When I got my Mini I promised myself that I wouldn't do anything to it for a year. Well, that year is almost up and I'm ready to spend. I wanted to know NAMs input on the options I was thinking:

Option 1: Driving lamps
I would have got them when I ordered the car but coudn't pay the $700 price tag for them at the time. I really like the factory ones but the Alta Rally bar has caught my eye. Does anyone have the Alta rally bar? What are your thoughts on it? I do alot of my driving at night and driving lamps would help out alot on the twisties.

Option 2: JCW sound kit
Not coming out till april and I still don't know the cost on it. It would help the car breathe better when the revs are high and would add a sweet sound. The stock Mini sound just doesn't do it for me after driving a 325i with a well placed hole in the resonator for a year.

Option 3: Miltek exhaust and Moss Intake
Same reasons as the above, but would probably be a WHOLE lot cheaper. However, there would be no warranty on it.

Option 4: JCW suspension kit
I plan to autocross this year and I think this would be a useful mod. Mini still hasn't given the go ahead to the dealers to install them on the pre '05 cars yet, and when they do it would fetch over $1200 to have installed on my Cooper.

Comedy Option: Just get an S
Everyone says that I shoud have got on in the first place, but I wanted the packages over the supercharger and it was just getting too costly. Insurance was also going to kill me. My dealer was trying to make a deal with me, but it was an '02 and had 15k more miles than mine. If I got a new '05 MCS it would run me 25k to get exactly what I want I'm afraid that I would also got nuts with mods if I had one.

So, what does NAM think? What would you go with?

 

S

 

NAM doesn't think. But it's members do.

Option 1. Wait. If you autocross you don't want more lights. Weighs more and more to break.

Option 2. Wait. It's not out yet and would be costly. Let others try it and report what they have found.

Option 3.Miltek cat back exhaust for the MC is fine. Not too loud and doesn't interfere with stock class for autocross. A Moss intake adds only a little power if any although it does look nice. If you want to autocross try a drop in filter first like a green filter from piloracing.com or unifilter from Webbmotorsports.com which keeps you in stock class. A moss intake will bump you out of stock class.

Option 4: Wait. See what others think and read the reviews not the advertisements. If you autocross you will need to keep the suspension stock to run in stock class otherwise you move to STS or FSP classes depending on which tires you use. I'd keep the stock suspension.

For autocross you are much better off staying in stock class than moving to a more competitive class. The MC is really really good in H-stock class. Why spoil a good thing. If you want to upgrade get some good stick competition tires to put on stock 15x5.5" MINI rims, the 7 hole rims are the lightest option. Using your runflats would be very heavy.

Comedy Option?
A MCS would be very good. I think you would like it alot. But you'd have to sell your MC. Your choice. Keep the MCS stock and try that in autocross G-stock class before you do any modding. Drop in air filters and cat-back exhaust mods are allowed in stock classes.

Have fun.

 

Forget all that other stuff! The only thing you should do is replace the silly bee sting antenna with one for an S2000.

It'll help cut down on all the snide RC related comments like "where do the batteries go?"! :smile:

 

Forget all that other stuff! The only thing you should do is replace the silly bee sting antenna with one for an S2000.

It'll help cut down on all the snide RC related comments like "where do the batteries go?"! :smile:

I am surprised that a comment like this would bother anyone!

 

If your going to Autocross as stated than Minihune nailed it. If not a BMP intake and a upgraded rear sway bar and short shift kit will completely change the personality of your Mini. Won't cost much either. The driving lights make a huge difference also.

 

My vote:

What those guys said....get only the mods that keep you in Stock class. You'll lose your shirt trying to make a Cooper competitive in STS or SP classes.

I'd spend the money on a light weight set of wheels and R-compund tires. This is legal for stock class and great improvement in handling/grip.

 

NAH!!!!! Get some curb feelers and gold plated chain for a steering wheel, a la Cheech and Chong!!!!

 

dito on the S

 

i think hune nailed it on the head.. as usual!

id go with sticky tires over suspension in autocross... falken azensis sport are real popular and a friend who runs a cooper in stock class can run circles around the S guys with street performance summer tires, i'd do that wayyy ahead of ANY suspension mod; that excludes the sway bar of coze... if you drive a MC, you can pick up a stock S sway bar and throw it on and it'd make all the difference in autocross!

cooper, add a chip, dunno if it still complies with SCCA stock class rules though, i'd do the chip ahead of a CAI, and if i was driving a cooper i'd do a drop-in

 

The JCW kit for the Cooper is cat back, drop in airfilter (I don't think its a CAI), and a ecu remap. That would still be ok for autocross right? meaning it won't take me out of Hstock? I've already picked out some lightweight wheels and sticky tires if I do autocross.

If I get a sway bar will that bump me out of Hstock?

edit: I'm also going to get the B&M short throw when the release it for the 04 models next month.

 

remapping the ECU WOULD take you out of H-stock.

The sway bar will also disqualify you from H-stock.

You are basically stuck with the following options to stay stock:

Wheels (stock sizes only) and tires (R-compounds allowed)

Drop in air filter (or remove filter if you wish) with no modifications to the stock air box

Exhaust from the cat-back.

You can do a few other things like change plug wires, spark plugs, etc, but those won't really give you any advantage, but they will lighten the car for racing since your wallet will weigh letss