Hey everyone, I'm new here so forgive me if I'm posting in a wrong section.

I just got my Mini a couple days ago. Bone stock 07 S.

I want to keep it as a daily driver, but I'd like to get some increase in performance. I am curious as to what my stock internals can take before getting risky, and I want to get the most I can out of it. I want to run on the turbo it has stock, not really trying to go big boost, I've heard 18psi is safe out of this turbo.

Some advice I've gotten was to just go intake, new exhaust and a BOV. I wouldn't even know where to begin, all I know is Mustang life to be honest.

I love this car, every last bit of it, I would just like to get some more out of it.

Any tips/tricks/advice would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks everyone!

 

I'd start with carbon cleaning, new plugs, new wires first. How many miles?
Everyone says to start with a rear sway bar.

 

Fortunately, I had the dealer throw all of those on brand new. & It has 56k and change on it.

 

these motors are direct injection and prone to build up of carbon. Sweet if the dealer did that for you. I'm collecting pieces to walnut blast mine. Going to start doing it every 20k or so.

 

Interesting, I think that may be why my check engine light is on then, there seems to be a little cough in it at the moment like there's some blockage. How is that done, the walnut blasting?

 

air compressor connected to hopper of ground walnut shells. Shop vac there to suck them up as it goes. There is a write up or 2 on the how to section.

 

Oh okay sounds simple enough, thank you! Would you have any advice on what I should do for power? Staying with the stock internals/turbo that is.

 

I'm still stock myself.

 

Oh alright same boat then. Definitely appreciate the walnut advice, I'm almost certain that's the reason for the check engine light.

 

If you just got it from a dealer a couple of days ago, I would suggest taking it back and have them solve whatever problem is causing the CEL.

 

I at the same point as StPete. '08 MCS, 56k.picked it up two days ago. I have just joined here, tons of info to sort through, so thanks to all who share their knowledge. I have yet to read the carbon removal thread, but past experience, I have used Seafoam is this a NO-NO with these cars?

 

yes, having a carbon cleaning will help you recover some of the lost power you might have.

What we did to our past Evolve Project Mini was:
Evolve De-Cat
Evolve-R Tune
Evolve Exhaust

and the car was perfect, if you have any questions about anything please let me know.

 

The three best mods IMO is:

-Tune: either a custom tune like RMW or the new Burger JB
-Intercooler, like, say, the Helix
-Rear Swaybar like the Hotchkiss Comp bar.

 

Evolve Auto, could you PM or E-mail the details of all of that you mentioned please?

Helix, the swaybar I fully understand getting now, forgive me because I'm not only new to Minis but to Turbos as well, why get a new intercooler? Also, would tuning this stock make much sense yet? Or get a few things done i.e. exhaust, intake, BOV, etc?

 

The intercooler gives you a more consistent, denser, cooler intake charge, which means more power (or more specifically, less power loss) than the stock cooler. You would get more power from tuning your car stock than intake, exhuast, BOV.

 

I see, makes sense. What kind of tune should I have done?

 

Your on the right track, you've already picked up that's the wrong order, tune is the last thing you do not the first !

 

Scubby, yeah see that made sense to me, if not I'd have to get it re-tuned after I did all of those mods anyhow. Is there a particular order in which I should take? I was thinking full exhaust first, then the intercooler/BOV additions. Obviously money will come into play lol but if anyone could give me a good order of objectives..

 

Order of hardwear is not that important but with exhaust if your changing the downpipe(which is the greatest restriction in your exhaust system) your going to get a Cel and a good tuner can get rid of that, so I guess you could leave that till last or just clear it with a code reader. As far as a blow off valve goes from what I've read that's not going to add any thing but noise and properly decrease performance. If you do want to upgrade it get a better recirculating valve which is what the car comes with. Good luck and I' m sure other people will step in and give you their experiences of different manufacturers products.

