Yea, great video and all but for our Mini's to get to those numbers you are looking at probably $10k worth of upgrades. Rebuilding the engine with forged internals, low compression pistons, upgraded cooling, intercooler, clutch, LSD, downpipe, intake, this upgraded turbo ($2.5k alone) and the custom tune to top it all up. I wish someone did it so we could all live vicariously through them but having a 500 crank hp FWD Mini would be a bit much for everyday driver. I had a mk5 VW GLI with k04 turbo upgrade, water meth kit and bunch of other supporting upgrades that was pushing around 400 crank hp and it was just too much (loved it to bits nevertheless).

 

It's honestly a little sad there isn't at least SOME high horsepower highly modified 3rd gens. They aren't even that expensive anymore on the used market.

 

Gonna say something here that may not be too popular with the tuners. I've had several performance cars over the years. I had one V8 Jag that would light up the rear rubber and fishtail like crazy every time I gave it the spurs, which was quite entertaining, when not terrifying.

In deciding to acquire our first MINI, the Little Missus needed to be coaxed into doing a test drive. She said, "I thought you were going to get a Bimmer. I don't think you'll be happy with a MINI" Then she test drove a MINI around a few corners and I do not think she even tapped the brakes. When she did finally stop at a red light, she said, "I think a MINI will be our next car."

I'd say our two MINIs have been the best BMWs I've ever had. Grin-inducing handling, surprisingly refined driving dynamics, a pleasure to look at, fun to wash. The only performance mod I've done is the cheapie Dinan Sport that adds a bit of turbo boost and more fuel to the mix. Just a little extra kick but not a tire burner. I fitted tires for a better ride rather than extreme handling and I am still thrilled with the balance between tight handling and smooth ride. The paddle shifters are quick and the tranny is tight and Sport firms up the suspensions and adds just a bit of weight to the steering so I can "mod" the ride with the flip of a toggle switch, all courtesy of the Oxford factory and those German engineers.

The thing is, MINIs aren't dragsters. They are brilliantly engineered to not need monster horses to do what they're supposed to do. And the drivetrains are definitely not designed to absorb obscene amounts of torque.

Just sayin', if you want a hot rod, what's the point of having a MINI? My V12 torque monster from the 1980's sits seeping oil in the garage, where it is the Queen. My MINI is the household daily driver, because it is such a hoot, just as it came from the factory. I do love to learn about the great mods miniacs do, but 500hp???

I will now hide under my desk and await the barrage!

 

I agree to most extent. I'm going to say something which might even turn a lot of people off. I don't think MINIs are that fun to drive at very high speed. I think they are extremely quick cars at low to medium speeds and that's where their life should be spent and enjoyed. That's not to say you can't drive them fast though. 150mph on a B48 is fairly simple.

 

I went for All4 to virtually eliminate torque steer and most of the time we use our MINI for grocery getting and quick trips around town. We do take extended freeway runs a few times a month to visit the aged relatives. And it is hard to keep the car under 80 out on the highway because it definitely hunkers down and is a great freeway flyer in 8th gear. It just purrs.

But zipping around town is where I get most of my giggles. Friggin' go-cart. It's my good truck...on steroids.

 

very fun car off the line in sport plus

 

Bottom line:
Any BMW worth modifying the drivetrain = RWD.
Most MINIs = FWD
Most 4WD of either make = not performance oriented.

Anything more than 280-290HP on a FWD car is a waste off the track unless a complete overhaul of the suspension, chassis, wheels/tires, and more is undertaken. You'd basically be turning the car into a different vehicle. At that point, get a 4WD performance car if you really must have power to the front. There are reasons why the 300-hp B46 isn't available on non-FWD MINIs except the GP, which, like the Civic Type R, is basically a street-legal track car.

MINis have never been about power. They are about handling and the 'package'. My previous car was an '18 Porsche 718 Cayman with the base 2.0 - same deal: the 'package' made the 2.5 'S' not worth the price premium. A couple of cars before that, I had an '09 WRX that was actually faster than the same-gen STi in most practical ways. Again: the WRX 'package' was better.

If you want power at a reasonable price point, buy a domestic and modify it. If you want the same in a Euro make and power? BMW M. Asian? Nissan or an NA Lexus, or perhaps Hyundai N in the next few years. Unless you can get your hands on a GP, MINI isn't your ride.

