So, I have about $800 bucks to spend, looking for the next mod. I have a 15% pulley, K&N HAI, and a one-ball. Thinking ECU upgrade.

Others on my to-do list are Okole seat covers, driving lights, lowering springs, strut Reinforcement plates (maybe with strut tower brace), and Outmotoring speedo/tach guage faces.

Also I really want to paint my arches and trim ($$) but that is way outside of my current budget, especially if I go with aero kit parts (skirts for sure, front bumper, maybe).

When my runflats go dead, I will buy new wheels and "real" tires, but as I only have 8,000 miles that will be a while...

Ideas?

 

My vote,

Suspension or non run flat tires (comfort, quiet, better handling)

Victor

 

 

Get the tires anyway. Save the runflats and stash them in your garage in case of emergency.

Nothing is going to make you notice an improvement in handling, liks a good set of stickier tires.

Hankook Ventus RS2's
or
Falken RT-615's

 

CAI, Exhaust, and Header.

-Cody

 

I'd go with srings, rear sway bar, strut tower plates (if not the whole bar).

 

My vote (since this seems to be a democratic process )...

19mm adjustable rear sway (e.g. H-sport) + MTH tuner file.

I have 15%+CAI+oneball - and the MTH ECU flash REALLY made a difference in overall smoothness of power delivery - probably added a little low-to-mid torque also, but the big thing you notice is how smooth power delivery is vs. just the pulley...

And the swaybar will make the biggest single differnce (and most bang for the buck) of the suspension mods...

 

I say order some more stuff from DP!

 

1) Join your local mini club - that can get you discounts and recommendations on the following:
2) Driving school - definitely. This can be fairly inexpensive through the club or a local sportscar track.
3) Tires (and wheels) - sell off your treads to make a $ contribution to the new ones.
4) agreed above: 19mm adjustable rear sway
5) MTH tuner file.

 

Drivers Education....you got all this hunk of a car but need to learn to actually drive it!!!! You'll be amazed at the limits of the car in stock form...
you can have every mod known to man for your car, but if you can't drive it, whats the point?

 

My 2 cents,
If you AutoX then put it into better tires and sway bar.
If you want performance and better ride then ecu upgrade and tires (might be more but it will be money well spent).
Next I would do H-sport springs and lower rear control arms. the springs drop it 1" at all 4 and smoothes out the sharp bumps (cracks, manholes and uneven surfaces) while staying very tight in the corners. Do this and your MINI will wake up and dance!!

 

Great comments but I uess I should clarify some things.

First, this this is primarily my daily driver..I've been to the track once but it was not at full speed nor do I expect to to it often. But I do like a little zip.

I have a warranty for the tires so I want to keep on the runflats until they go too bald or it becomes to painful. Have replaced one already.

As for the suggestion from Cody "CAI, Exhaust, and Header", I already have a HAI and one-ball, I have already decided that was enough for me.

As for driving school...been there, done that.

Can somebody explain what an MTH Tuner File is?

 

You could buy a lot of weed for $800.

 

MTH is ECU software- search for MTH.

So daily driver? Then suspension upgrade seems like a good choice. Koni FSD shocks.

"As for driving school...been there, done that."
Driving school? ... not yet. Maybe later. Don't give up on instruction, there is always much to learn.

 

I second this recommendation.

 

You should see my garage...already have gallons of the stuff!

 

My vote is pay off the car faster, then have money to play with evey month. I should have done that with my M Roadster.