hey,

i have been readin up on all these performance mods and how to get to 200 for the past week now. i know that the ECU tuning (mucho dinero) and the Pulley can void your warranty. i want to know the cheapest, easiest, and best way to eclipse the 200 hp barrier w/o voiding the warranty. I know RandyBMC is the obvious expert on all of this stuff, but when i went to http://www.mcshp.org i have been told that they are not accurate.

So... can anyone give me a price list... straight forward... on how to achieve 200, cost efficeient

please post your opinions on the best operations and combonitions to achieve the 200...

thanks for all your help

 

Lighter wheels and tires, Magnaflow, Madness intake.
Lose the rear seats and anything else you can live without
on the car. BTW 200 hp is not going to make the S a very
fast car. 250 maybe but 200 just is not enough.

 

>>Lighter wheels and tires, Magnaflow, Madness intake.
>>Lose the rear seats and anything else you can live without
>>on the car. BTW 200 hp is not going to make the S a very
>>fast car. 250 maybe but 200 just is not enough.

i think the car is already plenty fast, but at 200 it would obviously be a little faster... 250 is absurd for me, im sure to get 250 i would have to spend about 6,000 dollars and then i could be driving a NISSAN Z. even the JCW car isnt gonna have 250, so any other ideas? thanks for the input

 

The only way that I know of is to go with the JCW system that the dealer can install for you in April :smile: Everything else can void the warranty; depending on who your dealer is.

 

well when Dinan come out with there stuff you will have another alternative. As I far I know as long as you have there products installed at an authorized Dinan Dealer it does not void the Manufacturers Warranty

 

They cannot, within the law, void your warranty for performing modifications as long as it does not directly create the problem. Example, you put an intake and your ignition/fuel/ecu etc... system fails. They HAVE to fix or you can take them to court and sue them for the court costs in addition to wasting your time. They must be able to prove that the modification directly caused it. ECU will void bc it controlls it all, going internal will bc you have to go internal, but I dont see why any bolt on could other than these. Plus, my dealer told me I can add Spchgr pulley of my choice, intake of my choice, exhaust of my choice, udp of my choice, headers, and throttle body and still hold my full warranty. Its guranteed, woohoo. Those mods should make for a VERY VERY fun mini.

 

Like I said above, it depends on who your dealer is. If they want to, they can be a real pain to deal with when you have a problem and you have modified the car. Even when a dealer tells you that mods are okay; just wait until something expensive breaks and watch their story about warranty coverage changes quickly.

The whole thing about what is THE LAW and what isn't is moot for most people because they can't afford to take a dealer to court; never mind the hassle.

However, it is quite true that if you put on an intake and the gearbox breaks, almost no dealer will hassle you about it. But, put on a pulley and the gearbox breaks and you'll be on your own to fix it in most cases. BTW - I just picked that as an example; I'm sure the gearbox can handle a 15% pulley just fine :smile:

 

just curious....why does 200hp seem to be the holy grail for the MCS.....seems everyone is expecting tremendous performance gains by reaching 200hp....what I'm reading in the modified MCS, the low end performance boost is very modest, less than 1/2 second 0-60 and the upper end performance above 60 mph is improved. I think many are going to be disappointed spending a lot of cash to reach this 200hp mythical mark....now 250hp plus and you would probably really start to get some bang for your buck and see the difference in the performance numbers. I modified my MCS with lightweight allow 16" rims and replaced the runflats and although no quicker straight line, definitely quicker through the turns and much better handling....that to me is a better bang for the buck than chasing the 200hp holy grail.....just my opinion

 

I am definately a noobie here.
Has anyone offered an aftermarket kit for the MC to boost it with
Turbo or super charge.?

 

The easiest and cheapest way to go over 200 HP without affecting your warranty would probably be to trade in for a Subaru WRX!

 

200 horsepower is not the Holy Grail for the MINI. It definitely makes for a loads of fun car, but there is more.

I want to see 250, and I totally plan to get there.

Here is the cheapest way to do it, I think.

15% pulley $199
ECU ~ $500
Intake $239
Exhaust $600

This will get 200 at the flywheel for roughly $1500. That is a 37 hp gain for $1500 - a pretty good deal. That equates to $41.57 per horsepower, when you crunch the numbers.

Don't lose sight of the beauty of the MINI though. For only $190 and an hour or so of labor, you can do the rear swaybar and totally change the car. Turn in can be completely taken care of with the throttle, and traction is much inproved out of a corner.

Wheel are another easy mod that makes a world of difference in both the 1st gear bog as well as ride and overall seat of the pants feel. I have really been trying to find the best bang for the buck products, along with the best available, and that's where I found the new wheel and tire package.

You get the 13.9 lb Monza (look at it on my website) with a 215/45-16 Falken Azenis, all four mounted and balanced, with all mounting hardware, for $1050 plus shipping (typically another $80). I don't mean to sound like a used car salesman, but that is just a great way to get lightweight wheels wiht sticky tires without spending a fortune.

