Mini Cooper S 2007-2013: Top 5 Performance Modifications

Cold Air Intake

DIY Cost – $139-300

Professional Cost – $250-500

Skill Level – Moderate; this job requires the removal of various components.

The cold air intake modification is considered the beginning of the performance modifications. This kit works to pull the cold air from outside of your engine compartment, then pushes it into your warm engine, thus increasing its performance. The cold air intake kits come specifically designed for your Mini Cooper, so installation should be a breeze. The cold air intake kits can add up to 10 extra horsepower to your engine, as well as save you some money on fuel. This allows the engine to be less restrictive, which means the engine won't have to work as hard. The less the engine has to work, the more it works at its full potential. Recommended for those who want to take their car to the next level but don't know what to do.

Exhaust Headers

DIY Cost – $200-400

Professional Cost – $400-600

Skill Level – Moderate; this job requires the removal of various engine components.

The exhaust headers are considered a level-up from the cold air intake kit. It's recommended that you install the aftermarket headers after installing a cold air intake kit, as they complement one another. The aftermarket headers are designed to be as lightweight as possible, and as smooth as possible. These kits are designed to let the harmful gases exit the engine smoothly, without constricting the flow of the air. The stock headers work great; however, when there is too much gas being pushed through it, it creates a backwash, which forces the engine to work extra hard to push it out. This type of stress makes the engine use more fuel than it should, and it takes away from its power. Recommended if you want the car to feel smooth, go fast, and get better gas mileage.

Cat-Back Exhaust

DIY Cost – $400-1,000

Professional Cost – $600-1,300

Skill Level – Moderate; this job requires working from under the vehicle.

The cat-back exhaust has one huge job, and that is to allow the harmful gases to exit the engine without creating a bottle neck effect. Like the exhaust headers, the original exhaust is restricting, which can cause the engine to work too hard just to do the basic job of letting the gases out of the car. The cat-back exhausts are designed to be wider than the original, which creates a smooth flow for the air. The cat-back exhaust systems have been known to increase the horsepower by up to 15 hp. Don't be intimidated by the cost of this mod, the installation is an easy swap. These kits come specifically for your Mini Cooper, and it comes with everything you need to swap it with the original one; in fact, you don't even need to reuse the nuts and bolts, they all come with the new kit. This kit will not only increase the performance of your Mini Cooper, it will also give it a nice roar that screams "aftermarket." Recommended for those who want their Mini Cooper to be faster and don't want to spend extra money on fuel.

Suspension Kit

DIY Cost – $700-2,000

Professional Cost – $1,000-3,000

Skill Level – Moderate; this job requires removing various suspension components.

If you want a fast car, you have to have performance suspension to improve the handling. Installing a suspension kit allows you to use the power your car already has and transfers it to the ground more effectively. The more stable your Mini Cooper gets, the tighter you can take the corners on the track. The suspension kit replaced all of your suspension components. These kits can vary, some of them are just stiffer shocks, while others have stiffer shocks and lower springs. These kits could lower your car a little, so keep that in mind on your daily driving; however, if you like to take your Mini Cooper on the track, this kit is an absolute must. You will feel a tremendous difference in the stability of your car, as well as the handling performance. Recommended for those who want to go fast and worry less about loss of power.

Turbo

DIY Cost – $600-2,000

Professional Cost – $1,000-2,500

Skill Level – Moderate; this job requires some mechanical skills.

Although the Mini Cooper S comes equipped with a turbo, you can still replace it with an even bigger turbo. The results will be more horsepower, stronger acceleration, and an all around beastly engine. The best thing about replacing a turbo, as opposed to installing one in a car with no turbo, is that it's a true bolt on modification. You just have to remove the old turbo and install the new one in its place. The turbo is the perfect example of recycling. It takes the harmful gases your engine produces, then pushes it into the turbo system. When the air goes into the turbo, it spins an air compressor, which pushes more air into the engine, which increases its performance. The turbo kicks in and gives an extreme boost to your engine, which both sound and feel great. If you don't know how to make your Mini Cooper more vicious, this modification will scare you. Recommended for those wishing to push things to the limit in their Mini Cooper.

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