Hi all,

Newbie here but been reading and reading all night long and most of this morning (getting no work done!). I am just wondering your thoughts on the following.....

First Mod(s)
- lighter wheels & tires (17 or 18&quot
- Stoptech big brake upgrade (rear rotors to match)
- suspension (is it really needed?)

Possible Mod(s)
- Hamman ECU (200-211hp?)
- Exhaust / Header(s)
- CAI (mini madness etc)

Down the road (unconfrimed)
- John Cooper Works
- Dinan

Would I be correct in assuming (always a bad thing) that with the Possible Mods (ie Hamman, Exhaust, CAI) 200-220hp can be reached today? I currently own a higly modified TT Roadster Quattro but I have decided to embark upon "project MCS" as the car will weigh in just under 1000lbs lighter than my TTR and with 200-250hp would be just as much fun to drive, if not more.
Not to mention the $20k savings as I currently have about $50k in my TTR ($42.5+mods) so the choice to change is for the fun factor and also the cost savings. I know the MCS is not AWD but I honestly don't think this would be an issue as the handling is amazing (AutoX reports from freinds etc)

So do I jave these figures and estimates correct or do I need to re-read more posts? Thanks in advance

TTFN

_________________
TTigg
Project S in the works....

 

20+ views and no replies? Help a newbie out here as I did do some extensive reading but just need some comments (good or bad just be nice)

Thanks

 

http://www.mcshp.org ....or for now http://www.tjhsst.edu/~btonnese/

 

LOL sorry cant help, I only looked in to see what you meant by HP

 

Thanks Grinder

That's pretty much what I wanted to hear that 200hp is available today for not much in mod $$ ($3000 tops inc installs). I can then get my big brakes and wheels and sit back and wait to see what else happnes.

200hp in this thing weighing what it does is going to be some fun indeed. Not as high as my TTR but then my TT weighs 3400lbs!. Even with the weight savings I made with brakes, wheels, suspension, exhaust it's still a good 3300lbs so the Cooper S @ 2400lbs (with weight savings) should be a lot of fun.

Thanks again - TTFN

 

LOL thanks bud

HP - HorsePower but I didn't think that was an English term so figured it was ok

 

Tigg, where are you located? If in Europe somewhere, the Hartge conversion seems to be killer. 212-215 hp for £1500 is hard to beat.

 

>>Tigg, where are you located? If in Europe somewhere, the Hartge conversion seems to be killer. 212-215 hp for £1500 is hard to beat.

Very true but alas, I am in Southern California. I wonder if the Hartage parts can be shipped and then fitted (seeing as the price is so good)? Failing that it's good to know a good 200-205hp can be had for under $3k.

Will take some time to put the plan in motion so between now and the next 6mths I can save up and plan the sale of the TT (parts etc) and then purchase of the MCS :smile: Thanks again for the details

TTFN

 

I've been in contact with Hartge about it. No dice as of yet, but they're working on it.

 

Excellent

Keep us posted my friend as I do have my parents address in Oxford so they can always ship there and then we can ship Oxford - US. Yes I was born and raised in Oxford

 

"As of now, the story is that Hartge is unsure of the viability of selling the MCS conversion in the US, since we can only get 93 octane at the most. Apparently, the conversion is going to require higher octane levels that are readily available in Europe, but not in the US."

Also not sure about DOT approval.

"Nothing new at the moment, although I had a meeting on Friday and we're slowly getting closer to an understanding of what we need to do. The most likely possibility is that we will sell a slightly de-tuned system on a 'beta-test' basis. We don't have funds to redevelop the software for the US at this stage, but I'm pretty sure that one of the companies that has approached us from your side of the pond will be able to do that."

Now you know all the details...well, most of em

 

Thanks for the update. Yeah DOT is a pain but it's doable I'm sure. Even the 91 crappy gas in CA is about the same as 97/98 RON (or so I'm told). We'll have to see what MiniMania etc comes up with but I'd rather put $2k into 200hp than $6k into 220-250 but of course we shall see.

Still a long way off of course and who knows, could end up making nice money at the new job (starts tomorrow) so still might keep the TT. Decisions decisions. What I'd really like to do is to build a track / canyon car using a MKII Rallye as a base and drop a VR6 Twin Turbo conversion in it. 450hp and about 2200-2400lbs would make for a very interesting ride (4WD too!)

Costs on this would be in the region of $30-$35k inc shipping of parts & Donor from UK / Germany

TTFN

 

We will be happy with a reliable 200 HP... though 150 hp/liter (240 HP) sure would be nifty :smile:

http://home.earthlink.net/~bmwmini

 

Torque to the rear end will do more for performance than all out HP every day week off the line. HP will be the difference at the end of the race.

Do you want a street racer or a car that will out perform any car in the world in the twisties?

The MCS this month IS the fastest car in the world in twisties according to Road and Track. May only be for one month, but for now it's the fastest in the world. What more do you want?

250 HP and better torque would do for me. Love my MCS and want more.

 

Actually, at this point we have around 180-190 HP and that's probably fine... but would be thrilled to have lower gearing and a combination of a Quaife diff and a Racelogic electronic traction control system.

 

What modifications have you made to obtain 180-190 hp?

 

Yea! What have you done???

And on the MCS twisties note... a standard cooper can beat an MCS up a winding grade any day... (I've done this more than twice)(maybe we can all fond a good clear mountain grade hill and hold a race!) More Torque. MCS loses torque with the Supercharger.... More HP - Less torque... More Torque - less HP...

 

mighty Miniz,

I hate to contradict you, but I don't think so. Here are the numbers:

MCS stock

Power 163 hp
Torque 155 lb-ft
Weight 2678 lbs
Power to weight ratio 1:16.4

MC stock

Power 115 hp
Torque 110 lb-ft
Weight 2524 lbs
Power to weight ratio 1:21.9

So you see, the S pretty much wins. I think the key to any twisty is the driver's ability. Otherwise, the Cooper would be turning faster times at the autocross, and it doesn't.

Randy

 

the only advantage i have seen to the cooper is it is lighter; the only disadvantage I have seen to the S is that in autox, wheelspin limits how much power you can deliver. Perhaps those S drivers are just spinning their wheels too easily? I'm putting it to rest by adding the quaife.

 

I autocrossed my S with an absolute stock set-up and the DSC off. I had no problems with wheelspin at all, just an understeer issue (which the Cooper deals with too).

Since installing the rear bar, the DSC interferes much less under very hard cornering, so I think with this set-up that keeps the front wheels planted and some sticky tires, this will most certainly not be an issue.

Randy

 

So you see, the S pretty much wins. I think the key to any twisty is the driver's ability.

Couple months ago I watched in disbelief the cooper with faster times through the slalom than the MCS.....same track, same drivers, every time the MC was quicker...I realize the MC is lighter, but I saw it with my own eyes and couldn't believe it....they also ran both cars through the 1/4 mile and the MCS was definitely quicker, but not as much as I thought it would be.....had expected a bigger difference in performance, that's why I bought the MCS, but it just wasn't there as both cars were totally stock, maybe modifications would make a bigger difference on the MCS.....