Hello Gents,

Current BMW Club Racer here & long time BMW modding moron.

Just snapped up a great impulse buy. 2010 Clubby JCW w/only 4300 miles for 23k. Red & loaded up with options. After driving M3's for a decade, I gotta say, I love this car. Challenge is I have 2 years left of bumper to bumper so I gotta be prudent. Phase 1 should keep me good in BMW/Mini graces. Phase 2 and 3 kill me.

For those who know here is my plan - feel free to offer comments on what's good, bad & hype.

Phase 1 (Chassis) (happening now):
Pedal set from Out Motoring so I can properly heel / toe this car which is quite easy with sport mode activated.
H-Sport 22mm rear bar
MN F upper tie bar
15mm H&R spacers on all 4 corners for the JCW 17/7's (which are all curbed by the jack *** previous owner. I mean, cmon - how do you curb all 4 rims in 4000 miles use?
20% Tint (including sunroofs)
TSW Undercarriage X Brace
Helix 13 SSK

Phase 2 (Flow)
Hot & cold side inter cooler ducting
Helix 13 Inter cooler
Not doing a CAI - makes no power

Phase 3 (Turbo)
Post warrentee timeline
Alta flash
Helix BOV

So after a few days reading - this is my plan - Phase 1 is going down now. Phase 2 next spring and Phase 3 2014 (that sounds like a long way away).

Question: will Phase 2 drive anything noticeable on the butt dyno or should I wait to do it all later (phase 3). What am I missing here?

 

Why not put a stage 1 map from a cobb tuner now?

When you take it back in for warranty you just reload the stock tune

$900 and your car will roar

 

Like yours? Any issues? JCW tune? Alta?

 

I would seriously talk to Way with Way Motor Works. Especially concerning a tune. IMO.... Doing a tune the right way will save you money and your motor. Do any / all mods that you want done to the motor than go get a tune completed by Way or a professional that puts your MINI on a dyno etc. Get a tune specific for YOUR MINI. Not a generic tune from Alta or Jane.
As you can see in my signature.... I have an Alta. Just letting you know what I would do if I had the money and did it over again.

Way will not sell you junk, and will sell you what you need.... Not what you think you need. There has been several times I thought I needed / wanted something and he saved me money $

 

IMO you should rethink the whole CAI idea. Your JCW has the stock S intake, not the JCW intake that comes in the Stage 1 kit. If you put a true Cold Air intake on it, like the awesome Defenders of Speed Intake, you will see some gains. PLUS, you'll get the hear the sweet SWEET sound of the turbo spooling and the BOV. I get 3X as many compliments on the sound of my car from people driving down the road now that I have it installed. It's fairly cheap, and makes the car that much more fun to drive IMO.

 

Great feedback. Thanks much!! I assumed i had a JCW intake on the car! WTF is with that?? Agreed on the tune. Im an hr from Eric at Helix 13.... What else?

 

One hour from Helix? Hell, get an RMW tune, best around! Helix does them

 

Is that the best CAI to buy. I checked it out. Great design. Yeah, Helix13 is my source. Custom tune sounds like the way to go...

 

My question is how do people with custom tunes deal with dealers?

I've Considered one, but have that hurdle.

 

It's just a map on whatever device you choose, just uninstall for dealer visits