2003 Mini Cooper S with lots of power
Discussion
Face Off said:
It needs some fettling with the suspension and wheels which is OK at the moment but far too bumpy, so looking at some coilovers and other bits. Anything you would recommend?
Thanks for the info, I will definitely look into this and maybe go spectate one of the events. When is your next sprint out of interest?
Next sprint is Abingdon CAR-nival on June 9th, not bad for spectating and is run by FDMC. I'm always happy to chin wag between runs. Thanks for the info, I will definitely look into this and maybe go spectate one of the events. When is your next sprint out of interest?
There's lots of options for MINI suspension depending on budget. I run APs on the 53 as that's what it came with. 1320 recommend KWs. Have a google, there's a lot of info on the subject.
Sunday just gone was the Abingdon Motorsport CAR-nival, 2 days of cars and competition. On the Saturday there’s a 2 course sprint for nearly 200 cars and also an AutoSolo. On the Sunday stage rallying.
This year was my 3rd time at this event competing in the sprint. My two prevous attempts were in my supercharged MX5 and frankly I sucked. I need to dig out my old times, but the first year I finished 10th out of 11 in class. Ok, so I wasn’t last and in those days the class structure was 2000cc and above so I was against all sorts of mental machines in the road going classes.
This year the class is 1600 - 2300cc and with the multiplier for forced induction the MINI is in the upper limit of the class. Competitors were other MINIs (an R56 and R53 converted by 1320 to Turbo with over 300bhp), a Firsta ST, a couple of boosted MX5s and a collection on NA vehicles such as Clio’s and a 205 GTi.
This event has two courses. Abingdon being fast and mostly flowing, Bentley being more point and squirt. The format is 2 practice runs and then 2 timed runs on each. The combined total of your best time from each course is you time.
We did the Abingdon course in the morning and the R56 and the Fiesta absolutely destroyed me in the times. The young lad in the R56 posting times 4 seconds faster than me on a course that’s less than a minute in length! The Fiesta guy was a bit further ahead. I managed to squeak in front of the R53 Turbo by a small margin. Morning finished 3rd in class, time for a hotdog, a coffee and self addressed pep talk.
The afternoon course is the one I prefer and I fooled myself into thinking I could make up some of the time I was down in the morning against the top 2. Who was I kidding? I was better at this course, but only enough that the deficit was smaller to the top 2 but they were still quicker. I got closest to the fiesta, being only a 1 second slower on this course. The R56 romped away again.
It was enough to secure 3rd in class though. I’m chuffed to bits as going into the weekend I expected to be 5th or 6th having reviewed the entry list.
Here’s a video of the best run from each course.
https://youtu.be/FTYPraKflmM
Some things I’ve taken away from this weekend?
1 - 20 something lads who stage rally an Evo are unbeatable in their daily MINI.
2 - Fiesta STs with 300+ Bhp are epic.
3 - My bloody suspension is clonking and its getting worse
4 - I need more power
5 - I need better brake pads
5 - I need to be less of a pussy
Next sprint probably wont be until the autumn as I have a few trackdays, Euro road trip and a ring trip to do in the Mazda during August and September which is sucking up all my cash.
This year was my 3rd time at this event competing in the sprint. My two prevous attempts were in my supercharged MX5 and frankly I sucked. I need to dig out my old times, but the first year I finished 10th out of 11 in class. Ok, so I wasn’t last and in those days the class structure was 2000cc and above so I was against all sorts of mental machines in the road going classes.
This year the class is 1600 - 2300cc and with the multiplier for forced induction the MINI is in the upper limit of the class. Competitors were other MINIs (an R56 and R53 converted by 1320 to Turbo with over 300bhp), a Firsta ST, a couple of boosted MX5s and a collection on NA vehicles such as Clio’s and a 205 GTi.
This event has two courses. Abingdon being fast and mostly flowing, Bentley being more point and squirt. The format is 2 practice runs and then 2 timed runs on each. The combined total of your best time from each course is you time.
