After seeing (almost) daily posts about the 'most important' mods for our Minis, I thought it would be helpful if people posted their top 5 drivetrain mods (in order) to help those who are new to the forum. It took me several hours and dozens of searches to figure it all out, so a consolidated list from learned owners couldn't hurt.

Although I have yet to modify my car, I have had the opportunity to drive Mr.CooperS's Mini and have spoken to several local experts who have all agreed:

1) Pulley + Plugs + Belt- By far most HP for the buck (20 hp for $150 + $150+/- install)
2) Intake - 5-10 hp and great sound for only $200
3) Header/Exhaust (Invidia catback is $500, OBX headers $200)
4) Cam
5) Tune (custom, not canned. many seem to think that new injectors help to make the most of a tune)

*And a favorite product within each category would help too.

 

No intake is going to give you 5-10hp and an exhaust isn't going to give you horsepower until you get into the higher numbers. These are all of my personal favorites:
1. Pulley, plugs,belt-any pulley works fine
2. Cam-Newman
3. Injectors-JCW 380's or bigger with custom tune
4. Header- RMW
5. Tune- RMW

 

how much does the dealership sell the JCW injectors? does anybody know?

 

My 3 top mods that I want that isn't in the MINI is:
-RMW/Mynes Tune
-RMW/Mynes Headers
-RMW/Newman Cam

Top 5 Mods of my Choice:
-17% Pulley (+ belts, plugs, larger injectors)
-RMW/Mynes Headers
-SuperSpring or M7/PowerTone Exhaust
-RMW/Newman Cam
-RMW/Mynes Tune

 

My list would be:

1. 15% Pulley
2. Performance Head
3. Tune
4. Headers
5. Cam

That's if I had to do it all over again. Exhaust would definitely have been the last thing on my mind. The intake can be replaced by a drop in filter as well as some cutting modifications.

 

That is about right, I would add a 6th that is injectors. After that a head.

 

If your car does not already have an LSD then you should definitely get on of those before you will be able to get your new found power to the ground reliably. There are several very good ones available in the aftermarket. A beefier clutch will guarantee that the power will make it to the transmission.

These two should be done at the same time to save labor costs. The engine has to be pulled out to do either of these mods. Adding the LSD without doing the clutch would add additional stress on the clutch. The added traction afforded by the LSD, in high power starts, would put more stress on the clutch.

 

have 280hp + one oem lsd, 2 oem clutches later.... and the man is right

 

not exactly all drivetrain mods but these have been my favorites. Sorry if I deviated from the initial list:


1-Rear sway bar
2-front adjustable camber plates
3-pulley
4-WMS CAI
5-Ians auto DSC off

 

1) Nitrous
2) Pulley
3) Header + Exhaust
4) Intercooler
5) Tune

 

1) Pulley
2) Header+Exhaust
3) BVH
4) Injectors
5) Tune

 

Here is roughly the order I went about with it and I am running hard at about 230whp with still just this set up...

1) 17% Pulley (1 step colder plugs)
2) Alta Intake
3) 550cc Injectors/Mynes Tune
4) Mynes Header Exhaust
5) M7 Direct-Flow Intercooler

Head, Cam and Pistons are secondary to the bolt-ons

 

- 17% pulley
- Meth kit
- Header n Exhaust
- Performance Head
- Performance cam

The Rock n roll

 

Easy!

Head
Injectors
Cam
Meth system

Then a tune to pull it all together. Stay away from intercoolers and like the others have said make sure you have/get an LSD. Once you have all these a new clutch will be needed sooner or later.

LB

 

Lots of good suggestions above, pretty consistent about the desirability of a good custom tune. Come to Calhoun, Georgia, Sunday, October 4th, and get Jan to work his RMW magic on your car. See RMW - North Georgia thread. (blatant plug so that I can get the numbers to make this happen so that I can get Jan to tune MY car).

Len

 

1. Large spoiler
2. RMW tune
3. Pulley and Belt 15%
4. Cam RMW
5. Dinan Exhaust

 

Does the LSD help in straight line as well? I just have a pulley and intake but in first gear you have can't use all the available power without spinning the wheels.

 

LSD is going to work any time the tire spins - it will kick in and transfer power to the other side so both tires are receiving power

 

I've got a totally stock R53 and I can pretty much do anything I want to it (budget permitting ) , Althought I don't know very much about modding minis, i'm not a stranger to mechanical stuff though & have spent far too many hours of late going through all the pages of stuff on NorthAmericanMotoring & i've found this post quite helpful

I totally get the list - Head (get more air into the combusiton chambers & get gasses back out again), Injectors (to stop it going lean), Cam (change the duration of valves opening and closing) & the Tune as you say to bring it all together and stop the bigger injectors causing borewash.

The bit I don't get is that there is no need for improved intercooler ? I'd always though that an intercooler with forced induction was essential in keeping IATs down & that it was difficult to surpass a well designed front mount ?? I can see how Meth would help keep down temps but thats something I would consider further down the line & would rather address the root cause of high inlet temps mechanically if possible.

If i'm allowed a 6th mod.... it would be a new header with wider primaries than stock

I don't know enough about the different brands in the mini world yet but the RMW gear certainly gets a positive coverage on here, so hopefully i'll start to buy a few things soon

 

The stock intercooler does a good job as is, hence the thinking that the aftermarket one really is not needed

 

well been running a stock intercooler 12 degrees c above ambient average
at a steady 70mph, vs a GRS which is 6 degrees cooler.....

ie +6 above ambient 17% + lots of other mods......

but if you end up chasing big numbers, then water/meth will negate some of the advantages from a bigger cooler,

 

^^ - GRS TMIC is the best TMIC for the MINI...bar none..

 

There are a lot of threads on intercoolers and a whole lot of real world testing that's been done over the years. In the end, the little stock IC is pretty good. I agree the aftermarket top mounts look cool. But for performance you're only going to see minor if any extra performance out of them compared to the stock IC.

Add a good Meth system like the RMW system along with the stock IC and you have a winning combo.

For my application I needed an after market IC. I chose Bell intercoolers to custom make mine for my app.

IMG_0406.jpg?t=1253490742

 

I have the RMW Laminova water to air IC and it works awesome. I took my car out for a spirited drive for about half an hour in 25 degree C heat. When I came back I popped the hood and put my hand on the inlet side. My god I could hardly touch it as it was nearly burning my hand off!! I then put my hand on the outlet. What a difference!! It was a tad warm and I could put my hand on it and leave it there all the time. So all i know is that this works very well