So i mistakenly click on R53 Modifications page thinking I was on the R56 mods page and here are people thanking others for acheiving 250 and 300hp. I finally realize where I am and head over here and its the same old story....BOVs, heatshields and Exhausts. Yes there are a couple of bright spots in the r56 world but unless you wanna go ape **** with a GT28 none of us are going to have a 300hp daily driven r56? Im not hating I have everything possible on mine but the tune I love the car but I still need more............oh well

 

Yeah I was surprised there is so little to boost power on a turbo car after several years. I always thought it was very easy to mod a turbo car to make big power.

 

I think you guys are expecting a bit much... the R53 has been out since 2002 (at least stateside) and it's not like they had a bunch of high HP R53s back in 2004... give it some time and I'll bet you'll see some really sweet setups... probably with more HP at that. Besides, I'm still working on making my R53 hang with the big boys... but limited funds is holding back that endeavor... not to mention that I also decided to wait until my MCS is paid off, which is thankfully in less than a year.

GotMINI

 

There aren't many (if any) r53 with 300whp that use the stock supercharger either...

 

the turn down in the economy seems to be holding back a lot of aftermarket stuff. Especially with the fact that 85% of mini owners buy the car because it's cute.

Just wait, things will turn around and more will be done for these engines.

You're not going to put out 300 hp reliably on a stock turbo and engine though.

 

You can get whatever amount of hp with the right amount of money. And also I have noticed here to that a lot of people are doing just bolt ons and are expecting ridiculous amounts of power. There is a limitless amount of things you can do to get the car to crank out more power. Just do the research.

 

One thing about the R53 is that the bottom end is bullet proof. Cars up to 400+ hp with the stock bottom end, all forged stuff, except the pistons, Now the R56? Who knows? The all aluminum block may be a weak point? I mean Mini seemed to think it need bolstering, strengthening the block , pistons.... just for the extra hp from the JCW, which is not huge difference in power.

 

A 300HP MINI Daily Driver doesn't make sense for us average people...cute, fun, sporty, great gas mileage is why we buy it.

I do want MODS to my engines and suspension that isn't to the extreme; I do want a 200HP daily driver in my "S" and around 130HP in my Clubman and still get over 30MPG in both.

 

I want a 300hp daily driver mini. At this point I am always second guessing me not getting a 135 or a subi or evo. then I would not be trying to wring HP from this thing. But when I bought it gas was $5 a gallon

 

it just worries me that its been three years and you dont even see a full list of normal bolt ons// there is still only the very basic ones.,.,,when will we ever see headers or an intake manifold.,.,.,

 

I had an r53 with every bolt on possible full exhaust, intake, 15% pulley, alta intercooler and probably a few other things that I am forgetting but I was amazed by the performance of the r56 when I raced my friend (has an r56) when he only had intake and muffler and we were dead even. In time I am sure there will be many ways to get to 300whp with r56 especially with the turbo upgrades with the k04 turbine and gt28's

 

It's not over at all. Mtuning3's has got the GT28rs turbo on his car. If you look at his thread here I think he is just waiting on the tune. My buddy has a 2008 GTI and he is doing some crazy stuff with it that is just starting to be done now and that car/motor has been out for awhile. There just has to be a few people that have the time and money to play with this car. And I think part of the problem is most of the people that own MINI's aren't looking to hit 300hp. I'm still undesided. I wouldn't mind 250hp as a daily driver. As soon as a few people get the r56 set up right it will be easy to hit those high numbers. If I had the money I would be installing a gt28rs turbo or a KO3/KO4 hybrid just for fun and get it working, but again IF I had the money.

Just give it time, till than get everything else done.

Suspension
Intake
Exhaust
Intercooler

 

I was just chatting with the boys here at work about the header. The OEM header is pretty efficient for what it is. Dont forget it is cast stainless! If anything you might want to take the OE manifold, get it ported and extrude honed...and call it a day!

 

I guess I’ll pipe in here as I’ve been reading for a week or two and haven’t found any definite answers. I currently drive a stage one 08 STI but I always find myself attracted to the Mini (I’d need a Clubman S), just something about it. The main concern for me is lack of power (compared to where I’m coming from) and of course FWD.

Seems like most of the current mods are exhaust related and potential Accessport-like ECU tuning devices could be on the way soon. But if you are looking in the neighborhood of 225-250hp to the wheels you’ll need to upgrade the turbo. Does that seem about right? What kind of cost are we looking at for that kind of setup?

Also will the auto handle that power or do you need the manual? If I were to get a Clubman my wife might kill me if I got the manual although I’d prefer it (the Mini is her favorite car).

 

^there's people with bolt ons and a tune running around 225hp and 240 torque i believe.

dunno 'bout the auto, but the hill assist really makes driving a manual mini a lot easier then any other car.

 

apparently an RMW tune alone will put you around the 190whp mark (215-225bhp).

I should think that a full turbo-back exhaust system coupled with a tune should yield the power you're looking for, and will definately make it far more driveable (less lag, more power everywhere, especially up top, where the MCS lacks power)

 

i want a 250+hp mini. as long as its driveable and reliable... im sure everyone is tired of waiting around =[

 

Ya really should have went for another car. There are people on this forum that will get your hopes all high. But when you start pushing a R53 or R56 to 300HP, you GREATLY decrease the reliability. Those cars are usually not daily drivers, and you would be hard pressed to find a person that would be confident enough to drive that car over 100 miles away from home. If I wanted cheaper power, I would go for the new Camaro at 426HP for 35K, bone stock.

 

Really you have any stats on this? A R53 bottom end is all forged except for the pistons, replace those and you will be fine. A R56.......well that is a different story, no one knows yet.

 

def. still believe i bought the wrong car. o well..

 

I know, with the money I have spent on my mini I could have a 400hp 135. Dam

 

I doubt that? Plus a 135i looks boring

 

I too wished I could do more with my mini when I got it a few weeks ago. I am not much for a gearhead and am still looking for a shop around my home that can help me do things other then just bolt-ons.

 

the stock "log" isn't really effecient IMO.. because they are not equal length runners

the turbo has pretty much a straight shot to cyl 4.. and cyl 1 has a looong way to go....

i'd rather see something like this:






and our runners are very short.. which helps with low end spool some.. but it also kills the top end...(as if it wasn't bad enough)



as for the car mods..

ppl aren't investing a ton of money into R&D because the ecu is still locked

after the ECU is hacked.. the flood gates will burst open and all the other mods will follow...

till then there's no point when ur car is fighting u every step of the way..

right now the list of "full boltons" i'd say is:

FMIC
IC pipes
CAI+hard intake pipe
DP+CB
BOV

and maybe a couple other small things

on any other turbo car.. ppl would be installing boost controllers and turning up the whick right about now..
but we can't do that either

might as well focus on making the car turn faster and stop faster..

and perhaps weight reduction while ur at it..

 

Alright before we go any farther I hope you people aren't expecting 300hp with bolt ons you might as well wish Michael Jackson came back to life. From the short five months that I have owned the MINI I noticed a lot of people don't do a lot of work on their cars themselves. It seems to me a lot of people are forgetting things like cams, valves, valve springs, cam gears, pullies, upgrading turbo fan ( can't rmember what is called at the moment damn IEDs), port and polish of just about every metal surface, and a whole list more of stuff. It is possible to hit 300hp especially in a turbo vehicle just don't hope with an intake and turboback that you are going to get that. Cause if you do think that get rid of the MINI and get yourself a Honda cause that is about how good you are you damn ricer.