2003 Mini Cooper S with lots of power
Discussion
Update time!
Went to Retro Rides Gathering at Shelsley Walsh. I didn't take the MK3 MX5 because I thought it would be too modern for the clubstand at the show. I therefore thought I'd take something that could carry loads of stuff easily, but also wasn't the diesel daily. ASBO Mini it was then.
On the Saturday night they have a charity auction of "tat" people donate plus other show related things. In a slightly tipsy state I bid and won the chance to close the show by doing the final run up the hill climb. I bid £60. I had £25 on me, no drivers licence, no helmet, no paperwork for the car and above all it's not a retro ride. Luckily Kev and Ian from Retro Rides sorted me out with a helmet, squared it with the organisers re paperwork and told me to go make a lot of noise. After a dash to Tesco in the morning for some cash, I duly obliged.
Video from a chap who wanted a ride up the hill and stuck his GoPro to my windscreen:
https://youtu.be/kjLYVWYzXf4
All in all a quality weekend.
The next day I did a Trackday at Brands Hatch with the MiniTorque.com chaps in the MX5 (now a tradition for me to take the wrong car to every event). Chatting to Adam and co while poking round there cars confirmed a few things. Mainly that I can fit a full cage but retain all the rear seating which is a requirement for Road Going Sprint classes. Result!
So all of this leads to a list of things I would like to get done over winter. It reads a bit like this
1 Make it not so bloody loud by fitting a cat (and remap to suit)
2 Replace bonnet and A panel for non battered ones
3 Fit Sparco Sprint 5 bucket seats left over from the supercharged MX5
4 Replace front bushes that are knocking
5 Replace all fluids
6 Purchase and fit front camber plates and adjustable rear control arms so I can get the alignment set up properly with how low it is
7 Fit a stereo that has Bluetooth hands free (have stereo, just need fitting kit)
8 Replace knackered alternator
9 Source and fit used facelift gearbox with LSD
10 R56 brake discs and calipers with decent pads
11 Rear cage sourced and fitted
I'd like to manage 1-9 doing 10 and 11 as well would be ace. Probably also missed off a couple of things.
Went to Retro Rides Gathering at Shelsley Walsh. I didn't take the MK3 MX5 because I thought it would be too modern for the clubstand at the show. I therefore thought I'd take something that could carry loads of stuff easily, but also wasn't the diesel daily. ASBO Mini it was then.
On the Saturday night they have a charity auction of "tat" people donate plus other show related things. In a slightly tipsy state I bid and won the chance to close the show by doing the final run up the hill climb. I bid £60. I had £25 on me, no drivers licence, no helmet, no paperwork for the car and above all it's not a retro ride. Luckily Kev and Ian from Retro Rides sorted me out with a helmet, squared it with the organisers re paperwork and told me to go make a lot of noise. After a dash to Tesco in the morning for some cash, I duly obliged.
Video from a chap who wanted a ride up the hill and stuck his GoPro to my windscreen:
https://youtu.be/kjLYVWYzXf4
All in all a quality weekend.
The next day I did a Trackday at Brands Hatch with the MiniTorque.com chaps in the MX5 (now a tradition for me to take the wrong car to every event). Chatting to Adam and co while poking round there cars confirmed a few things. Mainly that I can fit a full cage but retain all the rear seating which is a requirement for Road Going Sprint classes. Result!
So all of this leads to a list of things I would like to get done over winter. It reads a bit like this
1 Make it not so bloody loud by fitting a cat (and remap to suit)
2 Replace bonnet and A panel for non battered ones
3 Fit Sparco Sprint 5 bucket seats left over from the supercharged MX5
4 Replace front bushes that are knocking
5 Replace all fluids
6 Purchase and fit front camber plates and adjustable rear control arms so I can get the alignment set up properly with how low it is
7 Fit a stereo that has Bluetooth hands free (have stereo, just need fitting kit)
8 Replace knackered alternator
9 Source and fit used facelift gearbox with LSD
10 R56 brake discs and calipers with decent pads
11 Rear cage sourced and fitted
I'd like to manage 1-9 doing 10 and 11 as well would be ace. Probably also missed off a couple of things.
I have a dark grey with black pano roof and dark grey 'minilites'. Similar mods to yours and mine had a full milltek exhaust and tbh was ridiculously loud.
