Hello,

I am new to the whole thread and have only posted a few times I have owned my 06 MCS r53 for a little over 3 weeks now and still cant shake the new car feeling I LOVE IT! So far I have ordered new tail lights (mine were smoked) just ordered stock again. I ordered a new stubby antenna, and a tow hook I didnt like. But my real question is what should my first big time mods really be? In the last 3 weeks I have throughly inspected, cleaned, and went over mostly everything I could and would like to know how to first make sure she is running to her full potential and secondly what should some of the first few mods I do be? I plan to run this baby into the ground and want it to last as long as possible but want the really get the best power I can out of it. HELP

 

The first mods on mine, and I can bet a lot of other r53 owners here, were exhaust, air intake, and supercharger pulley reduction. I went with borla and their full catback system (without resonators), an aFe intake system, and a turner Motorsports pulley. I never had a problem with any and I loved them all. You also might want to consider getting some high quality rubber as well.

Goodluck,
Jack

 

22MM rear sway bar

 

My ritual for every new used car I get is to start fresh.
-Change all the fluids:
Full Synth Oil: Castrol Edge 5w-30 or equivalent w/ Genuine MINI or Mann filter
PS fluid: Pentosin CHF11S ONLY
Brake Fluid: ATE super blue, if you can get em
Tranny: Redline MTL
Coolant: BMW/MINI + Distilled water

-Check tires, get rid of runflats if they're still on. Check brakes & alignment along the way.
-Check your belt tensioner. If dead, get the $80 Gates tensioner from Amazon
-Check your 1st stage fan, if gone, read the epic sticky on resistor mod or bypass over at the Stock Problems section.
-Check your strut mounts. Go Lemforder, Sachs of Boge. Those 3 are identical from 1 ZF Group. or go Vorshlag camber plates.

Mods:
-Anti mushroom plates: Cravenspeed or VIP
Check this:https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...peed-stds.html

-ATI Super Damper or PRW Fluid damper as the OE will eventually fail
-Powerflex bushes for LCA, Sway bar. New ball joints, PS fluid & hose clamps should go in 1 take once it's time to do them
-WMW Slotted plate belt tensioner stop. The cable & the Alta once will break.
-Stock Springs paired w/ Koni FSDs or lower properly w/ coilovers
-Cold Air Intake: DDMworks, Dave F or if you want a hobo version of Dave F, do the ff:
http://www.minitorque.com/forum/f275...ner-ish-30411/
Part 2:
http://www.minitorque.com/forum/f275...art-2-a-32438/

-WMW 15/16/17% pulley kit
-Good exhausts like Scorpion from the UK here:
http://www.bavauto.com/shop.asp?HC1=...i%20Cooper%20S

-Stiffen the front w/ bolt on plug&play cabrio braces:
http://www.waymotorworks.com/oem-cab...oss-brace.html
USING this HOW-TO:
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...ce_Install.htm

-Change your leaky OE passenger side motor mount to VibraTechnics

Show us some pics for better mod guidance & advice....If you hate chrome, the headlight rings look best color coded. The rest can be blacked out w/ vinyl. They're both reversible & durable unlike dip.

 

+1
Make sure the basic fluids are done...
Not sexy, but often overlooked....
The based on YOUR needs and wants, a pulley, CAI, and rear sway bar are typically the best starter mods...then go from there...some want handling, power, etc...all are tradeoffs in daily use...so often YOUR SKILLS are a great place to start...let's face it...many MINI's can do more than their drivers....and a skills class, auto-x, etc is great fun and can be used on all future cars...and MIGHT save your life someday... Hard to beat investing in yourself!!!

 

Some good advice has been said all I can add is a grille either aero or jcw style, aero requires modification to fit though.

 

[QUOTE=DesertDog;3942321]22MM rear sway bar[/Q]

Why exactly does everyone say this should be the first mod? And is there a need for a front sway bar as well?