We did the Abingdon course in the morning and the R56 and the Fiesta absolutely destroyed me in the times. The young lad in the R56 posting times 4 seconds faster than me on a course that’s less than a minute in length! The Fiesta guy was a bit further ahead. I managed to squeak in front of the R53 Turbo by a small margin. Morning finished 3rd in class, time for a hotdog, a coffee and self addressed pep talk.
The afternoon course is the one I prefer and I fooled myself into thinking I could make up some of the time I was down in the morning against the top 2. Who was I kidding? I was better at this course, but only enough that the deficit was smaller to the top 2 but they were still quicker. I got closest to the fiesta, being only a 1 second slower on this course. The R56 romped away again.
It was enough to secure 3rd in class though. I’m chuffed to bits as going into the weekend I expected to be 5th or 6th having reviewed the entry list.
Here’s a video of the best run from each course.
https://youtu.be/FTYPraKflmM
Some things I’ve taken away from this weekend?
1 - 20 something lads who stage rally an Evo are unbeatable in their daily MINI.
2 - Fiesta STs with 300+ Bhp are epic.
3 - My bloody suspension is clonking and its getting worse
4 - I need more power
5 - I need better brake pads
5 - I need to be less of a pussy
Next sprint probably wont be until the autumn as I have a few trackdays, Euro road trip and a ring trip to do in the Mazda during August and September which is sucking up all my cash.
Had a look at the results earlier. Really good time, and no shame in getting beaten by those drivers in those cars. That mini is exactly how I'd want my R56, amazing spec.
Have you checked your anti roll bars? might just be a link clonking.
I need pads for the Civic. Want something that works from cold for speed events but will survive light track day use. What's you thinking?
Have you checked your anti roll bars? might just be a link clonking.
I need pads for the Civic. Want something that works from cold for speed events but will survive light track day use. What's you thinking?
I’ve replaced everything except the track rod ends and ARB bushes. If you watch the video you can hear it when I change to 2nd Gear in the first run. Fees like the wishbone is moving but I’ve checked on a lift and I can’t find anything with play in it.
I’m looking at Ferrodo DS2500s. The MINI guys all rave about carbotech XP12s but at £250 an axel they’re a bit rich for me at present.
I’m looking at Ferrodo DS2500s. The MINI guys all rave about carbotech XP12s but at £250 an axel they’re a bit rich for me at present.
HorneyMX5 said:
I’ve replaced everything except the track rod ends and ARB bushes. If you watch the video you can hear it when I change to 2nd Gear in the first run. Fees like the wishbone is moving but I’ve checked on a lift and I can’t find anything with play in it.
I’m looking at Ferrodo DS2500s. The MINI guys all rave about carbotech XP12s but at £250 an axel they’re a bit rich for me at present.
Engine / gearbox mounts ok?? I've put a poly bush into the box mount and that's made a difference.I’m looking at Ferrodo DS2500s. The MINI guys all rave about carbotech XP12s but at £250 an axel they’re a bit rich for me at present.
I've got Brembo HP2000 pads on the mini, might just do the same with the Civic. Similar to the Ferrodo.
Bit overdue on the old updates on this one.
I missed this out earlier in this thread, but between the two sprints this year the heater matrix emptied itself all over my interior. I replaced it.
Old one out:
New one in:
Easiest heater matrix I’ve ever changed, but still not exactly a fun job.
The day after the Abingdon Sprint I thought it would be fun to try and win a second trophy in one weekend in the Concours at Beaulieu National Cooper Day. So I jet washed the car at a petrol station the night before after unpacking all my race gear and then got up dead early to convoy down to the New Forrest with MrsHorneyMX5 in her 1979 850cc City.
In the concours:
I came last. I had a great day though and chatted to a lot of people about using these cars for grass roots motorsport.
I fitted some Ferodo DS2500 pads to make the thing stop better and I removed the fog lights and cut the inner arches to get some cool air in there as well.
Next up, to get rid of my steering clonk I fitted poly void insert bushes into all the engine mounts and replaced the drivers side engine mount with a Vibratechnic one. At great expense.
It didn’t fix it. In fact it seemed worse than ever. Then a man on facebook said “try nipping up the two bolts that hold the inner ball joint to the subframe.” A 1/4 turn to one bolt which already felt f$%cking tight and would you believe it? Clonk gone. I spent a lot of money to fix that but at least I now have a rock solid engine and new driveshafts. Lol.