 

So today was one of those trips to visit the aged relative. After a nice, smooth freeway run we came into our home town where there is this really tight S-curve on a surface street posted at 25MPH. I took it at 45 without any tire squeal or drift. Car stayed totally planted and could have easily done the S faster. As we shot out of the last turn, I said to my wife, "Had to do it." She nodded and said, "Totally understand." I noticed she had a firm hand on the door grip going into the turn. Women know these things.

 

IMHO this is about taste, experience and comfort/interest. I have a 400hp F56 on its way to 550hp. Why? My goal is to have a better power-to-weight than many Ferrari's and Lambo's. Personally after tracking many cars in my life, 400hp is not enough and leaves me wanting, but I am also used to surgical performance - the minute you inflect any change (steering angle, throttle pedal, brakes, etc). the car instantly responds and delivers.

These cars tuned correctly are like driving rollercoasters - literally. But that is what I like. I don't mind NVH, but I have also reengineered the car to address those things. Modification that I see often are done "incomplete" meaning without all the appropriate supporting mods that does impact drivability and experience just as much as reliability. Everything in my car has been done to factory level work by myself and has been properly supported. The car is a joy and I get compliments nearly every day... and its not even done yet.

I will be one of your "high HP" 3rd Gen's - live vicariously through F5666 Nice to meet you all by the way, I lurk and post rarely but that will be changing as I get closer to the car's completion.

 

whats your suspension setup?

 

Suspension setup is fully adjustable:

BC Racing 2way adjustable coilovers
KMAC 3way adjustable strut mounts
NM Engineering strut mount bar
H&R 27mm adjustable solid front bar w/ steel mount brackets on soft setting
Whiteline adjustable front swaybar links
Meyle HD lightweight front suspension arms
Powerflex front and rear front suspension arm bushings
Megan Racing upper and lower rear adjustable suspension arms
Powerflex front trailing arm bushing
WMW 25mm adjustable hollow rear swaybar w/ NM billet swaybar clamps on soft setting
GMaxx billet rear adjustable swaybar links
MMR Triple underbody brace kit
GP3 wheel alignment spec
12.5mm ECS front wheel spacers
17.5mm ECS rear wheel spacers

NOTE: At some point I will ditch the BC Racing coilovers in favor of an Ohlins 3way adjustable coilover setup

 

+++

 

I will agree with two ideas generally seen here:

400 HP is not enough for truly high performance

AND

The Mini S probably doesn't "need" horsepower that is hugely higher than stock if you want a daily-driver car that isn't a beast to live with.

While these may seem like contradictory ideas, I agree with one guy in that RWD is the best platform for high HP (or AWD for guys who are into that). I have another RWD car that came stock with about 400 HP. I am looking to tune it to get more satisfaction as it doesn't seem hugely fast.

I think the problem with the Mini is that the FWD platform already seems to struggle with the power it makes on my S, now with the JCW exhaust and otherwise stock. Off the line, torque steer is an issue and it generally scrabbles around, understeers, etc. I am considering something like a stage 1 tune to get a bit more oomph but I may then have to tighten up the rear to compensate. Then I might start to get into daily usability/comfort issues.

Overall, from a lot of experience over the years modifying cars, I would say power is a slippery slope and the character of these cars could be ruined easily by adding too much.

 

Minis are cornering machines not dragsters. I find it hilarious ! 350TQ & 300HP (250@whl.) is all you need.

 

So to respond in short:

300hp/350tq can easily be overwhelmed by driver input and there are many times when even at that figure I can find myself pushing on the pedal and the car is not giving me everything I want. Yes, not a dragster but doing the 1/4 is not the only place you want (or need) explosive power or the ability to jump forward.

Regarding FWD platforms:

if you are struggling with torque steer, what have you done to deal with it? Have you set up your alignment correctly? What tires are you wearing? (this makes a surprising - maybe unsurprising - difference in reducing torque steer) Are your wheels accurately balanced? Is the car evenly weighted on all corners, otherwise corner balancing? Etc, etc….

Torque steer is an issue of uneven length driveshafts but it is not the only factor and any or all of the things mentioned above plus others will exacerbate or mitigate the effects of torque steer. There is a reason why modern FWD platforms have a half shaft fixed to the subframe on the long side so the CVs are equidistant at the ends.

