The rear swaybar is about the best mod anyone can do to any R50/R53 for suspension or anything for that matter! An inexpensive way to change up your driving experience for the better. I have the 19mm Alta bar and love it. Be sure to add in some adjustable endlinks too! Here is a link to what those look like:

http://www.altaperformance.com/produ...End-Links-Rear

 

Oh, here is a link to the rear sway bar that I have as well. Looks like it is on sale for a good price! To get the whole rear sway bar setup (end links and sway bar) for under $300 is a pretty good deal!

http://www.altaperformance.com/produ...-Bar-Rear-19MM

 

How does the intake compare to the sprint booster for the throttle lag? The way I understood it was the lag is somewhat "programmed" into the throttle, so will the intake really make enough of a difference there to improve rev matching, etc? My other concern is ease of installation.

 

Thanks for the link, I'll check that out!

 

It can't really be compared The SB makes a huge difference, especially at low rpm.

 

By allowing the engine to get air more quickly...
And like Way said, he can tweak your throttle maps to your liking for about the same price as the sprint booster, if not for cheaper and you'll see more benefit from a tune than from just a sprint booster. Not knocking the SB as I've never tried but I would really go for the intake and tune first...

Installation shouldn't be a problem - it's a simple bolt on. Might take you an hour tops?

 

I would start just the intake alone. It does provide a crisper throttle feel, which sounds great at higher rpm. Other areas to focus on would be shorter and wider than OEM tires and possibly other mechanics such as a lightweight flywheel. These parts through design give the mini better throttle response and crisper acceleration.

 

Thanks for the input everyone! I'd love to hear from anyone who has had both the SB and a CAI. I have some time to weigh options, no mods until spring as my winter tires aren't great for spirited driving anyhow! Looking at summer rubber for April.

A tune sounds great but I can't make it to any events from up here in the great white north!

 

I would start by asking whether or not your mini either:

1. Doesn't feel like it has quite aggressive enough turn in for you

or

2. It doesn't quite have enough zip for you.

#1 answered with a no would mean you want the sway bar. #2 the intake. Whichever weighs in as your biggest call-out, that is what you should do. I wanted mine to handle better, hence I went for the sway first. Then, I did the intake. aFe setup is nice and I got it from VAC Motorsport. I would give them a call and ask for Steve, he will set you on the right path for engine mods.

 

I really think the intake is better bang for the buck, but look around for anyone with a Way/DDM intake on their justa cooper and ask them what they think of it, that way you can get it from a user. We have a justa cooper that is our company loaner car with one on it, and everyone thinks it's awesome.

As for sway bars don't get caught in the sway bar end link hype. They are NOT necessary with a sway bar. The stock ones are NOT weak. You only need sway bar end links if you are trying to corner weight the car or set the sway bars to zero preload. Stuff that you don't bother with on daily driver cars. Trust me I'd love to sell you endlinks, but I'd just be taking your money.

 

I had the DDM CAI on my justa - I thought it was fantastic. It really does "wake it up".
Lighter flywheels will also help but they aren't cheap or near as easy to install as a CAI.
Btw, you can get a remote tune...

 

Lol, time re-awaken this sticky thread.

In the quest to squeeze out every bit of performance out of my R50, I am installing some 15mm spacers up front and leaving my 5mm ones on in the rear. I am keeping with my current wheel and tire combos (205/50-15 on Holeys and 205/40-17 on my Fliks).

The reasoning behind this move is to increase the oversteer of the R50. A wider track up front should cause a slight to moderate increase in car rotation according to my friends who run a racing team, and thy suggested trying it out on the R50. Coupled with my other suspension mods, the addition to a wider front track should aid my car's quest of being a more neutral drive. I will give a full report when I get them installed and get to drive through the mountains. I hope this little trick pays a noticeable dividend!

 

So, spacers are installed and I have to say, the difference is there. It is a subtle touch, but visually it is a bit more aggressive. The driving dynamic is great on back roads around the Atlanta area! Nice and connected, with a touch of lift off oversteer which is fun in these lightweight cars.

Makes me want to add some spacers to my Miata now...

 

Nice, thanks for the report. Post pictures of the improved stance if you can

 

serious question, this kit switches the throttle to cable from drive-by-wire.
what kind of modifications to the ecu, tcu, etc are necessary to drop this on the block? additionally, does the head come with the ITBs or do you supply your own?

 

I would think that if you are running such an intake setup, a stand alone ECU would be necessary to make everything work and monitor properly.

 

that's what i figured, i'll have to look into possible stand-alones to see if there's any i could program with OEM functionality (ie gauges)

 

Has anyone tried exchanging piston heads?
I've been looking into what it takes to do internals. (i don't want to hear the cliched "time, anythings possible with $$$, etc)
maybe some of the track guys can chime in?

 

Several quality manufacturers already have products available. I would recommend calling a few and talk to them about what goal your trying to reach. As far as swapping (between r53?), if a boost upgrade is in your future, its a good start.

Try:
Mahle
Ferrea
Eagle

 

If your taking about the cylinder heads they are the same for the Justa, S, and JCW in terms of bolting up and the combustion chamber volume. Same goes for the block.

You can run internals designed for an S/JCW, but you would need rods, piston and the crank.

Oh and I almost forgot, for the block the ports for the oil sprayers will will need to be drilled and tapped, if you choose to run them.

 

So what would give me more bang for my buck? Want to improve response and performance on my 2010 Justa Clubman Automatic. Cold Air Intake or Sprint Booster?

Don't really need for daily motoring, but would love for my spirited Mini runs with my Mini Club!

Also want to be sure a mod wouldn't null and void my warranty

 

your kinda in the wrong section for 10' coopers, this is 1st gen (02-06)

 

.....oh.....oops...

 

This is partially correct. You can take S heads and put them on the Cooper no problem. But going the other direction requires the correct valves. Same goes for the JCW head which is the same between r50/r53 with exception to the valves.

 

Can you please elaborate on this. I'll admit I don't do to much work involving cooper performance, but I've swapped plenty of W10 heads over to W11 engines with no issue.