Ok, I broke my streak of over 40 years of not winning anything last week by winning a $500 AMEX gift card at a conference. My wonderful wife says, "Great, why don't you spend it on the Mini". I have 10k miles and have only done the smallest of mods (stubby antenna, custom valve stem covers, screw cap covers, beverage coasters)

So here is my list - can you suggest improvements (excluding costs for installation):

Alta 15% Reduction Pulley - $135 (cuz I wanna go faster)
Aero Grill Kit $80 (cuz I wanna look meaner)
Hawk Ceramic Brake Pads $185 (cuz I hate the dust from the OEMS!!!!)
Multivex Mirror $100 (cuz I like to see them fading away & I hate the blind spot)

 

I would have H&R or Alta 19mm sway bars one my list ( cuz I like it to handle better)

 

+1

You can always pull more Gs in the bends than in a straight line. In my opinion, there is a positive correlation between the ammount of G I pull in the bends and how wide my smile becomes.

 

What is this "aero grille" that you have listed? I am not familiar with that.

I think a sway bar would be on my list too.

 

MMM sway bars are tasty.

The "aero grille" is black, just gives the car a blacked-out look.http://www.detroittuned.com/products...20050304200018

 

Take a look at the Carbontech Bobcat 1521 brake pads as well. Research led me to them over the HPS, but I don't have any real experience with them, yet. The get installed Tuesday with an H-Sport 19mm sway bar.

I also have Multivex mirrors (first R56 to get them) and I like them.

Then there is always shift *****.

 

2 girls at the SAME TIME!...

 

How to spend $500? Easy. Before you Mod, learn how to drive at the limits of what you already have. No point in adding more than what you can already use. So, take that $500 and spend it on a NASA HPDE weekend. It looks like the next NASA-Texas event is June at Hallett. Hallett is a super fun track! I pulled 1.96 G's in my Atom there. Guaranteed it'll be the best time you'll have in your car! Guaranteed... no joke... no exaggeration. Then, take what is left over and have a wonderful evening with the wife. Pocket the rest.

PS... you have an 07. They're not supercharged.

 

The '07 convertible is still supercharged based on his signature.

 

Yes indeed, my 07 is super charged.

Great idea about the track - I have been toying with that idea for a little while but I was focused on at least getting rid of all that brake dust!

 

OOPS... yeah, uh.. I knew that. Must have over looked that Nice Orange Convertible in the sig. HAHA my bad.

 

Use part for lowering springs ($250)...save rest for new RIMS.

 

+1 jk
Don't spend it on your self. What ever you do and what ever she said you should spend it on your wife. Cars come and go but you will be married for ever. Do some thing nice, take her out to a uber restaurant or get her some jewelry and more clothes. If she is as cool as my wife after you get her something cool she will most likely get you back with twice as much and if you really want something for your mini give her an outstanding wish list (w/ prices , exact details, and where to buy from) so she can get you something you really want.........but just my $.02 (sorry if its not some thing cool like a flux capacitor or something)

 

as much carbon fibre as you can get your hands on! im hooked buying a piece a week at the moment! nearly run out of parts to buy! the stuff looks awsome!!!

 

I asked a similar question about 3 months ago. I got a lot of good answers, so I thought I'd post the thread link for you ...

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=134626

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