Hello,

I have been reading the forums and checking the posts - a lot of great information here, so I figure the best thing to do is just ask my specific question since it seems like someone else has done it before and has experience.

I have a 2006 R50 mini. Since I paid it off a few months ago, let the fun begin. So far, I have:

- added a Magnaflow catback exhaust
- changed out the air filter for a K&A filter

The improvements with just this small change are very noticeable and the the sound is much richer.

The next step for me is to add the sprint-booster for some more performance increase. Has anyone installed that on there R50 and noticed a definite increase in performance?

I was also looking at this - the plasma booster ignition upgrade:

http://new.minimania.com/web/item/NME4110/InvDetail.cfm

Does anyone have experience with this?

Next upgrades on the horizon are:
- rims and tires, most likely 215/40/16's I believe.
- sway bars
- end links

After those should probably follow brake upgrades.

Once those happen, I am not sure where to go next.

Headers maybe? Different cam? Spark plug wires, better spark plugs - so many possibilities to squeeze the most of that tiny engine.

Is there such a thing as an after market blower for the R50? Research on after market turbos say, "just buy an S."

But, if anyone who has already gone down this path has specific advice on what to do, what order to do it or what a great enhancement would be, I would appreciate it.

 

Same experience here with a K&N 57i and Megan Racing exhaust.

Is the sprint booster that electronic thing that takes the lag out of the throttle? I'd love that except the price is a little steep.

On the stock rims?

I did an Alta 19mm and got a noticeable improvement in the cars handling. More neutral now.

What do you want to do with the car? Coopers are kind of limited as to what you can do with them to make them faster, especially compared to S's.

There was a thread here a while back about this. Someone wanted to add forced induction to a Cooper and the thread turned into an argument about whether or not he should do it instead of how to do it, which was the original premise of the thread.

 

The sprint booster does have a steep price tag, but I'm going to get one for my R50. If if fixes the throttle lag, it's worth every penny... that's the only thing that really gets under my skin about the car. Everyone says, "Get a CAI" but the SB is an easier install and I can send it back if it doesn't perform as promised!

First up is proper summer tires and a sway bar, though. I'm interested in hearing the OPs opinion on the K&N filter. Is it just the sound that has changed or does it make any noticeable difference anywhere else?

 

I am on stock rims right now, but that should be one of the next upgrades. I was looking for a way to get the chip re-programmed, but the sprint booster seems to be a much easier way to go. The reviews I have read about it seem to be exactly what I am looking for - faster response.

I can say that the improved performance between stock exhaust & stock filter vs. Magnaflow & K&A filter feels like a dramatic increase in performance. One is directly influenced by the other.

At this point my goal is to see how much improvement I can get out of the base model while maintaining good gas mileage and a smooth ride.

After the sprint booster should come the tires and suspension, then the brakes. After that, we'll see.

 

Right - lots of debate about it. A friend of mine who is into modding his WRX (also helping me find information about mini coopers) found some information on base vs. S that essentially laid out the fact that the drivetrain between the base R50 and S (R53/56?) is different. If you try to push too much power through the drivetrain of a base model getting it too much closer to an S, one may end up running into bigger problems.

There was a recent post on here that I think someone was posting about problems with their drive train. I don't know if this is a mini problem or an R50 trying to push too much, however.

The only problem/maintenance issue I have had so far in approx 33k of driving is that I have had to have my brake discs replaced twice. One time I think the damage was quite bad, but that is because the warning light came on briefly, then went off before it came on again. Luckily it was still under warranty both times.

If you take your mini to a garage with mods - esp very noticeable ones like a new exhaust so the car sounds different - will they still service your car?

 

Ease up. You are getting too far ahead of yourself. You have a MINI base. Don't even think about forced induction. Period.
Go for weight savings wherever you can. Get a CAI. Work on the suspension. Look at my sig for indication that I know what I'm talking about.

 

I have an 04 R50 and you can do alot to them.
I have the Magnaflow system with a header. Big improvement.
I also have an Injen CAI, the plasma booster and a Unichip.
Have improved suspension with Koni Sport, Eibach sway bars, and Wilwood brakes.
Put on a JCW Aero kit.
Glad to see somebody else doing the R50.
I have a JCW head that will be done as a BVH, Schrick cam and a R53 Intake manifold (ported & polished) with a R53 throttle body.
Motor on!

 

^ volgas knows his stuff, listen to what he has to say.

