I have an 09 base model cooper and I am looking to get a little more performance out of the engine. Anyone have any ideas???

 

How much are you willing to spend?

 

I am just looking for ideas right now. I have tried looking on my own but I have come up with a lot of ideas and im not sure what is the best way to go. For starters around maybe 2000.

 

Cold air intake and exhaust should run you around $900. Then ditch the runflats and stock wheels to save some weight. $700 should do that.

Use the rest on a track day with one of the car clubs in your area. I suggest BMW, Audi or Porsche.

 

I would suggest getting a intake-DDM Works$250 & VIPcustoms $130 offer two that would work together. As far as an exhaust, SuperSprint is the only company that offers one made for the Justa Cooper and it can go up to about $2000+ itself for headers back. I'd suggest having one made for your car at one of the local shops around your town. There really isn't much more you can do performance without going over the $2000 line.

 

OBX has a header which is basically a Supersprint carbon copy at half the cost.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OBX-E...item2eab856f67

 

Thanks bro, I forgot about the OBX header! and its at a fraction of the cost of what the Supersprint one is too.

 

I did a DIY intake for $33 got about 2-3 MPG better on the highway, better throttle response, and a nice throaty sound.

Later I deleted the 2nd catalytic converter, and replaced the resonator and muffler with Magnaflow resonator and muffler. Got another 2 MPG or so from that and now get about 4 MPG better on the highway than stock. This cost me a total of about $160 installed, shipped, out the door.

The engine feels a lot more peppy, revs quicker, sounds incredible, and the butt dyno says it pulls a bit harder. When driven mildly it rewards you with better gas mileage, when driven hard you get great sound and more fun factor.

 

My SS header and front pipe cost me over $1200 but it was the only system offered in early '08. With the OBX you get the header AND front pipe for under $280.

 

Yeah I was look on ebay the other day. It sucks cause I cant get it shipped out here. I might call them and see if I can work something out with them for shipping. Being out here bro has it's ups and downs.

 

You can buy on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/OBX-Header-07-...8534372&sr=8-2

 

Thanks Ron, but I've tried both. I can have it shipped out here but I don't feel like having it shipped with UPS because it would take forever to get it here. It would be put through customs and that would take like 4-5 months!

 

this might be a stupid question but what does the replaceing the header with the obx or supersprint ones actually do for the car in terms of performance?

 

Less restriction in flow of your exhaust and in some cases with headers larger diameter in piping to increase the flow as well.

 

oh ok, this mod should probably be accompanied by an exhaust system?

 

Interesting article regarding basic bolt on mods on a WRX:

Quick Summary: Gains from intake only, Gains from exhaust only, negated gains when both were added but increase in gains after car was chipped

http://www.caranddriver.com/features...u_wrx-gear_box

 

so where do we get our non-s minis tuned?

 

You can check with a couple Mini tuners like RMW or Mynes, but I wouldn't expect a huge power increase, even after installing an intake and exhaust. The WRX cited above was turbo charged, so much more could be pulled out during a tune.

 

yea that makes sense, one of my really good friends has a stage 2 legacy GT and I drove it before and after it was remapped with the accessport, so I definitely understand the gain. I cant afford to get out of my car right now so I am looking to get some more power out of my non-s mini. I was thinking the headers and an exhaust but I am trying to determine if it is worth it, or if there is a better option such as a remap. I know I wont get much but I want something to tide me over until I am out of college.

 

I just don't see a header making a big difference on the just-a-coop, but at least the OBX isn't too expensive, so it's worth considering. Might make a nice sound with a cat back. Air filter will make the car sound great and should add at least a few ponies. Decreasing weight can be the same as adding power, so lighter wheels and tires may be in order.

 

__ NM Engine Torque Arm Insert

__For sale at Way Motor Works for $59.95. www.waymotorworks.com
It's like putting traction bars or latter bars on a muscle car.
It reduces engine flex when accelerating, putting more power to the wheels.
Also available the BSH Lower Engine mount for $119, which should reduce engine flex even more.

 

+1 one of the best mods i have done!

 

The Lower Engine Mount is a great upgrade to the MINI Cooper, and will give you added performance, reduced wheel hop and better throttle response. Plus, all of these gains are without having to make your motor do more work or create more energy! Its already there, your just transferring where and how the energy is being used!

 

Check out the DDM intake for your R56 just a Cooper. We dyno tested it and had an 8 ft lbs of torque gain at the wheels. And a Killer sound with better throttle responce.
http://www.waymotorworks.com/ddmwork...5-r56-r57.html

 

anybody done the Torque Arm Insert upgrade on their own? sounds like a good deal to me, just didn't see a how to on it. Would love to do both the torque arm and lower engine mount as well.
Thanks