Hi... Just wandering...
What is the best CAI for mini interms of HP gain? w/ or without software
What is the best Exhaust ( I know UUC make a good one )
what else can I make MC in order to compete w/ MCS
using N/A modification? (no under drive pulley or some light weight flywheel..)


thanks...
daniel-

 

Hey Daniel...

A lot of us are in the same boat right now, checking out mods such as the exhaust/intake. There are a few other threads that you might find very useful. Check out these two...

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...c=18269&47

and...

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ic=5527&89

Those should get you a good start on the exhaust/intake debate

 

Hey daniel -

searching for intake questions will yield at least 1 result from a thread that i started asking the same question. I also gained a lot of info from reading the thread on the "Group Buy for the twister"

i found that very helpful.

As far as a direct answer to your question: I'll assume based on your wording that you are explicitly interested in speed (ie. not sound or looks) While I cannot provide any info on the exhuast, I can say that people that have the Pipercross Viper intake seem to love it (as it is a true CAI, they say) I would also encourage you to look into the BMP/ProMINI intake, which gets rave reviews. Neither will provide significant gains, IMHO - but they do add some power, the intake mod in the Cooper is not nearly as good as in the S. Also, people report a new intake making 1st gear a little smoother - dont know where i read that, but I'll second the motion

 

I have a Promini intake and love the design, the way it utilizes the shield and still has a cutout for grille intake tube to feed directly into filter. I felt a big difference from the start - drove my MINI stock for a year and installed it and the difference especially in hot weather was a big plus. Then I added the Borla street cat-back exhaust and that made the engine breath so much better I could feel it in the acceleration. Low-end torque is still an issue for me but I feel I will probably need to go the enhanced ECU route in the future to combat that. I am running NGK Irridiums spark plugs now, but will probably go back to a Bosch Plat. plus 4 spark plug soon as cold starting has become and issue. Nology Hotwires are also in my future to mate with the new spark plugs, I will do it together and see how that works.

 

You're not going to get a Cooper to compete with an S in a straight line.

I'd focus on brakes, wheels, tires, and suspension and keep some curves in the equation.

 

He may have reached that conclusion by now. Check the date.

Good advice though, and pretty much the modification plan I'm going with for my MC.

 

Heheh I was wondering why the links posted above weren't working

 

Install the MTH kit 1 (Header and tuner file), Open up the stock backbox. Let the intake remain OEM. This is what I`ve done, and the transformation from a stock Cooper is nothing but impressive. - We are not talking about S-performance though, but a worthy GTI-killer in terms of 80`s and 90`s non-FI compacts.

Tormod