Hey guys, I'm new to the mini world. My gf will be getting a Cooper soon and I'd like to get a feel for what you all feel are the best mods for the buck for the non-s cooper. I drive a ZX3 Focus ( check out http://www.focaljet.com ) so I'm not too familiar with the Cooper engine yet or even what parts are really out there. I'm thinking the first two would be intake and exhaust, those seem to be the essentials for any car, open up those restrictive measures taken to quiet the car down and let it breathe.

Nate

 

Some good mods for the cooper, are the aero kit, try a chip, and now they have a 200BHP turbo out. For the begining of your g/f's ownership I say just get the intake and exhaust. hope this helps, you can check at minimania.com

 

>>Hey guys, I'm new to the mini world. My gf will be getting a Cooper soon and I'd like to get a feel for what you all feel are the best mods for the buck for the non-s cooper. I drive a ZX3 Focus ( check out http://www.focaljet.com ) so I'm not too familiar with the Cooper engine yet or even what parts are really out there. I'm thinking the first two would be intake and exhaust, those seem to be the essentials for any car, open up those restrictive measures taken to quiet the car down and let it breathe.
>>
>>Nate


Nate,

The Cooper is actually pretty well optimized by the factory.

Don't expect to get monster gains from the intake and the exhaust, but they are the best place to start. I would recommend the Rogue exhaust and the Green Filter UK intake (still undergoing evaluation). Expect about 9 hp from the combination. The Magnacor wires make more power than the Nology on the Cooper - it's vice-versa on the S. They will only give you 2 hp, so it's more of a throttle response feel than anything.

jabrams is right, there is a turbo kit on the market, but e-mail me about that before you buy it.

If you aren't worried about the warranty, you could do the ECU mod as well, but again, don't expect huge gains - more like 10 hp. There is also a new head that I'm working on (I have it here) as well as a new cam by Schrick. A header with a high flow cat will work on the Cooper too - but now you are into some pretty big dollars.

I hope that helps. Feel free to e-mail me with any other questions you might have.

Randy Webb
Owner, MINI Cooper Motorsport
http://www.mini-motorsport.com
720-841-1002
randy@mini-motorsport.com

_________________

Click It!

 

>>>>Hey guys, I'm new to the mini world. My gf will be getting a Cooper soon and I'd like to get a feel for what you all feel are the best mods for the buck for the non-s cooper. I drive a ZX3 Focus ( check out http://www.focaljet.com ) so I'm not too familiar with the Cooper engine yet or even what parts are really out there. I'm thinking the first two would be intake and exhaust, those seem to be the essentials for any car, open up those restrictive measures taken to quiet the car down and let it breathe.
>>>>
>>>>Nate
>>
>>
>>Nate,
>>
>>The Cooper is actually pretty well optimized by the factory.
>>
>>Don't expect to get monster gains from the intake and the exhaust, but they are the best place to start. I would recommend the Rogue exhaust and the Green Filter UK intake (still undergoing evaluation). Expect about 9 hp from the combination. The Magnacor wires make more power than the Nology on the Cooper - it's vice-versa on the S. They will only give you 2 hp, so it's more of a throttle response feel than anything.
>>
>>jabrams is right, there is a turbo kit on the market, but e-mail me about that before you buy it.
>>
>>If you aren't worried about the warranty, you could do the ECU mod as well, but again, don't expect huge gains - more like 10 hp. There is also a new head that I'm working on (I have it here) as well as a new cam by Schrick. A header with a high flow cat will work on the Cooper too - but now you are into some pretty big dollars.
>>
>>I hope that helps. Feel free to e-mail me with any other questions you might have.
>>
>>Randy Webb
>>Owner, MINI Cooper Motorsport
>>http://www.mini-motorsport.com
>>720-841-1002
>>randy@mini-motorsport.com
>>
>>_________________
>>
>> Click It!
>>
>>
>>

hehe, as if the turbo kit wasn't big dollars already. good to know though. a high flow cat should give a good bit of gains as well as cams. i doubt i'll do more than scratch the surface as i've got my own project to work on. she's looking more to do "show" mods anyway. i'm the one concerned with the 1320 or autox.

Nate

 

Don't forget the helix MINIsports exhaust for the Cooper. We did beat the others in the GRM HP dyno test.

 

Chris, is there a sound clip available anywhere of the Helix Cooper exhaust?

 

I can send you one as an MPEG tommorow, we took a snow day today.(14 + inches so far) How did you fair up their in my birth city of Brookine, Mass.?

 

Thanks, I'll e-mail you. Not a flake up here yet, although they're calling for 12-24 by Tuesday night. I'm supposed to be flying to London with my girlfriend at 8 AM Wednesday!

_________________
2003 Red/White Cooper - Brookline, MA

 

hey chris@helix...
i'd be interested in seeing the mpg clip too!
hook me up!

 

OK, that is not a problem. Could you send me an email @ chris@helix13.com with the address that you want the clip sent to? I will hook you up!

 

thanks chris.
can't wait to check it out!