic tire. Very happy with overall performance.

 

Here's my current set.... (updated)

Winston has received many presents over the last 4 months (4400 mi):
01 - Euro Parcel Shelf
02 - Gearshift ****
03 - Shift Bag
04 - Hand Brake Bag
05 - Glovebox Organizer
06 - Front Euro Plate
07 - Union Jack/Checkered Flag Badge on the Boot
08 - Boot Box
09 - Alta Shorty Antenna
10 - MCS Pedals
11 - X-Pel Light Protection (AFTER a foglight got nailed!)
12 - Green Drop-In Air Filter (* new *)
13 - AUX Input Jack for my iPod (* new *)
14 - Magnecor Spark Plug Wires (* new *)

Received but not Installed...
A - Madness Rear Sway Bar

Considering...
A - Exhaust
B - Some engine dress-up
C - 17" Anthracite wheels (any suggestions?)
D - Window tint

Cheers,
Bill

 

Update! 2003 PS/PS MC 15K miles
H&R lowering springs
air horn
30% tint front
25% tint back
tiny antenna (as tall as your MINI car key, base and all!)
intake
strut brace
jackson racing wires
yokohama ES100 tires
supporter of the texas sheriffs department sticker on back window :smile:

 

Ok..I got...

MCS gas cap
S2000 antenna
17" BBS R90's
aero fin
Moss side vents (w/ clear bulbs)
bonnet stripes
euro plate
slim chrome "MC" plate surround
sport exhaust tip

I have a ? though: I want to get an air filter. Can some of you tell me how you like your K&N / green filters? How did you decide between the two? Thanks.

 

>>conecarver, was it hard to find a place to do your alignment? One local tire shop said they could do it, but the specs for the MINI weren't in their machine's database and they would have to do it manually. What does this mean?

HARMINI,
Most regular brake shops and garages don't have the equiptment or the know how to do justice in alignment for the MINI. When I asked my local MIDAS, they said No, and referred me to a specialty alignment shop (interestingly this shop does all the alignments for ambulances). When I told them I had a ton of upgraded suspension parts-springs, rear swaybar, and adjustable pair of rear control arms- they said OK, no problem we will align to factory specs or custom specs. Give us 90 minutes- took 100 and cost $80. Excellent ride afterwards. Also the shop said they could do alignment on stock MINIs- no upgrades. So check around and find out where all those ambulances get aligned!

 

>>minihune,
>>thanks for the info! One question, is the header a pain in the *** to install? would I have to take it elswhere? A brake upgrade is next, I can't do a suspension upgrade, until I finish fixing the ramp into the place i park the car (it's a steep slope).

For info on the header install see
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ic=5610&19
about 90 minutes and you need to get under the car to remove the stock header and O2 sensors x 2.
Not too bad- you can call RandyBMC to see if it is anything you could do. 720-841-1002
or send him email.

 

I have 'Old Glory' in my window. Really mod.