Alright, so I came from the off-road/overland scene and spent a lot of time and money deciding on what worked best for my truck and what fit the billfold. A lot of mistakes were made, a lot of suspension/transfer/diff/propshaft/wheels/tires were bought and sold along the way.

So my question is this... I use my CMS for commuting, spirited driving (maybe some track?), and snow. I am over having the clearance of my Land Rover, but still can't see myself going any lower than stock (Colorado). What modifications and in what order should I be looking at to enhance those three categories.

I just ordered the JB+ to begin (not going to re-map under warranty sorry ), and I'm thinking of that M7 strut. Seems between those two my marginal utility is still high, at what point do mods on the CMS begin to move me into diminishing returns land? Charge pipes? Exhaust? Aero kits? CAI? Tires? Wheels? Sprint Booster? Suspension?!

I love this thing already, but have the mod bug being a car guy! Obviously not an easy question

Experiences?

 

From what I've done so far on mine the VIP Customs Strut Brace and Rear Sway bar have really improved the handling.
The Magnaflow exhaust was put on right after I got the car so I really can't speak of "gains" since I didn't have it long enough for comparisons. Also went to the local muffler shop and had them put it on with parts on hand. Didn't get the kit, total cost with ceramic coated tips was about $400.
Was looking at the JB tune but can't ship it in CA due to air quality laws. But still on the table as I have relatives out of state to have it shipped to.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

I put flat panel filter in from K&N. Cheap, I think it was helpful and also get some nice sounds from it. SprintBooster is HUGE!! Obviously doesn't change HP but changing the throttle mapping and response makes it feel like a totally different car. You will grin frm ear to ear with that one combined with the JB+ you already have.

 

The first and best mod for a Countryman is a 22mm rear sway bar as it will reduce understeer and body roll making a huge noticeable difference right away.
Front strut brace do little to nothing in changing the handling as most people can't even tell it's on. The TSW X brace would be a better choice to stiffen the car up.
Then you can consider coilovers as getting the center of gravity down will again help the handling a lot.
For power The Turbo discharge pipe hose we find to help with throttle response and then add an intercooler with it as that will also help with HP.

If you have a manual trans I really find the Craven short shifter to shorten the throw and give you a much crisper feel.

 

We seem to be 'brothers from another mother.' Also leaving the LR scene and with similar mod-thoughts... have had 4, soon to be getting rid of my last one - highly modified D1 that's been a great fun vehicle over the last 10 years. Carolinas, north woods of Maine, Death Valley... Never passed through Colorado, though.

My thoughts on the M7 strut bar - I liked the look of it on my old R57, and even felt the car was tighter on hard, fast turns. But the R60 is a different body. The high IIHS rating for offset frontal crash seems like a good indication of body stiffness. So I'm not sure the M7 bar is worth the $$ as an early mod. Maybe later down the list...

I plan to still use the CM for some gravel fire road adventures of fishing/camping. Thus, I'm thinking of eventually adding the Detroit Tuned front skid plate. Considering your location and past, maybe a more worthwhile use of approximately the same amount of $$ over the front strut bar?

I'm wondering if eventually I can wire in a the National Luna battery box so the Engel can still be used!

 

Awesome feedback, looks like this community is going to be similar to my old Rover ones.

Csbdr - I will give the SB a go, sounds like good feedback but pricey!

WayMotorWorks - Great to know, that will likely be my next purchase, there seems to be quite a bit of roll when I trow it in hard, is the install just driveway? Choose discharge over charge pipe for gains? How hard is the Craven Install?!

sbdubya - Awesome! You have any issues with the dealer on that exhaust?

BendersMINI - Nice! D1's make great trail rigs! Colorado wheelin is awesome, never been out your way, but the high mountain stuff can pucker you up real quick! That skid is a great idea, gonna be handy for rallying the dirt roads out here, any thoughts on rally mud flaps? Didn't mind rocks on the rover, but the MINI seems too pristine to rally thrash yet. Let me know if you get your Engel wired, would be an interesting project for sure. I'll likely skip that strut brace for the rear sway WayMotorWorks suggested!

Thanks all!

Going to all fun from here on in!

 

There is only one mod that will improve every aspect of performance (not counting stripping the car for weight reduction)....


TIRES


In the same sense, wheels can do a great deal as well.


If I was limited to one mod and one mod only, it would be grippy tires. Of course more grip typically means less longevity, but really, they will increase acceleration, decrease braking distances, improve handling in all aspects.


Now if you add LIGHTWEIGHT wheels into the mix, you are further compounding the increases, especially in the feel of the car. On my R53 going from the 25lb 17" wheels to 11lb SSR Type C 16" wheels made the car feel like what a MINI should feel like. The same improvement could easily be had with the Countryman.


So, in short, tires... and if you can afford it, 17" lightweight wheels (something like RPF1's maybe).

 

I know that rotational weight can make a huge difference in feel (MTB'er) as well as some nice rubber. Makes all the difference on a MTB.

Question is this...

Stock 17in wheels, what is the widest biggest tire you can safely get in there? I am on my snows right now, but have a brand new set of all seasons dealer spec that are at home. Thinking I should just upgrade to a wider "grippier" all season... and sell the stockers come April...

 

Don't be fooled into thinking wider = grippier.


Wider = Heavier for sure.


Don't put more tire than you need. If we were talking about a full time AutoX car, fine, throw some 275 Hoosiers on it and go nuts. But if we are talking about a mostly stock car with mild upgrades (say under 300hp), I honestly don't think you need anything more than a GOOD 225 or 235mm wide tire on a CM. Look at cars like the Lotus Elise, the front tires on that thing are 175's or 195's depending on options. Of course the CM is a much heavier car, but going too wide is going to ruin that quick steering and fun go-kart feel.


