What breaks most often in MINIs?
 

I plan to autocross my car more often this coming summer. This requires more travelling... a lot more. At times I will be 25-1500 miles from home. I am bringing a trailer so that I can take my tires, spare parts, change of clothes, etc. When I am racing my 2010 R56 base hatch on the autocross course, what is my list of parts I am going to be thankful I brought if I hear a snap.

For starters... one thread would have been sufficient.

What class are you running? If it's street class I'm not really aware of any failures that are outside the norm (timing chain, water pump, thermostat, etc.)

I am running in H-stock

Then I'd be surprised if you broke anything as a result of auto-x. They're pretty durable cars when run in stock form on street tires. Some zip ties would honestly cover ya. Just in case a fender liner comes loose or something.

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In 3 years of AutoX my Mini and running with 4 others what was used most was an OBDII reader to check the odd code. And that was only used when temps reached 100+
Otherwise I carry a set of hex/star bits and the common 10-14mm wrenches.

passenger side motor mount. launching in pro solos and other national events hard we had to replace them every 9-12 months. Electrical gremlins for silly sensors popped up here and there.

Also had to replace coils and plugs at about 40k because it kept misfiring and going into limp mode. I wouldn't say autocross is easy on a mini unless you're slow. Being honest here.

Were you replacing mounts on an R53 or R56? What were the symptoms of a toasted motor mount?

2011 R56 H Stock and STF Mini.

IIRC, didn't Dave run on a lot of concrete events and that's what contributed to the blown mounts?

The car seemed reliable overall based on your reports. Plugs and coils aren't that big of a deal to replace.

First I'm hearing of the motor mounts

ProSolo launches, especially on concrete, are not what I'd call "gentle"... We're talking 4000+ rpm clutch dumping, beat-the-other-guy-to-the-first-turn-to-get-into-his-head kid of abusive.

Clutches (EVO's), CV joints/axles (GT3), transmissions (Subaru 2.5RS), regardless of car die more often in ProSolo than any other type of autocross.

oh yea, i know the evo launches are brutal (have an evo) and i hear they can literally go through a clutch per season - just didn't know that mini had something that wore out like that too

<Said in a Vader voice> Never underestimate the power of grippy tires.

Also, for your viewing pleasure, the CP car I co-drive...

You've gotta remember, Dave ran many ProSolos on both R-Comps and Streets on both asphalt and concrete. I don't doubt the motor mount (any of them) could let go early, regardless of car.

As much as I LOVE the action of ProSolo's, I hate the starts.

But the starts are the best part!

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Interesting. I'll have to keep that in mind. I guess I did underestimate, even street tires, being grippy enough to do significant wear over launches.

Sure is. Quite exhilerating. :thumbsup:

Much the same way drugs make musicians & artists more creative... It doesn't mean they're good for you though.

It can also be viewed like almost any professional, high-level, racecar driver...

Would <insert name here> be as fast as <he/she> is if that driver had to pay for any damage, wear, or consumables on their car?

The Camaro's owner is an A-level technician. He can do clutches, especially on GM stuff, in his sleep. As a result, I know I was more aggressive with his car (at the lights) during the 2011 NJ ProSolo than I was in my MINI at the 2013 NJ ProSolo.

Needless to say, I'm happy we're hosting a Championship Tour this year.

A ProSolo guarantees a minimum of 12 runs/launches. If you have a co-driver, which I recommend to help bolster class numbers, that doubles to 24 runs/launches. Then if you make it to the Challenge rounds, this number could be as high as 36-48 runs/launches in a single event assuming one or both make it to the last round (someone check my math).

Multiply this by x-number of ProSolos and you'll see why I won't run the MINI in a ProSolo anymore AND to stay on topic... What can break on a MINI in the case of Dave Hedderick and many others who campaign(ed) MINI's.

I'll buy my way into a co-drive if I must for a ProSolo... I'll run Tours all week though in the MINI.

In the mini we launched at 4000RPM EVERY RUN in 2011. Whwn we brone the passenger motor mount twice by mid 2012 we changed the way we launched. We learned how to be smoother and easier on the launch and get the same or better 60ft times. The 3rd motor mount lasted a year and was on it's way out when the car was sold a few months back.


Here's my logic. The launch in the mini was crucial. It's worth a few tenths. And if you always practice instead of babying the car then you're ALWAYS prepared at big national events. So there is very little adjustment or learning curve.

As for pro solos we did Mineral Wells 3 times blytheville twice and the National Finale once (only one day though). All those events were on street tires except the first Mineral wells event.

So the equivalent of 10 street tire pros and 2 R comp pros. This counts every driver. So 120 and 24 runs total at pros :)

We did probably 400-500 more runs at other events and practices.

The MAF wiring was fragile but a freak deal IMO, but the motor mounts are a wear item. I've talked to plenty of other mini folks who say they have replaced them a few times. The dealer even said they are common wear items.

how long does the clutch last for u guys?

it had 51k miles and the clutch was working as good as when it was new :)

impressive.. I feel like that's one thing minis don't really ever have a problem with