Getting my mini cooper in November, just wondering where to start with the mods? How much of a boost it will give me? How much time"?

 

Do some searching on the forums, there are many discussions on this topic. Welcome to the club! I recommend everything in my siginature :smile: Everyone is different, and you really need to decide for yourself what you want on your car, there are many different things you can do, and a lot of decision work to be done. Good Luck!

 

I'd Start with a Wheels and Suspension..... Drive it for a long time It's great out of the box!

Then a CF Bonnet - M7

A roof Flag and or Custom Stripes - CooperFlags

Forget the intake and exhaust until better product is out...

I'd pause on the Pulley and such until a years worth of real world results.

My $.02

 

is the pully for the s or the regular cooper, i am getting a standard cooper

 

Ah no... Standard cooper has Many More Mod Options!

No Pulley tho... which can be a good thing!

You can wait for the turbos... amazing things are happening.

 

>>Getting my mini cooper in November, just wondering where to start with the mods? How much of a boost it will give me? How much time"?

mjfarsi,
Aloha and welcome to MCO.
Your question is asked every few days it seems. Search or look in past MC mod threads over the last two months.
First tell us what you are ordering- MC with what options.
Then ask yourself what are you trying to do with mods?

How much of a boost will it give you? Generally the MC is not really about boost. If you want a lot more power then the MCS is a better choice. 115 HP vs 163 HP in stock form. But greater weight and $3000 more. Although you can add performance power mods like intake, upgraded ECU, Exhaust Header, cat back exhaust, ignition system upgrade,etc- there are limited gains up to the 135 to 145 HP range. Results vary. Cost of all these run over $2000.

Performance can be enhanced by doing suspension mods. Upgrading Springs, shocks, beefing up swaybars front and rear, adding control arms (some are adjustable to add or decrease negative rear wheel camber), adding swaybar links, and finally a front tower strut brace (some people think the MINI is already stiff and doesn't need this brace).

Along with a stiffer suspension comes a rougher jarring ride, not as smooth and sometimes bouncy if you overdo it.
Wheels can be upgraded to larger rims (also usually stiffer ride) and tires can be changed from runflats that are noisy, harsh riding and expensive to replace- to non runflats that are softer riding and sometimes good handling and less costly. Lighter wheels are a definite plus-16" seems to be a happy medium, not too expensive for rims or tires, good enough handling, good enough appearance. Works well with lowering the car or leaving it stock.

Finally and this is the biggest for mods for the MC. You can do appearance mods to make it fit you better- seats, storage, audio/video upgrades, sound deadening upgrade materials, pure appearance mods, etc.

Try finding the $10K club thread and read through to see what others have done.
I think that it is good not to jump into doing too much without getting a feel for your MINI as is- bone stock.

I have a modded MCS and drove a stock MC with CVT and no options and it was fine. But in a different way. Not too powerful but pretty good and very fun-mostly because of the lower weight/ lighter stock wheels (15" 7 hole) and CVT.

 

If you want to Flex your Mini, a turbo could add 60 HP for maybe a hair over $2000 ( I don't think anyone would charge less)

keep your eyes open for Turbo News The Aftermarket on the MINI is like a snowball rolling down a hill... slow to start... but once it's half way down, be sure you're out of it's way!

Exhausts that offer backpressure are best, I'd wait to see who releases an exhaust BUILT on and for a MINI. Same with the Intake.