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

[chris watton]

And very nice it looks too. Haven't put it on the car yet.

I am wondering, is it worth getting the Milltek manifold and sports cat to go with it?

I am also thinking of getting a larger intercooler and 12% reduction SC pulley.

Has anyone else done this, if so, how does the car sound/go, in comparison to standard?

[0llie]

I've got the non-res Milltek on my otherwise standard R53. It is very much louder than standard, but it does sound good (Though I'd wager it doesn't sound as good as your Tamora! ). It's ok for long motorway trips, it can drone a bit but the faster you go the less drone there is.

Unless you're planning on big power gains, I'd probably leave the manifold and cat, though the car would likely be more free revving with both which would be nice.

I'll be swapping the pulley out at some point soon, I've decided on 11% as per OE JCW upgrade. With 11-12% you could get away with a standard intercooler, but 15% and above you will definitely need an upgraded intercooler. GRS is probably the best aftermarket solution, a GP intercooler is also a good choice but mega £££. Don't be fooled by some eBay sellers putting premiums on so called 'JCW intercoolers', these were identical to the standard Cooper S save for the different bit of trim the sits on them.

Edited by 0llie on Monday 10th August 09:20

[chris watton]

0llie said:

I've got the non-res Milltek on my otherwise standard R53. It is very much louder than standard, but it does sound good (Though I'd wager it doesn't sound as good as your Tamora! ). It's ok for long motorway trips, it can drone a bit but the faster you go the less drone there is.

Unless you're planning on big power gains, I'd probably leave the manifold and cat, though the car would likely be more free revving with both which would be nice.

I'll be swapping the pulley out at some point soon, I've decided on 11% as per OE JCW upgrade. With 11-12% you could get away with a standard intercooler, but 15% and above you will definitely need an upgraded intercooler. GRS is probably the best aftermarket solution, a GP intercooler is also a good choice but mega £££. Don't be fooled by some eBay sellers putting premiums on so called 'JCW intercoolers', these were identical to the standard Cooper S save for the different bit of trim the sits on them.

Edited by 0llie on Monday 10th August 09:20

Thanks Ollie! (I will be doing a write up of the stuff I'd had done to my Tamora sometime next week, in the readers Cars section..)

My wife loves this Mini, and she wants to keep it (very attached to it!). So I thought I'd do my best to slowly get it perfect with decent upgrades (although nothing from EBay). I even asked if she'd like a newer one, a JCW, but no, she wants to keep this one!

I think around 220bhp would suit the car, which is why I thought about the larger intercooler, full exhaust system change and 12% reduction pulley (along with a remap after checking the engine's in good health)

This is the intercooler I was thinking about:

http://www.1320.co.uk/grs-intercooler

And the reduction pulley:

http://www.1320.co.uk/kavs-kavs-motorsport-reduced...

Original JCW/GP parts are crazy prices, overpriced would be an understatement..

[0llie]

I look forward to the write up

220bhp is a good aim, the GP was 218bhp out of the factory and they're perfectly reliable with that power, even over big mileages.

The mods you've listed will definitely see 220bhp, it will also be worth looking into some larger injectors, I think they were 330cc as standard. 200bhp and above can leave the engine running lean at high RPM on standard injectors, so a set of injectors and a tune would probably see you above 220bhp. The JCW ran 380cc injectors, but the 550s seems a common fit, it also leaves a bit more headroom should you decide to go any further

http://www.1320.co.uk/bosch-550cc-injectors

[chris watton]

0llie said:

I look forward to the write up

220bhp is a good aim, the GP was 218bhp out of the factory and they're perfectly reliable with that power, even over big mileages.

The mods you've listed will definitely see 220bhp, it will also be worth looking into some larger injectors, I think they were 330cc as standard. 200bhp and above can leave the engine running lean at high RPM on standard injectors, so a set of injectors and a tune would probably see you above 220bhp. The JCW ran 380cc injectors, but the 550s seems a common fit, it also leaves a bit more headroom should you decide to go any further

http://www.1320.co.uk/bosch-550cc-injectors

Thanks Ollie I probably will get the 550 injectors, although my wife never takes it to max revs (I will, though! )

I note on your blog that the air con compressor failed, it is very noisy on ours, so I guess that'll need changing too - also the PS pump fan is noisy! (even though the pump was changed last year.

