Is there any chance to put bigger stock brakes on a 2003 R50? I am considering participating in track days and since I need a brake job anyway...

For instance the 294mm rotors from the 2007 and later JCW edition - wonder if by any chance the spindles are the same and all I need is larger calipers? I guess my question boils to how far apart are 1st and 2nd gen. Is the difference is more than just calipers, are the spindles interchangeable by any chance?

Some other OEM (meaning cheap ) brake upgrade options?

 

Yes, you can do it but before you do read-
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...han-stock.html

The owner in that thread upgraded brakes from an R56 to an R53 (would work with your R50), he didn't really notice much difference.

The first thing to change is brake pads, but what is good for street use is not as good for track, the heat range is very different.

Track brake pads usually dust more, squeak more, but work better when hot.

For more options on pads talk to Way at Waymotorworks.com.

Before tracking, replace the brake fluid for best performance.

If you are really serious about tracking then contact Todd-
http://www.tceperformanceproducts.co...01-06/kits-16/
I would think that the 12.2/11.75 kit with plain or slotted rotors for
about $1818 would be more than enough.

Note that BBK may require a larger diameter wheel to fit over the larger front caliper, 16" usually can fit, 15" don't usually fit, 17" will fit.

 

Thank you for a great link and the info in general.

So, just the calipers and disks? I will see if I can source the calipers for under $200 for a pair.

You are probably right that it's not much of a difference, I guess it would mostly be just to do something And to add some meat so that the disks would not fade as fast as they would.

On my racing Festiva, the 294mm rotors are part of the amazing brake setup, there they are mated with dual-piston Subaru calipers but that was a custom welding job.

As for $1818... I got my 2003 for less. Like twice less. Long story

PS: reman calipers are $40 + $100 core on rockauto. I wonder if they care that I send them the right core or not?
PPS: so, which year/trims had 294mm rotors? for instance, 2004 cabrio JCW - what size are they? Does it have to be 2nd get JCW to be 294mm?

PPS: and now I am reading some horror stories about not-metal pistons which melt? ops.

 

Like they said you can convert your brakes to the R56 brakes. But it may be more cost effective to go the the Wilwood setup as it will have more clamping force and be lighter.

Or you can just upgrade your pads, and go with some of the brake stiffening bushings as they will really improve the braking.

 

Wait a sec. R56 is any 2007+ hatch is it? I am browsing 2007 mini brake rotors on rockauto and I see three (?) rotor sizes:
276mm
280mm
"294mm Rotor Diameter; Except John Cooper Works Brakes" whatever it means.
That's close 3/4 of an inch variation, I guess only 3/8 of an inch radius variation.

I am still confused. How many kinds of brake calipers does an R56 have? Which of them would bolt on R50?

If I open 2011 options, I get both "RAYBESTOS Part # RC12327 294mm Rotor Diameter; Except John Cooper Works Brakes" and "CENTRIC Part # 14134122 294mm Front Disc; JCW Brakes"

I need help understanding these trims and interchangeability. Are they using the same rotor side but just painted differently? Are they completely different things?

PPS: and now I am reading some horror stories about not-metal pistons which melt? ops.

 

Anyone? How many rotor sizes do we have and what is the right trim for 294mm bolt-on option?

 

Here is a status update:

Just to do split the project into phases, I've started by ordering only the driver side caliper - I've got one from a 2007 S-model for about $45. I was lucky and that one has arrived with the brake hose - lucky because hoses are different, you cannot reuse the R50 hose on the 294mm caliper. I've ordered cheap centric 12534101 rotors and 10212040 pads just to make sure everything would bolt together.

Now the sad part: couple of weeks ago I've finally ordered the passenger side caliper - I believe it was from a 2011 S, maybe clubman. While the caliper looks the same as my now 294m driver side, the pad did not fit into it and the rotor did not fit inside the caliper when it is mounted on the spindle. Apparently I've got the 280mm brake setup with my 2nd order :(
Looks like the 280mm and 294mm calipers are the same but maybe the caliper bracket is different? Not sure, maybe someone knows exact part numbers for calipers and for brackets? update: looks like "BRAKE CARRIER" is the proper part name, smth like 34119804734. Need to go check the number on mine

In the meantime I have not much choice but to order another passenger side caliper and hope for the best.

 

I had to take the brakes off, clean them, take pictures, guess what these rusty numbers are, google - all that to find the perfect article on this subject: http://www.c0op3r.com/MINI/FrontBrakes.html
Oh man, I wish I had it when I was starting the swap.

The bracket we need for a 294mm swap has 6666 cast:


The wrong bracket which I am not sure how I got since the seller was claiming it was S is 3526:


Finally I know exactly what I need to buy to finish this project