Reasonable R50 performance mods
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5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 686
Likes: 0
From: Crystal Lake, Illinois
Reasonable R50 performance mods
Without breaking the bank; what are some reasonably priced performance mods available for the R50? Not looking to spend a ton of money, otherwise I would just trade it in for an 'S'.
Anyone made some performance mods that are reasonable? Not including suspension.
Anyone made some performance mods that are reasonable? Not including suspension.
OVERDRIVE - Racing Champion
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 15,262
Likes: 72
From: Mililani, Hawaii
Search this forum for past ideas.
All MINIs can be enhanced by-
If manual transmission- whalen shift ****, short shift kit
Light rims- 15x7 or 16x7, OEM rims are very heavy
Non runflat tires- 205/55-15 or 205/50-16
Suspension upgrades-
Shocks (Koni FSD)
Springs
Rear swaybar- adjustable 19mm for the base cooper
Brakes- better pads try Hawk brand (ceramic for less dust)
Intake- looks nice, works a little
Cat back exhaust- sounds nice, might be lighter, works a little
ECU flash- MTH software
Spark plugs wires
3rd Gear
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 235
Likes: 1
I believe that suspension upgrades is the key to make a Cooper faster by far!It totally changes the way the car feels in going down the road and taking turns. It is a great upgrade since the Cooper takes more effort to get more power out of the motor!
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 509
Likes: 0
From: Southeast PA
My H&R 19mm rear sway bar is my favorite mod. I also bought 16 inch R90s from Morristown MINI and shod them with Kuhmo 205/50-16 ASTs. This combo made a huge fun factor difference. The K&N drop in was also a good mod.
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 585
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere that no longer exists
how much is reasonable? the jcw sound kit is 880 from morristown, new intake, new exhaust, new ecu (which will be like 150 to have installed, you could do the rest is so inclined...). I havnt got mine on fully yet, because im going to mod the header, which would probably be a good thing for you to do as well, 180 on ebay for an obx, or remove the pre cat on your stocker, would help more than a cat back probably. But $1000 for a nice package, and bit of jcw bling.
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5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 686
Likes: 0
From: Crystal Lake, Illinois
how much is reasonable? the jcw sound kit is 880 from morristown, new intake, new exhaust, new ecu (which will be like 150 to have installed, you could do the rest is so inclined...). I havnt got mine on fully yet, because im going to mod the header, which would probably be a good thing for you to do as well, 180 on ebay for an obx, or remove the pre cat on your stocker, would help more than a cat back probably. But $1000 for a nice package, and bit of jcw bling.
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Alliance Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 4,098
Likes: 229
From: York, Pennsylvania
I'd like my Midlands transmission to last forever, and that precludes adding
a lot of power to the Cooper (also, it's hard to add lots of power to the
Cooper anyway).
But, .... If my transmission goes, I think I'd get a 5 speed Getrag or preferably
a 6-speed MCS Getrag to replace it, and if I was going to sink that much into
the car, I'd probably consider adding a cylinder head ported for an NA engine
in mind and a header (hopefully a 4-2-1 design with a cat and not too wide
primaries) to add to the intake, milltek cat-back and bluefin ecu reprogram
I already have. I'm pretty sure the MC short block can handle that.
Would also want to use a lightened flywheel if using the MCS transmission.
The MCS oem one is way to heavy at 28# compared to 18# for the MC oem one.
a lot of power to the Cooper (also, it's hard to add lots of power to the
Cooper anyway).
But, .... If my transmission goes, I think I'd get a 5 speed Getrag or preferably
a 6-speed MCS Getrag to replace it, and if I was going to sink that much into
the car, I'd probably consider adding a cylinder head ported for an NA engine
in mind and a header (hopefully a 4-2-1 design with a cat and not too wide
primaries) to add to the intake, milltek cat-back and bluefin ecu reprogram
I already have. I'm pretty sure the MC short block can handle that.
Would also want to use a lightened flywheel if using the MCS transmission.
The MCS oem one is way to heavy at 28# compared to 18# for the MC oem one.
Last edited by cristo; Dec 15, 2007 at 12:03 PM.
OVERDRIVE
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,233
Likes: 127
From: San Francisco
For real power gain without breaking the bank, your best bet may be a custom tune such as Revolution Motor Works: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...03#post1921603.
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,021
Likes: 4
From: Burlington, VT
What aspect of the car's performance are you trying to improve?
Suspension is the easiest way to make a Cooper faster on a track, but you said no suspension.
An exhaust and intake will make it sound fast, but it will not actually make the car go fast. The Cooper Borla exhaust sounds great, and with a cone air intake it sounds very impressive.
Suspension is the easiest way to make a Cooper faster on a track, but you said no suspension.
An exhaust and intake will make it sound fast, but it will not actually make the car go fast. The Cooper Borla exhaust sounds great, and with a cone air intake it sounds very impressive.
Thread Starter
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5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 686
Likes: 0
From: Crystal Lake, Illinois
What aspect of the car's performance are you trying to improve?
Suspension is the easiest way to make a Cooper faster on a track, but you said no suspension.
An exhaust and intake will make it sound fast, but it will not actually make the car go fast. The Cooper Borla exhaust sounds great, and with a cone air intake it sounds very impressive.
Suspension is the easiest way to make a Cooper faster on a track, but you said no suspension.
An exhaust and intake will make it sound fast, but it will not actually make the car go fast. The Cooper Borla exhaust sounds great, and with a cone air intake it sounds very impressive.
