I am just about to purchase my 2003 Mini Cooper S. What I need done to it is extensive. I need AT LEAST to put it up from the 160hp to 200hp (preferably upto 250hp). But, most importantly, I need to have it customized to be 4-wheel steering. Cost is not an issue. If anyone here knows of anyone who can do this PLEASE let me know. And obviously, the more hp the better (I'd love to see 300hp). Nitro is always an option.

Xander

Please e-mail me at xandermacleod@yahoo.ca if you have any information for me as I may not check on here too often. Thanks!

 

have fun!

 

HAHAHAHA!!! Welcome. You might as well start out with an sti or evolution if you want 4wheel drive and getting to at least 300hp. Mini is a front wheel drive car and has 163hp. You'll be looking at a lot of money looking at what you want to do-if it's even possible, but hey.........we can all wish and dream right?

 

Not "4-wheel drive".... 4-wheel STEERING.
Basically, if you are turning right your front wheels turn to the right and the back wheels turn to the left. This causes the turn radius to be DRASTICALLY reduced. The plan is to be able to U-turn in a space only as wide as two parking spaces.

AND WHY DID THEY MAKE THE SODDING COOPER S A FRONT-WHEEL??? I WANT REAR-WHEEL DRIVE!!!

Xander

 

i don't think this is the car for you buddy.
you should invest in a segway!

 

Oh... it is definitely the car for me. It just requires some tweaking.

Xander

 

OK, I will chime in...

The ORIGINAL IDEA for the Mini years ago was to build the smallest practical 4-seat car possible. To do that, the engine must be turned sideways. With the engine mounted so, the only viable option for a drivetrain was front-wheel-drive.

SO, you ended up with a 10 foot long car that was very small and could still house a 1 liter engine. The by-product was an exceptional handling car with modest power. The power ended up not being an issue because the car could take almost any turn at 60mph.

So, you are NEVER going to find a pre-fab method for making 4 wheel steering - it is totally against the culture of the car. It is not a performance car, it is an experiment in drivetrain design that has evolved into a cultural icon.

If you want 4 wheel steering, you are going to have to develop it yourself. If you want 300hp, you are looking at an engine swap. Either way, it will no longer be a MINI, and you're probably on your own.

Good luck!

 

Xander,

Have you driven the MCS yet?

It doesn't need 4-wheel streering. With a little performance driving, you could cut the turning radius in half, - at speed.

There are a great number of MINI folks herein that certainly know their stuff in the performance areas.

Give them a sense that you're coming at this from earth & I'm sure they'll take you a little more seriously & help you get your MCS to the moon!

300HP from a 1.6L pentagon 4 cyl.?!?!? I personally doubt there's enough room in the engine bay to accomodate your add-on needs. But, I'm not the one to ask.

Good luck.

-sb

 

Xander,

I suggest that you buy a classic 10' long Mini, and install a mid-engined V-8 or turbo V-6. Better yet, get an MG Metro 6R4, and put a MINI badge on it. Much more practical in the long run.

 

XanderMacLeod wrote: Please post pics and a how-to for your 4WS conversion.

 

>>I am just about to purchase my 2003 Mini Cooper S. What I need done to it is extensive. I need AT LEAST to put it up from the 160hp to 200hp (preferably upto 250hp). But, most importantly, I need to have it customized to be 4-wheel steering. Cost is not an issue. If anyone here knows of anyone who can do this PLEASE let me know. And obviously, the more hp the better (I'd love to see 300hp). Nitro is always an option.
>>
>>Xander
>>
>>Please e-mail me at xandermacleod@yahoo.ca if you have any information for me as I may not check on here too often. Thanks!

Nitro is that crap on TNN, and ?4 wheel steering? Goons, hired goons.

 

I know its none of my business, but I have to ask....

Why in the world do you need to be able to do a U-turn in the space of 2 parking spaces??????

Oh and there was an episode of Monster Garage where they made a Rock Crawler with 4-wheel steering. You might just check out the Discover Channel Website and/or what the heck, if you're in So. Cal, roll up to Jesse James' crib and axe for his help.

_________________
Still on order (and still changing my mind) MCS IB/W Sport, Sunroof, Leather, Silver.
Mods planned: H-sport springs and read control arms, madness sway bar, pulley, header, SSR GT1's etc...

 

This is a 320 bhp RWD Mini (not MINI). It doesn't have 4 wheel steering but with that much power I imagine you just have to blip the throttle and your butt will be in front of you in no time for a 0' turning radius.

http://www.zcars.org.uk/mini/mini_twin_rl.htm

Maybe you can call these guys to fit your extreme MINI needs.

Jim

 

like i said, this guy is looking for a turbo segway, not a mini!

 

It's always so refreshing when someone lightens up these somber forums.......

 

>>like i said, this guy is looking for a turbo segway, not a mini!

I can see it now... the quiet humm of the electric motor on the segway, and then ....psssstttteeeewwwwwwwww as the 16G twin scrool turbo's blow off valve knocks the guy clear off the damn thing!!

turbo segway.., someone needs to photoshop this.

