Hey Guys,

New guy here and was considering a 09 or so Cooper S. Is that a decent year to get? I figured it's been out awhile so I wouldn't have too many problems with it if I got an 09.

Also, I use to have a 335i and if I googled 335i tune 100,000 things would come up. When I search 09 Cooper S tune, there isn't really much...Is there a decent tune you can get for these cars for $500 or so?? For $200 you can get a tune for the 335i and get around 40 hp.. I figured this being a turbo, there would be a million options out there?
Thanks in advance!

jay

 

Welcome to the forums.

You should try looking in the Modification section of this great forum where you'll find the answers to your questions.

2nd Generation > Modifications > Drivetrain (Cooper S)

 

Welcome! +1 to SystemLord's, but in regards to your specific amount question there are 2 with options at the $500 mark (Evolve & NM Engineering) and one a little over (BattleTune). Mostly for Stage 1 or Stage 2. There are other options, and going to Stage 3-4 generally pops the price up a bit more for most of them.

 

Jayely1

I have an '09 Cooper S with 104,000 miles on it. The car still looks, and drives very nicely. It's "bone stock", but fully loaded, so I can't contribute much in the "mod's" department. (JM Turbo Coopers come to mind specifically for turbo changes.)
There are some stock issue that need to be addressed, if they haven't already, on the R56, N16 engine;
-Timing tensioner. The bolt would loosen up, puke oil on the passenger side of the engine compartment and ground and damage the engine.
-HPFP. The High Pressure Fuel Pump was plagued with failure issues and is currently under warranty for 120K miles.
- Water pump connector issue. The connector would overheat and start to burn. Some cars were actually burned up due to this issue.
- Turbo heat shield and oil line. The heat from the turbo was causing various issues and the fix was a "heat shield" to isolate the turbo.
- The Automatic Transmissions have a problem set all their own. Mine is a manual, so I can't really articulate the issue(s)
- I've read about a generic timing chain issue, but as of yet have not gotten the facts as to whether there is a wide spread recall notice on the timing chain, or it is a problem specific issue that is replaced under warranty once it is encountered.
- The direct injection design leads to fouling of the valves, which needs to be cleaned with a walnut blasting method. Additionally some folks have incorporated an oil catch can, or rerouted the PCV hose to mitigate the issue. I haven't personally encountered the issue, but I'm certain it's evidenced on my '09, and will have it addressed here shortly. I do a lot of highway driving, and sometimes I'm not exactly going the speed limit. (I tend to open it up when the opportunity presents.) Maybe this scenario tends to "blow" the crap out a little bit more than stop and go driving. Who knows??

These are the issues I know of, others may contribute more.

I Just bought a 2013 JCW, R56, N18 engine, and I'll tell that the difference is night and day between the two vehicles in regards to "stock, out of the box", performance. I still have my '09 S, and alternate cars, and the "feel difference" is very marked. The clutch is very different between the two vehicles.

One thing I learned from the JCW was that I really like the brakes on it. I always thought that the folks that were upgrading the stock Cooper S brakes to JCW's were sort of "gilding the lily" and wasting $$$$. Boy was I completely wrong!! I'll be looking for a JCW brake kit for my '09, that's for certain.
You may want to consider a JCW from the same timeframe.

 

+1 on the clutch - just went from an '07 MCS to a '13 MCS and the difference in the clutch sill has me astounded after a week of driving it. Transmission is different as well - this car shifts much more lightly and smoothly. Ride is different but not to the same extent. Maybe I am being foolish in saying this, but I swear the '13 is quicker than the '07

 

Mini-RI

I live in Eastern Ct , and bought the car in Ramsey NJ.
We went out to pick it up in the '09 S. My wife drove the '13 JCW back, and I drove the '09 S.
No way I could keep up. She'd open up a gap quick as could be, and neither of us are what could be termed "easy on the pedal". She was just rolling on the turbo, no downshifting and punching it. It's definitely quicker than our '09 S.

The clutch caught me by surprise. I actually took it to Inskip just to make sure that was normal, and there wasn't something off with it.

 

Thanks for the info guys! i figure if I spend over $20,000 I need to get back in a 335i or maybe a 135i. If i stay over $15,000 i'll get a couple years old MINI.

With a stage 1/2 battletune or stage 1/2 NM Engineering, what will the results be in comparison to the newer MINI JCW? Anyone knoe the 1/4 times with those tunes? Thanks again guys!

 

Also, what is the best tune that doesn't require any other modification others than just the ECU itself, under $700 range.

 

Jan at RMW. http://www.revolutionmotorworks.com/

Worth every penny and within your budget.

 

Awesome thanks, that has to be the worst website i've seen though. LOL
What does that $500 get you? Do they have a dyno, or any info at all on the tune itself??

 

Thanks for the link. I keep meaning to Google it since I've seen it mentioned before but always forget. :p Adding it to the spreadsheet.

 

Little off subject but If I was to get a 2012 jcw can I still tune it with the JB+??

 

IIRC there is a build date split. Early '12 JCW still had N14 engines, which means no, you cannot use the JB+. Later JCW engines were N18 engines which means yes, you can use it.

 

Thanks again, you guys are helpful here!

Test drove a 2012 for the first time, WOW...Way more fun than my current G35..
Couple question, do they not have 1 touch auto up/down? I couldn't get it to work if it does.
Also, with the 6 speed, I'm praying you can turn off traction control somehow? I couldn't figure that one out either. And last but not least, no armrest?? That's an option?! How do you guys not ever rest your right arm!?

 

Yes, there is 1 touch up/down. In my MINI, hold down DSC for around 10secs and it disables traction control.

No armrest? Doesn't belong in the MINI. Gets in the way with comfort of holding shift **** and hand brake. I hate the armrest, it's a joke.

 

BTW, I came from an E92 335i, so I know the world you're coming from.

 

How do you work the 1 touch for the window? I just held it for a second of 2 with force like my BMW was and it didn't work, figured they would be similar?

I usually don't hold my shift **** or ebrake, only for 1/2 sec to shift gear or to park. Are you saying ergonomically it's bad?

 

So you made the move to a E92 to a Cooper S? I might be doing the same, just a car in-between..What made you make that move?

 

Big fat lemon. 3 HPFP failures within 6k miles of each other.

Probably have to activate the 1 touch feature on that specific MINI. I hold my shift **** sometimes, and then hold the steering wheel. Having the armrest doesn't feel right for me. Made the right arm feel higher than the left.

 

Somehow I made it 22,000 miles with no fuel pump problems. I loved that car though!!
SO, worst case, can you add a armrest? Or will it not fit properly if It's a model without one?

 

Take a look at ecstuning.com. They have good prices on stock items. Arm rest can be added

 

Thanks for the info!!

 

Armrest is rather flimsy though, so don't put too much weight leaning onto it getting into the MINI, it felt fragile.

 

And ugly....

But to each his own

 

3 HPFP's, how can you strikeout 3 times? I'm still on my first, did you get the failures with the upgraded part? Mini has since got rid of the original manufacture and some 2013 MCS's have a completely new design. It looks golden and somewhat mushroom shaped.