Well, I've finally done it. I'm part of the North American Motoring Team! I'm here to, of course, share any information I can regarding my Paceman and my experiences, but also because a number of people have managed to find my Instagram and I figure this may be easier for you to reach out.

Its a 2013 Paceman All4 S (R61), 6spd Manual, with the following modifications:

-M7 2" Lift Kit
-Falken Wildpeak 215/65R17 Tires
-Wheel Spacers 20mm F / 25mm R (If I remember correctly)
-Alta Intake w/alternate filter
-Oil Catch (ECS Tuning)
-Step Colder NGKs
-Milltek Catless Downpipe
-Self-constructed 2.5" exhaust with Flowmaster Super10
-Wagner Intercooler
-Vent-mounted Boost Guage kit (CravenSpeed)
-Short-throw Shifter (CravenSpeed)
-ManicMini Stage 2 ECU Tune
-JMTC 42s Turbo
-Clutch pedal bump stop (ECS Tuning)
-M7 Hitch (Stories to tell with this one)
-Snow Stage 2 water/methanol kit
-Titanium built/bullet proof transmission
-SPEC solid state aluminum flywheel
-SPEC stage 2 clutch kit

There's others to add to the list, but the one most ask about is the Skid Plate. I made it out of 1/8th aluminum and can provide dimensions if you're interested. It's a prototype "Dakar-Rally-Lookalike", but I think it's pretty rad for now. Among the rest are things like the intake pipe muffler delete, roof rack, a number of lights and lightbars, and more I'm probably not thinking of at the moment.

Anyways, happy to be a part of the team! And without further ado, here she is!

 

Awesome! Congrats.

 

awesome looking car! Been wanting to add a methanol to R60. How do you like the snow kit? Was it easy to install?

 

@2012_R60 The snow kit was pretty easy, and self explanatory for the most part. The installation pdf is easy to find online too. I don't think I used the instructions, but I did reference this YouTube video of someone installing it on an r56.


As for the performance, it's amazing! Well worth it. I generally see see boosted intake Temps between 55 and 65 degrees in weather as warm as 75 degrees, with engine Temps between 170 and 200 degrees. The hottest weather I've run in was 85 degrees and I was seeing boosted intake Temps around 68 degrees. You can absolutely feel the crispness of the decreased intake Temps.

 

Zac,
Were you able to figure out away to disable the back up sensors after you installed your hitch ?

 

I dont have backup sensors. However, if you're trying to disable them while you have something in tow, I would put a toggle switch into the power lead for them so you can simply switch them off as desired.

The worst part of the whole hitch operation was wiring up the trailer harness.

Also, just an FYI: after about 3000miles hauling just shy of 1200lbs, the grade 8 bolts for the hitch sheared off and dropped the trailer on the highway 😅 long distance travel? BRING SPARES.

 

Welcome to NAM, and congrats on your aptly named Paceman, an under-appreciated model IMHO. I have a Starlight Blue that I haven't done much to, (just an intake and Bilstein B6 shocks), but your Paceman definitely looks like it means business!

 

Appreciate the love! I agree that it's under appreciated. Been meaning to get a set of Bilstiens all around but just haven't pulled the trigger on it yet. Have a new noise clunking around and just can't pinpoint what it is yet..

 

If you're looking for anecdotal evidence, I love the B6s on my car, but it isn't lifted like yours and mine stays on road. You may want something more heavy duty.

 

I'd definitely like to beef up the suspension, but it's not an easy task to find something that retains factory height. Majority of what I've found lowers the car at least a little and can be adjusted lower.. Seeming more and more like custom is going to be the way I have to go, unless I simply go with swapping for a set of Bilsteins and ultimately retaining the height/ride I have now. Not big into the idea of air suspension, I've had my fair share of issues with them.

 

FWIW, the B6s retained the stock factory height.

 

I don't plan on towing anything , just hauling my bikes , but thanks for the heads up on the bolts

 

Nice car. I’m trying to do something similar with ours. I purchased the Journey lift kit (similar to M7), but I’d like to know more about installing it. Specifically, did you have to disassemble the struts, or simply lower them from the body and insert spacers?
Thanks,
John

 

I simply removed the strut assembly, added the spacer, and reinstalled the strut assembly. I did not disassemble the strut assembly/remove the spring.

Now, I say "simply", but it was a bit annoying. When you add 2 inches to the strut assembly, it doesn't want to go back in as easily as it came out. What worked for me was having a buddy stand on the control arm to drop it down really low while I placed the strut assembly back in.

Aside from my buddy standing on the control arm, I worked alone and it all said and done took just shy of 10 hours.

 

Sounds great! Thanks for the response.

 

Zac,
Do you run into any issues with the brake lines ? And if so how did you solve it ?

 

@wabiker3576 I did not, and have not had any issues with brake lines. There's enough slack down under there, and the rubber lines weren't affected enough to make a difference. I have a new suspension in the works and some in depth customizations to get it lifted a bit higher. When I get to the point of install, I'll probably make a write up for it.

 

Zac,

You've built my spirit animal. A tip of the hat to you sir. I'm starting with almost the same car in All4 6 speed manual in British racing green but mine is the JCW. I'm looking at the M7 2" or 2.5" Stage 4 lift kit as I won't be fabricating my own skid plate. This is my first Mini so I've got tons of questions but thanks in advance for any help.

1. I don't even recognize half of the upgrades you've made so do any stand out as totally necessary especially with the lift? I've seen the oil catch can listed a few times on this forum.
2. Did you have to remove the front fender because of wheel rubbing or was it just for that skid plate?
3. Was that the largest roof rack you could make work? I've been rubbing my temples trying to figure out a flush mounted rack on the downward sloping roof. How did you attach yours?
4. How's the highway road noise with those falkens?
5. Whats the reasoning behind 20mm spacers in the front compared to 25mm in the rear?

 

Well, I know this is a bit late 🙄😅 did you get a lift kit ordered/installed??
Out of order, but here goes!
4. The Falken tires are actually wicked quiet!
5. The difference in spacers was strictly for my own aesthetic appeal.
6. With the two inch lift kit, and I'll bet the 2.5 kit as well, you won't rub anywhere unless you buy tires that are greater than 28" in diameter.
3. I didn't want a large one. I remember measuring the roof itself, and then scouring the interwebs to find one that was relatively close to the dimensions I pulled from the roof. I used Rivnuts/Rivnut Tool to set 8 threaded inserts into the roof, then bolted on my 4 homemade mounts that would support the rack itself. Pull your headliner, and find where the sheet metal is reinforced. Otherwise, any heavy weight will dent your roof!
2. No rubby, just the cut the bumper for the skid plate.
1. THE ONLY THING I would be concerned with if you life higher than 3 inches are the front axle angles. Your axle joints are going to drop at a sharper angle if you don't custom fab up some longer control arms and fit in some longer axles.

 

Did you ever share this on social or IG? I would like to send this to my social team!

 

I have an instagram and it shows up on there a few times, but I have way more pictures I could upload. Back when WheelWell was a thing, I had a lot more pictures/content on there. I'm not always the best about posting pictures on the gram 😅

Instagram: r61_xs750

 

Thanks no problem , don't see that account, was going to share it with our social team.

 

Try this:
https://instagram.com/r61_xs750?igshid=YTQwZjQ0NmI0OA==

 

Thanks, that works.