 

I am a private investigator. I need a car that is fast enough to catch anyone (or get away) and EXTREMELY maneuverable. There you have it cdconsor. My reason for these mods.


Xander

 

Hold on...

If I was a private investigator, I would not have such an eye-catching car though

 

OK, assuming that you are not a completely deluded nut case - even though all evidence so far points to that conclusion....

Don't you just want a bike?


>>I am a private investigator. I need a car that is fast enough to catch anyone (or get away) and EXTREMELY maneuverable. There you have it cdconsor. My reason for these mods.

 

XanderMacLeod....
you have created the greatest topic ever!
kudos to you!

 

Excuse me for piling on, Xander, BUT...

You see these topics every once an a while. Someone wants to do an engine swap, add turbocharging to their supercharged S or convert it to 4WD. Finally someone comes up with something original! 300 horse and 4 wheel steering! I could just plotz! Congrats!

I figure Xander is really a shy, backwards 15 year old with an active imagination:

Let's see... I think I'll be a... um... er... a PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR! YEAH! That's it! And... I'll have to have a cool car... YEAH! A MINI COOPER! Yeah... Those are cool! They were really cool in that movie... Had that hot chick in it... And that one time... you could almost see THROUGH her blouse!... Wow! And I would really trick that Mini up... Lots of Horsepower, of course... and NEON!... nah, too easy. I know! 4 Wheel Steering! Cause I need it to... um... do DONUTS!... nah... um... TURN IN 2 PARKING SPACES! YEAH! Goes back to the PI thing. Dang!, I'll be HOT then!
... as soon as my acne clears up...

Of course, I could be wrong... he could be a 46 year old NRA member with an active imagination and a mean streak. In which case, I take this all back. :smile:

 

oh man hopkirk thats so funny stuff.

 

notpaddyhopkirk.....

 

Well... close... but, no!

Not a 15-year-old geek. Definitely not a 46-year-old NRA member (despite the fact I do have a lot of firepower).

The Mini is a more conspicuous car than some but it sure beats the perfectly restored '67 Mustang or 'Cuda or T-Bird or Impala or whatever you always see on TV. There are quite a few Minis where I am. Won't draw to much attention. Anyways, I am driving an '02 Mustang Cobra right now. That draws attention.
And also, driving after someone... they know who you are. Only in the movies and TV do they sit in their car during a stakeout. Because NO ONE will notice someone sitting in their car for 10 hours... regardless of whether it is an '82 Tempo or an '03 Cooper S.

Xander

 

<catch breath>



oh man is this funny. Ok, first it is possible to do this in the way that it is possible for me to suddenly inherit 5 trillion dollars. However, I think you would need to inherit (or earn) about that much to make it possible.

First 4 wheel steering is currently a gimick employed by chevy? I think on their truck. A truck has HUGE wheel wells which allow you to turn the back wheels as well as the front. I don't think there is enough room in the MINI's rear wheel wells to do this. Therefore cutting into the boot (and probably rear seats) and welding and such would be necessary to increase the size of the wheel wells. Then you would have to completely throw out most of the suspension components and design and fabricate new ones that allow this. Of course you could buy a Chevy (?) and use that as a base but that costs $$$$.

Now the 300hp issue. You will *HAVE* to swap out the engine. Now comes the issue of what will fit... Not many engines out there would fit. Possibly the new neon engine might physically fit but you are then talking about lots of money. Of course you could lengthen the body of the MINI (by cutting and welding new metal on) but then you loose your handling that makes the MINI such a fun car.

Another way to make the MINI faster is to strip the car. Get the sunroof option and then pull it out and install something like plexiglass that would be lighter. Then tear out the back seats. (That would even make it easier to cut the wheel wells), the carpet, the dash, the airbags, the glove compartment. Take off pesky things like the AC and take out the radio... anything that isn't necessary get's the ax! Now go on a diet and loose those 200lbs!

OR you could go to your room, pull out your lego and build one until you are old enough to drive. I personally don't believe you are a PI that needs to "catch" anyone because cars like the mustang (besides being a peice of cr@&amp and the MINI are high attention cars. You are not going to conspicuously follow anyone in either car. People do sit in their cars during a steakout (not just on TV) because where else are you going to sit? hmmmm.... I'll sit in the person's front lawn... they won't notice me there. So unless you can find a convienently empty building across the street...

I don't even know where to begin to laugh at you.... do you spend your nights googling for "How to be a detective"? I'd bet you really want to be a PI but mommy and daddy said no. I'd say you are more like 16 or 17 and if you really drive a '02 Mustang, I'd bet your parents got it for you. If you really want to be a PI, take a driving course. They teach you how to handle your car so you don't need 4ws.

Anything's possible if you have the $$$$ but this is rediculous and if you are a PI, I'd bet you don't have the money to do this. If speed and handling are what you need and you *HAVE* to catch someone go get the Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Ok, now back to some serious stuff...