Where would you spend it? Just a hypothetical thread. Spend about a thousand dollars, give or take a couple hundred dollars. Completely stock '04 MC.

Let's hear 'em. I've got my ideas, I want to see others!

 

I know for absolutely sure what the first $200 would be! It would be a stiffer rear sway bar, period, end of story. I am 55 years old and have been modifying cars of all kinds for forty years. I have NEVER made a better improvement in ANY car than I did by spending $200 or so on an H-Sport, Sport 19MM rear bar for my non S Cooper. There are many other good bars but don't get carried away and get TOO stiff with the rear bar.

The next two hundred I would spend would be for the cable and the software from MTH in Germany. I think another $500 or so for a good cat back exhaust.

From where I sit, the first paragraph would be MANDATORY. The second paragraph would be okay, but others may have better suggestions.

Enjoy,

 

I do not have a lot of money to throw around, so here is how I spent about $310:

1. rear swaybar out of a MCS - not as thick as an H-Sport, but at a tenth the cost.

2. Chrome side vents and clear lights

3. stubby antenna

4. bonnet stripes

5. PIAA 540s

 

twoturbos1mission,

Sorry $1000 doesn't buy a turbo for an MC.

Depends what you want to do- what is your priority?

If appearance-
- Aero side skirts and paint the wheel arches
- Add rally lights
- tint the rear tail lights and do the tail light mod
- Add racing stripe(s)
- Add shorty antenna
- Add a clear protector film to the headlights/ front bonnet and bumper
- Replace the side marker lights
- Debadge

If handling and ride quality-
- Lowering springs $240
- Rear adjustable 19mm swaybar $200
- Non runflat tires- Falken Azenis Sport (performance), Bridgestone Potenza S-03 for street/performance

If performance-
- Sign up for Driving school $200-$400
- Cat-back exhaust- consider:new Milltek, Helix13, Rspeed, Rogue- $600
- Aftermarket intake- mossmini, BMP/Promini- $200
- Helix Short shift kit (for 5 speed)- $50

If comfort and convenience-
- Window tinting- $200
- Seat covers
- Glove box and center console organizers- $70
- Euro parcel shelf for driver's side- $80
- Install a car alarm

 

Depends what you intend to do with the car. I auto X stock class so the mods allowed are few. Once you go down the dark mod path you get bumped into different classes where the mini is no longer competitive. The mini is great out of the box, just needs a little better rubber. Learn how to drive it and spend your 1000 bucks tightening the "nut" behind the wheel.

 

1) sway bar: 200
2)reduction pulley: 200 (with puller and stuff)
3)intake (200)
4)tires (not wheels) (approx 400)

there ya go... plenty of oomph and improved handling for 1000 bucks

 

No, the driver doesn't need improvement at this stage. :smile:

Just a hypothetical "for fun" thread. Don't get too analytical here. Just wondering what others would do. I already know my mod path. :smile:
Cheers!!

 

I have an MC also. This is what I have done with mine.

$400 Rogue exhaust and Pipercross intake. Slightly used (3400 miles) from a NAM member. Nice agressive sound. Car breathes much better. Much smoother all the way up to redline. Minimal HP gains.

Some minor things, black chrystal side markers, Red Jackson racing wires, short antenna.

Next mod, H-sport sway bar and springs. Then wheels and tires.

Also lots of track time:smile:

Have fun.

 

I like minuhune's answer (as usual :smile: ). With a $1000 budget, I think it's really important to think about the type of modding you want to do by category first (appearance, drivetrain, suspension, or convenience), because you could easily spend your whole $1000 in any one of those 4 categories if you want to focus on one, or spread it across them. But if you are spreading across all categories, it's hard to think of a list of "best mods" because they are so different.

 

I'm sorry, but please consider that for @ $3000 you get the "S" which gives you about 50 more horsepower. That would cost you more than $1000 to do to a Cooper. You get the wonderful 6 speed transmission, which sells over the counter for around $5000. You get upgraded suspension, including wheels & tires. Many people change these out, but you can sometimes work a deal with your dealer to get the X-lite 16 inch wheels which are lighter, then just change tires when the time comes. In short, I would put your $1000 towards the base "S", which will also return more at resale. Don't get me wrong, the Cooper is a nice car, but the 'S' is an extremely good deal for the money if you are going to start making modifications.

 

I'm not a race car driver... I'm not a motorhead... I LOVE driving my MINI hard and for me, my Whalen Shift Machine was the best money spent. The stock **** is so much less in feel and action. The shifter is one of your main connections to the auto. When it feels right, your whole experience is better! Just my 2c.

Godspeed.

 

Easy. I'd take, oh, $15 or so and get a set of those fluffy, hanging dice things for the rear view mirror. Then I'd spend the rest on race bodywork and paint for my 2004 R1.

:smile: :smile:

 

Hey wiz...How do you like the MCS sway bar on your Cooper? Was considering an H-sport, but I heard going with a stock S bar would work great on mine. Plus, it's cheaper if I can find someone with one. Also, which clear lights are you talking about?

 

This was exactly my list. The most bang for the buck.

(I did sway bar, CAI, pulley, tires in that order!):smile:

 

1) sway bar: 200
2)reduction pulley: 200 (with puller and stuff)
3)intake (200)
4)tires (not wheels) (approx 400)

there ya go... plenty of oomph and improved handling for 1000 bucks
The request was for $1000 applied to a Cooper, not an 'S', so there is no pulley to increase torque and horsepower - Anybody want to adjust their recomendations?
I still maintain that for the dollars expended, you will get more by simply moving to the 'S' over the Cooper.

 

Its great. It handles like a new car and it was super cheap.

The white lights I am referring to are the side markers.

 

500 gallons of 93 octane unleaded gasoline!

 

i would do exactly as i have done. see my signature below....

that would only set you back $300.

next is a swaybar -$200 from what i've seen here.
new 17" non-runflats and a tire puncture kit- i think that will eat up the other $500 nicely.

 

When I filled up on Sunday, $1000 would have gotten me 418 gallons of 91 here in San Diego. Maybe I should order my gas from out-of-state same as my Mini!

If I were spending $1000 on my MCS, I'd probably get new wheels. I am perfectly happy with my car's performance, but would like to do something that sets it apart from other cars - and might make it less cute.

The problem I run into is that for the same money I could buy a nice telephoto zoom lens for my Canon 10D. I'm trying to have only one hobby, so the lens actually makes more sense for me.

 

If $1000 was my budget for street driving, I think I would do lowering springs
for $200, rear swaybar for $200, a better set of tires for $400 (given that
those are 16's), and a intake for $165... oh, the $35 for bonnet stripes? :smile:

Then down the road, probably look for a used exhaust.

 

check out Steve's Auto Clinic in North Hills, CA. He should have a bunch if he doesn't throw them out, and if he does he will get another one in a few days i'm sure.

Earl

 

How about some in car entertainment. A new radio and speakers if you dont have the HK. Or a Sirius radio add on. Good tunes good drive.

And I dido the other mods that minihune said.

 

Well twoturbosonemission, you can see from a lot of these posts that many assume you to be modding your new "S". At least anybody who suggests a pulley!

 

I think I wiil save the 1k and put it towards an 06
My 03 MC is great

 

I would buy $1000 lottery tickets and possibly get back millions! okay, so maybe I wouldn't but it sounds like a good idea