What I did was to leave the milltek exhaust manifold on, but as the previous owner also had the oem back boxes, I put these back on and the result is still a nice rorty sound, with pops and bangs but it is quite civilized at idle and going around town. Out on the open road though it sounds nice, so that would be my recommendation.
It also had a lightened flywheel with a racing clutch and they had also replaced the harmonic balancer with a lightened one. Although the engine revved really freely I also ditched those and went oem as the drive ability was compromised and also the engine was smoother with the harmonic balancer replaced.
The car in its time with me also has had steering pump and supercharger overhauled, ac pump replaced, front LCA bushes, the usual suspects.
I want to improve the hard ride and ditch the low eibach pro springs with oem shocks it has for ap coilovers and am wondering what you think of them. They seem a good compromise of performance and price as I like the low stance it has but want it to go over the bumps without taking my teeth out.
What I did was to leave the milltek exhaust manifold on, but as the previous owner also had the oem back boxes, I put these back on and the result is still a nice rorty sound, with pops and bangs but it is quite civilized at idle and going around town. Out on the open road though it sounds nice, so that would be my recommendation.
It also had a lightened flywheel with a racing clutch and they had also replaced the harmonic balancer with a lightened one. Although the engine revved really freely I also ditched those and went oem as the drive ability was compromised and also the engine was smoother with the harmonic balancer replaced.
The car in its time with me also has had steering pump and supercharger overhauled, ac pump replaced, front LCA bushes, the usual suspects.
I want to improve the hard ride and ditch the low eibach pro springs with oem shocks it has for ap coilovers and am wondering what you think of them. They seem a good compromise of performance and price as I like the low stance it has but want it to go over the bumps without taking my teeth out.
The Spruce goose said:
I was there on Sunday until the end, i saw you run up the hill sounded good. i was passenger in the mk2 cavalier with 3.0v6 omega engine. i definitely would love to go up in a car myself it looks a lot of fun.
It's a lot of fun. I prefer sprints and hill climbs to circuit racing if I'm honest. It's a real short and sharp buzz. mate of mine had a 2003 plate one of these and it was broken literally every other week, when it was working that supercharger whine was fun though.
I think he ended up spending well into 6 figures fixing stuff on it in 6 years of ownership.
what sort of power can the block handle before you need to start changing engine innards?
I think he ended up spending well into 6 figures fixing stuff on it in 6 years of ownership.
what sort of power can the block handle before you need to start changing engine innards?
Had mine coming up to 2 years now, and got to say... it's been the most reliable car I've ever owned! And I've modified mine quite extensively. All I've had go wrong is a sticky throttle body, £40 and it was fixed 
I do also have a battery drain issue, but as long as I don't keep the doors open for more than 30 minutes it's fine lol.
I do also have a battery drain issue, but as long as I don't keep the doors open for more than 30 minutes it's fine lol.
HorneyMX5 said:
I can recommend the AP Coilovers. With the 16s and non runflats it Rides much more smoothly than my 2014 Clubman on the OE setup but handling is also better. It's a pain these need so much extra kit to get the geo right when lowering. I'm used to Mx5's which are fully adjustable.
So on top of the coilovers you mean getting the bits to get the rears vertical. I already have the Eibach Pro kit lowering springs on it, is there a shock that work with these better than the OEM Cooper S ones it has as an alternative to buying crossovers?
Koni FSDs are often mentioned but I understand they only work with standard ride height.
Koni FSDs are often mentioned but I understand they only work with standard ride height.
Edited by jazzdude on Saturday 26th August 12:45
That's low on just lowering springs! He ride must be pretty horrid no?
Progress has been made this weekend as I had a couple of days off either side.
Picked up and fitted a JCW exhaust (thanks for spotting it for me Adam). It's now loads quieter while driving normally but still shouts when you go WOT. Still have concerns it won't pass driveby sound checks at circuits. Should pass the static one now though.
Dug out an old Bluetooth head unit and fitted that on Saturday, only to find the passenger front speaker is goosed. Popped down to Minitopia today and Ray sorted me out with a replacement OE speaker, some door card screws that were missing and some clips to replace ones the last person to remove the door card has royally f
ked up. Whilst there I asked for a quote on sourcing a dark silver bonnet and having it fitted, turns out he had one in stock and a spare hour. Result! No more ruined paint bonnet and the black scoop is gone as the new bonnet still has the dark silver scoop in it.
