MINI ownership, track days.
Discussion
Hello all,
I have been lurking around in this part of the forum for a while as my wife bought a MINI one a few years ago:
IMG_9920 by jimmyb156, on Flickr
and i liked it so much that i have gone and got one myself... a Cooper S to be exact (mini write up in the readers car section)
IMG_3049 by jimmyb156, on Flickr
So what are these like on track?
Do they stand up to a bit of track abuse quite well?
how are they with brakes/tyres etc.?
Do they feel fast enough for wide tracks like silverstone etc?
Cheers
James
I have been lurking around in this part of the forum for a while as my wife bought a MINI one a few years ago:
IMG_9920 by jimmyb156, on Flickr
and i liked it so much that i have gone and got one myself... a Cooper S to be exact (mini write up in the readers car section)
IMG_3049 by jimmyb156, on Flickr
So what are these like on track?
Do they stand up to a bit of track abuse quite well?
how are they with brakes/tyres etc.?
Do they feel fast enough for wide tracks like silverstone etc?
Cheers
James
I took my R56 S to Silverstone (GP circuit) back in 2011.
The brakes are terrible, they don't last long at all. 3 laps at the absolute most. The standard Dunlop runflats also burned up really quickly in the dry, too.
The handling in the wet is best described as loose, but great fun
Engine is great, turn in is sharp, and the standard balance is good. You'll definitely enjoy it, no matter where you go. Have you done any trackdays before?
The brakes are terrible, they don't last long at all. 3 laps at the absolute most. The standard Dunlop runflats also burned up really quickly in the dry, too.
The handling in the wet is best described as loose, but great fun
Engine is great, turn in is sharp, and the standard balance is good. You'll definitely enjoy it, no matter where you go. Have you done any trackdays before?
0llie said:
I took my R56 S to Silverstone (GP circuit) back in 2011.
The brakes are terrible, they don't last long at all. 3 laps at the absolute most. The standard Dunlop runflats also burned up really quickly in the dry, too.
The handling in the wet is best described as loose, but great fun
Engine is great, turn in is sharp, and the standard balance is good. You'll definitely enjoy it, no matter where you go. Have you done any trackdays before?
Interesting about the brakes, are the cooling ducts just for the marketing department then?The brakes are terrible, they don't last long at all. 3 laps at the absolute most. The standard Dunlop runflats also burned up really quickly in the dry, too.
The handling in the wet is best described as loose, but great fun
Engine is great, turn in is sharp, and the standard balance is good. You'll definitely enjoy it, no matter where you go. Have you done any trackdays before?
The car is on Bridgestone Potenza non-runflats, no idea how these will perform under duress.
I did a taster session at silverstone earlier this year in my brothers ST220. The brakes in that we're smoking a bit after!
I'm sure they make a difference, MINI owners who track their cars were asking for better brake cooling since day 1, only took them about 8 years to implement 
Mine was a 2007 R56 S, so no extra brake cooling. I think the problem lies with the hardware itself, the JCW brakes are far better and a worthy upgrade if you wanted to use it on track more (or any aftermarket brake upgrades for that matter).
IIRC, they're RE050A's? If so, my Fiesta Metal had those and stood up to a trackday well. After a full day of drying conditions, they slowly started giving up in the last session (I think I boiled them after a 30 minute session just before...), but I found them to be very predictable and astonishingly reassuring in the wet.
Also, on track, watch for extra oil consumption
Mine was a 2007 R56 S, so no extra brake cooling. I think the problem lies with the hardware itself, the JCW brakes are far better and a worthy upgrade if you wanted to use it on track more (or any aftermarket brake upgrades for that matter). IIRC, they're RE050A's? If so, my Fiesta Metal had those and stood up to a trackday well. After a full day of drying conditions, they slowly started giving up in the last session (I think I boiled them after a 30 minute session just before...), but I found them to be very predictable and astonishingly reassuring in the wet.
Also, on track, watch for extra oil consumption
I'm not intending to do tons of track days, but if I get hooked I would consider the JCW brakes.
Does fitting an aftermarket air filter/induction kit improve the sound much. My last car came with one when I bought it and I have kind of got used to it, sounds a bit quiet with the standard set up!
Not sure on the specific tyre model I'm afraid, I will probably put a slightly different size/profile on there (within spec) when they come to be changed as the 205 45 ( I think) that are standard are pricey and there isn't a lot of choice!
Do these cars need super unleaded or will they run fine on regular 95RON?
Does fitting an aftermarket air filter/induction kit improve the sound much. My last car came with one when I bought it and I have kind of got used to it, sounds a bit quiet with the standard set up!
Not sure on the specific tyre model I'm afraid, I will probably put a slightly different size/profile on there (within spec) when they come to be changed as the 205 45 ( I think) that are standard are pricey and there isn't a lot of choice!
Do these cars need super unleaded or will they run fine on regular 95RON?
Intake may make a slight different, I put an ITG panel filter in mine and you could hear the turbo spooling up a little more, but that's all it did. A proper Alta or JCW intake may be the way to go, but I've no experience with them I'm afraid.