 

And thank you all so much for the quick responses, I am currently looking into all of these options and also researching anything I am not sure that it is. Should I have mini do all of the changes in the fluids or should I do them all myself. And also how do I know if I am running run flats or not? They are Kumho tires

 

Runflats will have RFT or some indication on em & they're harsh! Do oil & fluid changes yourself if you're able. It's more fulfilling to wrench yourself.
You don't have to hurry w/ that list I gave. Do them as funds & time allow or as need dictates. So many DIY HOW-TOs all over the boards.
Enjoy the journey of ownership......& the backroads & twisties!!!!

 

I would deffiently go for the 15% reduction pulley for the supercharger, very noticable power. then after that a cutback exhaust with a cold air intake. Or if your going more for looks, then i would get lowering springs. I put lowering springs on my car and have no problems aside from the camber in there rear becoming more aggresive. And to fix that ill be getting adjustable camber arms

 

im now sure what your mileage is at I have an 06 MCS JCW and currently have 117,000 miles on it...I replaced every part on the front of my engine and if your going to upgrade the pulley make sure to change your supercharger oil mine was almost completely dry saved it just in time...I replaced my JCW pulley with a 16% M7 pulley, also have the M7 2%crank pulley, Gates Belt tensioner, MSD wires and coil pack, NGK plugs, M7 strut bar which is amazing and will protect your upper strut mounts as well, I replaced mine around 100k...also as stated before stage 1 fan harness was replaced, water pump, oil, brake fluid, dont worry about the trans fluid my buddys a Mini mechanic and has over 200k on his mini with origional trans fluid its really pointless to replace on the Mini...also replaced coolent, rear brakes, and so on...so the list will never end...

Owning a Mini is like having an expensive girlfriend and wife the longer you keep them the more expensive they get...so good luck enjoy it and drive it...I still have a smile on my face every time I get out of it...ive owned all kinds of cars and none have brough me more joy then the Mini :-)

 

I have a 2006 R53, which I bought new in 2006. When I first got the car I was really disappointed in the handling, despite the "go kart" marketing BS. I was thinking about selling it, but took the advice from here at the NAM forum and changed out the rear anti-sway bar. This transformed the car's handling so much for the better -well I still have the car here in 2014 and it's a lot of fun to drive.
I later added TSW springs, Ireland fixed camber plates and the cabrio braces. All of these were noticeable improvements. The cabrio braces are the easiest and least expensive of these mods. With these braces I felt much improved tracking in corners that had rough and/or uneven pavement.
And no, you do not need to also change out the front anti-sway bar. As I understand it, the improvement on our cars from the stiffer rear bar has to do with the difference or balance between the front and rear. I think some people used to do a no-cost mod by disconnecting one side of the front bar -the rear end is then instantly stiffer than the front.

 

Sorry I am just reading this now but I guess I know what my next order will be the 22mm Rear Sway bar! Also what kind of cabrio braces did you end up getting I was going to order some the other day from ECS but wasn't sure how they bolted up since my mini has no holes around that area..

 

You have an 06 so the holes should be there, I believe there's plastic plugs in them now.

 

Yep, I see them now. Ok what is the best set of braces to order? Do they really make a huge difference?

 

They're all the same. You can even get them from the dealer. To be honest I didn't notice anything, but if your car already has the holes for them most people figure you can't go wrong for $40. Plus most people like the fact they are adding an oem part, not something aftermarket.

 

Cool, do you happen to know the OEM part number? I found some by ECS Tuning but it says you need to provide your own screws .. I wonder what kind of screws itll use. I wanna put these and the 22mm rear bar on at the same time I think ill notice a difference then!

 

This is the kit I purchased.

http://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2005-C...Bar/ES2635784/

 

Just ordered it today. Thanks!

 

Yep,


Thats the kit. Diagonal Rod Support Kit . Just remove the covers and you are gtg. Some older MINI were found to not have the holes pre 2004. So you would have to tap them.

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/ES2635784/

 

Thanks mines a 2006 so I should be good to go. Intalling it soon! Has it been proven to help out at all?

 

I think the cabrio bars are one of the mods that will help make your car more solid but not something you will feel.

 

Cool I look forward to this install then. I feel like the car should have just come with these installed, but o well.

 

You've gotten some really good advice. Good luck on your projects.

 

Yeah I have, thanks everyone! And I will keep you all updated on the project!