Okay, So I'm new here. Just got My 2005 Cooper S. .
It's completely stock, and just wondering where i should start with the mods.
Everyone on here seems to know what they're talking about, so I figured this would be the best place to start.
I'm really wanting to lower it, I dont really know where to start there either.
Plus the roads in Ky aren't the best, and my small town roads deffinitley aren't that great.
Let Me Know.
Thanks, Ally.

 

Pulley does the best gain for cheap. I went with 17% by Alta.
Intake, By Pass Valve (Detroit Tuned), Ignition Coil, Spark Plug Wires, Cam, Headers, Exhaust, Head are all performance options.

I still have yet to lower mine but Vmaxx is the cheapest option so i'll probably go with that. good luck

 

Welcome to the wonderful world of Minis Ally.

To answer your question, Way Motor Works sells just what you need:
http://www.waymotorworks.com/product...cat=327&page=2
It's a 15% pulley package that has all the right stuff.

They, as well as other vendors here on NAM, have ever thing you need for lowering your car.
But if the roads are as bad as you say less is more (1inch vs 2 inches).

Hope this helps...

 

Agree with all except the coil & wires - those 2 are waste IMO. The stock coil and wires are more than enough.

 

Welcome to the NAM, and congrats, you made a good choice on the year of Mini as 05-06 1st gen are generally considered the best years but only marginally. As mentioned a pulley change is the best bang for the buck bar none, the most common and safe pulley upgrade is a 15%, stick with name brands such as Alta or M7. As far as lowering if you are looking to increase handling performance then you will want to change your struts, springs and rear sway, but if you are looking for esthetics a mild set of lowering springs such as H&R also H&R make a really nice SQUEEK free 19mm rear sway. Hope this helps and have fun!

 

I think everyone will agree on the pulley as the first/best mod...Most go wiith 15% (as stated already) Don't forget when you go with the pulley you will need to change to a one step colder plug. As for springs I would probably go just springs and not a coilover setup. H&R does make a nice set of springs that don't make the ride too bumpy and lower the car just enough as to clean up some of the fender-well gap. Hmm...how many miles do you have on your MINI?

 

Come join us at BGMinis.org as we are the local Kentucky group. We have 2 events this month. One on the 23rd for the ground breaking of the new Mini dealer in Louisville, and one on the 30th for our yearly Mod party. We will be doing a few pulley installs at the party so you can get a before and after ride.

 

53,000. Shes got brand new tires, the dealership I got her from put them on there as soon as I bought it.

 

Well its probably a good time to change plugs anyways! LOL! Enjoy that MINI!

 

Okay so everyone is saying to do a pulley change, thats where i'll probably start. How much does that usually run, and how difficult is it to do.

Also, what are the best brands to buy when doing that. And which ones have the most performance upgrade?

Sorry for all the questions, I'm just really new at this

 

Thanks for the advice, I was deffinitley thinking the same thing!

 

Well Minimechick08 a pulley is a pulley is a pulley. A 15% brand A pulley will give you the same performance gain as brand B. Install (by a local MINI shop/garage) shouldnt take more than 1.5 hours. Hope this helps!

 

Deffinitley does, Thanks!

 

First thing I would get would be the Bentley Manual