Bought a Milltek cat back exhaust for wife's R53..

[hughcam]

chris watton said:

Cheers - the thing is, I asked my wife about getting another newer Mini, but she wants to keep the one she has. In fact, all three of our cars are keepers, and I have spent almost £30k (on top of the price of the car) on my Tamora - I no longer subscribe to the 'Newer is Better' philosophy, much more fun getting the cars you like, no matter what the age, in as good a fettle as they can be. Age isn't important, it's about how it looks and more importantly, how it makes you feel when driving it, for me, anyway.

I read up about the front mounted intercoolers, that is a no-no as you have to sacrifice the air con, and many didn't really see a vast improvement to warrant it and reverted back to the top mounted intercooler.

I will most probably spend around £5k fettling the Mini. To us, our cars are much more than just 'white goods' - the R53 is a pretty little thing, prettier than the ever larger later models, I think.

I also subscribe to the newer isn't necessarily better philosophy - I own a 2004 Elise 111r and the Cooper S!

I absolutely love driving our supercharged S however it really is getting back limited returns for your outlay in the mini world once you go past the basic pulley, exhaust and filter mods.

There is exponentially more fun to be had by changing the tyres/brakes/suspension/alignment (in that order) than aiming for an extra 50bhp at 6,500 - 7,000 rpm.

Whatever you decide it will sure be a great car!

[smn159]

chris watton said:

Had the Milltek cat-back fitted today, sounds great!

I also bought a good second hand JCW airbox that came today. I will have the other stuff added in the next month or so, and no doubt finish it off with a set of Bilsteins and upgraded brakes.

What is the best option (not the most expensive) for brakes?

Apologies for the thread resurrection, but I've recently bought a late R53 for my wife and am embarking on a similar upgrade path by the sounds of it. I need an exhaust soon as the outer skin of the original system has rusted through and am thinking of going for a Milltek. Is yours the resonated or non-res system? if non-res, do you find that it drones at all at motorway speeds?

[kayzee]

Thought I'd just chuck this in here as well as the modifying will begin with my new R53 next year anyone had experience with the MFM3 KIT listed here? Looks quite good...

http://www.mad4mini.co.uk/upgrades-z-13.html?sesid...

[chris watton]

smn159 said:

Apologies for the thread resurrection, but I've recently bought a late R53 for my wife and am embarking on a similar upgrade path by the sounds of it. I need an exhaust soon as the outer skin of the original system has rusted through and am thinking of going for a Milltek. Is yours the resonated or non-res system? if non-res, do you find that it drones at all at motorway speeds?

Not sure which Milltek it is, but there is zero resonance/drone and sounds fine.

[Sir_Dave]

kayzee said:

Thought I'd just chuck this in here as well as the modifying will begin with my new R53 next year anyone had experience with the MFM3 KIT listed here? Looks quite good...

http://www.mad4mini.co.uk/upgrades-z-13.html?sesid...

Pulley, plugs & exhaust. Pretty standard MCS mods tbh, cant really go wrong.
Id recommend wishbone bushes as a priority as well.
Oh and R56 brakes, the standard ones are awful.

[smn159]

chris watton said:

Not sure which Milltek it is, but there is zero resonance/drone and sounds fine.

OK thanks. Think that I'll go for the non-resonated one on the basis that I can always add in the extra silencer later if I don't like it

[kayzee]

Sir_Dave said:

Pulley, plugs & exhaust. Pretty standard MCS mods tbh, cant really go wrong.
Id recommend wishbone bushes as a priority as well.
Oh and R56 brakes, the standard ones are awful.

Thanks, yeah been recommended the brake upgrade too. Anywhere specific that's good on prices for those?

[smn159]

kayzee said:

Thanks, yeah been recommended the brake upgrade too. Anywhere specific that's good on prices for those?

Don't forget that you'll need the R56 calliper carriers as well. I struggled to find any at a reasonable price so ended up buying a couple of used callipers and carriers from eBay. Also, if you're fitting braided hoses you'll obviously need R56 front / R53 rear - some of the specialists will do a 'combined' set.

[I Am Milk]

Had my Miltek fitted this week.

Little Vid

Chuffed to bits with it, sounds fantastic.