I have a 2008 MCS. I am not into cosmetic mods as much as I am into performance ones. My Question Is it possible to make an R56S go fast without going into the motor or installing a Gi-Normous Turbo? I currently have a Custom MagnaFlow System. Stock Down Pipe. I installed a CAI prior to the exhaust install and felt a loss of power. I currently have a K&N panel in my stock Airbox. I may install a CAI again. I really like the Defender of Speed CAI. I think it is the only real functional one.

I plan on a retune in the future when time and money permits, but will I really see a dramatic difference? I've had my Mini since Oct/2010 and I am already bored with the power. I live in Florida, so I dont have many (or ANY ) twisty roads. I mostly have long straight aways which are great for 1/4 mile and top end runs.

I know gearing would make a huge improvement, but it is way to costly!


Any Help would be Greatly appreciated. What setups really work?

Some Vendors claims are Outlandish! I dont have the time and money for Trial and Error.

What Setps actually Work. Any Help would be Greatly Appreciated!

Thanks in Advance AXO

 

You might want to look into some aero mods too, like the ones Group4Autosport makes. http://group4autosport.com/

Or shave off some unnecessary weight. (Stock wheels are heavy.)

 

From what I've read here, some of the most significant things you can do is, install an over sized intercooler and get the Alta Access Port with one of their custom tunes.

Dave

 

Tune, intercooler, downpipe, meth injection. Those are the power mods for the R56. anything else is just looks or sound. Oh the stock intake makes the most power.

 

The Intercooler is on my list. I am checking the classified section daily and have never seen a used 2nd generation Intercooler for sale. They must be great! I'll keep checking.

 

Stupid question, but how does a bigger intercooler add more power?

 

A larger intercooler allows the intake charge to be cooled more after the turbo compresses it. A cooler charge means a denser charge which means more power. The IC itself does very little, but in combination with a free flowing intake and exhaust, larger injectors and a good tune you can get significant gains.

 

Um i'm not sure how "fast" you want to be going. But my car with 161 hp can go 140 and 135 of that was in a mile. I will tell you anything over 120 you can feel the car start to float. So if you want to go over 140 you need to look into a spoiler and front lip.

(test was preformed of an old runway don't go that fast on a highway you might die)

 

That's interesting. I sure felt more power after installing my DoS CAI. Maybe it's just a placebo effect.

 

Top Speed is not my goal. I am interested in mostly bottom and mid range.

 

Ah so you want a quick car got it. Open intake, open downpipe and a tune.

 

GET A TUNE! I have/had and RMW stock setup tune and it made a huge difference! HUGE!

 

thats all i need straight from stock to have alot better acceleration? and is alta a good intake?

 

Yes, it will make your turbo spool faster, and more efficiently.

 

ur talking bout the alta right?

 

Absolutely! Get an RMW tune, and if you can, look into a dyno day with Jan. He does them from time to time wherever someone can drum up enough customers for him to make a trip. Guaranteed you'll get more from that than from all the other mods discussed here. Of course you can always tack those other mods on to get even more out of it.

My MCS is bone-stock other than the tune, and I got a 22-hp increase just from his 'canned' tune -- that's his basic tune without ever looking at your car. Once he got it on the dyno, he got a full 30-hp increase. Lots of power when you want it, but still totally civil in 'normal' driving.

More info and a few testimonials can be found here.

 

#1) Tune

#2) One of these

 

Wow 30HP is a Huge Improvement! I have read excellent things about RMW's Tune. I curious what they can do with an Intercooler, Exhaust, Intake and bigger injectors. I will call Jan and consult with him.

 

Helix I have seen your intercooler and it is definately a quality piece.

 

There is no way, ever, to make a Mini really fast. Sell your car and buy a Mustang or Camaro.

You can make the Mini better. Intake, intercooler, and tuning. Short of installing a JCW engine, (different internals from a MCS), you aren't ever going to make a LOT more power. Exhaust? only less weight, no real power there. Downpipe? Some, but nothing to make you say OH WOW>>>

Even once you do, you still have to deal with how to get that power to the ground, and the resulting torque steer from the more power.


Face it, it's a fun, quick little car that handles really well. But it's never going to be fast. Like do a 1/4 mile in less than 10 sec, at 150 mph... Even if you could make one do it, it wouldn't be any fun to drive on the street.


Just my $.02...

 

The JCW engine is the same as the S engine, other than a slightly lower compression ratio, to help make up for the higher boost of the JCW software tune. Most of the differences are bolt ons, like the turbocharger, exhaust and induction system.

Dave

 

There you go again Moriarity... always with the negetive vibes...

Woof Woof

 

Pretty sure it's got forged pistons... The rods seem to be the same.

 

the MCS pistons are supposed to be forged also.

And with the DOS intake you may have an increase in power it is one of the only ones that you will see that with. (my personal experience with 4 aftermarket intakes) back to stock now.

 

Probably not forged pistons, forged pistons take a lot more machining and are significantly more expensive to manufacture. Most production car engines have investment cast pistons. They require little machining and can be made lighter and just as storng.
The JCW pistons have a differen part number than the Cooper S pistons, this is probably where they adjust the compression ration down from S compression ratio.

Dave