When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Hi everyone! I have a 2002 MCS with 78,000 miles on it. The car was owned by a dentist, and then an older woman, and the mileage/condition reflects this. I’ve had the car for about a year now, and I have just been fixing little issues with the car. Most things are slight cosmetic issues, but I’m often finding myself replacing rubber bits and wear items, as any 20 year old car would require. Generally speaking, the car is VERY clean. It was completely stock when I got it, and since getting it, the only “mods” I’ve done is change out the tired disintegrating shift **** for a weighted & paint matched one, and I’ve swapped out my condensation filled tail lights for a set of Helix Union Jacks. I have a set of JCW calipers that I’ve pulled out of a junkyard and powder coated blue to match my lapis blue interior. These will be installed on the car soon along with corresponding Brembo rotors/pads and a set of braided lines made by the folks over at Ireland Engineering. Over the summer, I plan to refresh my suspension with a set of Koni struts and some lowering springs (only lowering about 3/4 of an inch). I’ll pair these with some sway bars… don’t know what brand yet (recommendations welcomed). Although it’s not what I’d normally do next, I plan on refreshing the interior. I’m going to run Sparco R100 seats in blue, a rear seat delete panel (with accommodations for a half cage for the future), a sparco L777 wheel, and a set of 3D printed custom door pulls that I’m drawing up. Lastly, I hope to pick up a set of MINI R90 wheels for the car (if anyone in a 100 mile radius of Buffalo NY is selling a set, lmk). After this, the car will likely be stored again for another dreadful NY winter. After it’s taken out of storage, I will likely pull the engine/transmission, and replace all of the seals, the clutch, and service the supercharger. While the engine is out, I will hopefully install some “go fast” bits. My goal is to make 210hp. Hopefully this is a modest goal, and something that can be done without significantly compromising reliability. How I will do this, I’m not sure. Obviously, I’ll be running some bolt-ons. I’ll likely run a %15 pulley, an aftermarket intercooler, performance intake, performance ignition coils (idk if these do anything but they’re usually painted red which adds hp), 380cc injectors, aluminum expansion tank, I will either purchase an aftermarket exhaust or fabricate something better myself, and I’ll likely install the M7 manifold heat shield as the engine bay is already effectively an oven. I know people say that bolt ons don’t make any power without a tune, and I agree with this to an extent. Will my described setup compromise reliability significantly? Will I need to run a tune to make around 210hp with these mods? If so, can I have my ecu remapped to a JCW tune, or an off the shelf tune that’ll give me my desired numbers? Any input on anything I said is greatly appreciated (as long as you’re not too mean). Thank You!
Some pics of my MINI which I have named “Vesper” (after a Bond girl)… cuZ shE’s CLasSy
Why a clutch if it's lived a sheltered life? As long as it wasn't thrashed, clutches can live a good long time. Mine's got 112k+ on original clutch and absolutely no signs or symptoms.
Why a clutch if it's lived a sheltered life? As long as it wasn't thrashed, clutches can live a good long time. Mine's got 112k+ on original clutch and absolutely no signs or symptoms.
Lol why’d I pull the engine to replace all of the decaying 20 year old bmw gaskets, install some go fast parts, and then proceed to not do the clutch? Seems kinda counterproductive considering I’ll just end up having to do it shortly down the line.
Hi everyone! I have a 2002 MCS with 78,000 miles on it. The car was owned by a dentist, and then an older woman, and the mileage/condition reflects this. I’ve had the car for about a year now, and I have just been fixing little issues with the car. Most things are slight cosmetic issues, but I’m often finding myself replacing rubber bits and wear items, as any 20 year old car would require. Generally speaking, the car is VERY clean. It was completely stock when I got it, and since getting it, the only “mods” I’ve done is change out the tired disintegrating shift **** for a weighted & paint matched one, and I’ve swapped out my condensation filled tail lights for a set of Helix Union Jacks. I have a set of JCW calipers that I’ve pulled out of a junkyard and powder coated blue to match my lapis blue interior. These will be installed on the car soon along with corresponding Brembo rotors/pads and a set of braided lines made by the folks over at Ireland Engineering. Over the summer, I plan to refresh my suspension with a set of Koni struts and some lowering springs (only lowering about 3/4 of an inch). I’ll pair these with some sway bars… don’t know what brand yet (recommendations welcomed). Although it’s not what I’d normally do next, I plan on refreshing the interior. I’m going to run Sparco R100 seats in blue, a rear seat delete panel (with accommodations for a half cage for the future), a sparco L777 wheel, and a set of 3D printed custom door pulls that I’m drawing up. Lastly, I hope to pick up a set of MINI R90 wheels for the car (if anyone in a 100 mile radius of Buffalo NY is selling a set, lmk). After this, the car will likely be stored again for another dreadful NY winter. After it’s taken out of storage, I will likely pull the engine/transmission, and replace all of the seals, the clutch, and service the supercharger. While the engine is out, I will hopefully install some “go fast” bits. My goal is to make 210hp. Hopefully this is a modest goal, and something that can be done without significantly compromising reliability. How I will do this, I’m not sure. Obviously, I’ll be running some bolt-ons. I’ll likely run a %15 pulley, an aftermarket intercooler, performance intake, performance ignition coils (idk if these do anything but they’re usually painted red which adds hp), 380cc injectors, aluminum expansion tank, I will either purchase an aftermarket exhaust or fabricate something better myself, and I’ll likely install the M7 manifold heat shield as the engine bay is already effectively an oven. I know people say that bolt ons don’t make any power without a tune, and I agree with this to an extent. Will my described setup compromise reliability significantly? Will I need to run a tune to make around 210hp with these mods? If so, can I have my ecu remapped to a JCW tune, or an off the shelf tune that’ll give me my desired numbers? Any input on anything I said is greatly appreciated (as long as you’re not too mean). Thank You!