I bought some spotlights and covers because, well I think they look cool OK?
Finally (thank god I hear you say!) I went to Castle COmbe last week and did a trackday. Knocked several seconds off my PB in my old supercharged MX5 so rather happy with that. Here’s some pics:
This video is a mixture of myself and my Dad driving (you’ll like me telling him off for passing the Aston in a corner) and contains 15 mins of us overtaking pretty much every other car there. These include an Exige, some red badge hondas, an M2 and event an Ariel Nomad!
https://youtu.be/3KbsuozQvwU
I missed this out earlier in this thread, but between the two sprints this year the heater matrix emptied itself all over my interior. I replaced it.
Old one out:
New one in:
Easiest heater matrix I’ve ever changed, but still not exactly a fun job.
The day after the Abingdon Sprint I thought it would be fun to try and win a second trophy in one weekend in the Concours at Beaulieu National Cooper Day. So I jet washed the car at a petrol station the night before after unpacking all my race gear and then got up dead early to convoy down to the New Forrest with MrsHorneyMX5 in her 1979 850cc City.
In the concours:
I came last. I had a great day though and chatted to a lot of people about using these cars for grass roots motorsport.
I fitted some Ferodo DS2500 pads to make the thing stop better and I removed the fog lights and cut the inner arches to get some cool air in there as well.
Next up, to get rid of my steering clonk I fitted poly void insert bushes into all the engine mounts and replaced the drivers side engine mount with a Vibratechnic one. At great expense.
It didn’t fix it. In fact it seemed worse than ever. Then a man on facebook said “try nipping up the two bolts that hold the inner ball joint to the subframe.” A 1/4 turn to one bolt which already felt f$%cking tight and would you believe it? Clonk gone. I spent a lot of money to fix that but at least I now have a rock solid engine and new driveshafts. Lol.
I bought some spotlights and covers because, well I think they look cool OK?
Finally (thank god I hear you say!) I went to Castle COmbe last week and did a trackday. Knocked several seconds off my PB in my old supercharged MX5 so rather happy with that. Here’s some pics:
This video is a mixture of myself and my Dad driving (you’ll like me telling him off for passing the Aston in a corner) and contains 15 mins of us overtaking pretty much every other car there. These include an Exige, some red badge hondas, an M2 and event an Ariel Nomad!
https://youtu.be/3KbsuozQvwU
I can remember having a play with a properly decked out Mini at a td in my Megane 250 last year (again at combe)
I was struggling to keep up both in the bends and the straights, but I could peg him on the brakes.
It was a great little battle and I can remember saying to my passenger that it was fxcking rapid.
Since then, I had a lot more respect for the Minis, as they seem a lot better than I initially thought ( I put them on par with 1x2's)
Cracking car op!
I was struggling to keep up both in the bends and the straights, but I could peg him on the brakes.
It was a great little battle and I can remember saying to my passenger that it was fxcking rapid.
Since then, I had a lot more respect for the Minis, as they seem a lot better than I initially thought ( I put them on par with 1x2's)
Cracking car op!
Cheers chaps, they do surprise a few people when you’ve got one with the boost wound up.
This weekend was spent fitting the horribly expensive Coolerworx shifter tower.
Not as easy to fit as you’d hope. Required the shifter cables from a facelift car for a start. You need to drop the exhaust and heat shields to fit it from below, you have to strip out the induction area to fit the other end of the cables and then cut up the centre console to get the plastic work sort of back in. An easier job if your MINI is a post 2004 facelift car as at least your cables are the right ones!
Also fitted an OMP steering wheel boss, resistors for the airbags and a cheapo Motomec wheel. I went for a cheap wheel as I wasn’t sure if I’d want flat or dished for the driving position and £55 was an OK amount to spend to experiment, not £300 on a proper wheel.
The whole thing feels so much more “race car” now. The shifter is incredible. It brings the top right up by the wheel and the throw is super short, very weighty and very precise. It needs a bit of adjustment and due to the fact my gearbox has done 120,000+ miles the linkage on the box itself needs a refresh to remove the last of the slack in the whole system.
