Ok, so I have been searching the forums and reading thread after thread on different parts, maintenance, upgrades, etc.

Backround: I bought my car last week, the previous owner was your general car owner, did oil changes and such, but not much more then that. So with the car having 53k miles on it, I decided to upgrade lightly and do a bunch of preventative/future maintenance now.

I am just looking for some guidance to make sure I don't overlook anything that I should do while I am doing other mods. I don't have unlimited funds, but I am a firm believer in doing it right the first time.

Parts I have currently bought:

-Oil Filter w/ Drain plug
-Royal Purple Oil
-Cabing Filter
-Air filter (not doing a intake yet, but DDM when I do)
-Alta 15% pulley kit w/ belt and tensioner stop
-Alta Ignition Kit (Brisk plugs, MSD Coil, Magnecore wires)
-WMW Powerflex Tensioner bushings
-M7 Front Strut Bar w/ Strut plates (my upper strut mounts are not mushroomed and hoping to keep it that way)
-Hankook V12 Tires

Things I plan on buying when I get the funds/in a few weeks/months:
-Boost gauge and pod of some nature
-DDM CAI

That being said, I have read multiple threads about a bunch of various other things that I should consider/look into, but I want to know what is worth doing now and what is not.

I've read to do the WMW engine mount inserts, considered these, but how much vibration do they transfer into the cabin? I currently love how smooth the car idles and feels.

Detroit Tuned BPV and VGS mod, is this worth purchasing at this point?

There are a lot of products out there and I literally troll most of the day at work and read, but I just want to make sure I don't put money where I don't need to right now.

This is my daily and when all is said and done, I basically plan on ending up with a pulley, ignition, intake, exhaust, header, and maybe a tune.

Any and all input would be great and more then appreciated.

Sorry this topic has been covered a million times, just so much reading has my brain fried haha

-Jimmy

 

Nice list to start with. Something I would add to the list is a larger rear sway bar. I would not get a new BPV, those that benefit from it most are the early year R53s, by 2006 the the software was pretty much fixed.

The harder urethane can add some vibration, for me particularly in the cold. In general 60degree temps, I dont notice much at all. I particularly like the hard urethane replacement for the passenger oil filled mount.

You might also consider changing your transmission fluid, its another good preventative measure.

 

Thanks for the response. Which motor mount inserts do you have installed in your car?

I thought about tranny fluid, what weight and brand? is there a How To on it?

 

