Mini Cooper Exhaust Upgrade What are the best performance upgrades for a Mini Cooper?
I have the S version that I bought used that the previous owner, who had already added a cold air intake and a Borla exhaust. Anything else I can add without too much expense? Any comments on those two additions? Thanks!
As with any car, the amount of performance you get is relative to the amount of money you sink into it. The Mini is built for corner hugging more than straightline speed, but with some simple mods you can improve both.
I recommend visiting the forums on northamericanmotoring.com for more information, explanation, and pricing information.
You already got an intake and exhaust, and that is a good start. For you I would recommend:
1. Smaller Supercharger Pully
A smaller pully (I would recommend a 15% reduction) allows your supercharger to cram more air in to the engine, giving good gains for the price. You don't have to chip it at the same time, but I would recommend it for longterm safety. Many choices of manufacturer.
Cost: $150 for the part itself, but labor will probably cost as much as the part (unless you or a friend have a pully-puller device and the know-how to do-it-yourself)
2. Reflash ECU / Aftermarket "chip" solution
Many choices here as well. Everything from a "piggyback" chip that plugs into the ECU harness, to a simple reflash of the ECU. Some solutions require/allow custom tuning by a performance shop, while others are "cookie cutter." These chips/ECU reflash help optimize the engines performance, give you a better safety cushion when using mods such as a smaller pulley, and help the engine to properly utilize your mods to the fullest extent.
Cost: $300 - $800 depending on which solution you chose. Again, labor can add to this price.
3. This isn't strictly a performance mod, but get rid of stock wheels and runflat tires (especially if yours has the sport package with the 17" wheels)
Except for the stock 16" alloys, the Cooper S comes with extremely heavy (though decent quality) wheels. Add to that the very heavy runflat tires, and you have a boatload of unsprung weight at each corner. This gives a negative effect on performance, both in terms of acceleration, but more importantly, handling. You don't HAVE to go with non-runflat tires, but I highly recommend it as they will perform better and reduce weight.
"What happens if I get a flat and I am using non-runflats?" you may be asking. Easy, you can carry a can of "goop" that can seal tire punctures, a tire puncture "plug kit", or you can even pick up a cheap space-saver spare to carry in the back seat for long trips (or if you don't have kids/passengers often in the car, like in my case.)
You don't necessarily have to spend a ton on a wheel/tire combo to get good results. I see a lot of people drop $2000+ on a wheel/tire combo, but it isn't necessary if your on a budget. I got a set of brand new Rota Slipstreams in 16x7, 45 offset for under $500, and then got a set of Kumho Ecsta SPT in 205/50/16 for ~$70 per tire at tirerack.com. Add in a small amount for shipping, and to have them mounted/balanced, and it still comes in well under $1000. The Rota's are quality wheels that are very lightweight, and I love the looks of my slipstreams on the mini. Very different look than the zillions of Mini's that seem to be sporting the BBS/ASA wheels look.
Cost: $1000 for a wheel/tire combo on the low end (unless you pick up a set used), practically unlimited $ on the high end.
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ALTA Performance R56 MINI Cooper Exhaust System
mini cooper s nitrous, what can it handle? any pictures of set ups?
I have a mini cooper s, 2002, with about 40k miles on it, i'm in the navy so it's not drien for 6 months or more a year, when i do drive i baby it.
however i have a really f-ing annoying brother who wants to race me everytime i come home with hsi 350z with basic mods, exhaust, chip, intake, that kinda thing.
of course he beats me, i was thinking, for the rair occasions when it is raced, mayve 4 or 5 times a year, can i just blow in a huge shot of nitrous to really wreck people, or will the mini engien not be able to take it.
i already have intake, exhaust, chip, pully on the charger, upgraded air routing to the intercooler, i also have, but it's not installed yet, a spray kit, from nitrous express for the intercooler, i was thinking about just adding a 50 or more shot of nitrous, just so i can laugh ateveryone who's been laughing at me thsi woudl be a rarely used function, but used hard i woudl imagine when it is used.