 

Thank you! I'm thinking of going with the Evolve downpipe, whatever exhaust from there I'll just have to look at each and see what sound I like best. I've decided against the BOV but going with the WMW replacement instead. Intake I have zero idea of what options I have there, same with intercooler, which I'm sure that'll run me a good 700+. I did happen to get ahold of a friend with a very reputable tuner in Orlando (90 min from me) who would tune and dyno the car for 500 flat. Just trying to price out and order my plan of attack here lol.

 

I just installed that...awesome cheap mod. Some say it's like sport mode is constantly on. Now I dunno about all that, but I could definitely feel the difference in 1st and 2nd gear: weird lag is gone.

You should also check out the NM engineering torque arm insert. Another cheap mod ($60) that's available from WMW's website. haha, I'm poor as hell so I'm all about the cheap mods :D

 

pm sent, really depends on what your plans are. We offer upgrades on tunes if you add new modifications. If you plan on doing all of the above I would then get the tune last

miss our project mini cooper, the sound of our de-cat, and exhaust is awesome, love how it rumbles

 

God that would be annoying.. But whatever floats your boat.

Here, my take.

Improve the driver!. Even a carboned up, dead suspension, badly abused MINI is probably able to write checks that your skill set can't cash. All adding any go fast mods before you upgrade the nut behind the wheel does, is ensure that you are going faster WHEN you crash. Not if...

I love the look on the face of the guy driving the Porsche GT2 when he got passed on the Nurburgring, by a Ford Transit Van, driven by a GIRL... (Sabine Schmidt, on Top Gear...) The better driver will probably beat you in a lesser car...


That said:

The MINI will NEVER, EVER, be a fast car. It will never be a Mustang, or Charger, (or name that fast car here). Give up now and work on the things it can do.

First, TIRES! The only things that holds you on the road. And they stop you too... Since the OP seems to live in Florida, and they rarely get below 40F, summer tires might be a good all year choice. All season tires don't do anything well, but again you live in Florida, so corners are really on ramps. So maybe it doesn't matter...

Rear antiroll bar. Pick one, really doesn't matter. Don't go too big.

Intercooler. Just about the first thing I added. Nope, doesn't make ANY power, but allows you to make all the power you have, pretty much all the time without heat soaking.

Then seat time. BMW CCA, Phil Wicks, Car Guys, Skip Barber, Roos... pick one... You will be faster in the same car...

 

What would be annoying?

( & Sabine Schmidt is one badass chick!)

I'm not arguing at all here, please don't take offense! I just disagree with the statement that the Mini will never ever be a fast car, any car can be a fast car, 70% of it is the driver but you can only do so much with what you have, right? I mean it's besides the point for me anyhow, I honestly would be A-OK hitting about 250 to the wheels, calling it a day and making it look gorgeous. I just want a nice, clean ride that I can get on it every so often and have fun. Not upgrading the turbo or anything crazy like that.

Fortunately for me, the car is incredibly clean, no dings, scratches or dents. The only thing negative is the carbon build up, it's pretty thick. But I do plan on getting an entirely new exhaust system so that problem would be eliminated there, it'll come back but a couple years away.

Now, the tires are brand new. So that upgrade is done, for now, FL sucks for tires.
I'd like to get an intake that would directly take air from my scoop, help cool it down a bit more cause she get's VERY hot. Intercooler is an absolute yes as far as something I'm getting asap. Intercooler, exhaust, downpipe, intake, wheels (because the alloys are terrible lol). Then I'm done for a little while..$$$.

 

Nope, you're wrong there. Not all cars can be fast. A Mini is not, and will never be a fast car. That isn't saying it's not quick and entertaining. But it will never be a sub 4 sec 0-60, or 11sec 1/4 mile car...

IMO, wanting 250 whp, is pretty silly, except for a track/race car. The thing would be a nightmare in 1st or 2nd gear around town. Yes, it would be fun for a while, but I don't think I'd want to live with it,....lol then again, I've got a supercharged M3, and an Italian sport bike, so maybe I'm jaded...