I have done a little bit of research on this forum and aftermarket part retailers but I still don't know what the best way is to get more power out of the MC engine (not MCS).

I am first looking at making the car considerably lighter by taking everything behind the driver seat out, getting a lighter battery, lighter front seats, removing stereo, AC and so on. I am guessing I can shed anywhere between 125 and 175 lbs doing that. (My MC is bone stock as it is, not much more there to remove)

But i still want to get another 25 -30 hp out of the engine to make that power to weight ratio more respectable. Here is what I am looking for:

Budget: ~$2500
Priority:
1. Power and torque gain across the power band, not just peak. Midrange is really important
2. Reliability & street drivability
3. Cost
4. Civility
5. Weight savings

How do you recommend that I achieve that? I am sure there are some quick solutions but i am looking to stay within the budget and get the highest quality, reliable and civilized package.

Thanks.

 

MTH, $70-$300 5-15hp (depending on Std or Tuner map, ect) *

CAI $40-200 2-5hp

Exhaust $Free - $300 2-5hp



That'll net you at least 9-25hp right there, and running $200-800. Spend $500 on springs/swaybar, and spend the rest on track school. If you really want to go crazy, there are Turbo kits for the MC, but I'd not recommend that.



*MTH cost does not include the $90 for a cable, since you might know someone with the right cable.

 

I am not sure that all those things simply add up in numbers like that. Also, my understanding is that CAI and Exhaust are pretty peaky power gains. The gain should be across the range so that the car is actually drivable - not looking for a 25 hp bump between 5,500 and 6,000rpm. What happens between 2,000 and 5,000? Thats why i was thinking a larger budget with engine work would be needed. Possibly a more aggressive cam shaft?

 

ahhh but the package as a whole CAI + Exhaust (Complete inc header) + REMAP =

of course if you have a budget like you have then you can work on the head....full port and polish...and making sure the exhaust header matches to the head

 

1. CAI $200
2. Exhaust
3. Header $800
4. ECU MTH as mention above
5. Head and cam - think this would help alot with the other mods. $1500

 

lowering weight would require a bit more money... personally i'd take out the rear seats, swap to a light weight battery, and get a set of light weight competiton seats, they'd save you weight after you did wheels and tires... seats for example, go with sparco EVO seats, weighing 15 lbs each for the fiberglass version... or sparco roadster, 14.5 lbs

power wise, chip, intake, exhaust... but from your budget, putting seats, in, new rubber, with the above'd probably net in the neighbourhood of 2500....

i can tell you modding is a disease.... it only gets worse!

 

Of course it also depends on the year of the MC. I haven't been able to find a CAI for an '05 yet.

 

Who makes a good CAI+Exhaust+REMAP package? And do they provide some dyno graphs for me to see? I haven't been able to find such a manufacturer - most have one offs and are a bit shady about the power gains.

Anyone know how much power I should expect from port polish and cam shaft?

 

Now that you said that -- Watch Out by this time tomorrow there will be three or four CAIs for the 05 listed here with anywhere from 4.5 to 19 hp gain

Earl

 

How much power are you looking at getting out of the 115HP MC motor?
I had read here and a Motoring file that between the exhaust and the CAI you could pump it upto around 125hp. MTH would add somemore unless you went into major componet replacement. If it's only more power you want why did you not get a MCS?


Art

 

I thought we talked about this before, goaljnky!

I have an '05 MC with a K&N Typhoon. Good sound, but it probably doesn't make more than a horse, maybe two above 5k rpms. Here it is!


Since this picture I have repositioned the filter a bit lower, running some of the cables around, saving another inch off the height, and tightened things up.

Low end power is not in this engine's future with out serious modifications and serious dough. All you can do is keep those revs up!

-Steve

 

I want another 25 or so HP out of the engine, so around 140 - 145 HP. This will give the MINI Cooper a power to weight ratio similar to the MCS. Why didn't I get an MCS?

1) At the time, money was tough and saving 3 grand was worth it
2) At the time i really wasn't into autox & track as much as i am now
3) The MC is about 150lbs lighter than the MCS and handles better (I have SS+)
4) The MC has much lighter wheels, smaller wheels (cheaper tires and more choices in tire) and has a spare
5) The MC looks better than the MCS (in my op anyway)
6) The MC has better fuel milage, has lower running costs and lower insurance costs
7) I have always liked the underdog car
8) Don't like the sound of the super charger

When I compare my MC to an MCS, the only drawback is power and i would like to get there by dropping 150lbs off the weight of my barebones MC and by pumping the power output up by 25hps or so.

