Cooper (non S) Modifications specific to the MINI Cooper (R50).

What to do now? Can anyone help?

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Old Apr 13, 2009 | 12:51 AM
  #1  
jc8899311's Avatar
jc8899311
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What to do now? Can anyone help?

i still find my cooper very slow,any opinions or suggestion wht i shud do to my cooper jus to make it abit faster??i dun want answer of gettin a cooper s because it wont happen,here are the mods to my mini right now

Engine mod:k&n short ram intake,ngk spark plug,megan header,supersprint connecting pipe,supersprint rear exhaust,bluefin reflash ecu

Drivetrain:fidazna lightweight flywheel.sachs clutch,megan short shifter

Footwork:front strut bar,cusco rear strut bar,kw v1 coilover,i.e front camber plate,alta rear control arm,h&r 19mm sway bar,hawks brake pad hp+,H&R 5mm spacer f&r,16x7 works meister wheel,bfgoodrich sport tires

Interior:momo hub,nrg quick release slim,momo steering wheel,Recaro pole position,razo shift ****,jvc deck,alphine 12' sub
 
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Old Apr 13, 2009 | 07:38 AM
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Not much else you can do without blowing enough money to buy an S

Theres always weight reduction tho....
 
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Old Apr 13, 2009 | 12:19 PM
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i took the back seat off and change my seat to recaro
 
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Old Apr 13, 2009 | 03:17 PM
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I mean, if youre serious about being faster, loose the carpets, radio, a/c, door panels etc. These cars are so small a little weight makes alot of difference. I feel a huge loss in oomph when I have an extra person in the back seat of my Mini. I bet if you drove a bone stock r50 youd realize how much quicker yours actually is.
 
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Old Apr 13, 2009 | 04:57 PM
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mayb i shud drop by dealership to drive a mini and appreciate my car lol
 
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Old Apr 14, 2009 | 11:22 AM
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Are you running a cat. Dynos have shown that torque can be lost after deleting the cat. You could be losing power without it
 
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Old Apr 14, 2009 | 02:07 PM
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I agree with batrugger. Also, which budget do you have available? I've got some things I could suggest but you'd have to spend quite a bit...at that point getting an S might be the wisest choice.

Anyway, if you don't have budget troubles, you could swap the tranny to the S one (6 speed, much more resistant), but to do that you'd need to change the output shafts, the flywheel, the clutch, and many other small pieces in the tranny. Then, you could put on a ported head, maybe with bigger valves you don't fear moving the power and torque to slightly higher revs, and add to that a new camshaft, and a tune to optimize all the mods. That's about all you can do, or you could make it turbo but you'd probably spend even more.
 
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Old Apr 14, 2009 | 04:21 PM
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i have thought bout the swapin the 6 speed tranny,but right now my car onli hv 40000km n is a 2004 so i want to drive it abit more b4 swapin the tranny,i always dream to hv itb but it seems like it wont add much power but response,so i mite find sum1 to rebuild the internal n port the head n mayb gettin a new camshaft.any brand recommended?
 
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Old Apr 14, 2009 | 04:43 PM
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I too run a MC and can feel your pain. These cars are a blast to drive but you can not have enough power. Driving training is always helpful whether your an experience race driver or a regular joe. I was looking at issue 8 of MC Squared and Scott Bibbee of Frisco, TX ran a MC in their MC Squared Showcase. He finished 6th fastest out of 13 and was the only MC. His MC had many simular go fast parts that you have. In addition he was running a Milltek high flow cat, Schrick cam and a ported and polished head. Check the issue out if you can.

Every once in a while I get on the track with a driver with a higher hp car, but a little less experience than me and it's so much fun to stay right on their tails thru the twisties, only to have them gain distance on the straight and then suck right back on their tale in the next set of turns.

Mini Coopers rule! MC or MCS!
 
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Old Apr 19, 2009 | 11:17 AM
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How about a lightweight stock size crank pulley? Also, did you remove your spare tire and tools like the jack? That might help out a little as well, and is free to try!
 
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Old Apr 20, 2009 | 04:39 AM
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Originally Posted by colinmini
I too run a MC and can feel your pain. These cars are a blast to drive but you can not have enough power. Driving training is always helpful whether your an experience race driver or a regular joe. I was looking at issue 8 of MC Squared and Scott Bibbee of Frisco, TX ran a MC in their MC Squared Showcase. He finished 6th fastest out of 13 and was the only MC. His MC had many simular go fast parts that you have. In addition he was running a Milltek high flow cat, Schrick cam and a ported and polished head. Check the issue out if you can.

Every once in a while I get on the track with a driver with a higher hp car, but a little less experience than me and it's so much fun to stay right on their tails thru the twisties, only to have them gain distance on the straight and then suck right back on their tale in the next set of turns.

Mini Coopers rule! MC or MCS!
I did the same thing....placed seventh in a solo one lap at Roebling road in a pack of mostly S's. Then we had a "fast 8" shootout and did about 8 laps and I won the entire event. The only thing I have different from you is a Head that I built (port and Polish). Head and cam is where you will get your next gains from....
 
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Old Apr 20, 2009 | 11:17 PM
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Originally Posted by rjtrout2000
How about a lightweight stock size crank pulley?
The stock crank pulley on the R50 is about the same weight as the lightweight one offered from Alta. I believe there was some talk on here a while ago about it. The MCS has a crank pulley that weighs quite a bit more than the unit found in the R50.

One thing to add power would be to source a JCW tuning kit. It was available for a short time and in limited quantities. It included a reworked cylinder head, cat back exhaust, and updated engine management software. I believe the guys at MINSPEED in Florida have access to the head, if not the whole kit. www.minspeed.net This kit put the R50 in the range of around 134hp.

If sourcing a kit is too daunting, then possibly a ported cylinder head is the way to go. Combine that with what you currently have modded and you should be making a bit more power.

I too would recomend a high flow header with no cat if where you live doesn't prohibit you from performing such a modification. On the same note, keep the stock header and swap it back in if you need a smog inspection.

Of course no talk of putting power in an R50 comes without addressing the transmission. You've already spoke of wanting to swap to a 6 speed, so your in the right direction there.

I hope this helps. I love your wheels, the orange works great with your Pepper White paint.
 
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Old Apr 21, 2009 | 12:25 AM
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Make sure you don't drive with the AC on.
Make sure you don't have any unnecessary cargo in the car.
Remove the spare tire.
Go to 15x7 wheels or get lighter rims/tires or even 15x6.5 for quicker steering response while giving up some traction.
Get an RMW tune
Go on a diet...haha don't know how much you weigh, lol.

When I had my '03 Cooper..in the canyons, I was easily as fast as any stock MCS.
 
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Old Apr 22, 2009 | 01:53 AM
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yea i alreadi take out unnecessary stuff in my car alreadi,im gettin engine damper n buddy club condensor,im sure those dosent increase hps or anythin but i jus cant stop shoppin lol
 
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Old Apr 27, 2009 | 06:35 AM
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BOOST!
 
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