Don't drag race him. Don't play by HIS rules. Go autocrossing.
When someone found out I had a Cooper S-JCW, they said, "Why do you want a 14 second car?" I said, "None of my quarter-miles, are straight."
There are a few Minis with NO2, and might look here: http://www.fireballed.com/
You have to almost rebuild the engine to install NO2 so it doesn't blow things up.
is this the ugliest car or whattt? wtfff????? I think theres a bunch of losers who sit around choosing the ugliest cars for Indian roads…''hmmmm lets see…yes yes! that one the one with the front of a frikkin swift, which resembles a mini cooper and the back of a bloody chrysler! and lets paid it green so it goes well with our general sentiment! F off losers! This is terrible…out with old and in with fresh new designers! cmon India, we dont need to take all the bullshit!
Mini Cooper, sweet! I was hoping to get one when I am in Vegas this July. Tell me is your left arm sore with all that shifting?
you should definately get one in vegas… it's a lot of fun to drive. ironically my left shoulder did start getting sore around tuesday afternoon (my last day with it before turning in this morning), i got about 45 mpg! not bad, but i think it's because they like you to be in 6th gear by the time you're going 50km/hr!! the dash tells you when you should shift (according to the mini cooper it should be 2000rpm – a little lower than I generally do at home)
It sounds like it might be a humourous substition for the latin phrase "mea culpa" which means (roughly) "it' s my (my own) fault" in Latin
As has been pointed out the Mini Cooper was a car which first became popular in the 1960's.
Latin was once quite popular in the English (Public School)education system, as was the bending of it's pronounciation for comic effect
thsi woudl be a rarely used function, but used hard i woudl imagine when it is used.
danmaldesign Says: September 5th, 2010 at 11:22 am
Real HDR photography requires at least 3 shots, a tripod, and good algorithms. This isn't really HDR, but Jobs will lie and say it is. smh…
rishad Says: October 11th, 2010 at 1:44 pm
is this the ugliest car or whattt? wtfff????? I think theres a bunch of losers who sit around choosing the ugliest cars for Indian roads…''hmmmm lets see…yes yes! that one the one with the front of a frikkin swift, which resembles a mini cooper and the back of a bloody chrysler! and lets paid it green so it goes well with our general sentiment! F off losers! This is terrible…out with old and in with fresh new designers! cmon India, we dont need to take all the bullshit!
MSunflower1991 Says: October 13th, 2010 at 9:20 pm
that's not natural selection, it's selective breeding. Selection on steroids, you could even say intelligent selection.
rob Says: October 23rd, 2010 at 2:14 pm
Mini Cooper, sweet! I was hoping to get one when I am in Vegas this July. Tell me is your left arm sore with all that shifting?
you should definately get one in vegas… it's a lot of fun to drive. ironically my left shoulder did start getting sore around tuesday afternoon (my last day with it before turning in this morning), i got about 45 mpg! not bad, but i think it's because they like you to be in 6th gear by the time you're going 50km/hr!! the dash tells you when you should shift (according to the mini cooper it should be 2000rpm – a little lower than I generally do at home)
Gabor Ambrozy Says: November 5th, 2010 at 11:19 am
Mini Cooper óra ELADVA pazzonak
Ties that bind Says: November 12th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
It sounds like it might be a humourous substition for the latin phrase "mea culpa" which means (roughly) "it' s my (my own) fault" in Latin
As has been pointed out the Mini Cooper was a car which first became popular in the 1960's.
Latin was once quite popular in the English (Public School)education system, as was the bending of it's pronounciation for comic effect
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini_Cooper
TimGeorgeJr Says: February 29th, 2012 at 2:44 pm
#TescilliSikecisinFenerbahce bi mini cooper istedik çokmu şey istedik