Alright you NAM geniuses and R53 snobs I need your guy's best opinion for upgrades. I've got about $1,000 and I want to get as most as I can for that money and be as educated as possible. I've been on here constantly since I got my MINI in March but there's still a few things I would like to know. Alright, so I'm definitely doing a supercharger pulley. I think I'm gonna go with WMW 16% pulley package with the spark plugs and everything. I'm going with a 22mm sway bar and from there is where you guys come in. Is a 2% crank pulley worth it and is it something I can myself and in the same location as the supercharger pulley? I'd like to get lowering springs with my swaybar but I don't know what I'd need to go with it? Should I just take it to a shop to get the stuff done or do you think at home would be better? I installed my CAI with no hiccups. Any and all information I'd greatly appreciate!

 

RE: crank pulley, you do realize you wil be spinning all of your accesories faster and placing additional wear on those items, right?

 

Alright so no crank pulley! thanks

 

Concur w/the 22mm rear adjustable bar. If you get the lowering springs, you'll need adjustable rear lower control arms to get the rear neg. camber right. Also get adjustable drop-links front and rear. You can do all the work yourself and save $ for more mods. Buy quality stuff the first time.

 

The money you save on the crank pulley now allows you to get springs

 

what springs you thinking? I need to find some more in the comfort zone.. running Koni Sport shocks and the worn Hsports are way too harsh!! Way's springs are still on backorder!


phil.

 

I'm young so I really don't care about harshness. If money wasn't an option for me right now I'd get Koni yellows with either H-Sports or H&R springs(I don't know if those are the same or not) I live in a fairly rural area so I don't want to go too low so I was looking for maybe an inch drop. I like how the front is a little lower than the rear and I think those two brands I mentioned above look the best.

 

well koni yellows and springs are going to put you right around 800+ anyway.

i ordered some koni yellows and swift springs. so those will be here eventually.

but its hard to say whats better for money......

i would just go for the 17% pulley, although i have now set my mind on a 19% last time i chickened out on the more aggressive engine parts i wasn't all that satisfied.

but shocks springs and swaybar look to me like a fantastic package though.

 

If I went with the konis is there anything else I'd need besides the yellows, springs, and swaybar of course Well my birthday is coming up so maybe a special someone might treat me and my MINI to some nice things. I just want as much information as I can because eventually, one day I will have all my mods and be in the prestigious 10k+ club!

 

like every one else said adjustable rear contoral arms, adjustable droplinks, and either adjustable or fixed camber plates(for the front). the little bit of neg camber up front makes a world of difference.

 

I'd go with a CAI. my ALTA one lets me hear the supercharger pretty good

 

pulley : id go with the 17% pulley, save yourself the "what if" when you've installed the 16% and wonder if a 17% pulley would've been better ... go with 17%

crank pulley : first I would inspect the pulley before changing it. R53 and notorious for destroying their crank pulleys. If you do end up replacing the crank pulley keep in mind that the 0% ATI pulley way sells is actually 0.98 bigger then stock ... so almost a 1% increase which has been told to add a max of 0.5psi of boost

sway bar : GO FOR IT !!!

for the rest, I don't think you absolutely need adjustable rear control arm if you simply want a 1inch drop, id keep that money and save up for a full coilover system which will come with camber plates (some brands come with them) and you could then buy the lower control arms. Like someone else said, buy quality the first time around its always cheaper in the long run
Now if you absolutely want to spend, Id replace the front control arm bushing along with the steering rack and front sway bar bushings. Combine that with the gearbox and lower engine mount bushings and you will feel a great difference in the handling of your car