Mini C/S quality on track?

[Christoffer]

Cooper / Cooper S 1st Mini 2003 ->

I am thinking of getting either car for this summer, and might visit the Nurburgring with my brother for a couple of days.

I understand there is some issues with the gearboxes in the first production years of the non-S.


How is the quality otherwise the two cars compared? Does the supercharger pose any quality issues on the engine due to the higher stress of the 1.6 litre?


Do the cars respond well or do they suffer from being tracked?

Thanks!

[SlowlnFastOut]

Mechanically the engine in S's are pretty reliable, however check thermostats as they can often leak. Also Superchargers need some TLC around 100,000 miles or less if they have JCW upgrade/Smaller pulleys. Clutches can make chirp noises however this isn't detrimental- just annoying and they can handle a fair amount of power and last.

The main problem with any mini on the track will be brakes. The standard set-up will fade quickly, although there are numerous upgrades such as JCW brakes, 4 pot JCW brakes, or something as simple as higher temp brake fluid, and Carbotech/Mintex pads.

hth

[Christoffer]

Hi thanks for the information.

Great to hear the little 1.6 is of good quality. I don't suppose a supercharger is that much to renew and reinstall (?)
100.000 miles is a lot though in such a little car???

When using on track I don't want a car with sloppy suspension etc., so I guess that around 50.000 miles would be around the maximum for me before the suspension needs renewing? Dampers etc?

Am I wrong, do they last longer than that and still keep their handling?

I don't mind that the brakes won't last on track, I'd figured on replacing them with better stuff anyway.

[hyperblue]

Yeah the brakes will fade very quickly. The standard suspension isn't that great on track either, you'll get sea sick Get some good coilovers on and it'll massively improve the handling and ride.

[Christoffer]

Sea Sick ?

I didn't think that would happen! Not with Tiff and all the other motoring journalists praising it's handling to the moon ??

[hyperblue]

Christoffer said:

Sea Sick ?

I didn't think that would happen! Not with Tiff and all the other motoring journalists praising it's handling to the moon ??

It's got good handling for a road car, but I got fed up with it when driven hard on track, so fitted coilovers. The difference is night and day The standard suspension is alright for occasional track days though.

[Christoffer]

It'll be used mostly on the Nurburgring.

Tell me, coilovers what are they and - what's the difference compared to the standard suspension?

[SlowlnFastOut]

Coilovers are just shock absorbers, but if you go for aftermarket as opposed to standard like hyperblue is suggesting the handling and ride will vastly be improved on road and track. You won't get as much body roll and the car will feel a lot more composed in the corners/twisties. With coilovers you can adjust ride height, and even compression and rebound on the better shock absorbers. This results in a more compliant ride and better corning characteristics. It also means you can fine tune the shocks, so that you have a set-up suited to track/fast road/comfort.

[Christoffer]

Thank you. I thought it was springs or a type of anti roll bars.

I raced a friends CSL on the ring last august and it had an aftermarket suspension like that where you could adjust it from the boot. It was way too hard for the ring but I suppose you could relax the suspension so the Mini wont be like that.

Whats the price for a coilover conversion of the suspension, and how much is it to attach it to the car? I suppose you'd need a geometry as well afterwards ?