I've spent countess hours researching the best bang for the buck upgrades to my R53. Far and away the two best upgrades that I have come across are the reduction pulley and CIA upgrade. I upgraded my pulley and felt more power, then my CIA and felt a bit more. I have recently read that replacing the rear sway bar improves handling, and it is not that expensive. Is this true? Also an RMW Header seems to be the most recommended header, and a logical choice given the CAI and pulley upgrade. However, this is expensive, and I'm not sure how much it would improve power. Worth it? Finals a CAM replacement seems to be one of the other strong possibilities. How much increase for a new CAM, or new header? Which one first? Is there something else you would recommend instead? Would mating the RMW to the stock exhaust be a waste of money? As to the exhaust, I like cars on the quieter side, I am willing to tolerate more noise if I must, but any upgrades I did would be for the added power. Answers to any of the above would be appreciated.

 

I bought the stratmosphere cat back with a resonator because I wanted mine on the quieter side too. You can only hear the exhaust more over stock when you're on it. I still think the CAI is louder than the exhaust. The header I read will make the exhaust louder, but I also hear if you're resonated it helps quite a lot by not making it too loud.

 

Next...
Add Rear swaybar...
Then if you want, a cat back....mostly sound, but might add 4-6 hp...but the sound is what most like..cheap ones can drone, nice ones a fine...but kinda $$ per hp...so many "one-ball" the stock unit....
then you need to ask..
What are my goals...and how strong is the car, cause things get more $$ and gains less assured...
and HOW you drive will dictate your choices....
A cam or header might be right for some, but not others, same for adding injector and a tune...or even meth injection. HOW you drive, meaning the style, and use of the car, and the condition of the car will point you towards your goals....

 

Get a cat back then rear sway. Headers will make your car really loud typically. Spending a ton of money on a cat back is kinda dumb when there are reasonably priced quality systems available.
Here's mine
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...st-thread.html

 

Not sure what year your cars is but the next thing I would do is go over it for a tune-up and then look into getting a tune. I swear my 03 with 15% CAI one-ball and tune would run rings around my current stock JCW.

I do also support going down the suspension changes path but most suspension changes are a trade off between day to day comfort and performance. That being said the rear sway was the first thing I did to my 05.

 

The rear sway bar we call the "pulley for your suspension as you will see a huge gain in handling just like the pulley gave you a huge gain in power. So an Hsport Comp rear sway bar should really be the next mod.

For more go check out the Stratmosphere Catback, it's not too loud, and doesn't drone on the highway. Plus it is almost 20lbs lighter than stock so it will help more than just the nice torque gain it will give you, but reduce weight slightly.

After those then evaluate your next mod, but if you haven't you may want to look into some Powerflex control arm bushings. Every MINI with 40k or more needs them and if you can't get the power to the ground it's no good.

 

if you don't like noise, the JCW or strat exhaust will do ya well. matching a header to an exhaust will make it even louder, and get more cabin noise. most headers are thinner walled than the stock and have larger runners to allow more flow. also creates more noise. I took a ride in my buddies r53 and he has a header, and there is a noticeable difference in sound.


as for the cheapest thing to give you the most HP now. is most likely a Cam. instantly it will be like 8-10hp untuned. a header will give about 6, cat back about 6. Meth would give you more power as well for cheap, doesn't make that much more, but it keeps you from losing any.


also NOS is prolly the highest hp/$ gain, but I don't think your going that route


also a cam install is a bit more involved, take more time if you do it yourself, and more $ if you send it to someone else.


the rear sway bar will improve handling, im waiting till spring to install mine. since it was -4 deg F this morning, and I don't wanna be in all the snow. but this will reduce the understear and allow the car to rotate a lot better.

 

Thanks for the info everyone.

So would a catback or a camshaft be the best bang for buck HP increase at this point? Which camshaft would be best?

Also is there a general consensus between H&R v. H-Sport sway bars? I think I'm going to get 19mm for added stiffness but less risk of over-steer.

