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General MINI TalkShared experiences, motoring minutes, and other general MINI-related discussion that applies to all MINIs, regardless of model, year or trim.
Picked up a set of carbon fiber brake ducts, thank you EuroTechs and Chase!
Picked up all 4 EBC Red Stuff brake pads and drilled and slotted rotors for the rear (I know, it's all looks, but I like the looks).
Picked up a set of rear metal black grills from Zunsport.
Can't wait to get it all installed.
Picked up a set of carbon fiber brake ducts, thank you EuroTechs and Chase!
Picked up all 4 EBC Red Stuff brake pads and drilled and slotted rotors for the rear (I know, it's all looks, but I like the looks).
Picked up a set of rear metal black grills from Zunsport.
Can't wait to get it all installed.
Oh nice! Pics when you install them!
Have you changed out the caliper bushings yet? Or swapped in the steel collars?
No, I did the R56 JCW brake swap up front so they do not take the collars. I'm not sure if the rears take them or not. If they do I probably won't do them because I don't want to have to lube them.
After driving less than 50 miles I checked the level in the reservoir tank this morning and it was at the minimum coolant level. Is that normal or do I still have an issue? I topped it off to the max level.
Today,replaced brake pads,rotors,and lines. Fresh brake fluid,and painted the calipers.also got rid of the jelly filled donut of a motor mount and replaced it with something a bit more solid.also throwing on my lowering springs,and summer wheels/tires (team dynamics pro race 1.2 15x7/Hankook Venus R-s3 195 50 15)
Next week new clutch and replacing the dual mass flywheel with a solid 9 lbs unit.
I'm not a good reviewer either, but I will say this:
The first things I noticed about the N1 were the quality and it's resemblance to a brass wind instrument. It makes me think of a trombone, baritone or french horn. It is definitely tuned for sound and a more "straight through" flow.
The second thing I noticed about the N1 is that has a much deeper tone than stock. And the Pop-Pop that happens when you let off the throttle is more pronounced with the N1.
In general, the N1 is louder than stock. It is a performance exhaust system, after all. But it is not too loud by most people's standards - I would think. Cruising at low speed through my neighborhood - which has a lot of retirees - it is not going to attract any attention. It's only when I "get on it" that it makes any significant noise.
There is a big difference in-cabin as to whether the rear seats are folded down or not. When the seats are in their normal upright position a person almost wouldn't know there's a performance exhaust underneath. But fold those seats down to expose the cargo area, and one can really enjoy the sounds that the N1 produces.
I finished installing the lightened steel single-mass flywheel and kevlar clutch from JMTC. I put about 250 soft miles on it, and maybe 20 not-so-soft miles up and down Route 1 just north of San Francisco. What a fantastic drive that is!
Also noteworthy, I ordered a catless dp from CNT (eBay) and installed it, only to find that it simply will not fit. I tried seven times to install that pipe, guys, seven times, with all the convincing I could muster so I'm sure it doesn't fit. Bummer. Called Way, but he's out of his pipes. I guess I'll put that one on hold for the moment being.
My WRX was world rally blue.
A picture is worth 1000 words, right?
I like everything about that combo!
Mine was black pearl metallic. I had it before digital photos were the norm so there's only a handful of pictures of it... This is one shortly before my buddy wrecked it. The car had around 50k~ and, now that I look at it... it looks like the tires somehow had more
Mine was black pearl metallic. I had it before digital photos were the norm so there's only a handful of pictures of it... This is one shortly before my buddy wrecked it. The car had around 50k~ and, now that I look at it... it looks like the tires somehow had more
Project for the day: JCW 380cc fuel injector installation. Despite only using 93 octane fuel I was pinging under WOT after the 17% supercharger under-drive pulley installation - definitely not a good thing. E10 and E15 fuel sucks as the fuel system has to flow much more to compensate for the ethanol in the gasoline and the OEM injectors aren't up to task. After this and an ECU reset, no more pinging and the car pulls strong.
