2003 Mini Cooper S with lots of power
Discussion
Straight line the Mini should be able to match, if not better an eP3. I think it’s mostly in the bends and on the brakes. I suffered badly for traction on the brakes, underliad theough the corners and then getting on the power. Tyres and fitting the kit to get a decent geo should go a long way to rectifying that.
Been following this with interest, good result on the sprint as well considering the competition! Glad you ditched the exhaust, did it detract from the whine of the s/c?
I bought mine in April as a project to eventually go doing sprints and track days with. Budget is tight so there's no timescales to it but very much enjoying it so far. Mines got an asbo exhaust as well, is there anywhere you can get a noise test done before rocking up at a track day as I suspect mine will fail as well?
Here's mine, spent about 3k so far including buying it, its a CAT D with 95k on the clock. Car was £1350 and so far its had new shocks/springs on the front, R56 Cooper S brake upgrade, discs/pads all round, braided hoses, better fluid, a new tensioner/belt, starter motor, wheel hub, stealth airbox, JCW aircoooler and loads of other stuff I cant remember. Next year will be seats, rear cage, harnesses and tyres and hopefully a day at Oulton Park
I bought mine in April as a project to eventually go doing sprints and track days with. Budget is tight so there's no timescales to it but very much enjoying it so far. Mines got an asbo exhaust as well, is there anywhere you can get a noise test done before rocking up at a track day as I suspect mine will fail as well?
Here's mine, spent about 3k so far including buying it, its a CAT D with 95k on the clock. Car was £1350 and so far its had new shocks/springs on the front, R56 Cooper S brake upgrade, discs/pads all round, braided hoses, better fluid, a new tensioner/belt, starter motor, wheel hub, stealth airbox, JCW aircoooler and loads of other stuff I cant remember. Next year will be seats, rear cage, harnesses and tyres and hopefully a day at Oulton Park
Took the Mini to the sunday service at Silverstone on Sunday and did a short track session. Was good fun but even with the mintex 1144 pads and fresh fluids the brakes are terrible. Sourced a JCW set up that I’m picking up Sunday.
Pics:
The pics show it also badly needs camber plates for the front, soooo much positive camber under load.
Video of a couple of laps:
https://youtu.be/k-X9nFCuYrs
Pics:
The pics show it also badly needs camber plates for the front, soooo much positive camber under load.
Video of a couple of laps:
https://youtu.be/k-X9nFCuYrs
Just catching up with the thread, liking the r53!
Thought your times at the sprint were very decent, against good oppostion. I should be entering more events in my r56 next year, although it's bog standard at the moment. What tyres have you got / what you thinking?
Brakes. I didn't go well with m1144 pads at Combe and swapped the discs and pads to high performance brembos, and these worked better. Car is booked in for a goodwood day in a month, so will see what happens.
Thought your times at the sprint were very decent, against good oppostion. I should be entering more events in my r56 next year, although it's bog standard at the moment. What tyres have you got / what you thinking?
Brakes. I didn't go well with m1144 pads at Combe and swapped the discs and pads to high performance brembos, and these worked better. Car is booked in for a goodwood day in a month, so will see what happens.
Done a bit of shopping. Arrived so far is the following:
2 x driveshafts
1 x set of R56 front brakes with GTT grooved discs and pads
1 x full set of braided hoses
1 x front bush tool
1 x black series front arm bushes
1 x pair of adjustable front camber plates
1 x pair of front out arm ball joints
Hopefully that little lot will get it turning and stopping like it should and get rid of the increasingly bad vibration it has at anything over 70.
It’s also booked into 1320 on 5th Jan for a tomcat and remap. Annoyingly the last owner lost the cable or whatever has the licence in it for the Bitetronic map it has now so I’m going to have to pay for another one which isn’t an inconsiderable amount. Curses!
2 x driveshafts
1 x set of R56 front brakes with GTT grooved discs and pads
1 x full set of braided hoses
1 x front bush tool
1 x black series front arm bushes
1 x pair of adjustable front camber plates
1 x pair of front out arm ball joints
Hopefully that little lot will get it turning and stopping like it should and get rid of the increasingly bad vibration it has at anything over 70.
It’s also booked into 1320 on 5th Jan for a tomcat and remap. Annoyingly the last owner lost the cable or whatever has the licence in it for the Bitetronic map it has now so I’m going to have to pay for another one which isn’t an inconsiderable amount. Curses!
Awesome - given me some inspiration.
We've bought a 2005 mini cooper s in black with full black leather, pano roof, HK, climate, nav, cruise etc and now a new feature - a hole in the exhaust!
Its the original exhaust, so I'm thinking about what to replace it with. I'm thinking Milltek, but I really don't want it to be a drone/noisy at motorway speeds. I want to be able to cover some ground without getting a headache.
I'd also like to do the bottom pulley for a bit more power too, but to be honest in standard form its pretty addictive.
We've bought a 2005 mini cooper s in black with full black leather, pano roof, HK, climate, nav, cruise etc and now a new feature - a hole in the exhaust!