ZippyNH: my driving style is aggressive street driving I guess. Not so much that I lose traction on the streets, but enough that super horrible unskilled drivers (the type that get in everyone's way and slow traffic and kill joy from the world) that don't understand how someone could be in control of the car driving any faster than 10 miles below the speed limit think I'm a bad driver. So annoying!

 

Check out autoxcooper.com they have a lot of great stuff on there.

 

For aggressive street, I am assuming you like to rev the snot out of it...
If you want a cam...might give you more higher end pull...but it is a double edged sword, so pitch your cam carefully....you might loose some low end grunt...many are optimized for near redline...
I might suggest doing suspension and brakes...would make the "in traffic" driving more fun...
Sound comes down to if you like the car being a sleeper...
Mine is...stock exaust, but 200hp, could not justify the $$ for 5-6 HP...
As for other items...the basics on many cars need attention, like struts, tires, etc...I might look there before spending $$ on the icing!!

 

As for sway bar...
I went mild, a 19...been happy... Just a bit more...some WANT the feeling of a huge bar, but for a daily driven in traffic, wet weather, and ice, I am happy...many would not be...but I prefer a OEM+ feel, as opposed to a harsh "tuner" car full of compromises....
My tune added lots of lower end tq, made in traffic driving more fun, just like the 17%.....I tend to be more of a cruiser, but like to have the "zip" to say "bye bye!!" Or zip up a ramp, etc...
Like I mentioned, be careful of headers if you don't want drone...same for cheaper exhausts... Most 2 muffler ones are OK, but the single ones tend to buzzzzzzz at highway speeds.....sucks if you commute much IMO.

 

I think the cam is easier to drop in than the header. just me? a cam is a mild upgrade without a tune 5-10hp maybe, moderate with a tune15hp? results vary. get a street cam and get it tuned. Tune alone will add. depends on the rest of your airflow. I dont think any exhaust upgrade would be a waste of money but you'll get more out of them as you improve the total airflow. Stock exhaust is a compromise of noise and power, if you mod it to add more power, its gonna be louder. You'll be faster in the corners with new bush's and a rear sway than you will with more power...

 

I consider myself i aggressive street driver, and I wouldn't bother with a cam. I've drove a car with a cam and for me it was just too much of a low end compromise, and in street driving it's mostly low end anyways. Get the exhaust and 19mm sway bar, then slap some bigger brakes on and go for the suspension bits. At least that's what I'm gonna do.

 

So Ive recently bought a 2006 cooper s. Done the intake and Magnaflow exhaust, next step the sc pulley. Is Alta the way to go? Haven't seen any other options except Madness mini.

 

pulley is the best mod period. Get a wmw package

 

Thanks, so you recommend wmw over Alta? Is there much difference between 15% and 17% ? I'll just be using on the street. May as well go for 17%.

 

I don't recommend it over alta, but I believe it's the best deal and WAY may give you the removal tool for a discount if you get the package from him.

 

WMW do seem less expensive, but ill be having the work done in a shop so wont need the tool. Thanks for the info. But why have 15% when 17% is the same price?

 

IMO, its not worth the extra wear and heat from a 17%, especially considering these are 10 year old cars now. Just be safe and go with a 15%.

 

Do a search on 15% vs 17%...
Much comes down to driving style, planed use, and available fuel...
For me, with a mid RPM driving style, commuter, and 93, the 17% was best...
But for track folks who redline, and have crappy west coast ,90 octane, and a hot climate, 15% might be a better choice....

 

your still gonna need the tool.

 

Why do I need the tool when Im taking the car to a mini specialist who said he will install the parts????

 

Maybe I'm wrong but I believe the puller isn't something they have

 

An average "speed shop" won't, but a mini centric shop will....
When mine was done, my shop did have one...
Their pulley "flavor" of the day was a craven speed...very nice actually...
Heck think they did the complete install in about 30 minutes...lol...back "in the day" the mechanic had a big pile of stock pullies (all runined by removal) piled up in a barrel...eventuality scrapped, but on seeing the pile, kinda realized most mini's sold in the area had be through Greasysgarage in mass....

 

I'll check before hand, still gotta wait to see how much tax refund I get!