I've been able to enjoy my MCS like a new car 3 different times. The first time when it was stock. The second when I did the intake, 15% pulley and ecu. And this last time when I installed the header, exhaust, short shift kit and rear sway bar. Each time there was about 6 months in between. Eash time it was like driving a cooler version of the stock car. It also provided the benefit of waiting for the stuff I bought to be evaluated by Randy. I was ready to buy the Magnaflow exhaust and I'm really glad I waited for the Miltek. I just didn't like those bugle tips.
I love the sound of my car! Driving over the harbor here in Santa Cruz there are solid concrete railings that just love to bounce that sound back at me (with the windows and sunroof open and seat heaters on). The rear sway bar is amazing. Powering into the 270 degree on-ramps, taking the twists on Hwy 9. Even the short shift kit (the least expensive mod) made my car feel new (and tighter).
MCS with 16" Enkei MM2's and Pirelli tires, Alta intake, pulley and rear sway bar, Evotech ecu, Miltek header and exhaust, Rogue short shift kit, Kingsbourne plug wires and Denso iridium plugs. Waiting for Pilo coil pack to arrive. Just changed the oil this weekend and put in the Redline 5W30.
It's because of this forum and the how-to's that I've been able to do most of these mods myself (Randy did the pulley and ecu).
Thanks to everyone for contributing.

 

thats cool man.

i plan on doing all those mods and more, most likely "at once", since i've been stockpiling money savings just to go ape on my mini when it finally comes in. however, i do not yet have the confidence in myself to do the installations myself. (although good, the FAQ's and installation how-to pages are somewhat confusing, and i think unless you are already a mechanic, you won't make heads or tails of them - i know i can't!)

i will get mine professionally installed (hope to), and look forward to the end result!

 

what a great car to mod. i have done most of these as well and i will also say the basic car is great but each of these mods takes the car one step closer to the road. i also put on the tower brace and i think the front end tightend up allot. its fun having a car that you can trick out and it shows so much better handling and performance. mcs brg chechered top

 

ABTsportsline,
I'm no car mechanic either. All the mods I did were basically unbolt the old part and bolt on the new one. Of course you need some tools, floor jack, jack stands etc. That's the great thing about the how-to's, I just bought the tools required in each one. My next project is the rear fog lamps with the brake light mod. I got a new bank of switches from Classic Auto (a NAM sponsor) for $60 instead of $75 (retail).
Patrick

 

got car on 10th jan.
1 did honda ante. mod. drove it liked it.
2did brake mod. drove it liked it
3 tinted windows drove it liked it.
4 smoked tail &wheel markers drove it liked it.
5 installed euro shelf drove it liked it.
6 installed glove-box org. drove it liked it.
7 installed (dancing 3rd.lit. drove liked it.
8 installed flik wasp a wheels 18" drove it liked it.
9installed arm-resting device. drove it liked it.
10 installed alta intake&hose drove it like it-a lot.
11 installed miltec cat-back drove it liked it a lot.
12 installed euro grill. drove it liked it.
13 installed euro wing drove it liked it.
14 removed badges just to size-up the look.
things in garage to install.
1 h springs
2 h sports rear bar.
3drilled rotor
4 mintex brake pads.
5 helix s/s.
6 19%pulley.
7 odyssey dry cell battery.
8 black side markers&crystal-blk.lens.
wish list goes forever.i'm old &tired with huge grins.
thats what i call one mod. @ a time
doug

 

Another good reason to do mods 1-at-a-time is so if anything goes wrong, you know pretty much what did it...If you change, say, ECU, exhaust, pulley and intake and it runs poorly, well, which messed it up? Was the ECU defective? Did you forget to plug a vacuum line back in?

Do one, try it out for a little bit, do the next, drive it a week...

Old hot-rodders rule of thumb...

DREW

 

I've done my mods a little at at time... but I often wonder what it would have been like to go from bone stock to a car with:

Pulley
Intake
Exhaust
ECU
Sway bar
Springs
Wheels & Tires
Short Shifter

Would have been a much more intense change and I imagine that wouldn't be bad. Problem with ony doing one mod at a time is that you only notice a small improvent and not the overall improvent you would feel from doing them all at once. I'm not even sure right now I really remember what a stock MCS feels like but if I had gone from stock to what I have now in one shot I would probably appreciate the improvements even more. No matter how you add your mods they are fun!

 

Go aokdoug go!

 

I started making a wish list when the car was still on order. By the time I drove the car home for the first time, the garage is already full of MINI upgrades waiting to be installed.

 

I'm becoming like one of Pavlov's dogs. I start to drool when I hear the UPS truck coming down the street.

 

Problem? I don't see this as a problem! By doing one mod at a time you can see exactly what each mod does - and if it was worth it! For instance, a lot of people got the 15% pulley and ECU together. Well the early ECUs weren't worth anything. The pulley gives a good boost (no pun intended) on it's own but how did you know what the pulley gave and what the ECU was responsible for? And if the ECU was worthless, you won't know! I like modding one at a time. But if I were to do multiple mods, I would always add the ECU by itself so I would know if it really made a difference and how much of a difference it made.

 

I am pleased to announce that after attending the AMVIV (Vegas Meet) last weekend, my hubby has caught the mod bug, big-time! LOL!!! He was able to talk to Randy Webb, Peter Horvath (M7), and several other vendors about engine stuff. This pleases me, no end! LMAO!!!