Gist of this thread - you have an R53 MCS to begin with. It's an extra car, but one you want to use as a daily driver, whenever. But, you want it to be the most fun and exhilarating MCS you can make it and you're in a position where you can spend the $$ to make it that way. However, you're not putting Porsche engines or refitting Audi all wheel drive systems. The rule is you're purchasing/modifying from the existing selection of MCS aftermarket products and upgrades. So, what I want to know is this:
What would you do to the engine (which products, tunes, etc)?
What would you do to the suspension and drivetrain?
Tires/wheels?
Interior (Seats, audio, etc)?
Exterior (wings, splitters)?
And maybe let's put boundaries - because it would be easy to say you'd buy one of everything. You don't have to put prices, but in the back of your mind, consider that your limit (because we are talking about a MCS here) for parts, labor wouldn't be higher than $15,000 (which I think is really generous - probably way too generous).

And remember, the key is that you want the car to be the best of both worlds - daily driver and track toy.

 

Modifying one's car is like buying underwear....Kinda personal.
For me, considering the way I drive, I would probably go with making the engine breath better by going with a good cold-air intake system, a 17% pulley, and something like a Borla cat-back exhaust.
Suspension would include up-graded struts/springs, and appropriate braces, followed by good lightweight wheels and Goodyear Eagle tires.
Emily is an '02 MCS, six-speed, in Chili Red/Black, so I would black-out all the chrome bits.
Whatever is left over from the initial 15k, I would spend on driving around finding good restaurants.
I love to eat.
But that's just me.

 

hegira - specifics, specifics!!!!! which pulley, etc. give us details!!!! what suspension would you put on the car. think of it as you're dropping it off with danny at minicorsa (or whatever local shop you'd use) or your own garage, so you're ordering the parts and in 2 weeks it'll be the beast you've dreamed about...

 

I'd do pretty much what I'm doing to my R56 (in supercharger terms though)...

"Engine" stuff
1. Alta 17% pulley
2. Alta catback exhaust
3. Alta SSK
4. Alta CAI

"Suspension" stuff
1. TSW springs
2. Alta rear sway bar
3. Fixed camber plates
4. Alta endlinks

I'd also do an R56 big brake upgrade (probably from the marketplace) and some Team Dynamics 1.2 rims with Yoko S-Drives.

It's really funny that you posted this, because I've been thinking about picking up a used R53 sometime in the next year, and I've actually already thought through the mods. (Yes, I know, I'm getting ahead of myself.)

 

Rmw exhaust
Rmw header
Rmw head
Rmw cam
Alta 17% pulley
Alta CAI
400 cc injectors
Bigger intercooler
Detroit Tuned Bypass valve
Big Brake Kit
Motegi Track lights, 17in
Non runflats
Rear seat Delete

Dechromed
Hsport springs and coilovers
Rear and Front Sway Bar
Fx200 Clutch, lightweight flywheel
Quaife Differential
Plugs and Wires
RMW TUNE

In real life i wouldnt invest that much money into my mini, id do some of those things, have done some, but if i had funding for it i might do it.

 

I have a pretty good setup on mine for both worlds:

Alta intake
15% pulley
Volt exhaust

HSport springs
Koni yellows
Alta PSRS
Alta rear sway bar
Ireland adjustable camber plates
Alta adjustable rear control arms
Ferodo brake pads

The most recent suspension improvements were the PSRS (replacing the bushings with over 100K miles), the swaybar and the camber plates. Thes parts made a HUGE improvement on the track! The car is completely neutral and you can steer with the throttle.

 

"Specifics, specifics".....
Sheesh!
As much as I like turning wrenches, I'd take Emily up to Turner Motorsports on the North Shore (north o' Boston), and tell them my needs (and wants!), and hand them a check.
I don't track, or race on the street anymore. What's left of my brain outgrew that. The car has rarely seen red-line, and only went over 100 mph once, just to see how she felt at that speed.
I bounce back and forth between selling and keeping her, so I've been reluctant to put money into her.

 

HID 05+ Retrofit
Carbon Fiber gas cap from AC
Black out Sidemarkers
Carbon Fiber door handles from AC
Black out Belt Line
1 set of Blizzaks Snow Tires on 16in. OEM Wheels
Retro fit R56 Brakes or JCW or BBK <Brembo>
Alta Cold Air Intake
M7 Front Strut Tower Brace
Escort Passport 8500 x50 Radar Detector
Pepper White Aero Kit with custom grills instead of stickers
H-Sport Rear 25 MM Sway Bar
Stealth Super Sprint Exhaust w/ Custom Tips
14LGS Spark Plugs
Kingsbourne/Nology Spark Plug Wires
Clutch Masters Fx2oo
Clutch Masters Aluminum Flywheel
Fog Light Vinyls for Aero Kit
Remote Control Auto Hide Front License Plate Holder
TSW V.3. Springs
Rear Carbon Fiber Strut Brace
Detroit Tuned Bypass Valve
TSW Torque Damper
Helix Short Shifter Kit
Volk Re30 17x7.5 in Copper
Dunlop Direzza Star Spec Z1 Tires
eBay Halo Turn Signals
HID Fog Lights
New leather shift boot and brake boot
Voltage Hood Scoop
M7 Front Carbon Fiber Splitter
M7 Rear MINI Challenge Replica Spoiler/Wing
Rear Seat Delete Kit
JCW Leather Dash Board + Down tubes with red stitching
JCW Alcantara Steering Wheel
VW 2010 GTI shift **** retro fit (LOL)
Roll Cage
White Needle light on all gauges
Blackout Trim rings on all gauges and etc.
Boost gauge, oil pressure gauge
Custom Radar Detector Mount
Kuda GPS mount
Hardwire all wires.
AEM Water/Meth Kit.
RMW Street Header
RMW Cam
RMW Tune
RMW Jesus 2.0 Head
RMW TVS Supercharger


Basically, my list but modified with no limit in funds in mind. I'm planning on racing a Jet. I'll add more when I can think of it.