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
im curious as to how many times the same question can be asked... then in return, get the same responses.
in most cases i would think the cooper would not be the first car the person asking has modded. also not likely that NAM is the first forum they have joined. so what im getting at here is that you should know better.
search. its real easy.
but in light of the thread, heres my 2 cents-
its a NA 4 cylinder. theres not going to be any top secret single part, for any price, that is going to lay down an impressive gain in power.
i understand what your looking for. and i hate it when people say suspension and/or driving schools will make you faster (not everyone is a twisty junkie). suspension will prove its self on a timed lap, but not faster according to the butt dyno while ripping down a straight on ramp.
now, for $800 you could do alot more for yourself and your car IF you DONT buy parts that are unreasonably expensive. ebay intakes work all the same as those poorly made K&N's. its a bent tube with a filter...., youll save $200. exhaust, buy a muffler and a tip online, take it to a shop to have it welded in, save at least $150. with the left over money you could go even further than you initially expected.
if this is your hobby, take some pride in it. your time will be well spent/invested and in the end your mini will be your masterpiece.
now its up to you to not take anyones advise and go buy the more expensive parts that have the same gains (that tends to be the leading trend).
</rant>
and yes, that felt good
in most cases i would think the cooper would not be the first car the person asking has modded. also not likely that NAM is the first forum they have joined. so what im getting at here is that you should know better.
search. its real easy.
but in light of the thread, heres my 2 cents-
its a NA 4 cylinder. theres not going to be any top secret single part, for any price, that is going to lay down an impressive gain in power.
i understand what your looking for. and i hate it when people say suspension and/or driving schools will make you faster (not everyone is a twisty junkie). suspension will prove its self on a timed lap, but not faster according to the butt dyno while ripping down a straight on ramp.
now, for $800 you could do alot more for yourself and your car IF you DONT buy parts that are unreasonably expensive. ebay intakes work all the same as those poorly made K&N's. its a bent tube with a filter...., youll save $200. exhaust, buy a muffler and a tip online, take it to a shop to have it welded in, save at least $150. with the left over money you could go even further than you initially expected.
if this is your hobby, take some pride in it. your time will be well spent/invested and in the end your mini will be your masterpiece.
now its up to you to not take anyones advise and go buy the more expensive parts that have the same gains (that tends to be the leading trend).
</rant>
and yes, that felt good
Thread Starter
|
5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 686
Likes: 0
From: Crystal Lake, Illinois
im curious as to how many times the same question can be asked... then in return, get the same responses.
in most cases i would think the cooper would not be the first car the person asking has modded. also not likely that NAM is the first forum they have joined. so what im getting at here is that you should know better.
search. its real easy.
but in light of the thread, heres my 2 cents-
its a NA 4 cylinder. theres not going to be any top secret single part, for any price, that is going to lay down an impressive gain in power.
i understand what your looking for. and i hate it when people say suspension and/or driving schools will make you faster (not everyone is a twisty junkie). suspension will prove its self on a timed lap, but not faster according to the butt dyno while ripping down a straight on ramp.
now, for $800 you could do alot more for yourself and your car IF you DONT buy parts that are unreasonably expensive. ebay intakes work all the same as those poorly made K&N's. its a bent tube with a filter...., youll save $200. exhaust, buy a muffler and a tip online, take it to a shop to have it welded in, save at least $150. with the left over money you could go even further than you initially expected.
if this is your hobby, take some pride in it. your time will be well spent/invested and in the end your mini will be your masterpiece.
now its up to you to not take anyones advise and go buy the more expensive parts that have the same gains (that tends to be the leading trend).
</rant>
and yes, that felt good
in most cases i would think the cooper would not be the first car the person asking has modded. also not likely that NAM is the first forum they have joined. so what im getting at here is that you should know better.
search. its real easy.
but in light of the thread, heres my 2 cents-
its a NA 4 cylinder. theres not going to be any top secret single part, for any price, that is going to lay down an impressive gain in power.
i understand what your looking for. and i hate it when people say suspension and/or driving schools will make you faster (not everyone is a twisty junkie). suspension will prove its self on a timed lap, but not faster according to the butt dyno while ripping down a straight on ramp.
now, for $800 you could do alot more for yourself and your car IF you DONT buy parts that are unreasonably expensive. ebay intakes work all the same as those poorly made K&N's. its a bent tube with a filter...., youll save $200. exhaust, buy a muffler and a tip online, take it to a shop to have it welded in, save at least $150. with the left over money you could go even further than you initially expected.
if this is your hobby, take some pride in it. your time will be well spent/invested and in the end your mini will be your masterpiece.
now its up to you to not take anyones advise and go buy the more expensive parts that have the same gains (that tends to be the leading trend).
</rant>
and yes, that felt good
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
right now, just an alta drop in and a homemade exhaust consisting of a bosal muffler (mostly a glorified glass pack), removed front resonator and self made tip.
next autocross season im moving to STS. so in the spring, when the snow is gone i will be installing H-sports and an "S" rear bar, both iv already acquired. still need to pick up a set of designated summer wheels and tires.
Besides that, just cosmetics; blacked out all chrome, painted wheels (next years winter wheels) and fog lamps.
next autocross season im moving to STS. so in the spring, when the snow is gone i will be installing H-sports and an "S" rear bar, both iv already acquired. still need to pick up a set of designated summer wheels and tires.
Besides that, just cosmetics; blacked out all chrome, painted wheels (next years winter wheels) and fog lamps.
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Blue fin chip are 150 quid and highly recommended in the UK just waiting on delivery and will let u know
4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 334
Likes: 185
From: Romania
Best way to get more power is to use 270cc injectors plug and play( are used on old Lincoln 5,4l V8,Bosch 0280155865) and a good remap.Made this on my R50 and also on lot of R50.
6 gears Getrag from MCS is a good move also.
6 gears Getrag from MCS is a good move also.
