hey guys! i own a 05 cooper s with automatic shifter pads...so anyways...i've been thinking about tuning it up and modding it...however...i really have no idea where to start and what to do...so if any one can give some advice or guidence...i'm also a newb at cars...so i dont really know what part does what...so plz help out the newwbb

 

An easy first mod would be a new exhaust. There are countless to choose from. I myself have the Borla cat-back sport exhaust, its high quality and sounds great. Plus it added eh, maybe 5 hp or so? Dunno really, I got it for sound. After that most do a super charger pulley reduction.

 

Lots of threads with lots of opinions... I have an MCS automatic, so I'll chime in...

Drivetrain:

• 15% supercharger overdrive pulley - most performance bang for the buck
• Cold Air Intake (CAI) - adds fabulous supercharger while (that "jet engine" sound) above 4000 RPM or so... adds a bit of power (especially with the pulley) - I have Dinan, but there are many
• Exhaust - lots of ways to go there, some are expensive, search for the "One Ball Mod" - that's what I'm going to do... it's cheap and reduces backpressure
• Lighter wheels/tires - can cost $$, but reducing rotating weight makes a BIG difference in performance
• ECU flash - several ways to go, supposedly the MTH tuner file works well with the automatic transmission MCS - that's what I'm planning

Suspension:

• M7 Under Strut System - stiffens the chassis, reduces understeer
• adjustable rear sway bar - allows further reduction of understeer, can make the car handle MUCH better (hard to believe, but true)
• many other things available (springs, lowering, camber plates, adjustable everything)

Number one recommendation: find a GOOD MINI mechanic / tech / experienced gearhead, and work with them to develop a PLAN on what you want to accomplish and what it takes to get there, before you buy ANYTHING... many MINI owners have wasted a lot of $$$ and bought a lot of frustration by haphazardly slapping on mods without a plan in sight - some work well together, others don't - but you pay whether it works or not...

 

the first level in engine mods is -

1) intake - from 65 bucks (replacement filter) to 300.
2) pulley - 325 installed appr.
3) exhaust - from 125 bucks (1-ball) to 1,000

These 3 mods together give you the best HP bang for the buck.

 

I did and only got this thread... Can you drop a link? Thanks!!

 

Here's one.

Search the drivetrain forum - "one ball" without the hyphen - there's lots in there...

 

So that's basically a removal of the passenger side resonator and a direct routing of the exhaust to the remaining muffler? Besides making the exhaust louder, what benefits does this give? Sorry - I'm a n00b when it comes to exhaust systems, but whenever I hear the words "inexpensive performance gains" I perk up.

Also, what's the long-term effect of this MOD on the car's operating life? I assume that the MINI engineers designed the exhaust like they did for a reason - was that reason perhaps to balance performance with noise?

 

thanx guys...haha any links to any modding websites or something where i can look up the parrts? thanx again

 

I also have '05 MCS auto and started down the mod path. The first mod that I did was get a 15% pulley and CAI installed at one of Randy Webb's pulley parties. Like everyone says the pulley reduction is the best bang for the buck. Next up was replacing the wheels and runflats with aftermarket rims and non-runflat tires. A larger rear anti-swaybar was added next; then came the catback. Currently working with a tuner to custom tune the ECU to sync the mods together.

 

I wouldn't recommend the one-ball mod... Might as well just save the money and go with a true cat-back system. I have the one-ball on my car and replaced the stock 2" mid-pipe with a 2.5" mid-pipe and was not happy with it... Several others will tell you to do it though... I for one didn't feel ANY difference in power and only slight difference in sound.