As far as voiding the warranty, you simply can't get to 200 hp without voiding the warranty or spending the ~$5000 + installation for the mysterious and promised John Cooper Works kit.

Let me know if you have any other questions. I hope that helped!

Randy
randy@mini-motorsport.com
720-841-1002

 

ya i guess ur right. i guess 200 hp would probably not show so much improvenment. but 250 would be, but that would be too muc h money

 

>>hey,
>>
>>i have been readin up on all these performance mods and how to get to 200 for the past week now. i know that the ECU tuning (mucho dinero) and the Pulley can void your warranty. i want to know the cheapest, easiest, and best way to eclipse the 200 hp barrier w/o voiding the warranty. I know RandyBMC is the obvious expert on all of this stuff, but when i went to http://www.mcshp.org i have been told that they are not accurate.
>>
>>So... can anyone give me a price list... straight forward... on how to achieve 200, cost efficeient
>>
>>please post your opinions on the best operations and combonitions to achieve the 200...
>>
>>thanks for all your help

Where did you hear bad stuff about http://www.mcshp.org? Are you referring to the prices or the dyno numbers?

 

>>hey,
>>
>>i have been readin up on all these performance mods and how to get to 200 for the past week now. i know that the ECU tuning (mucho dinero) and the Pulley can void your warranty. i want to know the cheapest, easiest, and best way to eclipse the 200 hp barrier w/o voiding the warranty. I know RandyBMC is the obvious expert on all of this stuff, but when i went to http://www.mcshp.org i have been told that they are not accurate.
>>
>>So... can anyone give me a price list... straight forward... on how to achieve 200, cost efficeient
>>
>>please post your opinions on the best operations and combonitions to achieve the 200...
>>

What, who, when, where, why !!??? Whats not accurate. Altough we do make human typo's on ocasion we try to make everything as accurate as possible.

If anyone questions anything posted please e-mail me. info@mcshp.org.

I dont want anyone to think we have crap data because thats why I started it. Also you cannot void your warranty with aftermarket parts. Just do a search for magnson moss act in Yahoo.com

 

woops hit send too soon. As I was saying they cannot void your warranty without proving it caused the problem. If it did cause the problem then you can take that up with who you bought the part from.

I have talked to several dealers and not just Mini dealers. They all understand the law these days with all the mods out there. Just dont be stupid and do this self testing big mods. Like NOS. I though the car would handle 100hp shot

Note this is not the case for Canada or the UK.

Yea some dealers might be nasty but lets face it the dealer is not the ones paying the bill. Most all of them including the well your 15 pounds of boost did blow the head gasket may work with you if it was your fault.

But again some dealers will fight you on warranty claims that they should pay and your car was bone stock.

 

I dunno, my stock MCS has more than enough power on the street, right now with all the cold weather the wheels spin all the time under heavy acceleration (and I'm not talking about from a start)

200, 250hp, yeah these are great numbers but how many people could *REALLY* handle a 250hp MINI? I've heard of lots of stories (being close to a rather affluent area) about someone getting a <insert high performance vehicle> and wrecking it in dry conditions. I own a 955cc sportbike so I have a healthy respect for speed... it does 165 (true speed, not spedo speed) and yes, it's scary at that speed. The way to get faster is to 1st learn to drive. Anyone can bolt-on parts but the better driver can take any car and push it's limits. Until your pushing the car's limits I wouldn't be trying to shoot for a 250hp MINI, it's just asking for trouble.

Of course there are exceptions, I'm not the best driver but I do want a little more out of my MINI. I will probably upgrade the rear swaybar, the intake and possibly the exhaust. (money permitting) Am I trying to get to 200hp or 250hp? No, I just like to fiddle with cars and changing these parts is just an excuse for my to take apart my car. Will I like the benefits? Most likely... will I be able to push the car to it's limits? Probably not.

I already understand a lot about how a car handles, I know about apexes and how to heel-toe shift (though the mini is tricky and I don't have it down quite yet), I also *KNOW* that I'm nowhere near the best driver out there and I have much to learn. While I'm sure there are many people out there who know how to drive well and want to achieve this 250hp mark, I don't think they are posting on web boards asking for the cheapest way to do it.

I think the biggest thing you should ask yourself is *WHY* do you want 250hp? If you want to autocross or some other racing, start by taking some racing classes and then, after you have an understanding of how your car works, you will be able to make your own opinions and instead ask more specific questions. If you want to have the baddest, fastest car out there, go buy another car or get some stickers to make yourself look cooler. Also don't forget the fire extinguisher on the pillar.

The MINI has loads of potential and I'm sure there will be a 250hp and probably even a 300hp MINI someday which belongs on a racetrack and will probably eat (expensive) tires like nobodys business.
-Chris

 

Chris,

I totally agree. Learn to drive first and foremost.

That said, I have been very impressed at how many already accomplished drivers own MINIs. Most of the people serious about mods and the ones that want big horsepower (along with handling and braking improvements) are the ones who have had some experience on the track or at autocrosses.

There are definite improvements that can be made to the car without getting 200 hp. The first mod that comes to my mid that makes the most dramatic difference in the character of the car is the rear swaybar.

