R55 Cooper S

[scrw.]

Well the problem child has had its steroid jab. Only a stage 1 tune for now, but with the mods it will be around the 220bhp area. Much better to drive, nice dose of low down torque now, and gets a bit rapid over 4k rpm. Will look into a rolling road stage 2 tune at Lohen when I have some faith in it lol. Being used as my daily now.

[paultownsend]

Where did you get it mapped?

[scrw.]

Someone I know who does remaps, not his usual work as he mainly does diesel vans / fleet stuff, but does have access to a large library of maps.

[GaryF]

I had mine doee at Lohen last year - Manic Stage 2. It is now a raucous little hooligan. Or is that just me...

[Challo]

GaryF said:

I had mine doee at Lohen last year - Manic Stage 2. It is now a raucous little hooligan. Or is that just me...

I’ve not had my R55 Cooper S for long but for me the standard car is quick. Stage 2 must be mental. Does it torque steer quite badly?

[GaryF]

Challo said:

I’ve not had my R55 Cooper S for long but for me the standard car is quick. Stage 2 must be mental. Does it torque steer quite badly?

The torque steer isn't actually that bad, but when you mash the throttle in 3rd and 4th you do hold on tight especially if making any steering inputs (e.g. changing lane). Any overexuberance in 1st and 2nd and you simply get wheelspin (even in the dry with Michelin Pilot Super Sports) - so the key is to metre out the power smoothly in the first two gears just balancing between grip and total loss of traction and then you can floor it in 3rd. In the wet though, 3rd also will just generate wheelspin as well if you are heavy-footed.

Output is 270bhp / 280 lb-ft.

There is a Quaiffe diff fitted as well, but that can't really help put the power down fully, but I suspect without it that it would be undrivable.

It does turn it ito something rather fun though. There will be faster cars of course, but the great thing is you can rev it out and make use of what you have rather than than use a small percentage of the power available in something with major horsepower. So it's all about fun really at sane speeds.

[scrw.]

Is 270bhp safe on a stock cooper s motor? Very tempted

[GaryF]

Sorry, I keep rambling on your R55 Cooper S thead, but mine is an R58 JCW. However, Lohen still did stage 2 for Cooper S, but they seem to have removed all their map / performance pack info for Gen 2 at the moment. Manic Motorsport don't exist any more so their maps are from somewhere else now.

May be worth giving them a call for latest figures / costs, but once you go down this path you are really needing a clutch and LSD upgrade which they do quote, but you being handy with the spanners are likely to be able to sort a lot cheaper :-

https://www.lohen.co.uk/lohen-ttv-clutch-quaife-fi...

You already have the upgraded intercooler and high-flow cat for stage 2....

[scrw.]

Mines an auto so no need for clutch, may need to improve auto fluid cooling. Going to try and get a trackday in this year make my mind up if more is needed. Did a bit of brake testing last night and got some brake fade quickly, but then disappeared, unsure if it was part of the bed in feature of yellowstuff pads.

[Drekly]

How many miles had you done on them before using non-gently? I took it very steady for the first 200-250 miles of mixed driving before really using them in anger, so far they do seem a worthwhile improvement for "fast road" driving at least, and no squeaking at all so far. Decent cold bite as well.
They are not going to be a match for a JCW Brembo or aftermarket big brake set up though so manage your expectations.

Let us know if they do/don't improve.

[scrw.]

~300 miles normal/light use. 5 miles of moderate use last night on an empty road with hard braking from 60, after a couple of stops I got fade, thought it may be normal part of bedding in so stopped the hard braking and returned home / allowed to cool. Will try again later if the roads are quiet. May look at some braided lines and a fluid change.

[Drekly]

scrw. said:

~300 miles normal/light use. 5 miles of moderate use last night on an empty road with hard braking from 60, after a couple of stops I got fade, thought it may be normal part of bedding in so stopped the hard braking and returned home / allowed to cool. Will try again later if the roads are quiet. May look at some braided lines and a fluid change.

Mine had braided hoses and fluid change at same time. My rear discs and pads are still stock though.

[rigga]

GaryF said:

Sorry, I keep rambling on your R55 Cooper S thead, but mine is an R58 JCW. However, Lohen still did stage 2 for Cooper S, but they seem to have removed all their map / performance pack info for Gen 2 at the moment. Manic Motorsport don't exist any more so their maps are from somewhere else now.

May be worth giving them a call for latest figures / costs, but once you go down this path you are really needing a clutch and LSD upgrade which they do quote, but you being handy with the spanners are likely to be able to sort a lot cheaper :-

https://www.lohen.co.uk/lohen-ttv-clutch-quaife-fi...

You already have the upgraded intercooler and high-flow cat for stage 2....

Manic went tits up, not due to the product, but from bad management is the story I hear, Rich who developed the software has gone off to work elsewhere, I have just got a stage two map from him, so its manic, but not if you see what I mean.
He will be releasing under a new banner soon I believe.
Lohen were using manic, then superchips, but that's gone now, so not sure what map base they use, or even if its a canned map from somewhere else, they tweak and then claim its theirs?
Standard Diff in my R56 jcw (and clutch, which will let go at some point soon) gets lively when going for it, but so much better since the upgrade.

[GaryF]

Good for Rich, and thanks for the info. The Manic map has transformed my car, and my only two grips are :-

1) Excessive steering weight in Sport mode
2) Slight abruptness when lifting off throttle, even when feathering out - could be a little smoother, even for a 'performance' map

It goes like stink and produces some rather nice noises (in conjunction with Akrapovic 100 cell DP).

Evolve also do maps for the R56 JCW :-
https://www.evolveautomotive.com/evolve-ecu-remap-...

and Cooper S :-
https://www.evolveautomotive.com/evolve-ecu-remap-...

as well as the Gen 3

[itsnotarace]

scrw. said:

Is 270bhp safe on a stock cooper s motor? Very tempted

Not if you want it to live long!

Try Sussex Road and Race if you are serious about that sort of power http://www.sussexroadandrace.co.uk/

[scrw.]

Apart from linking to a very sparse website, what do you mean?

[itsnotarace]

The engine internals need uprating if you are looking for that sort of power. SRR have a long history of building racing Minis that win in the Mini Challenge series and will be able to advise what your R55 needs

[scrw.]

Pick these up sunday

oz by Old_Chad, on Flickr

[CoolHands]

scrw. said:

well bugger me sideways, all that horrible bottom end noise was only the bloody drive belt!!

2020-02-08_02-05-15 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

I’ve finally bought a new belt for my wife’s based on this. I assume ours is still on the original so want to change it. Will fit in next few days.

[Challo]

scrw. said:

Pick these up sunday

oz by Old_Chad, on Flickr

Very nice. Was just thinking how was the build going.

Had mine lowered last week, such an improvement on looks and corners pretty well.