First of all, thanks to everyone on the forums for all the great info and answers (particular in response to my earlier post: "best bang for the buck mods")

Here's the situation:

I'm going to be flying out to Chicago to pick up my brand new MCS and will be taking a week to drive it back home.

I recently drove a modded MCS and absolutely LOVED it and since this road trip will be one of the best I'll have for quite some time, I'd like to pack a little extra "FUN" into it if I can.

There's a pulley party in Chicago but it looks like I'm going to miss it by a day!

So I'm wondering what my options are:

1. I'm thinking pulley and/or CAI (the latter more for "fun" than performance)
2. I'd like to avoid breaking down or putting excessive wear on my new MINI on the way home
3. I'd like to get just a little more "oomph" if i can for under $1000 installed.

Patrick MINI (where I'm picking my car) is an authorized DINAN dealer - should I consider that (or is it too much $$?). If I did that then I could have the parts installed before I even arrive (saving me time and headache)

Looking for suggestions...

Thanks!

EDIT: My local dealer (NWMINI) is also a DINAN authorized dealer, so could provide warranty service (I presume?)

 

How about a Whalen shift **** to keep you happy until you finish break-in and are ready for performance mods?

www.whalenshiftmachine.com

 

Thanks, but I like the stock shift ***.

You raise an interesting point: mod before or after break-in.

Based on feedback I've received, it doesn't really seem to matter either way. There are owners here who have picked up their cars modded from day 1 and driven many miles back home with no problem (not to mention picking up a JCW which is technically "modded")

 

Some food for thought:

You talk about wanting to pack a little extra fun into your drive home with the new car, but I can't see any way that you can do so without ignoring the break in period. You are not going to see a lot of performance improvement from any of the suggested mods without ignoring break in parameters.

The fact that your local dealer is a Dinan dealer doesn't mean anything unless you get Dinan upgrades at the dealer you are purchasing the car from. My local dealer does upgrades using a mix of parts from various places and will honor the original warranty on the car, but only if he does the mods. I can't mod it somewhere else with the same parts that he uses and expect him to cover the warranty. I also can't take the car to another dealer with the mods on it that my dealer made on it and expect them to honor the warranty - they won't.

 

That completely depends on what you consider "break in parameters" . I was one of the few (many?...not sure) who ignored Mini's break in procedure and followed another school of thought when it comes to breaking in an engine.

That being said, if you choose a Mini, or non-Mini break in (which would probably void your warranty [im at 27k w/ no engine problems at all]), and felt like driving to Milwaukee, I would be happy to do your pulley install and intake install free of charge.

 

Nice, I might take you up on that offer!

 

I've done more research and am leaning towards the "drive it like you would normally drive it" break-in method, hence this lean towards doing some day 1 mods.

That said, I don't want to void my warranty - other than the parts voided by mods.

My trip will be 2400 miles and I had already budgeted in a "warm up" period of early mileage break-in, so i can still have lots of fun (about 1200 miles worth!) on the trip even if I do follow "proper" break-in procedures.

 

you can find some guidance here...

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=60775

 

Awesome info - Randy's post is great.

15% pulley + CAI should be perfect.

roughly $400 in parts + $?? in labor

 

Has anyone done a test between a CAI system vs. simply putting a higher-flow K&N filter in the stock box?

 

You won't see much a difference with just a new filter. Maybe 2 hp. I put a K&N filter in mine a few years ago just so I wouldn't have to replace it all the time. I can't feel any power difference. I'll be putting a true intake in very soon which will give a noticeable improvement.

 

I like my K&N Typhoon CAI, Ron. It adds some pep, too. Good luck with the roadtrip in your new MINI! You may want to seriously consider taking Coop d'etat up on his very generous offer! What a deal!

 

That's very generous .

BTW, i agree with this break in method. Just make sure you warm the car up for at least 4 or 5 miles and then progressively drive it harder till the car's at operating temperature. Then drive it how you want.

 

yup, exactly. and with a couple cool-downs along the way, too.