Hey guys! So l have a 03 cooper with a CVT and my wife is allowing me 1,000.00 from the tax return to buy something that will help, or should l say get a little more performance out of my mini. l' ve done some reading on pulleys, wires, plugs, exhaust:impatient ...the list goes on! Any ideas? Thanks, Ghryll

 

Your tellin me.... Well, what area do you want to improve on first? Start with that and go from there. Let me know and I'll start throwin ideas at ya

 

A good set of light rims and sticky rubber can get you a long way.

 

Intake by Afe and Exhaust by MagnaFlow should be good. Seeing as how your Cooper is a CVT, you might wanna look into tunning the ECU.

 

Yup, and add a HPDE day.

 

With a MC CVT, I wouldn't waste any money trying to get more power out of it. Sure, you can do a bunch of little things that will make a little bit of difference, but it really won't add up to much.

Instead, I would work toward improving handling performance. Improve the sway bars and get a set of good high performance tires. If you don't have the sport suspension, consider suspension mods too. That should burn up your $1000.

 

It will be going to the shop in about 5,000 miles and l did read that once l put in the exhast in it needs to be tuned! Trying to avoid the Mini dealership as much as possible $$$$$!! so planning on going down to Scottsdale once would be ok! Well if it's a road trip with the roof open that's differant, then go twice!!

 

l do have DSC

 

CAI for improved throttle response $175 or so
Used UniChip $350 or so +30 to tune to MC
Sway bar 200 or so
Leaves you about 200 as seed money to buy lighter rims (sub 17#s) and I am sure tires are an allowable expense anyway.

1300 - 1500

 

D3m0N CAI..l haven't seen that, what is it for? The unichip will give me an extra 5-10 hp, is that correct? Might be a hard to talk my wife into the lighter rims! As she puts it "Are you affraid your going to miss your funeral! Nope! Just the wake "

 

UKSUV........dang! Your wife must like you!! Your "gocart" rocks!!

 

go for suspension/brakes... don't wast your time trying to get more out of the engine because your tranny wont be able to handle it any way.

 

IMHO, having an 06 MC w/ CVT I don't know that I'd put to much money into HP mods as all the power your making is going though the CVT. As others have already stated, lighter wheels, suspension / handling mods along with interior mods to make your motoring even more enjoyable, GPS (if you don't have it already), nice set of coco mats, little POSH things if your into bling chorme trim set, that's where I'm going. Again just MHO.

 

I may have a few things for you to think about.

Just a few questions, What size tires are you running?
Does your JustACooper have the sport package?
What is your driving style, canyon runner, Auto X, at events running up front or hanging in the back.
Is it your only ride/daily driver?
You want to go around corners faster or just in a straight line?

I look forward to offering you a few ideas after I have learned more about your needs/desires.

 

l do have the sport package. l have 7 other cars, that l might add are feeling a little lonely, and it's my daily driver. l'd say that l just like cruising!! The Valintine and Navigon are hard wired in and up by the clock. Nice sheepskin seat covers and XMRadio......and my dog!! l think it would be nice to get that noise my buddy gets from his MCS, but he is into his for 45,000!! My wife would KILL me!! DEAD!!

 

A few things to think about.

When you need tires, step up to whatever your budget and research lead you too.

TSW engine Damper is helping some CVT owners, https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...4&postcount=25 Like the Cubs, everyone has an opinion, just do your research.

A rear sway bar will help get her around the corners better, I think the Ireland 22mm is a great value and comes with end links. http://store.nexternal.com/shared/St...unt2=817878365

Upgrade your brake pads with Carbotech Bobcat's and go deeper in the corner. Yes they cost more then most, but they give up to 4X longer life and are rotor friendly.

You can do all of that for less then $600 and install them in a Sat morning and enjoy them Sat afternoon. Then take the wife to dinner Sat night too.

I do carry, some not yet on my site, all the above parts if you like one stop shopping just PM me.