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT]
1. Window tint (pre delivery) October 2006
2. Chrome exterior package (pre delivery)
3. MINI Floor Mats (pre delivery)
4. “MINI” tire fill caps (pre delivery)
5. Aux radio input in glove box
6. Chrome gauge covers
7. Chrome shift ring
8. Removed cup Holder
9. Added second “ash tray” for change
10. Chrome “ash tray” covers
11. Replaced Air Filter element with K&N flat filter.
12. Chrome “MINI COOPER” licenses plate frame
13. Added second “Flat Tire” push button for garage opener remote
14. Added DANAN cold air intake (this replaced OEM & K&N filter)
15. Cut 1 inch off shift lever (home-made short shifter)
16. Added Chrome shift ****
17. MINI Eyes (small)
18. Added ½ quart of Oil at 8,500 miles
19. Rotated tires at 8,500 miles
20. Mini Mania 19 mm anti sway bar (on stiffest setting)
21. Added 2 hose clamps to 19 mm anti sway bar to keep it from sliding horizontally
22. Webb 15% reduction pulley
23. Installed colder Ir plugs
24. M7 front Strut Bar with anti mushroom plates
25. Green Stuff front brake pads
26. Oil Change at 13 Months (10,500 miles – showed 1,200 more to go)
27. New wipers front and back with Oil Change (Warranty)
28. M7 Under Strut System (Great Mod!)
29. Stickers under hood
30. TSW Engine Damper (removed insides due to vibrations)(reinstalled with rubber)
31. GOMINIGO Flashing 3rd Brake Light
32. Added VDO 1-15psi 2 1/16” Boost Gage with chrome cover
33. XM Radio added left of radio (antenna under hood vent)
34. Ipod Micro added at steering column
35. Rock chip in windshield repaired
36. Painted stone chips in hood (got bra to cover hood for north trips)
37. Repaired Small Hail damage to hood
38. In-line Noise Filter (because AUX mode wouldn’t hold)
39. Replaced driver side defective visor (warranty item clip broken)
40. Tom-Tom Navigation
41. Detroit Tuned BPV added (OEM BPV did shut all the way)
42. Chrome Bessel on mirror adjustment switches
43. Gator Pulley belt (one hole seen for first 2 weeks then none – yea they streach)
44. Changed two Chrome exhaust tips to bigger ones
45. Lighter replaced with switch for LEDs
46. Green LED center console and Blue LED under hood – Lighter Switch
47. Added a lighter / accessories plug under dash.
48. New PIAA wheels @ 17000 miles
49. Removed “MINI” centers from OME wheels and put them on PIAA wheels.
50. Cut air intake breather hole in fire wall
51. Replaced froze power steering pump cooling fan under warranty @10,000 miles.
52. Added Red Jackson low resistance Plug Wires
53. Added home-made Plexiglas white Air Diversion Plate in front of radiator
54. Stubby Bullet Antenna
55. Added “Steal Your Face” Grateful Dead Sticker over scratch on rear bumper (from carrying bike)
56. Changed oil at 20,000 miles (every 10,000) (9500 this time)
57. Rotated tires at 20,000 miles (every 5,000)
58. Painted brakes Gloss Black
59. Added Oil Pressure Sensor with brass fitting to include OEM oil pressure light switch
60. Added VDO Oil Pressure Gage with chrome cover
61. Added 180 degs M7 thermostat (was 195 degs)
62. Installed new OEM thermostat housing with the M7 180 degs thermostat to fix small leak.
63. Added Oil Catch Can ($35 ebay).
64. New Tom-Tom GPS
65. Cleaned & Oiled Dinan air filter at 21,000 miles (made a difference)
66. Cleaned Air Cooler with turpentine
67. TSW Engine Damper replaced with new TSW (carbon fiber) model with rubber bushings (less vibration)
68. Cleaned car with Mother’s Clay
69. Painted Mufflers Black
70. Installed Red MSD Coil Pack
71. Installed OBX Header with fiberglass wrap ($175 plus $30 wrap)
72. Removed hood liner and cut out backside to better fit front strut bar under hood
73. Add gate remote in parallel with second “Flat Tire” push button which switches garage opener remote.
74. Installed second (original) TSW Engine Damper with bracket (removed bushings from both for less vibes).
75. Added MINI emblem to green LED above ash trays.
76. Painted Rear anti sway bar flat black.
77. Rotated tires at 24,550 miles (every 5,000) and wheel waxed PIAA wheels.
78. Made belt tensioner tool.
79. Installed ITG Foam DINAN Air Filter at 25,000 Miles from MINSPEED (Clean every 5000 miles).
80. Reset code for “not reaching operating temperature” (Check light hasn’t come on again with colder temp.)
81. Noticed average mileage from 25 to 21.Think is due to cold weather and cooler thermostat (ECU-rich gas).
82. Add fuel injector cleaner approximately every 5,000 miles.