The wrong tire choice alone can have a massive affect on this phenomenon because it’s about how the tire treats grip, turn in, etc. Personally, just changing the horrible factory Pirelli RFs to Michelin PS4s nearly eliminated most of my torque steer and had the biggest affect out of all the modifications I made to minimize torque steer. Now, it’s there but it’s nearly gone and is a gentle nudge at best under WOT in Sport, even at 400hp.

 

Okay, this thread is having an effect. Yesterday we fired up our 10MPG V12 Jag and took it down Pacific Coast Highway for a romp. I will say that it is a revelation to experience that buttery-smooth endless torque, without any turbo lag as the 3 speed slush box seamlessly slides through the "gears." Still a fun ride after all these decades, though the air conditioner doesn't work for sh*t.

Then we had a few errands to run later in the day. We took the MINI. Much more fun.

There you are.

 

@5666 Can you please share more details on your engine mods and how did you get to the 400hp number and what else will you do to it to get to the 550hp number. Do you have LSD and which one? What clutch do you have installed? Any other details? Thanks.

 

350TQ Isn’t all that bad…
needs standing water to get into any real trouble, and only then if you’re heavy footed (closer to 375 in my car)
215/45/17 on Et 43 7.5” rims manages UK winter season in north Oxfordshire/Cotswolds, Goodyear asymmetric 6 and previously Michelin ps4 with just stock adaptive suspension + Jcw brakes.

over 20k with this “custom tune” and genuine 50mpg all day long @ 75mph-ish motorway cruise.
( just running in at 100k since 2015)
my other Mini is the “fast-one” this is just the “commuter car”




Oil burner, visit the website and see it on their rollers for development of their canned tunes for other B47 SD , mine was the original…

 

Appreciate your interest my friend. I am keeping a lot of it unshared at the moment until I get to a specific point, then will be sharing the car more openly and on the Insta page I made for it.

What I will share is that it has a lot of unique parts such as a motorsports intercooler (similar frontal area to that of a radiator), custom DP, custom software, tricked out stock turbo, etc.

Transmission is the next item on the performance list after I deal with a recent development. I will get several special treatments of the shafts/gears, a wavetrac LSD and Clutchmasters LW flywheel & 8 puck clutch to carry to torque/power properly.

Also running 215/40R18 Michelin PS4s on stock Cup Spoke wheels to add a bit more traction, reduce torque steer and compliance to the ride. This will change in the future.

 

Hey, are any of your guys stage 1 ? This might not be the right place to post but it's the right topic. I'm currently custom tuning for stage 1 and I'm having trouble holding boost past 4500 rpm. It comes on good, spikes a little and then falls off. Is there any weird limiters on the 3rd gen minis ? Any of you guys have the same problem ? I've smoked tested and boost leak tested. I took everything apart to check the turbo ans wastegate with out luck. I feel like no one's really into modding these cars. I can't find any good info

 

This is definitely something you want to make a new thread for. If you make it, send me a DM with the link and I will be happy to chip in with my .02

 

Thank, will do

 

I agree that the power band is kinda wonky. I also feel like sometimes I want to accelerate and the car kind of doesn't.

 

Exactly. My HP target was to put the car on par with most Ferrari's and Lambo's running around here in Miami, in terms of power-to-weight but its also b/c I want this car to immediately respond to my right foot regardless of gear or speed. In current 400hp form, there isn't a whole lot that can compete with me other than the supercars. I am not doing straight out drag races although I am competing at lights occasionally (and still holding my own or overtaking - and that's with limited torque delivery in 1/2 gear as part of my tune). At speed, almost no one is keeping up. They might match me for a bit but relatively quickly I overtake them. This has been the case for Vette's, HEMI Chargers, 911s, Cayman's, AMGs of many flavors, Aston Martins, Urus's, Turbo Cayenne's, etc. Where it is most notable is at highway speeds - I absolutely smoke nearly all cars on the highway.... they just can't pull in top gear the way this car does given the mod list, power and weight. The car accelerates as if everyone else around me is standing still - even at 80 or 100 mph and can *easily* hit 130+ without much strain.

I used to call the car "Fake Taxi" but lately have been calling it Shiva the Destroyer