Some pics of my MINI which I have named “Vesper” (after a Bond girl)… cuZ shE’s CLasSy
Pulley, injectors, intake and a tune from WMW and you should be pretty close to 210.
Just check out my build page for any any all info that you could possibly need!
Nice ride. I actually have the same car that is getting a makeover. I've owned for 10 years and bought it with 36,000 miles on it. I believe it is now at about 107K currently. Similar mods being done to mine. Easy to spend money on these. As soon as I think I have everything I need, I find something else I want to change.
15% reduction pulley
Cravenspeed CAI
MSD coil pack
Taylor Wires
Raceland Coilovers
Cravenspeed shift ****
Blackout trim pieces
Sparco R100 seats in black
Front upper strut mount
Rear swaybar TBD
Sparco 17" wheels currently but looking to change. TBD
Exhaust TBD
Well, hell - if you have the engine out, by that logic, why not just rebuild the whole thing? New pistons, rods - why not - engine will be out.
You can get to nearly everything that you will need to by pulling off the top end and putting the car into front end service mode. No need to pull the engine - especially one that's lead a sheltered life with super low miles.
Don't mean to come across harsh, but you asked for advice. My advice - don't do work that isn't necessary. In front end service mode you can get all of the seals that might leak.
With the head off, it will give you the ability to do the chain and guides if you wish, and it will give you the clearance you need to fish a header in there so that when you put the head back on you can bolt it to the backside relatively easily. Also, easier to get to the oil filter housing with the head off. But all of this can be done quite easily with the car in FESM.
Again, assuming your clutch isn't thrashed, you should have 50K+ miles left in that thing.
EDIT - also, one thing I wish I did last time I was deep in there - someone makes an aluminum thermostat housing. Do a new thermostat for sure.
Nice ride. I actually have the same car that is getting a makeover. I've owned for 10 years and bought it with 36,000 miles on it. I believe it is now at about 107K currently. Similar mods being done to mine. Easy to spend money on these. As soon as I think I have everything I need, I find something else I want to change.
15% reduction pulley
Cravenspeed CAI
MSD coil pack
Taylor Wires
Raceland Coilovers
Cravenspeed shift ****
Blackout trim pieces
Sparco R100 seats in black
Front upper strut mount
Rear swaybar TBD
Sparco 17" wheels currently but looking to change. TBD
Exhaust TBD
That’s a pretty nice grocery list… how do you like the R100’s?
Don't mean to come across harsh, but you asked for advice. My advice - don't do work that isn't necessary. In front end service mode you can get all of the seals that might leak.
With the head off, it will give you the ability to do the chain and guides if you wish, and it will give you the clearance you need to fish a header in there so that when you put the head back on you can bolt it to the backside relatively easily. Also, easier to get to the oil filter housing with the head off. But all of this can be done quite easily with the car in FESM.
Again, assuming your clutch isn't thrashed, you should have 50K+ miles left in that thing.
EDIT - also, one thing I wish I did last time I was deep in there - someone makes an aluminum thermostat housing. Do a new thermostat for sure.
That definitely makes sense… the OCD side of me wants to just pull the engine but I’m sure it’s not completely necessary
I really like them at this point. Have not driven the car though as it is still in the build status. If you get them, hit me up as I can let you know the process to mount them.
I just got my engine and transmission back in the car this afternoon.
Why was it out you ask? One of the 3 plastic coolant tees broke on me while driving one evening resulting in a warped head. I've got a whole thread on it so I won't go into detail here.
That leads to my recommendation: replace all the coolant hoses and those plastic tees on your 20 year old Mini.
I would not have thought those short cooling hoses would be prone to splitting open but my first overheat event was about 5 years ago when that small hose from the water pump to the coolant pipe split open on me while driving. I caught that one soon enough to save the engine.
