hey guys, I must admit that I have been a troll to theses forums for about the last 6 months. I am a starving student and have saved 1200 dollars. I am thinking 17% reduction + alta intercooler and an alta CAI.


is there a better way or even a diffrent way to spend it on my car as it will be the only mods for this year.

( hope my English is ok, it isn't my first spoken)


~~~my brother just got me driver training at the Homestead international track via the Chima race group. so I will be tracking my car at Homestead and Seabring.~~

 

only mods so far are yoko AVS ES 100's.

 

I'd do the following a Pulley, CAI and an exhaust instead of the intercooler.

But if you want to accomplish overall driving excitement.

Do the CAI, pulley and a rear sway bar

 

Would an ECU remap be better then the exhaust? I do completly agree with CAI/Pulley/SB now that you point it out. it seems if it is the only mod for 6 mohtns it better cover most of the car.

 

I would go with one of the M7 packages.

I think they are more than they say on their site now because of the new version of the AGS.

M7 AGS v3 $469
M7 16% Pulley $129
M7 DFIC $899

Comes to a total of $1497

www.m7tuning.com

Thats what I would do if I were you, that should show better performance gain than what you have listed.

Oh and just do a one-ball exhaust to help that out.

 

Refer to the Title 1200$ I am a starving student and it takes me forever to save that kinda money. But if you mean wait a few more months and then buy it.....

 

Ya thats what I'm saying or just buy part of it now and then save some more for the other parts.

Like you could do the intercooler and pulley now and then wait a little bit more to get the AGS. Or maybe you could work something out with the m7 guys, I don't know.

 

i would -

1) pulley 300 installed
2) CAI 200 install yourself
3) 1-ball exhaust 150 installed
4) denso Ik22 50 install yourself
5) ECU upgrade 300 installed

with money left over - take out date to a resturant located atleast 50 miles away!

 

haha, sounds fair..

 

This certainly is one good way to go about it more specifically on the cheap and still have good power gaines.

 

Umm, honestly if your on a budget, do low cost mods!

-HAI (Hot Air Intake) $35
-Pully $130 + install/tools, or if you do it yourself, just tools
-Rear Sway Bar $?
-Springs ~$200-300 if you install yourself
-Oil Catch Can (it's useful, plus inexpensive) $25 off of ebay
-Screamin Deamon Coil Pack with new plugs/wires $165
-Exhaust? Maybe the One-ball since you won't have enough left.

That should be it...then save the rest or buy more mods! The Catch Can really won't help with performance, but it will keep the intercooler clean, thus more efficent (which I guess IS performance, but minimal).

This is my planned route... (HAI coming this week!)
-Cody I wish I had that kind of money!

 

maybe even obx headers.

 

I'll jump in here with my $.02.

You have good tires already. The first thing I would do is add a rear sway bar. IMO, it is the best mod for a MINI exluding better tires like you already have.

From there if it is more power you are wanting. Get a CAI so the car can breath a little better plus you get the benefit of hearing the SC better. I wouldn't spend a lot on a CAI. They do provide for more air but it's not a drastic increase in power. To get a jump in power. Get a 15% pulley. Maybe 17% if you want.

Sway bar $200 +/- $30
Intake $175 +/-$25
Pulley $400 installed +/- I have no idea. That's what it cost me.

That's roughly $775. You may want to hold on to the rest until after you have tracked the car. You may need new tires.

 

Sorry, a little off topic: I'm curious as to why so many of you are recommending a CAI over the HAI? Please do excuse my ignorance, as I'm new to MINI's and modding in general.

I know the CAI's look much nicer, but don't they perform the same? It's been a couple of months since I was reading about intakes, so I could have easily forgotten.

Anyway, it's my understanding that in a MINI, there is no "true" CAI, and the HAI acts in the same way, thus performing the same? Anyway, besides looks, why go CAI over HAI? I mean, the HAI is $35, opposed to $200+ on a CAI (especially something like the AGS - $500).

-Cody (again, sorry for the ignorance)

 

do da

AGS > HAI
HAI > CAI

any intake > restriction box

 

Easy:
-15%
-CAI of your chosing...not a fan of the HAI...
-One-Ball
-Either a header (OBX) or ECU flash

You will be totally content and satisfied with those mods!

 

So....if the HAI is better than a CAI, then why do so many people go for the CAI's? Just soley on the looks? I just cannot fathem (I love that word) spending $300 on an ALTA CAI when I can get the same results for $35.

-Cody

 

name brand and word of mouth...or recommendations from others

 

Thumper, why are you not a fan of the HAI? Just curious. Sound, looks, performance, etc.?

Even though I'm getting the HAI, I still want a ALTA CAI. Mainly, it performs great, sounds great, and deffinitly dresses up the engine very nicely. And I love that big red foam filter that says ALTA on it!
-Cody

 

Used chip and alta intake, milltek exhaust.
Keeps your warranty intact and will give you 15 ponies.

 

Careful Will. (Unless you have real driving data that shows HAI is better than CAI) If HAI was so great, folks like Randy Webb would talk it up.

 

hey hey...

if randy didn't have his own product maybe he would talk the HAI up....why do people turn to randy webb for all their info?

Randy Webb says anything smaller than 15% pulley will result in a complete catastrophie!!!
Randy Webb says blah blah blah
Randy Webb went to aero school
Randy Webb raced p-cars

Don't get me wrong he is a great source of info...but I just don't fully agree with him on somethings...and his products are more conservative...which is good for sales since he is mostly selling to a conservative group of people...


oh and my data...i had CAI on my first mini...then HAI on this one...HAI was def better...but it all depends too on other mods..you cant just increase one flow mod...if you are trying to improve airflow...intake, tb, header, exhaust...do evertything

 

The 2 things that you need the most, weight ( the most expensive thing to loose ) & breaks.
1 ball exhaust = almost 20#, good bang for the buck
New break pads, kills 2 birds with 1 stone - less dust & less fade ( I like Hawk but there are some other good choices ). It's a lot easier to make a car go fast than get to stop ( if those rotors don't glow, you're not going fast enough )
The pully is the best overal winner for HP if you only do 1 engine mod.
HAI or CAI is the easiest thing you can do ( all you need is a few simple hand tools ) and there is a little HP gain
If you don't like slideing the car around at the Auto-X get a rear bar.
As MSFIT says if you start modding to improve airflow there are lots of factors to consider.
Keep it simple till you learn the car.

 

i dont think randys stuff is that conservative. maybe a few of his products, but so is everyone elses is the mini market. his new sway doesnt seem very conservative to me.

 

"i dont think randys stuff is that conservative. maybe a few of his products, but so is everyone elses is the mini market. his new sway doesnt seem very conservative to me."
No it's not & niether is the price, although, IMHO, it IS the best bar out there for now