For example, I would take 225 AD08's over just about any 245 or 255 out there on a mildly nodded Countryman.


Just my opinion, but I think you can achieve more grip than you need with a good 225.

 

Correct!

I was thinking that the added friction of a "wider" all season would help some since I wont be going performance street (ADO7/8). Those Yoko's are awesome, used to have some on an old Porsche 993!

I haven't got much of a chance to rally the all seasons but it looks like I'll be in need of another wheelset for the track (if that happens this summer). Maybe the stockers will be good enough?! Or simply ditch the RF's in lieu of something a bit softer.

 

Curious... sounds like you have more than one set of wheels since you're on snows now. So why all-seasons instead of summer tires as your alternate set? The mushy months between summer and winter?

 

I like dirt and mud! It's hard to do it all Never really pushed a summer tire on the dirt at all, but certainly thinking a nice summer tire might be in order. Snows come off in a month!

 

Gotcha! So that feeds into something I've been thinking about... tires for light dirt/rock/mud ("unimproved") roads in stock MINI sizes.

Anyone have a best choice? The all-seasons I've seen look very road-biased, maybe even too much for a even a lightly unimproved road. Fairly flat roads/trails and it probably doesn't matter, but throw some small hills, puddles, off-camber turns into the mix and I wonder how they'd work out? Snow tires usually have larger voids and more siping, but the rubber is a bit softer and would thus be torn up more and possibly more prone to puncture. Still... maybe snows are better for the occasional off-pavement light adventure? I'm trying to not confuse the MINI with a Landie, but I would like a bit more bite and peace of mind for the occasional off-the-beaten path camping and fishing.

 

Benders - How's that new sway? Just got my tires up, looks like they don't make the Super Sports in any good 17" size for the CM. Went the 225/50r17 way, non RFT, feels great! Hankook Ventus V12 Evo 2, not crazy nice but sure a **** load of fun, stick plenty.

I am thinking that sway is next... did you install yourself? Any helpful hints before I google the forum?

 

I do like the sway - Way's 22mm. Yes, installed myself. I remembered reading some install threads specific to the All4 quite awhile back, but couldn't find them when it came time to install on the CM. So a couple of notes from the install, some duplicative with any other RSB install on a 2nd Gen MINI:
- removing the shocks/springs is helpful
- brace under the rear diff...jack is best, that way you can lower it a bit as you need more clearance from the rear sub-frame to the body
- of the 4 bolts holding in the sub-frame, I think I removed 3 of them. Loosened the 4th but didn't completely remove it. Needed a little bit of prying to get enough clearance to remove the old bar and when putting in the new bar.
Straightforward install.

Congrats on the tires! There was another interesting thread on here somewhere that I can't find at the moment, but I think it was bmwr606 that mentioned 215/65r16s will fit...and BFG ATs are available in that size! So I think I know what I'll be getting for my set of winter/trail tires. I'll post a pic once I get them...

 

Awesome! I will be adding that sleek black WMW bar here soon when I can!

Interesting on the AT's! Might look at that for some of the dirt stuff...

 

Sprint Booster and NM Eng RSB on the way!

MINI is taking shape!

Hopefully I can get that bar in this weekend and then the fun really begins!

Took 5 in her to go camping this weekend... I love my MINI.

 

Or you could be completely insane, and raise it instead! Get the Countryman Lift Kit, disconnect rear sway bars entirely so each side is fully independent, and hit the really really bad fire roads.

You know, since OP was a Land Rover guy... :-)

 

If you like dirt and mud get a Wrangler . . .its built for the abuse and much more adjustable as well as adaptable.

I second tires - I took off the crappy P7 run flats the third day and added the lowly Sumitomo in 225/50R17 and the impact was absolutely stunning. Cornering is better - even the torque steer is better. For $30 I added a tire mobility kit . . . some junk and a compressor just in case.

BTW - I had the Sumitomos on the Porsche Boxster - and to be honest I think they are better tires than the Michelins that came with it. Wear is fast though - but at $100 each and $500 installed generally - you can buy lots of Sumi tires - as in 2.5 pairs to one set of Michelins - and the Michelins don't last all that much longer -

After tires - the gains become increasingly hard to by - I'd do it in this order:

Tires
Swaybar
New shocks/struts - adjustable
wheels
everything else.

 

To answer the questions that have recently been asked regarding the M7 Speed Strut Tower Brace we feel it is important to filter out the forum hysteria and mass amounts of misinformation from the technical facts.


The Brace does make a huge difference in handling and correcting oversteer. We have sold many of these item and EVERY customer comments on what difference it is. It was a Hit a MINI's on the Dragon this year with everyone who purchased it coming to our tent to praise it!


Christi B. "I had gotten the strut bar from you and what difference in handling"


Just one of many quotes

 

Good information, bummed I couldn't run out to the dragon for this years run.

M7 - I am still looking into the strut, putting on the 22mm RSB this weekend, so I'll start with that for the time being.

I know people rave about putting strut bars on MacPherson suspension setups!

MINI is coming together nicely!

 

SWAY BAR IN!

Incredible changes in handling, much more composed now!

Couple of install notes, the 2015 CM subframe bolts are torx bolts not the 16mm variety. A 11mm Socket works nicely on top of the bolt.

Also, just back out the front subframe bolts until you can slide the rear bar over the rear lop of the subframe, and then just pull it out.

Ton of fun!