Everyone,
Just received this press release from Mini Mania and thought you would be interested


The First 200HP MINI Cooper Turbo from MINI MANIA.
Nevada City, October 25, 2002 Mini Mania, recognized as the leader in
aftermarket technology for the new MINI, today announced the offering of a
major performance upgrade for the MINI Cooper, The MINI COOPER TURBO from
Cooper Turbo Research and Development, Inc. This first Turbo Kit for the
MINI is available from Mini Mania with 28 years experience in product
development. The MINI COOPER TURBO produces a dynamometer tested 200 HP
from an otherwise stock MINI Cooper rated at 115 HP from the factory.

"We are pleased to offer this unique product which elevates the
performance of the MINI Cooper to a new level. Our customers can use the
added horsepower to extract maximum performance from an excellent
platform." says Don Racine, President and Owner of MINI Mania.

Designed for performance and drivability, this complete kit bolts onto a
stock MINI Cooper without major modifications. The MINI Cooper Turbo will
be unveiled in the Mini Mania Booth (#11122) at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas,
November 5, 2002, and will begin shipping after the show.

"Our product development team wanted the best and they found it!" says
Jim Bogard, Mini Mania's New MINI Program Manager. Mini Mania currently
supplies performance oriented MINI products for the engine, exhaust,
suspension, brakes, and accessories for the interior and exterior. Mini
Mania products are available at http://www.minimania.com or from select
dealers.

About Mini Mania:

This year marks the 28th anniversary of Mini Mania and the release of the
New BMW MINI Cooper. Through the years, Mini Mania has provided parts,
accessories and technical services for owners of the Classic Mini. Now,
tradition meets the future as Mini Mania brings new products on line for
the New MINI Cooper. Mini Mania is dedicated to providing innovative,
quality products to owners of the New BMW MINI Cooper.

MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S are registered trademarks of BMW

Mark

 

The problem becomes the gearbox. The Getrag 6 speed is rated to 200hp, but the Cooper box is onle rated to 150. A german tuner already tried the turbo kit and found that out, then pulled it from the market.

 

Great, just what I wanted to hear, a standard Cooper that will leave my S in the dust. Somebody had better engineer a 250HP kit for the MCS. Soon.

I wonder how much boost they can run on that high compression engine before the pistons meltdown and leave the engine via a hole in the block?

X2

 

Ya, i woudn't trust it if you were looking for any long term usage of your Cooper... The S has some more improvments under the bonnet besides just the supercharger... ones that would probally require 'major' changes to the engine...

RocketboY_X

 

I too am concerned with the UK built 5spd box and a "200 HP turbo" - these boxes cannot take much more torque. This is not only documented in "NewMini" but also commented by the USA Mini Divison. It will be interesting to see real world testing and data on the torque curve.

 

I have a standard Cooper... I'd advise anyone to avoid bolting on a turbo. It greatly reduces the life of the car (and all its gonna do is get you in trouble...)

My suggestions are to simply give the car better intake and exhaust... its all about breathing... just not forced breathing. Make your car last, don't make it blow up!

 

A properly engineered turbo setup can be very reliable. BTW, I'm new here. Hi. :smile:

 

That's just it. It isn't properly engineered. It being the tranny. If it's rated for 150 then 200 may cause it damage. Of course when spec'ing something engineers tend to make the numbers off a little to give some breathing room on true amount it could stand. Hence why many people Over-clock CPUs and RAM and busses in computer systems--but there's always risk involved. There may be a little breathing room on the tranny's 150 hp max rating. My gut tells me it should be able to handle it.

 

Couldn't the 6 speed be used since it's able to handle the higher hp?

 

Theoretically, yes... but think of the pain it would be to swap in a 6 speed into such a computer-driven car... is it really even worth it to go a few seconds faster to 60? The MINI isn't about speed, its about sport. Have fun with it, don't get killed in it.

 

Fast IS fun for me. :smile: The 6 speed can handle more hp than the 5 so it would make sense to use that for the turbo kit. I'd rather start with the supercharged version anyways since that has the tranny stock. Guess I'll wait to the go fast stuff to come out for the MCS. Thanks all.

 

>>Fast IS fun for me. :smile: The 6 speed can handle more hp than the 5 so it would make sense to use that for the turbo kit. I'd rather start with the supercharged version anyways since that has the tranny stock. Guess I'll wait to the go fast stuff to come out for the MCS. Thanks all.

Yes, but according to the article I'd consider a new tranny a major modification

Rocketboy_X

 

>>stock MINI Cooper without major modifications [/quote] I'd consider a new tranny a major modification
>>

Same here. I wonder how much the turbo kit will cost.

 

Okay ... think about this :

Sure, the S clocks in at about 163 hp around 6400 rpm, and the MC at 116 hp around the same RPMs... and the 5-spd on the MC is rated to support up to 150 HP...

How often do YOU hit 6000+ rpms??? Pretty rarely! I would say top RPMs with either the 5-spd or 6-spd at the highest speed in each gear seems to be about 4500- 5000 RPMs. Logically then, the only time you'll hit Max HP is on the Dyno, (or running 1/4 miles), and unless you're racing your car flat out all the time, no need to worry about it.


A boost to 200 hp at max RPMs probably translates somewhere near a real-world 160-180 at 5000 rpms at the tranny, and if an engineer rates the 5-spd at 150, you can bet they are really saying max load is at the least 25% more..

Plus, Mini Mania sells quality products, and I'm sure thoroughly tests them all, including their new Turbo.

 

My contact at Mini Mania will provide us with more information during SEMA (starting tomorrow...November 1). They are announcing the system there and will provide a lot more information on it.

Mark

 

I am by no means an expert on turbos or super chargers, but I do remember a friend of mine who modified a Saab turbo the put out like 40Hp, bolted it onto an old VW Scrooco, and raised the boost to 60Hp. Can't you do that to the MCS charger?

 

>>How often do YOU hit 6000+ rpms??? Pretty rarely! I would say top RPMs with either the 5-spd or 6-spd at the highest speed in each gear seems to be about 4500- 5000 RPMs.

I've been close to red-lining it a few times... it's called passing... as long as my MINI is still in the powerband, i've got more things to worry about then shifting...

Rocketboy_X

 

I'm familiar with passing...

...but even when you drop down a gear and punch it you're only at 6000+ for a couple of minutes, right? That was my point. It's infrequent.. unless you drive on the Autobahn.

 

>>...but even when you drop down a gear and punch it you're only at 6000+ for a couple of minutes, right? That was my point. It's infrequent.. unless you drive on the Autobahn.

Yes, but your arguemnt was that nobody ever gets up that high, it's a non-issue... i'm just saying it's not... and if it was a non-issue, why isn't the redline cut-off higher?

Rocketboy_X

 

I was just saying you're not at 6000+ for an extended length of time..

 

>>I was just saying you're not at 6000+ for an extended length of time..
>>

That is true...but I do go there on a regular basis. It isn't going to hurt the engine.
I've got a BMW R1100R with 22,000 miles on it and it looks brand new when you
look inside the engine. High revs will burn off carbon, etc and keep things nice
inside. Drive it like you stole....but safely!!

 

Err, kind of a steep progression there. Peaky

 

I can see why they recommend as not for road use....
Remember the chips in the windshield post.....

 

That intercooler looks a little low for street use too. I mean, how would you like to scrape that coming out of a parking lot.

 

>>That intercooler looks a little low for street use too. I mean, how would you like to scrape that coming out of a parking lot.

Ouch!!! and no more warranty on the engine either!!!!