I bought an 02 MCS about 3 months ago with 11K mi. I have put on a Borla exhaust, 15% Alta pulley, Unichip, H sport sway bar, Dinan intake, BBS RV-F wheels, and some nick nacks in the interior. I have added up my list of future mods including Suspension, Brakes, gauges, and TB, Header, Miltek Exhaust manifold etc and it adds up to another 8K. I love driving the MINI. What are the rest of you spending on mods. Please help me to feeel less sick/compulsive/obsesive.

 

my 03 MCS has
alta stuff: 15%, intake, gauge pod, catchcan
Mania: 2 tier storeage, Shorty antenna
Orciari: rear spoiler
MOMO: race air leather/aluminum shiftknob
Pilo: ss kit
H-Sport: Rear competion sway bar
Scorpion: exhaust
Bridgestone: RE750 x4, 215/45
Motegi: FF6 17x7, 19 lbs each
Greddy: SMI gauges
Ferodo: DS2500 all round
MTH: chip 91 octane
Denso: IK22

right now things to add include probably either a coil setup or just shocks and springs, camber links and likely camber plates, defenitely rdr's new intercooler or grs' intercooler, and some things that are in decision include new coil pack and wires(simply for color!), and probably include a chrome pack inside (just speedo, shifter, and tach ring, and probably add switch guards) , finally to end it all, it's likely im swapping out my exhaust and my rims when they are tiring (probably not anytime soon!) as well as getting probably a front splitter...

i can keep dreaming i guess........ my calculations told me i've spent about 4k on the car so far, coils would set me back another 1.5, rdr's intercooler another 600-700, coils and wires about 200, chrome pack altogether about 250, and finally front splitter: 250

not including new exhaust and tire/rims, it'd be about 6.8k! wow

 

Started thinking one day and got to a little over $10,000.00 and quit.

I don't think I want to know

But I love them all from the pulley, exhaust, right down to my auto up windows.

Earl

 

Hey,

don't forget to add installation costs for everything you did not install yourself. Makes the number even bigger.

Alex

 

Even though it seems outrageous, mods do add up and there is plenty to do inside and out. Unless a lock is put on your Fort Knox account it can get out of hand. See how others have done:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ht=%2410K+club

Soon we will have a $20K+ club (cost of stuff added after taking delivery)

Don't forget that a chunk of what I spent is in shipping. There's no such thing as ground shipping rates over the ocean. Figure $1-$2 per pound and about a $30 minimum per order for light stuff.

 

money is not a object when you buy good parts for you mini


chris

 

I'm not sure what MINI mag i was reading, but at Helix the other day there was an article about a guy and his $100,000 MINI . I couldn't even bear read it

 

Thanks to all who have replied so far. For sure there are more of you.

I read that article and a lot of it was in audio. I work in pro audio and really don't get the facination with THAT much gear in your car. Hell, the studios that music was recorded in don't have that much in monitors.

 

First car ('02 Mini Cooper S), I was over 15k in performance modifications. Placed 2nd in class for 2003 season. I won't even go into what it cost me to compete for one season!

This car ('04 Mini Cooper S Monte Carlo Edition) I already over 6k in Stereo Upgrades and plan on adding the JCW package later after I catch up, bills wise.

For me, cars are a hobby. What I spend on them is purely for my enjoyment value. Even with what I spend on the cars, it's cheaper than some hobbies I've heard of!

 

No performance mods on my Cooper...not enough gains to be had. And yes, y'all are sick/compulsive/obsessive..............so have fun!!!!

btw, I'm a bit sick/compulsive/obsessive, too. My Cooper is sooooooo shiney!!!

 

I gave up flying about 6 years ago. That is an expensive hobby.

 

I am figuring about 25k I am hoping for about 15 if I do enough of it my self...but you never know....Heck after wheels, tires, suspention and bodykit/bonnet I'll be around 10k so it looks like it will be around 20k total....heh woo hoo!!!


however, it doesn't matter its all about the love...

 

I still haven't gotten the new MINI yet, but I have already spent ovr $500 on stuff for it already. When spring comes around I'll probably have over $3000 in it.

 

So far I've added:

Bilstein PSS9 Coilovers
Eibach F&R sway bars
Front strut brace
Rear Pilo stress bar
Yokohama AVS ES100's
Brembo cross drilled rotors

GIAC ECU - 1st one tuned by GIAC
Alta 15% pulley
Borla race exhaust
K&N CAI
62 mm throttle body
Alta SS w/custom Whalen Shifter

TrafficGauge for LA traffic
Garmin 2620 GPS
OEM alarm
OEM BMW/MINI center console
Glove box organizer by our own GoMiniGO
Window tint
Alta rally light kit
Mini madness stainless front & rear mesh bumper inserts
XM Satellite

Just add cost of installation and you can do the math. The GIAC was Free though.