 

Yup, get your fluids changed and put the rest into HPDEs

Will teach you how to get more out of your car than most mods make you a safer more confident smarter more aware more capable driver

http://www.nasaarizona.com/

 

Koni FSD's are a nice performance and ride upgrade. Probably the best mod money I have spent. If you go with a swaybar, get a 19mm. If you have run-flats, get rid of them and go with light 15 inch rims.

I agree with the hp mod comments. Don't spend to much on them. A drop in filter and MTH will help it breathe better in the higher RPM range. You will appreciate the driveability improvement.

If I had it to do over that's what I would do, and by all means, go to the track

Have fun

 

If it were me:

$450 Helix camber plates
$200 rear swaybar

If you have to pay someone for installation, do that.

Spend whatever's left on HPDE / car control clinics / autocross / etc.

But, since you "just like cruising"... I'm not sure what to recommend.

 

If you dont plan on doing but cruzing, pop in a set lowering springs to make it look a little hotter, get it tinted, maybe some rims make it look killer. But if its horsepower you want

OBX stainless header from ebay for like $200 shipped
CAI, pick your fave 200 ish
mth tune maybe

thats about all there is for a cvt, i wouldnt bother with coil or plug wires or anything like that. and spend the rest of autox or something, and if you really dont want that, spend the rest of springs


$1000 is no where near enough money, btw. This will get ugly. hahah ......

 

Well...
if you want:
-some serious sound, get a full exhaust, headers back.
-a little bit more grunt & sound, get CAI and a Cat-back.
-power, (in a CVT cooper, you are a bit limited) but, CAI & ECU
-handling, front strut brace (huge difference in steering response), Rear sway bar & USS of some kind /or/ light wheels and sticky tires.
-combo, CAI, Rear sway bar, & front strut brace
always beneficial to get track instruction. It really wakes you up to what a car can really do in the hands of an experienced driver. Also, CG-lock is an inexpensive way to really help you be more comfortable & secure behind the wheel.

 

Be careful with the Front strut Brace, most, if any, are not designed to fit under the JustaCooper bonnet. If fact may DENT the bonnet from the inside out. I love my M7 STB, but did damage my bonnet I knew it would, but thanks to a friend with a good eye, I got the CF bonnet to replace my damaged stock Cooper bonnet.

 

l think that even if l just "cruise" in it that going to the track is a must for being a more defensive driver. After l do a few more mods people will be checking my ride out so much the'll hit me. Such was the case Dec. 8, 07. l had a sweet 87 Volkswagan Westy. On the freeway at 65 someone hit just in front of my rear tire, pit it just like the cops do in the movies, down the freeway, hit the dirt backwards, flipped the van and landed on its side. From where it hit to where it landed was 24 feet it was airborn. My daughter and l climbed out and walked up the bank!! Westy has been replaced and all is good so like many of you have suggested.....to the track in PHX!! My buddy brings his and l know mine would love to and "play" and l could learn more about it. l think sway bars, cold air intake, great set of tires and rims. It is already tinted so with it being silver and black, woo hoo! And rally lights! l go back and forth to Vegas, 300 miles on way, every week and the night driving could use the extra lights. l do have Xenon, but you can never have too many lights

 

Thanks man...I see your in Sedona. Im just off the I-17 @ Happy Valley Rd (past Carefree Hwy in Phoenix). I will PM you my number. Give me a call if you have any questions. I've done it all for a Cooper/MCS besides motor and tranny and thats slowly in the works....

 

The money you WASTE on a UseLessChip will sooooo much be better spent at the Salvation Army, at least someone will get a positive benefit that way! (No matter what the car, I have witnessed as much as 16whp gain when the UseLessChip was removed on the dyno)

You are getting good advice with the suspension/wheels/ tires HPDE route. One of the fastest instrustors at Phil Wicks school has a Cooper cvt.