So I got my MINI in late September and have been loving the hell out of it. My birthday is November 25 and Christmas is, of course, just a month after. Eventually I want to mod my MINI, but I'd like to enjoy it stock for a while longer, and I also would like to have it stock when I first autocross it, which may not be till some time in 2005.

There's not a whole lot I want for my birthday or Christmas which is why I'm posting. I'm trying to come up with good ideas for the MINI, either things I can do now (like short shifter, etc) that won't affect autocross, or things I can keep till later (like new suspension), and do some time in the future, but then I'm not entirely sure I'll end up modding the car, so it would suck to have parts and kinda not be interested in putting them on! Also, mods like the short shifter are frustrating because I would love to have it, but at the same time it involves taking the exhaust off and I have that sort of mentality of 'well, if you're taking it off anyway...' when it comes to modifying.

Can you folks suggest some good mods for the MINI that, given my situation, might be good for my birthday or Christmas? Also, if you suggest something, let me know who the different manufacturers in the market are and why I should choose one over another.

Thanks!

-mike

 

Depends what you're into. Performance mods or cosmetic mods. Interior or exterior. And what are the regulations governing all of that in order to still compete stock, in auto-Xing.
Cheers,

 

Definitely interesting in 95% performance mods. I have no issues with the looks of the car, and I'd rather have go over show any day of the week. As for autocross, actually, I would probably be doing it through the Golden Gate Chapter of the BMWCCA, and apparently, they don't really have any mod restrictions, it's not that competitive. Which is a plus. Still, I'd also like to have the car stock so (1) I get a feel for the car stock on an autocross and (2) I don't look like the idiot who droped thousands on modding his car before he could even drive it well.

-mike

 

The best performace mod for the money has got to be a rear sway bar. It transforms the car.

I'm with you on learning the stock car before going nuts with the mods, but having done the RSB, I'd recommend doing it asap.

After the RSB, if you want a mostly stock car, I'd replace the S-lites/runflats with a lighter setup. You could do a pulley, but that will probably do you more harm than good in autox until you're comfortable driving the car stock.

I just put a Helix SS in our car, and it's not that great. If you go that route, get one that replaces the entire lever. BTW, you dont have to drop the entire exhaust, just disconnect at the header and lower the center mount bracket.

 

Hey early_apex, you forgot to mention a 15% pulley-super bang for the buck

-Paul

 

My suggestion along with early_apex there, is with the wheels. Those S-Lites and runflats are heavy. Around 50lbs each or something like that. They make the car a slug off the line and through the gears. Anywhere you can lighten a car, is for the wayyy better. But that would go against keeping the stock feel of the car. I'd go for lightening and tightening the car first if you want a good autoX experience. But I'd start with tires and wheels for sure.
Cheers,

 

I agree, but it's not for someone who wants to stay mostly stock for now.

 

good point, but it is small and easy to put on later, provided that you have acess to the tool

-Paul

 

Another simple mod that is nice and doesn't deviate far from stock is a shift ****. UUC and Whalen are the most popular.

 

Depends if you're dead-set on keeping your warranty in-tact. If so, then JCW willl be introducing some more goodies to the US market soon (albeit very expensive, as per usual), including a big brake kit, suspension components and some more cosmetic stuff too. http://www.mini.com/com/en/john_coop...ge/content.jsp

 

aww, just get going on the mods. H-sport springs and rear swaybar. better tires and lighter wheels.

 

Thanks for the responses, folks. I am not particularly concerned about warranty, and wouldn't spend the money for JCW. If I were gonna spend $5-$6k, I'd do it with a company like MINI Mania and go all the way. And indeed this may be in the future, but not for a while as I'm finding I want to take it slow with this car.

The rear swaybar sounds like a good call... Is there any consensus as to whose is the best? And that doesn't sound too bad about the short-shifter, I was under the impression you had to drop the whole exhaust. Again, any thoughts about which is best? Alta?

My plan, whatever I do, is certainly to deal with 'lightening and tightening' as MINI-MadMan put it before increasing power.

I guess what I really need to figure out is how this will affect me autocross-wise. GGC-BMW-CCA doesn't have any good info on their site about their autocross regulations, so I need to ask someone who works with them about what the classes, etc., are like at these. As I understand, BMWCCA auto-x's in general are fairly lax about stuff like that, since it's not meant to be intensely competitive.

-mike

 

I agree with MINI-Madman. There's an adage in cycling that an ounce saved in the wheels is equal to four ounces saved in the bike. I don't see why it shouldn't apply to cars as well. So if you can save 100 lbs. (definitely do-able!) off your wheels and tires, it's about the same as saving 400 lbs. off the car!