83. Added H&R 15mm wheel spacers with longer bolts for 30mm offset front and back at 25,500 miles.
84. Added Stratmosphere CAT Back Exhaust (added 5 washers in 8 places to lower exhaust from bumper)
85. Added GIAC 15% ECU flash 1/29/10 ….Smooth (free upgrades including 17% pulley with 380s (TBD J)
86. Built (welded home made) tensioner tool and changed belt 1/31/10
87. Replaced a set of NGK Iridiums with the Brisk Racing Silver Plugs. (single electrode, DR12S) @ 26K miles
88. Added 120VAC / 140watt power inverter in trunk side-compartment.
89. Added Helix Short Shifter (extension under shifter for “20% shorter throw”) “A little hard to shift 1st & R”
90. Tightened existing and added a second clamp on exhaust for slight leak after resonator.
91. Replaced front wiper blades (inserts) at 27,500 miles 3/2010.
92. Removed 15mm wheel spacers from front wheels only at 27,750 miles (steering to hard)
93. Replaced black hoses to Oil Catch Can (vacuum was causing hoses to crush and make noise)
94. Added Sprint Booster (30 day money back guarantee) – kept it
95. Changed Oil & Filter 27600 miles 5/1/10. (every 10,000) (7600 this time)
96. Checked and tightened plugs 5/1/10.
97. Replaced ITG Foam Air filter (broke at neck) with Original (cleaned) DINAN Air Filter 5/1/10.
98. Added TSW performance springs –did rear and front a week later (lowered ¾ inch)
99. Added H-Sport adjustable lower control arm (set to 0 camber).
100. Painted aluminum plate under battery box under car in rear, flat black.
101. Rotated tires at 28,550 miles (every 5,000).
102. Added PSA mm’s Precision Steering Amplifier (created extra front tow-in)
103. Alignment checked at Goodyear – Front tow adjusted. $113 (7/2010)
104. Repainted brakes black.
105. Reinstalled 15mm wheel spacers on front wheels (see #90) steering seems no different this time. 7/2010
106. New Battery March 1st 2010 @ 27,000 Miles. Optima 25 Red Top. Auto Zone 20% off (installed 8/10)
107. Driver door remote unlock quit working (7/2010) and started working again (8/2010)
108. Cleaned air filter and enlarged PVC air vent to rear of air box (8/21/10).
109. Installed Bosh 380 Injectors from Helix (8/30/2010)
110. WMW 17% pulley installed (lost ½ hole with same belt from 15% pulley) (9/6/2010)
111. GIAC 380/17%-19% tune (9/15/10) (Note: a little smoother; power TBD)
112. Installed IE fixed Camber plates (added 1 deg neg camber)
113. Alignment checked again at Goodyear – Front tow adjusted. $70 (9/2010)
114. Added Cabrio Braces from WMW $40 (10/10/10)
115. Installed WMW Tensioner Stop (10/23/10)
116. Rotated Wheels and applied wheel wax @ 31,000 miles (10/23/10)
117. Removed 15mm wheel spacers from front (hard on steering pump)
118. Installed “Cooling Mist” 250psi pump on ebay (new) for water/meth injection (purchased 7/2010)
119. Installed “add a fuse” to driver side fuse panel for methanol injection pump (pump power only).
120. Installed water/meth injection tank (OEM tank for headlight wash)
121. Installed 2 junction boxes in firewall for water/meth injection system with LED indicators (on @ 10 psi)
122. Added RED LED indicator for water/meth injection activated under steering column (switch is at lighter)
123. Added can of “fix a flat” in back compartment on right.
124. Replaced rear wiper blade (11/10)
125. Replaced Shift **** going back to OEM (feels much better) (1/17/11)
126. Added BMW/MINI emblem to faded mini emblem on hood (2/13/11) (MINI emblems were included in purchase)
127. Added BMW/MINI emblem to faded mini emblem on trunk (3/13/11) (same thing happened a month later on back)
128. Added Hella 003399803 Supertone 12V High Tone/Low Tone Twin Horn Kit $51.00 (4/11)
129. Added horn fuse under B+ battery jump connector (by air box) (Two horns and relay by driving light holes)
130. Upper engine mount leaks @ 37K miles, replaced with OEM. $95
131. Tightened Upper engine mount dampers.
132. DRT Front Rotors; drilled, slotted, vented, red (*purchased from “wizardwerks” on NAM) @35K miles 4-16-11
133. EBC Red Stuff Front Brake Pads (*purchased from “wizardwerks” on NAM) @35K miles 4-16-11
134. SS Brake Lines, Front, Teflon Coated (*purchased from “wizardwerks” on NAM) @35K miles 4-16-11
135. Front Caliper Bushing Kit (*purchased from “wizardwerks” on NAM) @35K miles 4-16-11
136. Front Brake Sensor (*purchased from “wizardwerks” on NAM) @35K miles 4-16-11
137. DRT Rear Rotors, drilled, slotted (red) (*purchased from “wizardwerks” on NAM) @35K miles 4-16-11
138. EBC Red Stuff Rear Brake Pads (*purchased from “wizardwerks” on NAM) @35K miles 4-16-11