Next step: ECU software upgrade; I'll be using the old Lucky Dog Garage tune from John Behe who is now running things over at ASM Performance in Hanover, MD.
Intercooler and fuel rail removed
Fuel injector ports were nasty and had to be cleaned
Intercooler and hardware after removal
Fuel rail before the swap
JCW 380cc fuel injectors - they sure are pretty!
The original injectors - dirty on the outside but work fine otherwise. Will clean them up and sell them shortly.
Project for the day: JCW 380cc fuel injector installation. Despite only using 93 octane fuel I was pinging under WOT after the 17% supercharger under-drive pulley installation - definitely not a good thing. E10 and E15 fuel sucks as the fuel system has to flow much more to compensate for the ethanol in the gasoline and the OEM injectors aren't up to task. After this and an ECU reset, no more pinging and the car pulls strong.
Next step: ECU software upgrade; I'll be using the old Lucky Dog Garage tune from John Behe who is now running things over at ASM Performance in Hanover, MD.
Intercooler and fuel rail removed
Fuel injector ports were nasty and had to be cleaned
Intercooler and hardware after removal
Fuel rail before the swap
JCW 380cc fuel injectors - they sure are pretty!
The original injectors - dirty on the outside but work fine otherwise. Will clean them up and sell them shortly.
I'm not a good reviewer either, but I will say this:
The first things I noticed about the N1 were the quality and it's resemblance to a brass wind instrument. It makes me think of a trombone, baritone or french horn. It is definitely tuned for sound and a more "straight through" flow.
The second thing I noticed about the N1 is that has a much deeper tone than stock. And the Pop-Pop that happens when you let off the throttle is more pronounced with the N1.
In general, the N1 is louder than stock. It is a performance exhaust system, after all. But it is not too loud by most people's standards - I would think. Cruising at low speed through my neighborhood - which has a lot of retirees - it is not going to attract any attention. It's only when I "get on it" that it makes any significant noise.
There is a big difference in-cabin as to whether the rear seats are folded down or not. When the seats are in their normal upright position a person almost wouldn't know there's a performance exhaust underneath. But fold those seats down to expose the cargo area, and one can really enjoy the sounds that the N1 produces.
I think this is the only R53 exhaust I've heard that actually sounds good. Maybe the video is flattering though...
Not hard at all! You'll need a T30 Torx, 8mm & 13mm sockets, a small pick, and a small pry bar. I used large rifle cleaning patches soaked in WD-40 to clean the surfaces of the intake manifold where the injectors plug in.
In all the job took me about an hour to do, just make sure you plug the injectors in and prime the fuel pump at least 4-5 times or you'll get a Service Engine Soon light with misfire codes. I made that mistake, fortunately it was easy to figure out and I've got an OBD scan tool that cleared the codes right away.
Not hard at all! You'll need a T30 Torx, 8mm & 13mm sockets, a small pick, and a small pry bar. I used large rifle cleaning patches soaked in WD-40 to clean the surfaces of the intake manifold where the injectors plug in.
In all the job took me about an hour to do, just make sure you plug the injectors in and prime the fuel pump at least 4-5 times or you'll get a Service Engine Soon light with misfire codes. I made that mistake, fortunately it was easy to figure out and I've got an OBD scan tool that cleared the codes right away.
NICE! Did you notice a difference at all since install?
Not hard at all! You'll need a T30 Torx, 8mm & 13mm sockets, a small pick, and a small pry bar. I used large rifle cleaning patches soaked in WD-40 to clean the surfaces of the intake manifold where the injectors plug in.
In all the job took me about an hour to do, just make sure you plug the injectors in and prime the fuel pump at least 4-5 times or you'll get a Service Engine Soon light with misfire codes. I made that mistake, fortunately it was easy to figure out and I've got an OBD scan tool that cleared the codes right away.
04-01-2016, 06:23 PM