I got these wheels 9along with new tyres) for the car last year, when I noticed one of the original alloys had a chunk missing from the rim..

[0llie]

I bought the car with a knackered pump, and I became too lazy to take it apart and see what was actually wrong, so I cheated and got a new one

Is there a groaning noise which rises with revs with the AC on, or is it a different noise entirely? All of my MINIs have done this, some more than others. Even with the new compressor mine still makes the noise, though it is a lot quieter than the others, plus you definitely can't hear it with the Milltek

It's not possible to go wrong with Chili Red/White, can't believe it's now a JCW only colour! Looks so sharp. Are they 17s?

[chris watton]

0llie said:

I bought the car with a knackered pump, and I became too lazy to take it apart and see what was actually wrong, so I cheated and got a new one

Is there a groaning noise which rises with revs with the AC on, or is it a different noise entirely? All of my MINIs have done this, some more than others. Even with the new compressor mine still makes the noise, though it is a lot quieter than the others, plus you definitely can't hear it with the Milltek

It's not possible to go wrong with Chili Red/White, can't believe it's now a JCW only colour! Looks so sharp. Are they 17s?

Yes, it doesn't sound too healthy, but I was quoted over £600 to replace! Mini parts seem to be twice as expensive as my Tamora parts, and they don't even last as long!

The wheels are 17", these:

http://www.minisport2.com/mini-parts/info_WSP3.htm...

I don't order a lot from that website any longer, though - I got sick of ordering stuff, even their own brand, only to be told it was not in stock and waiting for delivery - even those wheels took three weeks, didn't tell me they were shipped direct from Italy!

Edited by chris watton on Tuesday 11th August 13:58

[mon the fish]

My JCW 210 (11% pulley), with Janspeed manifold, stock cat & Airtec intercooler made 210bhp. Adding a cam, 550 injectors and a tune made it 230bhp which IMO is perfect for a Mini.

Good to see you're looking at 1320 for your bits, great bunch of guys and will guide you in the right direction. I drove from Aberdeen to them for my cam/tune, as I trust them to do the job

[chris watton]

mon the fish said:

My JCW 210 (11% pulley), with Janspeed manifold, stock cat & Airtec intercooler made 210bhp. Adding a cam, 550 injectors and a tune made it 230bhp which IMO is perfect for a Mini.

Good to see you're looking at 1320 for your bits, great bunch of guys and will guide you in the right direction. I drove from Aberdeen to them for my cam/tune, as I trust them to do the job

Cheers

I am assuming the Janspeed manifold and sports cat would fit the Milltek cat back system?

I have heard only good things about 1320, so will use them for any upgrade I have done to the Mini...

[mon the fish]

chris watton said:

Cheers

I am assuming the Janspeed manifold and sports cat would fit the Milltek cat back system?

I have heard only good things about 1320, so will use them for any upgrade I have done to the Mini...

Not sure - I got a local guy to weld a stock cat to my Janspeed manifold, as I'd heard too many stories of sports cats failing

[norm4n]

Get on the minitorque forum, loads on there have done all this before and far more, plenty of advice

[chris watton]

norm4n said:

Get on the minitorque forum, loads on there have done all this before and far more, plenty of advice

Just had a good read through on that forum.

It appears the sports cats are not too good, and the general consensus seems to be either Janspeed manifold and standard cat, or the 'tomcat'

If I get all this done, I think it would be better to book it into 1320, and let them fit all of the parts (including the Milltek cat back), and then re-map.

Does that sound sensible?

To recap, I am thinking:

GRS Motorsport Intercooler
Bosch 550cc Injectors
KAVS Motorsport Reduced Supercharger Pulley (Optional Extras: NGK Sparkplugs)
Janspeed Tubular Exhaust Manifold
Milltek cat back (which I already have at home)

All fitted followed by a bespoke remap.

