Hello!
My dad’s not the sharpest at online forums, but I’ve been at it for nearly 15 years, so I knew I could get some quick answers searching. Anyway, I figured I’d find the biggest Mini forum and quickly brush up on the things he wants to know more about.
I love modding all cars so, this is fun no matter the power level. He grew up wanting a Mini MkIII, so when he finally got 8k cash to blow, he bought a R-53 03' S dark blue manual with 98k on it to cruise around in.
He recently told me he wanted more power. In my searches, I see the the pulley upgrade is the best bang for the buck.
I read that with the pulley a reflash or tune doesn’t need to be done but would be good to smooth out the experience. Were in CA so our gas sucks at 91. I see 15-17% pullies. If I were to make a recommendation it would be to go with the 17%, disagree?
Should the next mod after the pulley be a tune of some sort, or exhaust? I see Sharkinjector, Sprint, and unichip all make them to some degree. I'd like to hook him up with some headers and invidia exhaust at some point as well. I know many SC cars can lose power from bigger aftermarket headers, is this true with the R53 Mini S. How restrictive is that stock cat?
Any Mini's running on e85? What tuner?


Thanks!

~Dv8

 

If you're going to get it tuned, might as well install larger injectors at the same time. Most cat-backs don't add a whole lot of power on these cars...and as for pulley percentage I've read plenty of testimonials that 17% is the best for the street, but if you want to hit the track, the little M45 will heat up at WOT and cause power loss due to excessive heat...therefore making the 15% better for track driving...there are also 16% pulleys. With a pulley, you want to install colder heat range plugs and a new belt as well, especially at that mileage. WMW has a good deal on a pulley pack and offers 15% 16% or 17% reduction pulleys.

I'm also a personal fan of the cone-style intakes. When I bought my R53 it had an Alta CAI on it, and I love how much noise the supercharger makes with that.

Unrelated: a 616whp Acura Legend?! How much boost does that take?

 

Great thanks! What companies do etunes?

Its a street car and wont be put on the track, so it seems that kit from WMW I was eyeballing will do the trick along with the tools!
So after a pulley and tune, Intake or exhaust?
I liked the Afe units.

Legend on E85 17psi boost.

The Legend has been a project car of mine for the last 13 years.
Check out my youtube page for a ton of videos.
http://www.youtube.com/user/dv8tion388?feature=guide

~Dv8

 

I really like the light weight main crank pulley too. It drops six pounds as compared to the stock one. The stock unit is a known failure point, The rubber in it degrades and breaks up. A bunch of people might chime in saying it will blow up the oil pump gears. I've found no posts by anyone having this actually happen. Only people saying it could.

I was also very happy with the detroit tuned bypass valve. It didn't add any power but made the car much more responsive and built boost a little earlier.

 

As we also are located in California you might give our tech guy a call for his insights- call Ken at Mini Mania, 800 946 2642

 

I'd vote AGAINST a tune a lt this point.
With a pulley kit installed as stated above you can drive fine without the tune. Your pops is in the infant stage of tuning... he'll feel the difference from the pulley and likely want to round it off with an intake (roughly $150) and perhaps headers with the one ball mod. Obx (~$200) is a knockoff of super sprint and have been well received by many on this forum. The stock cat is quite good for the street and can be welded easily to the fittings on the obx by any qualified muffler shop.

Anyways, why waste hundreds on a tune after a pulley when more small stuff is likely in the future plans. My vote would be to tune after he is satisfied with his mods. Also, I would not tune without at least upgrading to the JCW 380cc injectors or larger. The stock injectors are goimg to be about pegged out on their duty cycle after several hp mods.

 

+1

 

Agreed with other posters. A pulley upgrade and maybe an exhaust + headers combo would be a good place to start.

 

I have a DDM Works CAI which has a foam UNI filter, and a WMW 17% pulley. Also an ATI crank pulley which is ever so slightly larger then stock (probably not enough to notice any difference) I want to do injectors and a tune next. Exhaust doesn't give enough return for how much a system costs

 

Where at in CA? I hear there's some good tuners down south.

Pulley, header, exhaust, injectors, CAI, might as well go BVH, then tune. Now you'll have a strong MINI. Maybe over 250 whp.

