Ok, so two years ago I bought a red/white 09 MC. Two months later I traded it for a 08 MCS, my current MINI. I replaced the chrome hood scoop with a painted one, chrome mirror caps with black. A set of challenge wheels, TSW springs, I'm happy. It looks good, doesn't look like a 4x4 (or RC car with the factory antenna), I'm happy. I'm impressed with the improvement from the AP, makes it feel like a bigger motor, not just peak HP. Powerflex engine mount insert was a bust on my car (too much shake, but nice torque steer reduction). H&R rear sway bar feels good. Put 4 RCA's and sway bar links on too.

Then I do more reading and figure a set of Koni yellows would be good. They are. Then I miss out on the suede JCW wheel, so I buy one new (man, its cool). I stumble into a black prototype Helix FMIC, then find a set of NM charge hoses. Oh yeah, almost forgot the H-sport 1" RSB (oops, I mean 25.5 mm). For some reason the NM engine mount doesn't vibrate in my car like the other one did, now I can put power down in 2nd gear on the street.

Then I put an exhaust on it. Too loud. Resonator makes it better, but still drones at cruise. Trying to find someone with a factory JCW exhaust to swap, or I will just put the MCS back on. If I want a loud exhaust, I'll get into my Pontiac. Daily driver has to get me home some days when I'm not in a great mood, and the drone can make it worse.

I need to stop. I've gotta pass emissions testing, so I don't want to screw with a DP. I don't need to change suspension more, I like the handling. I gotta get rid of the squeaks in the rear suspension, but I like the car like it is.

Does someone make a pill to get this bug outta ya?

Mike

 

I think it is called Prozac.

 

Quit your job?......jk.....there is no cure.

 

I think it involves getting rid of the car or giving up on reading car forums.

 

Never stop modding cars.. It's what car-guys do.. (Or ladies too..)

 

Thank you for clarifying that danjreed!! We Ladies are Modiholics too!! :-p
Molly is not the same MINI I brought home more than 5yrs. ago...and in October more mods. are coming.
My list started out simple enough, Tint, Tires, Wheels, Side Scuttles, Mirror Caps, JCW Grill, Chromeline Exterior...aesthetically just how I wanted her, I couldn't stop there...Rear Sway Bar, End Links, Powerflex Bushings, Snorkel...the list continues to grow...

 

quit your job!? hah! 1 and half yrs of unemployment and I still mod and pay the bills

can't top my friend who hasn't had a job in 2-3 years though...lol. and he drives a new m3

 

There is something you can always be modding on the MINI or any car for that matter. However, I think there is a point of diminishing returns. Think money spent versus seconds shaved off your lap times. Touch on the basics. Driver education, tires, suspension, and lastly drivetrain. In that order too. When upgraded tastefully this is all you need to do to turn the MINI into a nasty road & track toy that is reliable to boot.

Products like strut braces, underbody struts, BOV springs, neon colored boost tubes, ridiculous wings and body kits... think Duell AG ...etc, are where I'd say money is thrown into a black hole. For the R56 platform, the bigger black hole is trying to add on tons of power. The engine's weak point is the pistons, so throwing hybrid turbos and tunes that boost engine to the moon is not the best investment IMO. It's the riskiest gamble you can take on this car. It's not like a Honda engine that can take 300bhp in stock form Stick to the basics! I know for my MINI, the last thing I'd like to do is put in a Quaife LSD and that's it. The car is reliable on the track and I don't want to be the guy at the track who is always broken down because his hot tuned import that he dumped $10,000 into the engine is not running right.

At some point in the car's life you have to be honest with yourself and ask if it's going to the car you want to own long-term. If yes, your pocketbook is the limit. If not, have the discipline to know when you should start to taper off and transition into the next platform.

 

The Accessport will turn off the CEL for the downpipe. So you shouldn't have any problem passing emissions with an aftermarket downpipe. Just sayin...

 

... or you could get married. That has a tendency to rearrange one's priorities.

 

Depends who you marry. My wife loves cars too. No kids yet but we'll get them trained.

 

If you really want to stop, have kids, too. Then you won't be able to do mods because

a.) you're wife will get mad, (and possibly withhold certain "things" that you value a lot), and

b.) you'll be so broke paying for daycare, (more than my mortgage payment!!!), that you won't have the funds for modding...

 

Kinda fun to talk about. I just felt like writing a rant. My wife is very understanding, and my daughter is the clear priority over the cars.

My line of thought is similar to Countryboy's. The car is faster than I am. I figure that I will be ready for a new set of tires next year, and that will likely give me as big of a performance jump as almost everything else that I have done (ditch the bridgestone all seasons).

My favorite mods are the AP, Konis, JCW wheel. What a great daily driver, and not bad in the winter........

Thanks for the comments and smiles.

 

unless you live in one of those places that actually connects to the obd or tests the exhaust.
Good thing I'm not in one of those places...

 

Yeah wife and 3 kids will stop just about everything you do for fun, and replace it with parental responsibilities. Then comes driving them everywhere and soccer coaching. Fortunately when the kids grow up a bit you can start introducing them to the things you enjoy and get them involved. My 14 year old insists that I take him along for my next track day. Thinking about building a track car with him when he turns 16.