Edited by chris watton on Saturday 15th August 15:16

[mon the fish]

chris watton said:

Just had a good read through on that forum.

It appears the sports cats are not too good, and the general consensus seems to be either Janspeed manifold and standard cat, or the 'tomcat'

If I get all this done, I think it would be better to book it into 1320, and let them fit all of the parts (including the Milltek cat back), and then re-map.

Does that sound sensible?

To recap, I am thinking:

GRS Motorsport Intercooler
Bosch 550cc Injectors
KAVS Motorsport Reduced Supercharger Pulley (Optional Extras: NGK Sparkplugs)
Janspeed Tubular Exhaust Manifold
Milltek cat back (which I already have at home)

All fitted followed by a bespoke remap.

Edited by chris watton on Saturday 15th August 15:16

If you're doing all of that, you're as well dropping a cam in there at the same time to make the most of it all

[chris watton]

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?

[mon the fish]

By far the most cost effective brake upgrade is the R56 S callipers and discs (the same as the R53 JCW). You'll need R56 brake hoses as well.

Much better stopping power whilst not being too big/heavy to restrict wheel choice. ATE Super Blue fluid, and your choice of pad - Yellowstuff, Performance Friction, Ferodo DS2500 etc

[chris watton]

mon the fish said:

By far the most cost effective brake upgrade is the R56 S callipers and discs (the same as the R53 JCW). You'll need R56 brake hoses as well.

Much better stopping power whilst not being too big/heavy to restrict wheel choice. ATE Super Blue fluid, and your choice of pad - Yellowstuff, Performance Friction, Ferodo DS2500 etc

Cheers - do you happen to know the best place to get these from? (Including the hoses)

[mon the fish]

Breakers or ebay, or keep on eye on the classifieds on MiniTorque.

Make sure it's the S brakes though - standard Cooper R56 are smaller, and so I believe are the SD

[CO2000]

Regarding pulleys these are good value, 15% fine on std intercooler, 17% marginal.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MINI-Cooper-S-15-REDUCED...

[hughcam]

I personally wouldn't put a GRS intercooler on your car. The standard intercooler is far less susceptible to heat soak on a spirited run. Infact the GP intercooler is almost identical to the standard one bar a couple of extra rows of core and beats all the aftermarket options (bar a front mounted cooler) in terms of heat soak...

We have run a 15% pulley and JCW airbox for 40,000 miles on an otherwise standard late 2005 Cooper S and the key to healthy running is to use 98 ron + fuel. Anything under thsi and the car will pink in the higher rev ranges especially on a hot day.

Once you start adding larger injectors and remap you might aswell add the cam (which is where the large gains are made). The standard manifold and CAT are more than adequate unless you going to fork out £2k plus on a big valve head.

In summary if you are determined to spend lots of money on a ten year old car worth £5k max then you can go wild for an extra 70-80bhp and spend the cost of the car again. However for a few hundred (pulley and airbox) you can have a reliable 30bhp and a very quick great handling car.

If you want a mini with more power I would go straight to an R56 JCW and an evolve map.

[chris watton]

hughcam said:

I personally wouldn't put a GRS intercooler on your car. The standard intercooler is far less susceptible to heat soak on a spirited run. Infact the GP intercooler is almost identical to the standard one bar a couple of extra rows of core and beats all the aftermarket options (bar a front mounted cooler) in terms of heat soak...

We have run a 15% pulley and JCW airbox for 40,000 miles on an otherwise standard late 2005 Cooper S and the key to healthy running is to use 98 ron + fuel. Anything under thsi and the car will pink in the higher rev ranges especially on a hot day.

Once you start adding larger injectors and remap you might aswell add the cam (which is where the large gains are made). The standard manifold and CAT are more than adequate unless you going to fork out £2k plus on a big valve head.

In summary if you are determined to spend lots of money on a ten year old car worth £5k max then you can go wild for an extra 70-80bhp and spend the cost of the car again. However for a few hundred (pulley and airbox) you can have a reliable 30bhp and a very quick great handling car.

If you want a mini with more power I would go straight to an R56 JCW and an evolve map.

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.