I also sprayed the grills on the scuttle satin black today.
Car looks and sounds much better and really starting to feel like mine rather than just a car I've bought. The JCW exhaust needs more work as it pokes out too much and sits too low, plus got the rest of the list to keep working through.
Progress has been made this weekend as I had a couple of days off either side.
Picked up and fitted a JCW exhaust (thanks for spotting it for me Adam). It's now loads quieter while driving normally but still shouts when you go WOT. Still have concerns it won't pass driveby sound checks at circuits. Should pass the static one now though.
Dug out an old Bluetooth head unit and fitted that on Saturday, only to find the passenger front speaker is goosed. Popped down to Minitopia today and Ray sorted me out with a replacement OE speaker, some door card screws that were missing and some clips to replace ones the last person to remove the door card has royally f
ked up. Whilst there I asked for a quote on sourcing a dark silver bonnet and having it fitted, turns out he had one in stock and a spare hour. Result! No more ruined paint bonnet and the black scoop is gone as the new bonnet still has the dark silver scoop in it. I also sprayed the grills on the scuttle satin black today.
Car looks and sounds much better and really starting to feel like mine rather than just a car I've bought. The JCW exhaust needs more work as it pokes out too much and sits too low, plus got the rest of the list to keep working through.
Competed in my first event in the Mini last weekend, the Farnborough District Motor Club Sprint Royale. Due to the rules around boost multiplications to CC I was in the 1800 to 2300cc class. My competition was a group of EP3 Type Rs, a Fiat 500 Abarth, an old school Alfa, an MGA and a Clio 182.
My main aim was to try the car out, get a feel for competing in it and decide if it’s the right car and class to compete in or to focus on the MX5 for that. I knew the other R53 was turbod and running over 300 whp, I knew everyone else was on semi slicks and I knew a at least one of the civics and its a driver were well seasoned Sprint competitors in a very well developed car. I had power but no decent tyres, far from ideal suspension set up, no LSD and standard brakes with Mintex 1144 pads.
I had no illusions about walking home with a trophy.
I had a great time though. THe car was brilliant, wheelspin city, but brilliant. Took me a while to dial in to FWD having only ever done these kinds of events in RWD cars. I haven’t properly tracked a FWD in over 5 years.
The result was out of 10 in class I came 4th, 3 tenths of a second off third. The 3 Civics making up the top 3. Yup, I beat the 300+ whp R53. I think he must have been having an off day as it looked blisteringly quick off the line.
The day proved that the car has potential. I was around 2 secs off the front guys over a course that took them around 57secs. Sounds small but it is quite a lot. However I reckon with some proper tyres, the wheels pointing and cambered like they should be and more seat time from this fleshy lump behind the wheel we should be capable of claiming some trophies for the cabinet.
Here’s a couple of pics from the day plus a video of my fastest run at 59.63 seconds.
https://youtu.be/XiqXwuDNjwM
My main aim was to try the car out, get a feel for competing in it and decide if it’s the right car and class to compete in or to focus on the MX5 for that. I knew the other R53 was turbod and running over 300 whp, I knew everyone else was on semi slicks and I knew a at least one of the civics and its a driver were well seasoned Sprint competitors in a very well developed car. I had power but no decent tyres, far from ideal suspension set up, no LSD and standard brakes with Mintex 1144 pads.
I had no illusions about walking home with a trophy.
I had a great time though. THe car was brilliant, wheelspin city, but brilliant. Took me a while to dial in to FWD having only ever done these kinds of events in RWD cars. I haven’t properly tracked a FWD in over 5 years.
The result was out of 10 in class I came 4th, 3 tenths of a second off third. The 3 Civics making up the top 3. Yup, I beat the 300+ whp R53. I think he must have been having an off day as it looked blisteringly quick off the line.
The day proved that the car has potential. I was around 2 secs off the front guys over a course that took them around 57secs. Sounds small but it is quite a lot. However I reckon with some proper tyres, the wheels pointing and cambered like they should be and more seat time from this fleshy lump behind the wheel we should be capable of claiming some trophies for the cabinet.
Here’s a couple of pics from the day plus a video of my fastest run at 59.63 seconds.
https://youtu.be/XiqXwuDNjwM
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