 

I would just buy Jan's MINI GP 2.0 Stroker and add the euro-spec JCW Recaro seats in Alcantara, heck throw the whole JCW catolog at it and all in Alcantara too, also paint the black plastic trim Thunder Blue.

 

Interesting thread, but you guys are forgetting to put in the cost estimates for individual items and what about shop time?

Remember a $15K limit.

Details, details!!!

 

you don't necessarily have to put the costs/prices in, but the limit $15k should be in the back of one's mind as he/she is making the list - otherwise it just becomes a throw one of everything on the car. Altho, unless i'm way off base, i think $15k is a very generous amount for modifications to the MCS to take it from awesome to wickedly stupid awesome!

 

This is for a daily driver, right?

 

If it's a daily driver I sure wouldn't put 15k in it. Maybe a pulley, exhaust and some coilovers with sway bars. if you want to load it up it would be more than 15k. I would know look at my sig and that's about half of it.

 

yes, in that sense that a 911 turbo is a daily driver that provides very optimal performance (acceleration, handling, creature comfort, etc) and handles the track very well. our MCS's do an okay job with both without any modifications, but there's definitely room to make them better in both without sacrificing the ability to get in the car and drive it either down the street to the grocery store or on a 5 hr road trip.

 

Okay... and agreed. There is definitely room for improvement. But some of the mods getting listed are, IMO, not so realistic and/or necessary for a DD that won't be on the track. I think you could get away with less than $7k worth of aftermarket improvements and make it a spectacular daily driver.

 

from a realistic POV and for the best of both worlds WITHOUT necessarily needing to rob a bank...(which is my intended setup)

engine:

alta 15% pulley (i'm using M7 16%)
alta CAI (i'm using DDM)
RMW cam/headers (any of the two but both would be great!)
catback (any would do i guess)
tune (with or without JCW injectors)

suspension:

front strut bar (i'm using M7)
coilovers with camber plates (i'm using BC 8kg front 6kg back. dial in SOFT for street, dial in HARD for track)
rear sway bar (i'm using h&r 19mm)
rear lower control arms (i'm using HSport)
adjustable endlinks (optional. is this really crucial? i haven't the slightest idea. i don't have these)
powerflex bushings (if you don't mind the added NVH, still bearable if you ask me. i have the engine & tranny mounts in, planning to add the front control arm bushings & VIP engine stabilizer)

interior:

reclinable buckets (optional. might opt for Recaro SR series)
harness (if stock seats, get Schroth. if aftermarket seats, get a suitable harness but will need to add harness bar which means more money)
boost & oil pressure gauges

exterior

M7 front splitter (if you feel you need to have an Aero kit, having JUST a M7 splitter will cure your urge )
hood scoop (i'm using M7 extreme but wanna get M7 ram air or voltage scoop)
aero grill or black out OEM grill

brakes & wheels:

16" lightweight wheels
good tires with decent treadwear rating for regular/track (RE-01R, AD07 etc)
upgraded pads & brake lines (optional BBK)

 

I pretty much like my MINI as is, except for one thing.

For a car that costs as much as a MINI does, it has THE WORST sounding audio system I've ever heard. I have honestly heard $40 boom boxes that sound better than the MINI system.

I'd take a few hundred and completely change out the head unit and speakers.

 

All my stuff i said would be installed myself, so in parts and tools i think that i would be under 15k

 

I'd go to Dr. Fuh & co. route. Turbo for insane power, we know that this iron block Tritec can take the beating and let's face it, a turbo will smoke a supercharged car on the track. Why do all serious racers and enthusiasts & even OEM like Porche, BMW, Audi, Nissan, Mitsu, Subie, etc. are using Turbo? The computer technology & engineering we have today have made them more reliable and long lasting. This is just my opinion and no offense.

 

i'd have to agree with you, that $7k probably would do the trick to take the car up to the optimal level for DD only. the additional amount up to $15k is probably where the details that tweak it for track use and/or really heighten the creature comforts would come into play.

and regarding the stereo - i totally agree - it stinks. however, i think the acoustics in the car our terrible also, and so some of the $ would have to be invested in helping the new audio system actually sound better inside the car.

 

I'll bet 99% of the people on here cant get around a bend using the stock power they have,i'd suggest buyin a set of good tyres and go to driving school and give me the rest of the money, while ending up with an excellent DD car.

 

wow! you think so little of your MINI brethren

 

I think it sounds fine....then again, I rarely use the radio or anything. I much prefer listening to the supercharger. Music to my ears!

 

Im the greatest driver known to mankind Bajanmini, im your father, grandfather, and great grandfather when it comes to driving, I would suggest u give your car to a real driver, myself, and then get a tricycle, an appropriate source of transportation for a little girl like you.

burn

 

Judging from the "enthusiasts" that populate car forums I'd say you are close to correct.

E-Thug much?