We've been having some issues finding parts for this latest generation of mini.


I'm not 100 percent sure my choice of wheels will work. Assuming the info in the FAQ also applies to the r56, we'll be going with Rota Slipstreams at 16x6.5 +45 with Kumho Ecsta V710s in size 215/40ZR16. There seems to be conflicting reports of whether the slipstreams will fit the 14mm studs on the r56. If they do, well great! If not, then its back to the drawing board.

After that things get even more hazy.

According to Koni's website both yellows and FSDs are not made for the latest Cooper. I have found a website selling yellows that claim they fit on the r56 standard Cooper but I want to trust Koni's site. Do the yellows for r50s fit r56s? Has anyone made them work? What other options are there? I'm sure we can get something done custom but we really don't have the $$ for that in the budget.

These two things are kind of the bare minimum for us but if we could find something that worked we'd be happy for now.

Beyond that I'm having issues with finding an exhaust. I see that remus and supersprint make units that work for the latest generation. The only remus model that seems to fit FOR SURE is the dual muffler unit which is not what I am looking for(also requires some bumper work). The supersprint unit seems fine though I haven't heard much about them. I see someone in the mods forum for r56 coopers says they just got a megan unit installed but I can't seem to find one on sale anywhere. Milltek's site lists a unit for 2006+ but I can't find a vendor with one in stock either. I've been looking for the past couple of hours but I've been known to miss things sitting infront of my face. Anyone have experience with the supersprint or anything else for that matter? I know as a last resort we could have an exhaust shop bend/fab one for us, but I'd like to stay with proven manufactured units.

I think i want to try the stock front bar out first before replacing it but it seems going to a smaller diameter is best. Who even makes a smaller bar(r56 or otherwise)? Alta seems to be the big player in sway bars but they only seem to have thicker units.

I appreciate any help you can give. I hope I can find some answers before our Mini gets across the ocean. Also please forgive anything I've overlooked. I've been researching over the last week and a half but I just have this awful and uncanny ability to miss the obvious(as mentioned earlier). I've called Helix multiple times and they haven't called me back so I assume they are having as much trouble as I am(which hopefully indicates I haven't missed anything).

 

I've got 14->12mm conversion bolts so we can run any wheel (and so changing them is quicker).

For coilovers, I went with the JIC/Cross with custom spring rates, but there are certainly cheaper options out there They come with adjustable camber plates. Are those allowed in H stock?

Check with Way at waymotorworks about the exhaust. I've got his R56 S version, and he may have an MC version.

 

+1 on the 14-12mm conversion studs, and they're class-legal, even in Stock. I also love them because it makes it so much easier to switch back and forth between my autocross wheels and my road wheels.

 

that sounds like an STS setup, as H stock will not permit camber plates or coil overs as far as I know...

stock classes permit front roll bar (NOT rear), shocks, and that's about it.

wheels must be of the same width and diameter as OEM with an offset +/- .25" from OEM

lug nuts may be changed, so the 14 vs 12 mm change is OK

for shocks, the fully extended length of any replacement must be +/- 1" from the OEM part

try Chapter 13 of the SCCA Solo II rulebook, available on SCCA.com as there are ten subsections detailing the specific allowances

are you running regionally? or do you intend National Tour?

had a peek over here? http://sccaforums.com/forums/265698/ShowThread.aspx ?

 

Ok I'll add a stud conversion to the list.

I don't like asking for hand holding but I'm not sure if I can find a proper shock with just knowing the technical allowances in the rule book. I don't even know where to begin with a task like that. Is there anything the newer minis are running besides the Sport Package or really expensive custom setups? The reason I'm so obsessed with the Koni setups is the price to competitiveness ratio.

For the moment we will only be running regionally. The logistics around running national events are a little beyond what we want to do during our first season. It is definitely on the table if things go well and the car may be moved to the mainland US in the middle of next year which would make things a bit easier. That being said, I'd like to be as competitive as possible(within reason) and I'd like to make a podium run for PAX standings here locally(hopefully locals reading this don't think my goals are too lofty). I'm current defending H-stock champion in points/runoffs and have a win this season for the event I attended(missed the first).

The purchasing of this car coincides with a large marketing push about to be made by the company I work for. A lot of the company image revloves around our cars (Minis obviously) so participating in motorsports where the Mini is competitive was a logical step. This is like dipping our toe in the motorsport water. If things don't work out, we'll just have another Mini for our fleet.

 

i'd recommend that you do some further research on sccaforums.com. there are several fast folks running h stock there. the 800 pound gorilla H stock thread for the last several months may be found here: http://sccaforums.com/forums/thread/215611.aspx

if you find the h stock cooper owners, just pm them - i'd expect plenty of assistance.

i've been helped a lot in the last few years by consulting with Kevin Holmes at Turners. Kevin focusses more on road racing than autocross, but his credentials as a crew chief are impeccable and the shop does do quite a lot of Mini work in addition to the BMW teams they support.

One approach might be to summarize the H stock constraints from the solo ii rulebook in an email to service@turnermotorsports.com and follow up a day later with a phone call to see what options Kevin might have up his sleeve.

Others might know alternative tuning businesses as well, there are several successful groups out there.

Shocks, wheels, tires and chassis setup would be the key points - and of those probably shocks are the most complex to select.

 

Sean,

The Helix guys have been prepping for and are now at the 6th annual Minis at the Dragon event. They'll be back at the shop next week and catching up on e-mail and phone messages. Try them after May 4.

If you have a set of Konis for a 2003-2006 car, they can be converted to fit the new generation by changing the front spring perch (they just press on and off but you have to have an extra set of front R56 shocks to take off the spring perch) and using the Helix R56 Rear Shock Bushings. You may just want to run the car on the stock shocks and wait for the new Konis to come out...you can acheive a fair amount with alignment and tire pressure anyway.

Depending on the types of courses you have there in Hawaii, you might consider finding a cheap set of light 15" wheels to test on the car for race wheels, too, since that would be a legal option for an HS car. Might be good for short, tight courses.

Jeff Jacobs

 

Thanks for your input. I just read every post in that huge thread over again(I've been reading it on and off for a year now). I'll see if I can assault a couple of the 07 cooper drivers in there with some questions and hopefully not send them running for the hills.

If I can't get anything that way I'll try Turner Motorsports. Hopefully they have time for a regional only autocross driver.

I guess this is my fault for not doing more research before committing to the project. I thought it was going to be easy. Just go with already proven and "cheap" setups that the r50 guys have been using. I had no idea that even after 2 years there would be so little support for the r56 Cooper. I guess this first season out will REALLY be all about learning.

I am feeling a little more confident now.

Oh and while typing this up through the day I noticed theres another reply. Thats exactly the info I was looking for. Thanks Jeff. It wouldn't be the end of the world if I didn't have the suspension setup by our next event (July) so maybe I should stop stressing out over it. I guess I should see if I can contact someone at Koni USA to see if they have an estimate on when they will release something for the r56.

I keep flip flopping between the slipstreams or a set of holleys. Our courses are pretty tight here(90 percent 1st gear in my Corolla XRS) so going 15 might be the best option for now. I think it'll just come down to whats available when the checks get signed. So much for getting my ducks in a row.

 

+1 on the 15s

seriously

good hunting!

 

You did not look good enough for Remus:
http://www.remusexhaustshop.com/mini...10-p-1301.html

They got a single system, unless you don't have an S, with a valve inside the exhaust, cool stuff.

 

I don't. This is an H-stock thread.


Also Koni just e-mailed me back. They said they expect the new shocks to be ready by "the end of the summer."