Ok... so I am wanting to mod my Cooper (non S)... I am wanting ideas... I am halfway decent at fabricating... so my question...
What would you do to your cooper if you had the ability to... Even if the part is not made or sold anywhere for the Cooper... What would you do?
Right now I have a Moss Intake and thats about it...

Thanks for any ideas...
Jimmy

 

It needs more cowbell.

 

Dare to be different, lol

 

I would look into a supercharger.

 

He asked for ideas and he gets the same old standards from S owners. S owners – it is great you love what you have, but some of use chose, or can not afford to get an S, but still want quality input from the MINI community. I see those who prefer automatic transmissions also get the same useless help sometimes here and on MotoringFile. A big thank you to whoever was responsible for setting up this non-S performance mods forum, but it sure would be nice not to get S replies when we ask for suggestions/help. I’ll step off my soap box now.

Jimmy,
Not really a performance suggestion, but I sure would like to be able to make a part to lose the lower chrome grill – see this thread that I started; https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54250

 

Not sure if you're looking mainly to do performance mods but if not, this is what I did.

Some extra fog lights..


Well ok, I did have the aero bumper but I hope it gives you some ideas. It may help those also who plan to use the oem fog light as brake intake ducts and still be able to have fogs.

Heres the thread with more pics and install info:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?p=767845

 

I'd like to see someone fabricate either:

a. A stretch limo Mini; or
b. A Mini with 1959 Cadillac tailfins.

 

I would have to agree with more cowbell. Man, I love that cowbell!

 

I'm allowed to comment, having owned both cars, Cooper and Cooper S

 

The best answer I can think of is brake cooling ducts.

 

-An adustable rear spoiler - adjustable by a switch or **** inside
-Brake cooling ducts
-James Bond style rotating license plate
-Mad Max style red on/off button to control the super charger...oh wait...

 

IMHO, concentrate on suspension... the power mods aren't really worth it.

And trust me, if you get the suspension dialed in the S owners won't be so flippant when you smoke them in the twisties...

 

power mods: just chip it, anything else wont net much

suspension, go with the lightest smallest wheel you can squeeze in there... with some lower profile tires you can get serious power without actually increasing it! then lower it with coilovers and put on a huge rear sway bar like the h-sport... you will hang with alot of sports cars with just that much, upgrade the brakes with fluid and pad swaps too

 

 

Although if s/he really can do machine work, then a big-valve, ported head with matched intake and header and a hot cam would probably yield another 15-20hp.

 

 

But that's an S. He has a Cooper. S owners, please...

 

Now thats cool! It even comes with "accoutrements," if you know what I mean.

 

..and also a well placed mirror opposite the passengers he he

 

I agree with focusing mostly on suspension and brakes.

 

I like the ideas for the brake ducts and additional cow bell...

 

Probably closer to 30 hp IMO and perhaps even higher with a few other mods (throttle body, exhaust, chip), and that's what I'd do (if only my CVT could take the extra power, but alas it can't ).

You could also look at decreasing weight, and one of the first things people do is get lighter wheels and replace the heavy runflats. That alone adds quite a lot to performance.

 

Do the MTH tuning. Maybe the MyMini Sport exhaust.

 

It's not an S so why not Turbo

 

Fender flares. Big, bulbuous, rounded fender flares. Ala the old classic racing minis. And monster-wide tires.