I fitted the fJCW exhaust which was loud, especially at low speed, but sounded fantastic when charging hard
Definitely agree about the super unleaded, I found Tesco 99 made the car pop and bang a ridiculous amount, especially with the fJCW exhaust
I fitted the fJCW exhaust which was loud, especially at low speed, but sounded fantastic when charging hard
Definitely agree about the super unleaded, I found Tesco 99 made the car pop and bang a ridiculous amount, especially with the fJCW exhaust
Nice one James - same thing for me, except a One D Clubman & SD Convertible.
They're easily fast enough to leave behind much more exotic machinery on track, if you are...
Also consider Bedford Autodrome as an alternative to Silverstone - far more runoff area so you're very unlikely to hit anything if you ever go onto the grass.
Don't worry about your standard S brakes - you have the facelifted S front spoiler with air ducts through to the front brakes - they really make a big difference and work very well - you'll probably want to come in for a breather, before your brakes will...
Just go and enjoy yourself asap - you'll know what you want to change for your next track day, after your first one. Understeer probably being the first thing, once you start pushing the envelope.
Nice sticky tyres on lighter wheels make a big difference to lap times - seconds a lap faster on an otherwise showroom standard car, with lighter 16" wheels and 205/50 tyres such as Toyo R1R's (excellent in road & track use, wet & dry) or 888's / other track-day oriented tyres available. HTH
They're easily fast enough to leave behind much more exotic machinery on track, if you are...
Also consider Bedford Autodrome as an alternative to Silverstone - far more runoff area so you're very unlikely to hit anything if you ever go onto the grass.
Don't worry about your standard S brakes - you have the facelifted S front spoiler with air ducts through to the front brakes - they really make a big difference and work very well - you'll probably want to come in for a breather, before your brakes will...
Just go and enjoy yourself asap - you'll know what you want to change for your next track day, after your first one. Understeer probably being the first thing, once you start pushing the envelope.
Nice sticky tyres on lighter wheels make a big difference to lap times - seconds a lap faster on an otherwise showroom standard car, with lighter 16" wheels and 205/50 tyres such as Toyo R1R's (excellent in road & track use, wet & dry) or 888's / other track-day oriented tyres available. HTH
Thanks for the tips guys, tank full of super went in today didn't notice any more pops and bangs, but probably already had super in it!
Re: Bedford, not sure how keen I am on the runway tracks, they lack some of the theatre of "proper" tracks
Was out for a spirited drive this evening, noticed the bonnet got REALLY hot, is this normal?
Also is there anyway to display the water temp anywhere, bit surprising that the car doesn't have a temp gauge!
didn't notice any more pops and bangs, but probably already had super in it!Re: Bedford, not sure how keen I am on the runway tracks, they lack some of the theatre of "proper" tracks
Was out for a spirited drive this evening, noticed the bonnet got REALLY hot, is this normal?
Also is there anyway to display the water temp anywhere, bit surprising that the car doesn't have a temp gauge!
Might take a few tanks to see the benefit.
Hot bonnet is perfectly normal, albeit slightly alarming at first instance. Early cars had issues with the bonnet scoop deforming under the heat.
Water temp can be found in the hidden OBC; http://www.minitorque.com/forum/f13/r56-obc-hidden...
Hot bonnet is perfectly normal, albeit slightly alarming at first instance. Early cars had issues with the bonnet scoop deforming under the heat.
Water temp can be found in the hidden OBC; http://www.minitorque.com/forum/f13/r56-obc-hidden...
0llie said:
Might take a few tanks to see the benefit.
Hot bonnet is perfectly normal, albeit slightly alarming at first instance. Early cars had issues with the bonnet scoop deforming under the heat.
Water temp can be found in the hidden OBC; http://www.minitorque.com/forum/f13/r56-obc-hidden...
Hot bonnet is perfectly normal, albeit slightly alarming at first instance. Early cars had issues with the bonnet scoop deforming under the heat.
Water temp can be found in the hidden OBC; http://www.minitorque.com/forum/f13/r56-obc-hidden...
i can imagine that, i could barely hold my palm against it!Thanks for the info on the hidden menu
Balders - Manual says its designed to run on Super (where as the One and Cooper are designed for regular) but can run on anything.
jimmy156 said:
RE: the coolent temp - I have just spent 20 mins on the drive playing with 'MINI connected' and whilst a lot of it seems pretty pointless it does have an 'app' where you get an engine temp gauge, along with power and torque outputs, on the infotainment screen. Result!
That sounds useful - how did you get to it?sad61t said:
That sounds useful - how did you get to it?
Its quite a lot of faff to be honest!1. You need to have mini connected in your mini (media pack I think)
2. Download the mini connected app from the App Store.
3. Within the mini connected app download the driving excitement app.
4. Connect the iPhone to the mini using the white iPhone cable, with the mini connected app open.
5. Using the infotainment screen navigate to the mini connected screen and select driving excitement.
6. The temp gauge is the second option down.
The biggest pain is that it only works with your phone connected!
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