Ok i am a college student with a budget. What would be the best performance mod for me starting out? I have an 06 cooper btw.

 

Since it's just a cooper start with our Intake, it has some good performance gains, and a killer sound. Plus it's affordable.
http://www.waymotorworks.com/way-ddm...ntake-r50.html

The other biggest mod would be a rear swaybar. The Hotchkis 19mm would be perfect.
http://www.waymotorworks.com/h-sport...-bar-19mm.html

 

i will start out with your intake as soon as i save up enough lol

 

Hey WMW - when I click on the MP3 I keep getting a permission error:

"
Forbidden

You don't have permission to access /files/sound_clips/drive_3.mp3 on this server."


Would love to hear what the intake sounds like!

 

Check out you tube lots of links there

 

True, but they've got an MP3 on their site that I want to hear.

 

tires

a good set of summer tires will make the biggest impact for handling.

I/H/E obvious for power

upgraded suspension would be after tires

 

I'll see what's wrong with it, don't know why it isn't working. I'll post when I figure it out.

WAY

 

ok. I will def. Look into some tires. thanks

 

You might want to strenghen some weak spots first...

strut tower reinforcement braces (prevent possible damage from pot holes)

http://www.waymotorworks.com/custom-...nt-plates.html

Engine stabilizer (not so jerky when first taking off or reverse)

http://www.vipcustomparts.com/minicooperparts.htm

Don't know if it gets hot where your at

air plate diverter (more efficient flow thru radiator)

http://www.m7tuning.com/parts/produc...roducts_id=150

That's what I've done so far... the stabilizer has been the most noticable.

Also put 12mm spacers on to push the stock wheels out a bit (should of went with 15mm).

 

The best performance mod for a Cooper is a rear swaybar, without a doubt. Increasing power is difficult and expensive, but improving handling is cheap and rewarding. I've seen several people spend considerable amounts of money trying to make their Cooper faster in a straight line to little avail.

 

I would second this! Alta, H-Sport, H&R, and Eibach all make one for our cars and they are the most rewarding mod any cooper can have. Then I would do tires that have a bit more grip and third, an intake will improve response and sound really cool. Those would be my first three.

Also, you should think about doing some sort of mod that prevents mushrooming of the strut towers. I have the M7 version, here is a link:

http://www.m7tuning.com/parts/produc...564ea09a62f025

What size wheels are you running? Do you have the stock 15 inch wheels? If so, I threw on a set of these tires on my car and they did really well, good grip and more stability:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....EASX&tab=Sizes

And if you want to purchase a rear swaybar, I would sell you mine if you wanted it, would give me an excuse to upgrade to a 22mm rear sway

 

Yes I have stock tires. But shouldn't i just go with the 22 mm sways if you want to upgrade? Lol

 

Actually I have 15 inch yokohomas on it

 

Do you know what size tire that would be? Adn yes, you def. could go with 22mm rear swaybar if you want! I have found that most people think it is too aggressive for the mini, but I think I would like the extra stiffness to be honest! I have a 19mm bar right now

 

no clue what tire size that is..... lol i am new at this. I am starting to realize this will be a longer process than i thought.

 

Wheels first!
exhaust next... possibly Alta or B&M SSK ( I like my alta ) Sway bar somewhere down the way...