The drive home from fitting this little lot was an absolute hoot.
This weekend was spent fitting the horribly expensive Coolerworx shifter tower.
Not as easy to fit as you’d hope. Required the shifter cables from a facelift car for a start. You need to drop the exhaust and heat shields to fit it from below, you have to strip out the induction area to fit the other end of the cables and then cut up the centre console to get the plastic work sort of back in. An easier job if your MINI is a post 2004 facelift car as at least your cables are the right ones!
Also fitted an OMP steering wheel boss, resistors for the airbags and a cheapo Motomec wheel. I went for a cheap wheel as I wasn’t sure if I’d want flat or dished for the driving position and £55 was an OK amount to spend to experiment, not £300 on a proper wheel.
The whole thing feels so much more “race car” now. The shifter is incredible. It brings the top right up by the wheel and the throw is super short, very weighty and very precise. It needs a bit of adjustment and due to the fact my gearbox has done 120,000+ miles the linkage on the box itself needs a refresh to remove the last of the slack in the whole system.
The drive home from fitting this little lot was an absolute hoot.
J.C... said:
Love what you’re doing with this. Are Simon and Adrian May still involved with FDMC?
Simon is yes, I went out in his Model T Ford recently.Back to the MINI. Not done much recently to change it but did complete in the my third sprint of the year, picking up another trophy along the way. Dead happy. Short video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8mZW5aijdQ&fe...
Brands Hatch trackway in mid November 2018. What a hoot! Love Brands and it was the first time I'd driven the MINI on an undulating circuit. Wow, the AP coilovers are soft, I have some melted wheel arches now. They do work well though. Sure they're soft and there's some roll but they are so well damped that they give shed loads of grip and handle the kerbs superbly. Anyway, pics and vids:
181115_SR_BH_Cars_2334 by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr
181115_SR_BH_Cars_2769 by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr
181115_SR_BH_Cars_2782 by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr
181115_SR_BH_Cars_3116 by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr
181115_SR_BH_Cars_2100 by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr
181115_SR_BH_Cars_1457 by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr
181115_SR_BH_Cars_2222 by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr
https://youtu.be/b073nqUv7GY
Now it's onto the winter works. It's booked into a bodyshop for the rust under the rear tail light to be dealt with in December and January it goes in to a fabricators for a 4 point rear cage to be built and fitted. I'm also ordering two new bucket seats and will be fitting those. Finally I'll be doing some maintenance like changing the charger fluid etc.
181115_SR_BH_Cars_2334 by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr181115_SR_BH_Cars_2769 by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr181115_SR_BH_Cars_2782 by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr181115_SR_BH_Cars_3116 by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr181115_SR_BH_Cars_2100 by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr181115_SR_BH_Cars_1457 by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr181115_SR_BH_Cars_2222 by Nicholas Horne, on Flickrhttps://youtu.be/b073nqUv7GY
Now it's onto the winter works. It's booked into a bodyshop for the rust under the rear tail light to be dealt with in December and January it goes in to a fabricators for a 4 point rear cage to be built and fitted. I'm also ordering two new bucket seats and will be fitting those. Finally I'll be doing some maintenance like changing the charger fluid etc.
Forgot the Sunday Service in October. It was a bit moist.
44988362_10161046180870322_1907975836120645632_o by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr
44999786_10161046180850322_7971289259325784064_o by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr
45017732_10161046180700322_6101860402499420160_o by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr
44948723_10161046180690322_6299845509943132160_o by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr
https://youtu.be/ZNJw7-_2NEE
44988362_10161046180870322_1907975836120645632_o by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr44999786_10161046180850322_7971289259325784064_o by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr45017732_10161046180700322_6101860402499420160_o by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr44948723_10161046180690322_6299845509943132160_o by Nicholas Horne, on Flickrhttps://youtu.be/ZNJw7-_2NEE
Update time, been a bit remiss as usual.
After Christmas it was time to get my wallet out and splash the cash. First up was a rear 4 point cage from the excellent AMS Fabrication near Goodwood.
Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr
Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr
Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr
Really stoked with it and can't recommend Sam enough. He has Jigs for MINI and MX5s so give him a shout if your after some roll over protection.
I then went to Autosport and bought some new seats as the Monaco Pro was not at all comfortable fo me and I knew from having them in an MX5 that Sparco Sprints fit me like a glove.
Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr
Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr
Mid fitting snack
Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr
And in with the belts.
Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr
Now the belts I already had from my old supercharged MX5 and so I fitted them. The general consensus seems to be that they look terrible with the blue seats and I'm inclined to agree. Black belts added to the shopping list.
Next up is getting a livery applied to it this weekend but as usual it's decided to throw a hissy fit and is firing coolant out of the expansion tank. Bloody thing!!!!!!!!!!
After Christmas it was time to get my wallet out and splash the cash. First up was a rear 4 point cage from the excellent AMS Fabrication near Goodwood.
Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on FlickrUntitled by Nicholas Horne, on FlickrUntitled by Nicholas Horne, on FlickrReally stoked with it and can't recommend Sam enough. He has Jigs for MINI and MX5s so give him a shout if your after some roll over protection.
I then went to Autosport and bought some new seats as the Monaco Pro was not at all comfortable fo me and I knew from having them in an MX5 that Sparco Sprints fit me like a glove.
Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on FlickrUntitled by Nicholas Horne, on FlickrMid fitting snack
Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on FlickrAnd in with the belts.
Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on FlickrNow the belts I already had from my old supercharged MX5 and so I fitted them. The general consensus seems to be that they look terrible with the blue seats and I'm inclined to agree. Black belts added to the shopping list.
Next up is getting a livery applied to it this weekend but as usual it's decided to throw a hissy fit and is firing coolant out of the expansion tank. Bloody thing!!!!!!!!!!
jealous of your journey.
i got an R50 for a station car last year. being facelift model and not an S it'll hopefully be a lot more reliable. It's good fun and i believe a real modern classic. i'm definitely enjoying the experience and now refreshing bits underneath.
i have a mini SC on my MX5, but i'm having dirty thoughts about an S.... it's the real deal as it were.
i got an R50 for a station car last year. being facelift model and not an S it'll hopefully be a lot more reliable. It's good fun and i believe a real modern classic. i'm definitely enjoying the experience and now refreshing bits underneath.
i have a mini SC on my MX5, but i'm having dirty thoughts about an S.... it's the real deal as it were.
I had a tough choice a year ago between an R53 and R56... played it safe with an R55 clubman, but threads like this make me regret the decision slightly. The noice and composure of the R53 here is fantastic. Love the car OP... the R53 is such a bargain at the moment, buy a good one and they are incredibly good value.
Great to see you using it properly
Great to see you using it properly
Really chuffed with this weekends progress. I've always loved the look of the Kanjo cars from Japan. Essentially illegal street racers and there's a good thread on them over at retro rides: http://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/177945/kanjo-s...
Here's a couple of examples:
So I wanted to emulate that style on the mini and my friend Josh has a vinyl plotter so we ordered a bunch of sticky back plastic and this is the result.
Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr
Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr
Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on Flickr
Got a few more bits to do, like a sun strip, but I need a replacement screen first.
Here's a couple of examples:
So I wanted to emulate that style on the mini and my friend Josh has a vinyl plotter so we ordered a bunch of sticky back plastic and this is the result.
Untitled by Nicholas Horne, on FlickrUntitled by Nicholas Horne, on FlickrUntitled by Nicholas Horne, on FlickrGot a few more bits to do, like a sun strip, but I need a replacement screen first.
Dift said:
I had a tough choice a year ago between an R53 and R56... played it safe with an R55 clubman, but threads like this make me regret the decision slightly. The noice and composure of the R53 here is fantastic. Love the car OP... the R53 is such a bargain at the moment, buy a good one and they are incredibly good value.
Great to see you using it properly
R55 is a good choice, the longer wheel base makes for a great handling car. I run a Cooper D R55 as a 25K+ a year daily and I really love it. I've had it nearly 2 years which is a record for me with sensible diesel cars as I normally get bored and move them on within 18 months.Great to see you using it properly
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