What's next?
Powerslot brakes w/EBC greenstuff pads
BFP front strut brace to replace the current one along with a few other BFP CF goodies
Still working on wheel sponsorship
Ported & polished head w/Schrik cam
Possibly 19% Alta pulley w/tuned 19% GIAC (when finally released)
And possibly a little nitrous for that occasional added fun

 

$3,200 well spent dollars in just over two years. Performance has been tremendously improved and the process of getting there has been a gas!

 

Tuls,
Exactly, I'm seeing more and more MINIs modded up with $20K+ worth of stuff. It's not hard to do if you have a certain look in mind or a specific purpose (autocross, track, showcar, or multipurpose MINI).

If you are trying for an autocross MINI you'll do best in stock classes since that limits your mods. Once you add a pulley to the MCS and enter the Street Mod division you'll be tempted to start adding a bunch of mods that soon add up to no good (for the budget that is). Same for the MC in STS or FSP classes.

If you are interested in track it is even worse since there are no real rules and you can increase power, improve suspension/brakes/wheels, etc.

Then there are the show cars with great huge wheels, lowered suspension, great audio/video upgrades, custom exterior work and interior work. It's very easy to spend $20K just on these alone.

Finally there are the multipurpose cars which do a bit of all of the above. They might look like show cars but they have tricked out suspension/wheels and alot more power than stock. They are usually pretty well modded all around and that leads to quite a high mod bill.


Whatever you choose just realize that it's pretty fun to upgrade and customize, it does sometimes cost quite a bit so make a budget and have a final plan in mind, and don't expect to have a $40,000 MINI that has mass appeal and high resale value if you do sell it. Almost always you will sell at a loss. Most important- enjoy your ride and motor on.

 

I'm happy (?) to report that I'm under $1000 on mods. $400 for the 15% pulley installed, $45 for the hot air intake (plus $40 lost on the BMP purchase and resale). $25 for the black scoop (plus $45 lost on the 1st try), $25 for the new grille and $25 for the new boot handle which both still need to be painted black.

$60 for the parcel shelf, $35 for a CF shift ****, $50 for the "MINI circuit". Birthday present for the glove box organizer, $10 on sale for a boot organizer from Target.

Thus far I have avoided the temptation for an exhaust, chip, wheels, new tires, any suspension mods, LSD or anything else.

 

Driving school to modify the big nut behind the wheel $160
Schroth Harness to keep nut behind the wheel $230
Extra set of take off wheels from Ebay $400
Kumho Tires for Solo I and II $525
-------
That adds up to $1,315

Instead of SCCA I race do Solo I in MidWest Council. I stay in the Stock class, and get to run on road race courses with out a roll cage.

Next Mod will be lighter wheels as the Minilites I bought are HEAVY.

I am allowed 2 points for Mods and am considering a Cat back (1 point), as the weight reduction may be important.

From what I can tell an air intake (1 point) is not worth the point (or the money) on a stock MCS.

I will spend the winter thinking about where to spend my 2 points. (An ECU flash is 3 or 4 points, A pulley is about 6 points.)

 

"Big nut behind the wheel" is hilarious. I can relate.

My new suspension of H-sport springs and Koni yellows goes in next week.

 

with the mods listed in my sig, i have spent over $4500. I think I am at the point where there is nothing else to mod. I mean there are things that I could do, but I want to save up for my next car. Tough choices...either more stuff for the MINI (Hamann spoiler and front wing, some BBK, system, CF hood), or an M3 in the near future.

 

I am having so much fun driving the Mini that I am going to have to try an M3 to find out what all the fuss is about.

My goal for the mods is a 1 to 10 ratio in HP to LB. 260 HP for 2600 LB

 

r88 wheels bought at dealer: $400 ( with trade in)
stubby antena: $26
shift and ebrake boots: $50
euro parcel shelf:$78
donut spare and jack:$156
bag for same from Robyn(jerseygirl):$48
alta cai with tube:$256
15% alta pulley with Randy install:$400
1 set of traction T/A tyres with install:$750
lightinsight:$12.95
(soon,Nov.6) B&M SS:
`3 pulley tools(made for Randy) and $65 install
h-sport sway bars(still waiting for price from Mr. Webb)
Denso Irridium plugs:$65
alta catch can:$129
assuming about $200 for the swaybars.........that's about $2600 to date

 

What I know is how much $ I spent, I don't know how much $ I will spend ! Up to date I already spent more than $ 10,000.- but I'm happy and make me love my MINI more.
Don't feel so bad.

 

I had spent over $2,800 before I even took delivery. Since Sat delivery I've spent $500 and I'm awaiting the JCW kit. Sad thing is that there is soooo much left to do :-(


Patrick

 

David,

Aloha and welcome to NAM.
What did you add for your first $10K???