Drivetrain (Cooper S) MINI Cooper S (R53) intakes, exhausts, pulleys, headers, throttle bodies, and any other modifications to the Cooper S drivetrain.

Drivetrain Time To Start Modifying! What To Do First...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 2, 2010 | 10:06 AM
  #1  
mhay's Avatar
mhay
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Time To Start Modifying! What To Do First...

Hello fellow mini fans!

I have had my 2003 Cooper S for about a year and a half now and have loved every second of it. Since I have had it I have been wanting to mod it out and just have fun with it but due to financial issues I haven't been able to.
I just recently landed a new job to where I would be able to start buying things for my coop finally!

Not being a huge car buff and not knowing too much about the options as to what I could really do I was just curious as to the suggestions you guys had and what you think would be some good ideas I could do to help increase the performance and what would be the best things to do first.

Like I stated before I'm no car guru by any means and honestly don't know what's really out there to do so I apologize if this is a stupid thing to ask but I looked forward to hearing some ideas!!!

--Maggie
 
Reply
Old Jun 2, 2010 | 10:40 AM
  #2  
gear-head's Avatar
gear-head
2nd Gear
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
Top 2 mods, IMHO (I wish I had done these from day one)

Engine - Reduction Pulley
Suspension - Rear Sway bar

Can't go wrong with those
 

Last edited by gear-head; Jun 2, 2010 at 10:41 AM. Reason: missed a word
Reply
Old Jun 2, 2010 | 10:47 AM
  #3  
veggivet's Avatar
veggivet
6th Gear
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (8)
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,920
Likes: 190
From: Northeast
First mod for everybody should be ditching the run flat tires! Then I would do a rear sway, cold air intake, pulley reduction, exhaust, in that order.
 
Reply
Old Jun 2, 2010 | 11:05 AM
  #4  
mhay's Avatar
mhay
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
the run flats are off!
Just got new tires put on less than a week ago and man does it make a difference!
That's what got me going on needing to finally starting doing things to it! haha
 
Reply
Old Jun 2, 2010 | 02:42 PM
  #5  
wrh3's Avatar
wrh3
3rd Gear
iTrader: (6)
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 206
Likes: 8
From: Loganville, GA
Originally Posted by gear-head
Top 2 mods, IMHO

Engine - Reduction Pulley
Suspension - Rear Sway bar

x2, these are the most bang for the buck of the ones I have done so far, followed closely by new upper/lower motor mounts.
 
Reply
Old Jun 2, 2010 | 04:44 PM
  #6  
Helix13mini's Avatar
Helix13mini
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,159
Likes: 17
From: Under your car
Originally Posted by gear-head
Top 2 mods, IMHO (I wish I had done these from day one)

Engine - Reduction Pulley
Suspension - Rear Sway bar

Can't go wrong with those
X3. If you want to discuss what's good and cost effective, give us a call
 
Reply
Old Jun 2, 2010 | 04:58 PM
  #7  
madmike007's Avatar
madmike007
4th Gear
iTrader: (1)
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 398
Likes: 1
From: NYC
X4 on first mods. I highly recommend Helix! Great guys that know what their doing.
 
Reply
Old Jun 2, 2010 | 05:19 PM
  #8  
freeskier's Avatar
freeskier
4th Gear
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 381
Likes: 0
thats quite the will power, waiting a year to start modding . i would do the rear sway bard first as, in my opinion, the install is far easier.
 
Reply
Old Jun 2, 2010 | 09:49 PM
  #9  
MrCooperS's Avatar
MrCooperS
Moderator
iTrader: (4)
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,457
Likes: 7
From: Boston, MA.
I would personally do pulley, sway bar and brakes. It's all about balance!
 
Reply
Old Jun 2, 2010 | 10:23 PM
  #10  
WayMotorWorks's Avatar
WayMotorWorks
Vendor
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (10)
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 10,621
Likes: 802
From: Atlanta, GA
No brainer question.
Start with a pulley and a swaybar. They will give you the most bang for your buck and be reliable.
Also the auto up window switch is something I would never give up.
 
__________________

HOTCHKIS | DDM | CRAVEN | AKRAPOVIC | NM ENGINEERING | MEGAN | FORGE | OS GIKEN | POWERFLEX and more


Reply
Old Jun 4, 2010 | 11:27 PM
  #11  
R53Warrior's Avatar
R53Warrior
4th Gear
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 452
Likes: 1
From: PDX
definitely pulley/plugs/belt. I would put springs ahead of a sway bar if you can do the install yourself. My car came with a RSB so idk how much it helps.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
09R56
R56 :: Hatch Talk (2007+)
17
Nov 16, 2022 10:49 AM
igzekyativ
MINIs & Minis for Sale
34
Jul 16, 2020 12:54 PM
TREX
General MINI Talk
14
Nov 2, 2019 07:31 PM
Teh
Stock Problems/Issues
11
Jun 13, 2018 02:59 PM
veevsato
Stock Problems/Issues
2
Aug 5, 2015 04:42 AM




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:30 PM.