Why can't i find anyone that sells a complete power solution for the MC in stages like they do for the MCS? There should be someone out there that sells Stage 1, 2 and 3 (15hp, 25hp, 40hp) types of kits for the MC. I would probably go with the 25hp anyway, since the tranny probably can't reliably handle the 40hp.

 

I can see you point, and I understand. Have you looked at Mini Mania they have stage upgrade kits.

Art

http://new.minimania.com/web/STSearc..._Inventory.cfm

 

It looks like you can use these Stage kits


1 NMK1001
2 NMK 1012 AND 1015
3 NMK 1014 AND 1016

Art

 

The MC's exhaust is a huge bottleneck, and if you've ever looked inside one you'd be shocked. I see at least 3-5hp waiting there. Intakes help more in the upper RPM, but they still help, and are cheap (compared to headers/cams/ect). MTH added a good ammount of oomf to the midrange that was lacking on my MC and I only have the standard version, his new tuner map is supposedly even better, and I'm waiting on reveiws to come in before taking that plunge. I'm going for more hidden upgrades that the dealer cant gripe over, MTH, modified MC exhaust (in the works), things along those lines that the dealer cant see. Other things that make a big difference on our coops is light wheels/rubber, dropping 10# a corner and using stickier rubber will make you take off like you added horses/torque.

Also you didnt mention what year your cooper is. If its pre-05 then you might really want to consider modifying your gearing using smaller diameter tires to bring it in line with 05+ gearing.

 

I dont think there is anything you can do that will give you a broad power band increase. You can free up the exhaust and intake which will give you a few more ponies up top. You will actually lose some low end power as this does require some backpressure.
The engine is designed to spin high and deliver its peak power up high. Maybe you need to wait and buy a 07 MC which will have variable valve timing and perhaps have some more low end torque.

One of my other cars is a Scion xB. It is a 1.5L engine that uses variable valve timing and is rated at 105hp. It does have a wide power band and has good drivability all thru the rev band... it doesn't have that dead spot off idle like the MCS does... The MC/MCS engine is a tough little motor but is designed to rev .. so you basically need to change your driving style to take advantage of the higher rpm power band...

 

I have a BMP Promini intake and also the Rspeed cat back. Next will be a header, from there, who knows? I have H-Sport springs and rear sway bar also. Low end and linear power is still no where near like what an S has. However, all of the reasons you listed about why you have a Cooper and not an S are the same reasons I have one. If you find the solution for what you are after (smooth, linear power across the rev range), please let me know. For what it's worth, I suggest you start with the intake, exhaust, and maybe do a header also. As for the useable, lower-end power, if you find a solution, let me know! But, it should be said, half the fun of driving the Cooper is keeping those revs crankin'!

 

What's wrong with a little instigating?

Yes we have. But even K&N does not say that intake will fit '05. Obviousely you made it work, but it wasn't designed with '05 in mind. Hence the clearance and the wire movement. I know I am splitting hairs, but still....

 

I was able to get a Moss intake to fit on an 05, but i hat do cut and grind the elbow for the intake.....

 

Thanks for all the replies guys. I will continue my search but will definitely start looking at different CAI/Exhaust/Header/ECU combinations as a start. Maybe a Cam Shaft in the future. I will also look through Minimania's stage kits (thx Art).

I have an 04 MC - so the gearing is a bit off. Though i use the light 15 inch holies (only way i can get much lower than that is by dropping 200-300 bux a wheel) along with 23 inch diameter Azenis - so that helps a little bit with the gearing.

 

Watch out as far as the tranny goes.

All i have is the CAI (hardly 2 horsepower) and the final drive recently went out on the new 5 speed. This is what fell out.....



take it easy on the 5 speeds please!!!!!! DONT LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!!!!

 

Wow, how many miles on your 2005 before that happened? Covered by warranty?

 

Wow, my girlfriend IS right! anything over 3k rpms is BAD!!!


I'm assuming results may vary...

 

8900 miles, fully covered, getting the car back tomarrow.....

as ive said in my thready about the transmission blowing, i believe it stems back to a blown axle a few months ago, i think something was damaged and wasnt noticed....but i dont care, it was FREE!!!!!




i wonder if they would give me another free one......only one way to find out!!!!

 

Does anyone have any hard numbers or dyno results for any of the followin MINI Cooper (not S!) upgrades:

1. Unichip
2. MTH
3. Cam Shaft

You can find plenty of info on the effect these upgrades have on the MCS, but i can't see anything for the MC. Thanks.