Hey all, earlier this year I picked up my first mini, an 05. I absolutely love the car. It already had ant ATI crank pulley on it, I then put a 17% reduction pulley, cat back and cold air intake on it and the car pulls great. Well, a month later I got a really good deal on an 04. I've done the exact same mods to the 04 but the driving experience is nothing like the 05. I know the supercharger was improved in 05 but wondering if anyone new of any other major difference in the two years that may explain why the 05 pulls so much harder then the 04.

 

Gearbox ratio's were changed in 05 giving it better acceleration.

http://www.motoringfile.com/mini-r50r53-buyers-guide/

A revised supercharger (the same found in the JCW kit) ECU, exhaust, and shorter gearing made the 2005 Cooper S a noticeably quicker car than models that preceded it

 

Thanks thing, I thought I was going crazy. Both cars are great but I must admit I love the 05 more. Any future upgrades will be done on the 05.

 

Yes the facelift ratios really make a difference. Night and day, it's facelift or nothing for me.

 

Thanks for the comment. I'm debating on selling the 04 and picking up another 05 or the 06.

 

The supercharger makes no difference it is for sure from the gear ratio change which has it's advantages and disadvantages depending where you are running the car. I always want to switch gear boxes based on which track I'm running at as the big difference in mph in 3rd. But off the line the 05-06 always wins.

 

Thanks for the reply. Is it possible to swap an 05 gear box in an 04 or is more trouble then it's worth? I'm curious if I'd have to swap the ECU also.

 

the ECU is NOT swappable...
there is an extra sensor on the 2005+...so the wiring harness is different, as is the ecu...it is a newer revision.

 

Thanks Zippy for clearing that up. I think I'm going to sell the 04 and pick up an 06.

 

Does the 04 have the same wheels as the 05? With 16's, you will feel a better pull than with 17's

 

I'm not 100% but i'm pretty sure both my 04 and 05 have 16's.

 

16' rims were standard on both...but 15' could fit as long as the JCW BBK was not installed....
Many cars were optioned with heave 17' s-lites, aka s-heavies, some of the heaviest rims around...these can make steering feel heavy, and slow acceleration...
So yes, rims can make a bit of a difference in feel between the lightest and the heaviest.