He's right - the S-Lites and run-flats are about 50 lbs. per corner. There are 15" wheels available that are in the 12-14 lb. range, and lightweight sports tires in about the same weights. Note, though, that if you're concerned about staying in G-Stock, 15" wheels aren't available on the S, so you'll have to go to 16s. But there are many 16s available that are still a lot lighter than the 18" S-Lites. And if you go to a smaller diameter wheel and low-profile tire combo, you've essentially given yourself a lower gear ratio - quicker starts off the line!

Of course, if you do that, your speedo won't be correct any more. Or you could just go to lighter wheels and tires of the same diameter and not worry about having your speedo re-calibrated.

I should insert a disclaimer here: I haven't done any of this. My MCS is in the middle of the Atlantic as I write this!

Good luck. Have fun buying you car lots of nice presents!

 

mlebeau,
If you want to autocross then you "must" talk to another experienced MCS owner already participating in GGC-BMW-CCA events. I can tell you that at SCCA solo II autocross events we run classes "by the book". You must comply with all rules. So consider your mods may indeed affect which class you are eligible for. If it is true that it is not that strict then great.

Normally an adjustable rear swaybar would push you out of any stock class for the MCS. You'd be in Street Prepared or Street Touring. Knowing the rules will help to figure out what happens in your case and for BMW CCA.
It is a good mod and relatively cheap about $200. More for lighter bars like the H-sport comp which is lighter in weight but still works like the other 22mm bars. Madness, Rspeed, Alta, and RDR all make rear bars. I think the new Rspeed is worth a hard look. Most have three adjustment holes and vary some in color.

You next best mod are lightweight rims and non runflat tires. You can wear out your runflats ASAP or find another use for them or sell them to a cooper owner that might like the 17" wheels. The S-lyte rim alone is 25.1 pounds and each tire/rim combo is 48 pounds. A small 15" competition rim is going to be about 9 to 10 pounds and the tire another 20 so the best you can do is about 30 pounds per wheel. This is a net savings of 18x4 = 72 pounds which is very significant. Light rims are going to cost more and won't look as nice as those 17" but larger rims do weigh more (about 13 to 14 pounds each) and cost more. Tires for 17" rims also weigh and cost more but can be wide and lower profile. For you the wheel upgrade option is a fairly good one.

In autocross there are definitely rules about which rims and tires are allowable so ask what are the rules. Stock classes are supposed to run stock sized rims with wheel offsets close to stock range. There are rules on tires as well.

A short shifter is nice but stock classes might not allow them- check first. Alta SS kit is best for the adjustability but expensive. The shift **** upgrade is a good one- Whalen is worth a look especially if you want a custom engraving done- very cool and works great.

Autocross will allow for any cat-back exhaust and drop in air filter for stock classes. You'd have to decide if you wanted to alter the exhaust note. If you picked a single sided exhaust- Dinan, Alta, Quicksilver, NRP then you'd loose about 20 pounds and gain a little power and in some cases some noise. Or you can alter your stock exhaust and one ball it- remove the right side muffler and attach an elbow connecting the mid pipe with the left muffler. That's cheap and looses weight but doesn't add that much for performance or noise. If you can find a JCW exhaust for sale that would be nice.

Window tinting is nice and functional. Racing stripes are good. Front Bra is helpful as are mudguards, tail light mod, auto raising windows, aux input for the radio, deluxe floor mats.

If you really like autocross then GR-locks for the seatbelts are helpful and cheap or go extra and look at a Schroth harness ($225).

 

Thanks for the responses guys, extremely helpful as always. I'm well aware of the benefit to be had from new wheels/tires and I do plan on doing it... However I'm not sure I'm ready to do it yet. I'm still enjoying the car so much as it is that I don't want to mod anything serious until I feel that 'itch' we all know so well.

I spoke with a member of the GGC BMWCCA and he has told me a little about their system - it's a points system where the stock car has a certain number of points and there's a very detailed system of adding points to a car based on its mods. However I don't have specific info about the MINI yet. But in any event it sounds like the mods are taken into account much more seriously than I had thought (this is different from the Windy City BMWCCA which a friend of mine has participated in). Sadly, there won't be any more BMWCCA autocrosses this year, which is kind of silly in California.

I wonder if there's some other group I could autocross with around here? Anyone know what's available in Northern California?

-mike

 

The folks at NorCal MINIs might be able to help. Contact them here.

 

Good point, I'm even a member.

-mike