139. SS Brake Lines, Rear, Teflon Coated (*purchased from “wizardwerks” on NAM) @35K miles 4-16-11
140. Front Caliper Bushing Kit (*purchased from “wizardwerks” on NAM) @35K miles 4-16-11
141. Extra Front Brake Sensor didn’t fit rear (*purchased from “wizardwerks” on NAM) *$400 for all
142. Bleed all brakes to flush out old fluid @35K miles 4-16-11
143. Rotated tires at 35,500 miles.
144. Added BSH Lower Engine Mount (Street softer) $119 – Nice feel (interior noise with AC) 4/23/2011
145. Replaced Upper Motor Mount with OEM unit (leaking hydraulic fluid). 35K miles 5/6/2011
146. Added “Sea Foam” cleaner to intake (¾ can) giving lots of smoke at 35K miles. (no improvement noticed).
147. Turned off XM Radio service May 2011.
148. Hard to get in gear today on way to work (5/19/11) – plan to lube linkage.
149. Cleaned and reoiled Dania air filter at 36,000 miles (6/10/11)
150. Added “muffler seal” to header weld joint for future insurance against leaks.
151. Tightened exhaust clamps (center pipe) for small leaks 7/4/2011
152. Added rubber at muffler hangers to stop vibration at cold (worked) 7/4/2011
153. Installed Devilsown sprayer at intake for methanol injection (nozzle is 2 GPH) 7/4/2011
154. Added RED LED under steering column to indicate Methanol injection on at 10psi boost.
155. Connected methanol injection power on switch to green switch at OEM lighter location.
156. Filled injector tank with ½ distilled water & ½ 99.9% methanol ($37 for 5 gallons) 7/10/2011
157. Replaced air filter with K&N RU-1480 (a little smaller than Dania filter but no change noticed) 7/30/2011
158. Lubricated transmission linkage under airbox with white-lube 7/30/2011
159. Important - Checked and tightened (torque set) plugs (they were a little loose – maybe 5ft lbs) 8/20/11.
160. Replaced Coolant with New (phosphate free) antifreeze 50/50. 8/27/11
161. Noticed oil leak in front of engine. Must be Crank position sensor O ring. Purchased $4.00 from Way
162. Replaced Transmission mount with Powerflex. $29 from Way 9/11/11
163. Added about 3cups of antifreeze and half quart of oil (no leak detected). 9/12/11
164. Made Cam Gear tool to hold cam gear for bolt loosening / tightening (used bolt method instead)
165. Installed NS1 street CAM 10/14/11 (No issues nice gains in mid to upper with no lower loss)
166. Replaced Timing Chain Tensioner with NS1 CAM 10/14/11 (No problem with Oil Filter out)
167. Replaced Cam Gear bolt with Blue Lock-Tight 10/14/11
168. Changed oil and filter with new CAM at 36,000 miles (Mobil 1 / 5w30)
169. Replaced Belt with new from WAY $29
170. Work on Rattles. Tighten Header to CAT Back bolt.
171. TPR-1 Head next ? J
172. Planned – Thumper or Way tune
173. Planned – Powerflex Front control arm bushing $79.95 + $11.00 S&H from WAY.
174. Planned - IC water sprayer Home Depot with washer pump and boost pressure switch - Haven’t Installed
175. Planned - fake alarm red blinking light.
176. Planned - fog lights??
177. Planned – Air/Fuel Gauge
178. Planned - Interior door panel lighting.
179. Planned – When time for a new Clutch include LSD
180. Planned – When time for a new S/C swap to Twinscrew S/C
181. Tinted brake light covers (not installed – too dark)
182. Union Jack plugs for door handles (not installed – crappie quality)

 

hahahaha

 

Thanks for the input!

I have located some Redline MTF for changing the transmission fluid.

I am also going to pick up a fuel filter and do that as well after reading the How To on it.

With the winter approaching, I guess I will hold off on the urethane mounts for now, maybe look into upgrading those come the spring when it warms up.

As soon as WMW gets them in stock, I am also picking up some TSW V3 lowering springs as well as HSport arms and Powerflex control arm bushings. That should do it on the suspension for awhile.'

Any other ideas, keep them coming!

 

Wow MINI SUV, now that is keeping track of stuff! Reminds me of my mod list I had going in IRAQ to make sure I didnt re order any parts.

 

Yea, I usually don't keep detailed car records but it's been fun on the MINI. I keep thinking I'm done with Mods but then I get use to the power and...... got to stop reading this forum

 

I have the TSW urethane lower mount, and the power flex transmission mount insert atm. Redline will be fine for tranny fluid, I got a deal on royal purple so used that - no complaints.

Jeeze, yah I dont even want to know what my mod list would be (or the cost). Nice record keeping, lol