For a quick bump, just the 15% pulley.

 

not to rob the thread but <as i rob the thread> i have an 04 s model with 79k on it, but i drive it daily is the 17 percent pulley safe for street or is it overkill?

 

Pulley and tune is the best bang for your buck. Even a good tune by itself can get you +15 whp with much smoother running car. It all depends on your budget. Or if you want to tune it yourself, we sell the tool for it also.

 

Here is one example from a few years back (bone stock 03 with stock pulley):



That's a NET gain of +22 WHP, +14 Peak Wtqe... as you can see, both the power and torque curve are raised up and the car is running near the target AFR of 11.3 (and not in the AFR of 10's pre-tune)... this also translates into higher fuel efficiency

 

just got my 15% pulley and colder plugs and new belt in today...I can't even get grip in first at WOT...I can safely say this mod was worth my $199.

 

Dv8, before going to engine mods, I suggest to do the OEM maintenance in 1st instance. At 98K miles on a '03, there are alot of stuff need to repair/replace if all the previous owners didn't do their maintenance right. ie: At 100K miles, the supercharger needs a maintenance, intercooler boots may have to be replaced, water pump may have to be replaced, etc...

 

I recommend the detroit tunned tensioner stop when you do the pulley. Def do the CAI it's worth it just for the whine. :-) I'd also rec'd doing your rear sway bar. Cheap mod and adds to the go-cart-ability.

 

I would tend to stick with the 15% pulley so there are no issues no matter how the car is driven. Here are example packages:
http://www.waymotorworks.com/wmw-pulley-package.html
or with canned ECU tune
http://new.minimania.com/part/NMK104...-Mini-Cooper-S

If you do the pulley install yourself you will need to rent/buy a belt tensioner tool and a pulley removal tool.
A cat-back exhaust does not add much power but the sound makes driving more fun.
Be careful what CAI you use because CA Smog Inspectors can be tough on open intakes.
Rather than spending money right away on an ECU tune, I would instead spend the money on a couple suspension mods. Maybe even springs, lower control arms, and rear sway bar. Such as this kit:
http://www.waymotorworks.com/wmw-sus...n-package.html

Here is a quick way to spend $2000 on basic mods:
$200 Pulley Kit (pulley, plugs, belt, strap)
$850 Cat-Back Exhaust (there are cheaper options)
$700 Suspension Kit (springs, arms, sway bar)
$250 Intake (such as DDM)

 

Canned tunes MIGHT be ok if the vehicles are newer, but as these r53's aged, difference in wear and tear make canned tunes less than optimal in performance.

 

Thanks all. I'm going to order the pulley upgrade right now and see where he wants to go from there.
I second the sc needs to be looked at.

~Dv8

 

So i'd like to follow up on my install.

I did the waymotorworks 17% pulley reduction kit to my dad's R53. Very straight forward. I noticed the pass side mount needs replacing and doesnt seem to be an aftermarket one for the R53, unless I missed it. Will also replace the front crankshaft pulley seal since there was a small leak.
The WMW pulley puller and tensioner tool worked fantastic. Highly suggest the SC pulley upgrade kit to anyone. Power increase is noticeable, rougly a sec off the 0-60 times using dynolicious app.

Now how about the next mod, Intake? The car is stock with the 17% pulley. I figure the intake is the next best bank for the buck, am I right?

Thanks!

~Dv8

 

Which passenger side mount? There is an upper/rear one and one that mounts to the frame rail. The frame rail one there is a replacement through Way. The upper you buy a stock one and then get urethane inserts.

 

Depending on NVH tolerance, I'd say get the TSW or VT mount. I probably would have been okay with the TSW mount but I heard so much bitching about NVH I figured I'd pay the extra money and get the VT. Neither one of these will fail...unlike the OEM mount.

 

Ok great, it didnt show up on my iphone, but I see it on way now form my pc. The TSW is what i'll buy.

~Dv8

 

Ordered TSW mount from Way, and a few parts from Pelican.

How about the aFe intake?

~Dv8

 

Cant comment on intakes. My R53 had an alta intake on it when I bought it. Apparently they let a lot more supercharger noise out, which I have no problems with