I was perusing the new MiniWorld magazine, and I came across a short article talking about a new MINI turbo kit developed by Mel's Auto Repair in San Marcos, CA. The article said the turbo MINI came in at 200 bhp, and that with a few engineering tweaks, it can probably reach 250 bhp! Now that's some serious power!

I emailed Mel's, and they said they were working on the turbo kit, with the goal if reaching the market in early to mid- November. They also included a pic of their turbo MINI with a huge intercooler. I'm posting the pic to the Member MINIs gallery (Pic # 568), so check it out!

Jason

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Indi Blue MINI Cooper w/ white bonnet stripes...the hippest ride in Paradise!

 

Thanks for the info... but the the pic shouldn't be in the Members Gallery, as it's for the MINI's that the members of MCO own...

Rocketboy_X

 

I know that, but I wanted to get the pic up right away. I'm sure the mods will move it to the appropriate gallery. I was just too excited to share the news!

Jason

 

Here's a direct link to the photo.

I dunno, that intercooler looks rediculous sitting outside the car. I really can't believe a typical Starion intercooler wouldn't fit somewhere better. This just looks tacked on and super cheesey. I commend them for beefing up the Cooper, but this just looks silly. I'll stick to my supercharged Cooper S, thank you.

R

 

I gotta agree with Davbret. While front placement of the intercooler is generally more desireable than a top mount, the way it's carried off in this design is little questionable.

- the lower valence was cut to fit the intercooler in. (remember how people complained about what the Rogue Engineering exhaust did to the rear valence)
- it looks to hang below the level of the old valence piece
- It would be the first object to strike a curb or a speedbump.

 

You guys bring up good points. I too was unhappy with the intercooler being exposed like it is, and am hoping they can come up with something better for the intercooler. It would be nice to not have to change the outer appearance. It's exciting though to see the potential that our beloved MINI has!

Jason

 

Let's also keep in mind that the Cooper transmission can't even handle the power that the 'S' puts out. So 200 hp would destroy it!!!

 

Good point about the tranny. So by the time you shelled out for the turbo kit, the 6 speed getrag, the uprated con rods, crank shaft, pistons and valves, you could have bought a cooper s and beefed the HECK out of it.

Seems like misappropriated R&D to me.

 

Looks like a beaver or rabbit with that buck toothy smile there. Not my cuppa tea. The extra ponies would be wicked in that thing, but the parts wouldn't take the xtra beating for long. Depends on how they configured the setup. That's 80 addiitional hp. Most charger kits are made to work with stock parts, but that's a little much. I'd be a little leary on the dependability factor of the rest of the engine/tranny. Nice try though, and at least someone is trying. Gotta give them that.

 

Seems to me that you "S" drivers ought to be asking yourselves...

EIGHTY horsepower from an aftermarket turbo, and your BMW- "designed for the MINI" supercharger only gives you 40 hp ???

 

>>
>>Seems to me that you "S" drivers ought to be asking yourselves...
>>
>>EIGHTY horsepower from an aftermarket turbo, and your BMW- "designed for the MINI" supercharger only gives you 40 hp ???

Umm.. no.

Nice sig, ****....

Rocketboy_X

 

>>
>>Seems to me that you "S" drivers ought to be asking yourselves...
>>
>>EIGHTY horsepower from an aftermarket turbo, and your BMW- "designed for the MINI" supercharger only gives you 40 hp ???

-supercharger with STOCK pulley, and maby the 17" rims help to make the S a tad slower off the line, although if there are any people in the chicago area suburbs, i wouldent mind a friendly race, just to see this for real.

bottom line - we are all mini drivers, thus we are on the same team here, nice posts only please.

 

If the tranny is what you're worried about, you can get a close ratio 5speed tranny from Mini Mania that will handle the extra power. you don't have to make any internal mods to the eng as long as you are 250hp or lower.

 

>>
>>Seems to me that you "S" drivers ought to be asking yourselves...
>>
>>EIGHTY horsepower from an aftermarket turbo, and your BMW- "designed for the MINI" supercharger only gives you 40 hp ???


While the additional hp numbers for the 'S' compared to the MC, seems low (48hp difference), we don't even know how this turbo Cooper reacts to its new set up. Who knows...........maybe there's lag in this Cooper as well. There's extra weight obviously. I'll admit there is a little lag off the line in the MCS. But then, it takes a bit of practice to find the sweet point where it all comes together. I've blasted off the line without lag at all a few times. It's just a matter of locating that sweet smooth point.
From my understandings and experience with tuning vehicles, when you add around100 more bolt on hp without upgrading internal parts, you'll end up blowing rods, cranks, and wrecking trannies after a while. And that's experiences with V6's. With a 4 banger, I'd be hesitant in the area of just slapping on an extra 80hp and calling it that, IF that's what they have done. Do any of us know what exactly they have installed, and changed on that car?? Things like retarding timing, upgrading rods, shafts, etc, need to be considered. If they have gone that far, then that should be a great performer. While 80 additional hp may look nice on paper, who knows what they have done to accomodate that all. But it still needs to see a dentist about that toothy grin, imo.
And of these alleged claims of the MC being better off the line than the MCS. While that MAY be true (need more time to test both), the MCS is still better in the 0-60, and 1/4 mile times. I've only driven the MC for a bit as a loaner from my dealer. But I know if they were side by side with drivers of equal racing abilities, the MCS would conquer.
I'd rather stick to my 163hp MCS than have that bucked-tooth Cooper with 200hp, thanx. All I have to do is mod mine up a tad,.....and voila.
I'm not saying that Coopers suck. They're not to far off from the 'S' models. I love them both. I don't concider myself holyier than thou while I look at a Cooper owner. Because power numbers aside, they're both wickedly stylish rides. But if someone steps up thinking their stock Cooper can beat my stock MCS, than I say let's make it interesting.($$$$$). Any takers??

 

That intercooler looks like a huge bucktooth sticking out from a once beautiful smile. IMO

 

As Thechandler81 mentioned above.... We are all on the same team. Lets keep it clean everyone.
As for the mod, I think time will tell


Please Note: I have moved the above mentioned picture from the "Members MINI" Gallery to the "Modded MINI" Gallery

Happy Motoring,
SW

 

Isn't there a chip (piggy back ecu) coming to market which will step the MCS up to ~200hp? Seems to me the way to go for more power is to modify the existing forced induction set up rather than go turbo...especially when you're talking about a huge front mount intercooler, which most would consider ugly.
Another thing to consider is heat. From what I've read, it took some fancy engineering to keep the engine bay cool enough on the MCS. I'd think more boost/power would create more heat which needs to be dealt with.