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Hi everyone, I've owned my Mini for 3 years this month, and figured it was about time to make a build thread.
The car is a 2011 MCS that I bought from Stevens Creek Mini in Santa Clara, CA with about 98,500 miles, and it currently has 125,500 ish miles. It is my daily driver as well as my track toy. Eventually when I'm not in college and can afford to transition it to a full track car I will but for now it is a street/track hybrid car.
Mod list:
Drivetrain:
JMTC S42 Quick Spool turbo
RPM stage 3 tune
Ebay Wagner tuning copy intercooler Alta DV spring mod
Forge DV spacer
K&N Typhoon intake
Custom JMTC Intake setup
GFB DV+
CNT Racing 2.5" Downpipe
ARP Rod bolts Oil Cooler (removed due to leaking adapter plate)
Alta Hot side charge pipe
Stock exhaust with only a muffler left
Mishimoto universal catch can
BSH lower motor mount
Cravenspeed Boost port adapter
Suspension:
Ksport Kontrol Pro coilovers
Alta 22mm RSB (Middle setting)
SPC rear LCAs
Godspeed front adjustable end links
Interior:
Cobra Racer pro bucket seat (Driver's seat only for now)
Racequip 6 point harness
Cipher auto harness bar Ultra Racing Rear strut brace
Prosport boost gauge
Cravenspeed solid shifter bushings
Full LED conversion
DND Threaded shift **** adapter with Tomei shift ****
Gutted interior from the B pillar back minus the headliner and sunroofs. Stock passenger seat with carpet fully removed except for the passenger footwell.
Wheels:
Track set of wheels: CCW Classics 17x8 (can't remember offset but I believe +25 or 30) One was bent recently so now I need to get it fixed. Currently running 245/40r17 Hankook Ventus RS4 and there is no rubbing with a 10mm spacer in the front and 5mm in the rear.
Daily set of wheels: Free set of XXR 17x7 +42 wheels
Motorsport Hardware Lug Stud conversion
Brakes:
ECS tuning SS lines
Currently have found the perfect brake setup for stock MCS calipers! Gloc R12 comp with Motul RBF 600 and cheapo blank rotors!
Other:
Rear Wiper delete
Chrome Delete
Yellow tinted Fog lights/DRL
Current alignment:
Front:
Camber: -2.7 deg, Toe: 1/8" Out IIRC
Rear:
Camber: -1.5 deg, Toe: 1/8" In IIRC
Can't find the current toe specs of my alignment lol
There's alot more I have planned but currently (as of 12/7/2020) This is what's on the car. There's also issues that need to be solved right now as the car is already on jack stands after this last track day lol. I noticed the car is off time so that needs to be looked at, along with the wastegate on my JMTC failing so I have a used OE turbo to swap on the hot side to hopefully fix it. The car also burns almost no oil, instead it leaks and marks my driveway lol- Liqui moly oil helps the car run very well!
I also don't have that many good photos of the car as it sits right now that aren't from my phone but here are some along with some track photos.
Thanks for reading- I'll be updating this post whenever something changes/breaks on my Mini and after every track day with how the car felt, how it performed, and how fast I ran!
So here's an update:
Yesterday I messed with the timing for a bit but even after getting the intake cam to spin freely without the chain or the exhaust cam the timing is still "off". I don't think it's actually off but rather my $30 amazon special tool isn't accurate lol. I pulled the plugs after roughly a year of use and abuse they still look pretty decent, I'll be changing those out as well. The main thing today though, I pulled off my S42 turbo to swap hot sides and I'm happy to say that it still spins like new and the seals look to be in great shape. I pulled the hot side off the used turbo I got and it had some nasty blown seals, spinning the shaft sounded like sandpaper
I should have the turbo back on with the "new" hot side in a few days, just waiting on gaskets now
Well its been a while and I figured I'd update since I have covid and can't currently sleep
I parted the car out and sold it earlier this year since I kept breaking it and as a college student I couldn't afford the mini anymore. I plan on eventually buying another R56 but it'll be N14 powered once I'm out of uni and can afford multiple fun cars. I bought an NC miata to feed the track addiction and because they're cheap and don't break it suits my needs of going fast on a budget. Feel free to check out the build thread over at https://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=761907 and enjoy one of my favorite pics and the last pic of my Mini
My R56 track car build