Bryan,

I think some of the info probably came out when all that was listed at http://www.mcshp.org was the manufacturer's claims - and people took those to be the truth (take a look now for instance at the tested versus claimed hp of the BMP intake for example).

There are still quite a few areas that need to be tested, and I think that once the data is all up, the site will be very useful (and it is useful now to see the different claims that are out there - that just needs to be emphasized I think, that they are just claims).

Thanks for all of the work you've done in putting MCSHP up! It is a great service, and has even more potential.


Let me know if anyone has any other questions.

Randy
randy@mini-motorsport.com
720-841-1002

 

I agree. It seems that at times all we dream about is having more horsepower to beat that Honda that is staring at us in the red light.

The MINI is all about charm and all about CURVES. Of course, I would modify my MCS (if I had one) to increase in all aspects (handling, power, etc.), that's why I am a car guy, but I wouldn't base my achievements in terms of a number reached in the dynamometer, instead I would base them on the car's ability to beat a Porsche Boxter with a capable driver on a twisty road...

BTW: I did install a K&N filter and a cat back system in my MC...

Cheers!!!

 

Slegorreta,

I agree, the MINI is more about great handling than horsepower.
However, I'd rethink the statement about "the MINI in any version is not a Musclecar". The Belcar MINI, at 340 HP seems to have some pretty big muscle. http://www.pistonheads.com/motorspor...p?storyId=4301

Each to his/her own.
As for me, I want it all: Speed, handling, gas mileage, looks, feel....hell, throw in a toot of smelly good just for good measure. :smile:

Anyway, we all share probably the best bang-for-the-buck performance car out there (or else we wouldnt' all be so passionate about them now would we?).

 

>>I wouldn't base my achievements in terms of a number reached in the dynamometer, instead I would base them on the car's ability to beat a Porsche Boxter with a capable driver on a twisty road... :smile:

Now, back to the 200+HP MINI idea: I can tell you that somewhere around 230HP y'all will be wanting all wheel drive 'cause those front tires will be having lots of trouble staying stuck to the ground. As someone else already said, even at 160HP it can be a handful maintaining traction.

A limited slip dif helps, but when you're going around a corner at full throttle and the inside wheel loses traction and the LSD transfers the torque to the outside wheel you had better have a tight grip on the wheel or the car will steer harder "into" the turn and if you've got that fine big swaybar in the back all that big power will just help you spin the car more easily rather than going faster.

So, becareful what you wish for!

I'll take about 200 horses for my MINI and call it good

 

>>>>I wouldn't base my achievements in terms of a number reached in the dynamometer, instead I would base them on the car's ability to beat a Porsche Boxter with a capable driver on a twisty road... :smile:

Actually.... according to Road and Track the MCS now holds the record for the slalom (sp?) ousting the Porsche (not the boxter but I can't remember which it was) However no track is just curves and the Porsche would kill the mini on the straights. The MINI is a great car to drive but in a race, no question, the porsche would win but I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss the MINI.
-Chris

 

200 horsepower is not the Holy Grail for the MINI. It definitely makes for a loads of fun car, but there is more.

I want to see 250, and I totally plan to get there.

Here is the cheapest way to do it, I think.

15% pulley $199
ECU ~ $500
Intake $239
Exhaust $600

Spoken like a true tuner, laugh !

For the cost & modest performance in an xtra 37hp I wouldn't be interested, but waiting to read the performance boost at 250hp and how you accomplish it...good luck!

 

>>200 horsepower is not the Holy Grail for the MINI. It definitely makes for a loads of fun car, but there is more.
>>
>>I want to see 250, and I totally plan to get there.
>>
>>Here is the cheapest way to do it, I think.
>>
>>15% pulley $199
>>ECU ~ $500
>>Intake $239
>>Exhaust $600
>>
>>Spoken like a true tuner, laugh !
>>
>>For the cost & modest performance in an xtra 37hp I wouldn't be interested, but waiting to read the performance boost at 250hp and how you accomplish it...good luck!

The 200 was reached without the ECU - and I wouldn't call an extra 37 hp a modest gain!

 

The 200 was reached without the ECU - and I wouldn't call an extra 37 hp a modest gain!

well I guess it's all relative, but 0 to 60 in 3 tenths of a second quicker seems modest to me for that kind of cash and loss of warranty....and that published result on the German tuner was at over 200hp with a supercharger modification...but never underestimate the seat of the pants effect, laugh!

 

Because of the traction limitations with the front-wheel drive MINI, I don't expect to see incredible 0-60 times, would you guys agree? What I'm looking for (and I think a lot of people out there would agree) is improved responsiveness, significantly faster passing times such as 30-70mph or 50-70, 70-90, etc...

I also want to feel more power in the seat of my pants when I give it full throttle. I think the mods discussed such as an air intake, exhaust, pulley, and possibly ECU and/or throttle body will do a whole heck of a lot with my goals in mind. I think the gains in these regards would be quite greater than "modest".

Right guys???