....what are your first upgrades? I already have new tires, tint and speakers. I'm not going to touch the suspension... Soooo a pulley intake and JCW exhaust? I would rather keep it very simple, because it still needs to be very reliable.

Where would/did you guys start? What were your first mods??

 

Most people I know with R53s do a 15 or 17% pulley and an exhaust system, as you were thinking. Those, and a custom chip tune, would do it for me. And maybe a thicker rear anti-sway bar. And shock tower reinforcements. Yeah, thats it.

 

Do NOT do a chip tune, get a custom dyno, RMW, Waymotorworks, 2 that i suggest... If you cant get a custom dyno tune with someone, RMW, Way, and a couple others do a custom remote tune. Can be found here- http://www.waymotorworks.com/wmw-rem...ng-module.html

15-17% pulley- http://www.waymotorworks.com/02-06-c...mance/pulleys/
Best bang for your buck. You will feel it

Air intake- i suggest DDMworks- http://www.waymotorworks.com/02-06-c...mance/intakes/
You will love the sound, makes the supercharger whine like a screamin old lady

Sway bar-makes a huge difference!- http://www.waymotorworks.com/02-06-c...ion/sway-bars/

If you just want to spend the rest of your money you can go with:

Exhaust- http://www.waymotorworks.com/02-06-c...mance/exhaust/
Look in here- https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...clips-etc.html


JCW fuel injectors- http://www.waymotorworks.com/jcw-380cc-injectors.html



Everything i listed above are considered "reliable". If you want to utilize your money and want just power. i would skip on the exhaust. Get yourself a camshaft with fuel injectors. Might be steering away from daily driver reliable tho. Ya know what, in my opinion just dont get the exhaust, save yourself money and put it in the bank. Or do the "One ball mod" like i did. Cost me $0.00, gained like 2-3 hp, made a nice deeper sound. Check out the exhaust reference thread i posted. Will show you price, weight, and gains. Getting 7-8 hp and spending 800+ $$$, I just cant do it.

Edited to note, You should get the pulley first and then drive it, you might not even want to do anything else.

 

Pulley, CAI.

 

I've had a cam in my car for over two years, daily driver, no problems. The cam will give you more HP and fun than the exhaust for potentially less money.

However, to the OP, if you really want an exhaust, I think the Miltek sounds fantastic without being overly loud!

 

Thanks for the responses! I had been wondering about the exhaust more than anything else. You're always really helpful Achilless. I appreciate all the responses, because I want to keep the mods simple, but gawd damn, do I enjoy driving this car. I love it so much and feel that the potential is barely tapped.

 

Start with the 15% pulley, and intake. Then drive it and decide.

 

At this point a brand new R53 is a new to me R53 that's likely out of warranty or darn near it at this point so that $1000 is going into the plan for repairs vehicle preservation fund. Depending upon the mileage and year, assuming no other mods have been done I'd be looking at the Thermostat, Supercharger oil condition, electrical system (battery, Alternator ground strap starter), Cooling system reservoir, Transmission fluid condition, clutch wear, Brake caliper condition and pad pressures, brake fluid, condition of current suspension system (bushings and shock conditions, even if not upgrading might be time for updating to really learn the car if you live where the roads aren't great)

 

The car seems pretty good. It's an 04 with only 47,000 miles on it. So I can't imagine that there is too much maintenance that it needs right now. You just never know though.

Thanks Motor On. Imma probably score a pulley and intake shortly. My next pay check is going to be lovely.

 

I have an 03 R53 with about 80k on it. I was lucky and took part in the Alta 50% off sale from 09 so I got their exhaust, pulley, intake, plugs, wires and the pulley puller for about 900. Had the exhaust, intake, wires and plugs on through some self installs and this past fall I had a local Euro shop put in the pulley, some poly engine bushings and a tune. The pulley was by far the most noticeable upgrade. Though, I'm running into issues with the performance of my tires keeping up with the car so I'm going to be upgrading to some Yokahamas this summer.

Pulley and intake are great, though. It will really make the S/C scream during hard acceleration!

 

For me 50-75k was all four corners of brakes, new serpentine belt (do this when you get the pulley if you do it within the next 5k miles, many threads with research on length change to avoid slipping issues) and thermostat housing; even if that's not leaking you're coming up on the right mileage for a coolant flush. Probably also a good time to check the spark plugs, wires and coil pack (which is known for our 1st gens to develop a corrosion issue from time to time on the OEM one). You're also looking at the point where you determine who's recommendation you're going to follow in terms of transmission and supercharger oil flush intervals. I also had a warranty covered oil pan, transmission, clutch and differential replacement done when the parts came off backorder at 55k, but that would be uncommon breakdown more than normal maintenance.