Well I've had my F56S for about a year now and have caught the autocross bug. I've attended 3 events now and realize to go forward I would like to make 4 changes to my girl. The question I have is what's the proper order to do them in.

1) Tires and maybe wheels depending on size selected and if I need to reduce the weight from my current wheels. Also, currently have 17", better to go with 16" or 18"?

2) Brakes. New pads definitely. Other than that, I've been real pleased with what's on the car already. No noticeable fade under some pretty hot conditions. Rotors are already ventilated and can't convince myself slotted would help enough to justify the cost.

3) Bigger diameter (22mm?) rear sway bar and chassis stiffeners. Anything else I can do to fix the understeer?

4) JCW tune with new exhaust. A little more power would be nice. This will probably be last because in autocross I've discovered that the driver is 90%+ of the result.

Thanks for any thoughts/advice.

 

get a limited slip diff

 

If you have the stock suspension a stiffer rear sway bar is a MUST for autocross. 21-22mm is enough, mid setting if you have a choice. Biggest bang for your mod buck. Chassis stiffeners? Save your money.

 

Whatever you do, READ AND UNDERSTAND THE RULES so that you don't move out of the class you want to be in because of any changes you make to the car.

I'd definitely go with #1. The rest can wait.

1. Tires are the biggest bang for the buck (especially if the ones you have aren't very sticky.) I'd go with light 16" wheels with the widest tire possible and possibly a slightly lower side wall. Check out what the more seasoned autox guys are running as there is always debate between 16" vs. 17".

2. Different brake pads will change how stopping feels. With short autox runs and those speeds, fade and heat wont be an issue.

3. A bigger rear sway bar is a good idea, but don't rush into it. Learn what the car does as is first.

4. Exhaust wont give you any noticeable power, but you may enjoy it more even when not at an autox One thing you may gain by swapping the exhaust is a weight savings. I know first gen. MINIs had heavy exhausts, not sure about your generation.

 

The rear sway bar is by far the best bang for the buck so do it first.
http://www.waymotorworks.com/nm-engi...r-f55-f56.html

Then lighter wheels with better tires will be ideal.

JCW tune kit, more power and awesome sound.

Brakes, more options to come but not many avail now.

 

Are you running with the SCCA? Do you want to stay in Street? As was mentioned earlier that matters.

As you rightly observed, on a 60 second course if a good novice is 6 seconds off a National pace the proportions are normally:

5 of those seconds will come from the driver, and
1 of those seconds will come from the totality of the car...

So I'd also mention the Evolution Performance Driving Schools - Phase 1 and Phase 2.

And congrats on being drawn into autocross - may you enjoy the addiction for a long time.

Cheers,

Charlie