I just bought my first 2004 MCS and im excited to get all the goodies to make it run hard. I know I gotta start buy a full system exhuast, but don't know what combination to use.

Another quest. which pulley should i buy 15%, 17% or 19%?

Are spacers only sold for the rear?

Which is the best Air Intake out there??


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2004 Red MCS

 

Whats the BEST or Whats the best for you? On my 04 MCS I have the Alta Intake w/o the optional blue hose $199.00, Mangaflow Exhaust $525.00, EBC Green brake pads $140.00 and, will get the Alta 15% pulley from Randy in March 04. I'm very satisfied with what I have and, what I've paid. There's a lot of options out there at various prices. Do some home work, check your wallet and go for the best bang for your buck. I'm sure you'll be happy with what ever you decide. Hell man, you bought a MINI. Already a good choice, right!

 

Im running an 03 MCS with 15% reduction pulley, Webbmotorsports/powerchips ECU upgrade, Denso Iridum IK22 plugs, Nology Hotwires, and a Pilo Intake. My car is MUCH faster than a stock MCS and Im VERY VERY happy with all my mods. I plan on doing the Pilo coil, Magnaflow or Miltech exhaust, H-sport springs, and rear sway bar. Then Im done with performance/suspension.

 

Speedy,
Aloha and welcome to NAM.
Goodies do vary in cost and performance gains. Think of what will work together. Plan a budget.

The best place to start is to get to know your MCS well. Which means driving it stock for the breakin period and signing up for driving school next chance you get. While there, get an instructor to take you and your MCS out on the track. Your eyes will bulge with what your stock MCS can do in the hands of a capable driver. If you are already a driving instructor then skip the driving school and go directly to mods.

>>I just bought my first 2004 MCS and im excited to get all the goodies to make it run hard. I know I gotta start buy a full system exhuast, but don't know what combination to use.

By full system exhaust you mean a Cat-back then the Milltek ($695), UUC ($875), Magnaflow, and Borla Race are common high power choices. Of those the Milltek is the least loud . If you mean an exhaust header/Cat-back combo then call Webbmotorsport and put in your order for a Milltek header/Milltek exhaust for $100 off the reg price of $895+695. The Milltek header will work quite nicely with the UUC or Borla Race.

>>Another quest. which pulley should i buy 15%, 17% or 19%?

If you want the most tested and safe pulley upgrade then stick to the 15%. The others are in testing phase but we are in the colder winter months and none of the alternate pulleys have been tested in the heat of summer on the track extensively. There are many claims of very large power gains with the 17 to 19% pulley upgrades but the reality of it is that the gains may be more limited while heat generated may be a problem- that's why more testing is needed.
This is a conservative viewpoint. For more info call Helix13 or Webbmotorsport.

>>Are spacers only sold for the rear?

You don't really need spacers. You might consider a set of lightweight wheels with good sticky tires.
The stock 17" MCS wheels weigh about 48 pounds each (wheel-tire and rim combined).

>>Which is the best Air Intake out there??
The cheapest no nonsense intake for the MCS is the Pilo intake for about $149.
The Alta intake is a popular choice at $199 without hose and $299 with silicon hose (to be used with rebored throttlebody). It's a little more work to install.

Other choices-
Lowering springs- H-sport, HR, eibachs
Rear swaybars- tubular H-sports, 22mm RDR, H-sport, Madness, etc.
ECU upgrade- of those that are ready for sale now (Shark injector ($399), EvoTech, Powerchip) the Webb/Powerchip seems to be a popular choice ($680). Some of us are waiting for the review of the new GIAC chip from Helix13 (est $500).
Short shifter.

That's enough to get you started- look up these things. find your local MINI club and get out to see and hear these mods installed. Go for a ride and get finished breaking in your MINI.


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Mele Kalikimaka & Hau'oli Makahiki Hou!

 

That was a very good reply minihune. Just one comment, I think you mean that the stock 17" MCS wheel AND runflat tire, weigh 48 lbs.

 

I have a Stebro catback exhaust, Alta (stainelss) pulley, and Pipercross intake and am happy with them all.
I think there is or was an aluminum pulley out there, but definitely go with a stainless one like the Alta because aluminum will wear. Do some research on foam vs. cotton fiber filter elements before you buy an intake (oiled foam is better). I'd say the Alta intake is a better design than the Pipercross, but you'll hear more SC whine with the Alta.

 

Hi!

I would say, better than all that, lighten up the corners and invest in suspension upgrades.
Nothing makes the cooper faster than a good suspension upgrade.

the stock intake and sc are fine, and don't need to be upgraded, really.

Suspension is the most important ingredient to this Modification Pie.

- WCC

 

Hey,
Bryan here with Terry Sayther Automotive...
FYI, we got the ALTA intakes for $189.99, with red/blue/black silicone hose for $246.99

www.terrysaytherauto.com

 

Air Intakes: Well Alta (with the silicone hose) or K&N Typhoon Intakes Make the most Hp on the dyno test I have seen. Most others just make noise.

Pulleys are the same. www.Helix13.com offers 15%, 17% and 19% in a bolt on style, As for the wearing of an aluminum pulley I had my 15% on my car for over 10k miles and it showed no signs of wear.
You can run any one of the above pulleys sizes and the car will not run lean on you. From the tests I have seen and done on my car the car still runs rich 11 to 1 Air Fuel Ratio at Wide open throttle.

Exhuast: Magnaflow is overly lowd. Borla Street is a great compromise and from what has been tested adds the same hp. Miltek is supposedly the best but I have not heard any independent Dyno tests that compare it to other systems.

any more questions just ask :smile:


_________________
Doug


When in doubt, Choose the burrito