For me i would say instead of getting the sprint thing i think if you get a nice custom tune you can do the same thing, same price, and you can get some hp out of it.

Also i would focus on handeling performance instead of go-fast. The justacoopers are fantastic cars and can beat any modded S around a track with the proper driver.

My suggestion would be get some sticky tires, sway bar, and learn to drive the car well.

 

That is a pretty impressive resume of work done. When I originally bought mein mini, I looked at the differences in mph base vs. S. Even though the difference really isn't that much, one of the reasons I went with the base was because I wanted the best possible gas mileage with the fun of driving - essentially the best of both worlds.

So yeah, I am looking forward to seeing what can be done with the R50. Probably look at your modding for some ideas as well.

 

Yes, I agree - but it is fun to ponder. I think the pricetag would be more than what you'd pay for a mini S taking into account parts and labor, then on top of that would be the headaches of dealing with what had to be dremeled and shaved here and there just to make the parts fit. It would be a one of a kind car that might be nice to look at - the mileage would vary due to constant problems.

 

Its nice to read about someone else with an R50! I have an '02 R50. I recently put a Crower NS2 cam into it as well as the Unichip system. I went ahead and got the whole package for future mods. This came with an AWESOME scan tool and software, Air/fuel meter, O2 sensor and the unichip computer. The unichip is good, because when you do a mod, you record the live data and send it to them. Then they give you a custom tune. Anyhow..Im rambling. Let me know what kinda cool stuff you do to your R50.

 

Haven't posted in this thread since I installed the Sprint Booster a few months ago. Love it, worth the price tag. Makes the car feel like it should. I know it's not faster but it FEELS faster. See my sig for the other stuff I've done, the car is a whole different animal than it was when I bought it.

I have a Borla cat-back waiting to be installed and I'm looking forward to that. Headers are in the cards at some point, and when my extended warranty is up I'll look into cam/head/tune for sure.

The trick to modding and enjoying an R50 is to stop comparing it to an S. It's a different car. If I wanted an S, I'd get one, but I like my R50 and I want it to "Be all it can be."

There is always a faster car out of the box, but there's something to be said for squeezing all you can out of what you've already got, and love.

 

Im staring at my mailbox like a labradore waiting for you to throw the tennis ball waiting for my sprintbooster!! been driving my 06 R50 a few months now, recently dropped in a KN filter, woke it up some. Then I got some wheels, went from syock 15 to 17s. picked up some weight here, but still fun. When I put sprint booster in Ill weigh in with my 02, but I agree with some of the guys who say to get the most safely from your car and not try to turn it into something its not. Fun to drive vs. broke down makes sense to me! Most important advise: do what ya wanna do!! its your ride brutha- just do it right so it lasts for miles and miles of smiles!

 

The Sprint Booster is definitely a fun mod.

I had a few mods lined up that I wanted to do, starting with the catback exahaust. Next I installed the Sprint Booster and really noticed a difference - I did not even want to use it without upgrading my tires and suspension. I still only drive with it in the performance mode, not racing.

I've done some fun work on the suspension - Eibach front and rear sway bars, front and rear strut braces and a nice tire upgrade.

The next step for me seems to be the brakes, possibly a sport tune. I had the plasma booster in my hand, but I am leery of any horror stories that end with the car undrivable and the ECU has to be replaced. The Sprint Booster seems far enough downstream in the mix that this won't happen.

 

 

Assuming the guy driving the "S" car is not proper!!!!

Equal drivers and the "S" car will smoke us R50 motor guys.. Can't make up the HP/TQ difference..

Track time will be the best place to help make the car/driver combo faster of course, after doing the few simple mods. If the money is there head,cam, header, "proper tune" will get you maybe to 130 HP.. Still 70 HP short of a simple modded/tuned "S" car..

Auto-x is the best place to "kinda" be on equal ground with the "S" car where they can't use all the extra power they have.. Still with equal drivers the "S" car wins..

On our clubs runs where it's not ***** to the wall the R50 is just fine.. It's the hills and straights that they will get us on...

 

Unless, of course, the S guys couldn't make it to the track/club run due to a grenaded timing chain tensioner, failed high pressure fuel pump, exploded cylinder, or troublesome dual mass flywheel

 

One of my best modifications that i've done to my R50 is the BSH lower engine mount. Took away lots of the engine sway when accellerating, but best of all the shifting is much more crisp and precise.