Its the original exhaust, so I'm thinking about what to replace it with. I'm thinking Milltek, but I really don't want it to be a drone/noisy at motorway speeds. I want to be able to cover some ground without getting a headache.
I'd also like to do the bottom pulley for a bit more power too, but to be honest in standard form its pretty addictive.
Definitely do the pulley, it's no-brainer tbh. I got the 17% with non-brand uprated TMIC (Airtec rep) all in for £175... bargain for the performance gain!
As for the exhaust, get the Milltek resonated if you don't want it too loud. I had that first then changed the res for non-res as wanted some pops and bangs! Sounds great now, but it is rather loud. Luckily I only have a short commute.
Orranje CAI is the best noise you can get these cars to make
As for the exhaust, get the Milltek resonated if you don't want it too loud. I had that first then changed the res for non-res as wanted some pops and bangs! Sounds great now, but it is rather loud. Luckily I only have a short commute.
Orranje CAI is the best noise you can get these cars to make
24valve said:
Awesome - given me some inspiration.
We've bought a 2005 mini cooper s in black with full black leather, pano roof, HK, climate, nav, cruise etc and now a new feature - a hole in the exhaust!
Its the original exhaust, so I'm thinking about what to replace it with. I'm thinking Milltek, but I really don't want it to be a drone/noisy at motorway speeds. I want to be able to cover some ground without getting a headache.
I'd also like to do the bottom pulley for a bit more power too, but to be honest in standard form its pretty addictive.
I have a similar car, No s/roof or nav. Nice in black.We've bought a 2005 mini cooper s in black with full black leather, pano roof, HK, climate, nav, cruise etc and now a new feature - a hole in the exhaust!
Its the original exhaust, so I'm thinking about what to replace it with. I'm thinking Milltek, but I really don't want it to be a drone/noisy at motorway speeds. I want to be able to cover some ground without getting a headache.
I'd also like to do the bottom pulley for a bit more power too, but to be honest in standard form its pretty addictive.
You say bottom pulley? Do you mean that or charger pulley? It's possible to do both but for different reasons. If you don't want a drone but want a sports tone then use a JCW for which you need to 'borrow' a JCW kit number from an internet image.
Black series bushes are the stiffer Powerflex option and they won't be felt on the car other than drastically reducing tramlining or torque steer. If you want to eliminate torque steer pretty much entirely unless you're near 300hp, then have a Quaife ATB limited slip diff installed.
You can gain a sense of power by fitting a light flywheel in aluminium, and you can brake later by fitting the brakes meant for the R56S economically. There are options aside from the smallest pulleys, for an interesting tractable car that could be exploited far more than now. People do that first because it's cheap.
Only My2p
HorneyMX5 said:
Done a bit of shopping. Arrived so far is the following:
2 x driveshafts
1 x set of R56 front brakes with GTT grooved discs and pads
1 x full set of braided hoses
1 x front bush tool
1 x black series front arm bushes
1 x pair of adjustable front camber plates
1 x pair of front out arm ball joints
Hopefully that little lot will get it turning and stopping like it should and get rid of the increasingly bad vibration it has at anything over 70.
It’s also booked into 1320 on 5th Jan for a tomcat and remap. Annoyingly the last owner lost the cable or whatever has the licence in it for the Bitetronic map it has now so I’m going to have to pay for another one which isn’t an inconsiderable amount. Curses!
I have just done a track weekend with mine, some issues similar, some not. Brakes - I have the R56S upgrade done with x drilled discs, I went with Carbotech XP8's and its fantastic. Squeals like a b***h on the raod, but for track work I can't recommend them enough.2 x driveshafts
1 x set of R56 front brakes with GTT grooved discs and pads
1 x full set of braided hoses
1 x front bush tool
1 x black series front arm bushes
1 x pair of adjustable front camber plates
1 x pair of front out arm ball joints
Hopefully that little lot will get it turning and stopping like it should and get rid of the increasingly bad vibration it has at anything over 70.
It’s also booked into 1320 on 5th Jan for a tomcat and remap. Annoyingly the last owner lost the cable or whatever has the licence in it for the Bitetronic map it has now so I’m going to have to pay for another one which isn’t an inconsiderable amount. Curses!
Much has gone on since that last update. In some kind of order:
Fitted all new bushes and ball joints on the front end
Fitted 2 new wheel bearings on the front
Fitted new driveshafts
New driveshafts kept falling out
Damaged gearbox seal
Replaced gearbox seal and fitted good used OEM driveshafts.
Driveshafts now stay in the gearbox
Fitted Gen2 front brakes and braided lines all round
1320 fabricated a standard mini cat into the decat pipe
It’s now much quieter
It made 207 at the wheels in their dyno
Picked up a cheap facelift gearbox with LSD
While fitting above found the radiator was near dead so replaced
Clutch slave failed during gearbox seal, so replaced
Coilovers raised to a sensible height
Replaced a rear wheel bearing.
Won some Cobra Mini specific seat mounts and sliders on eBay
Won a cheap but perfect condition 18 month old Cobra seat for above on eBay
Fitted frame and seat
AD08Rs fitted all round
Wheel alignment done
I think that’s it but probably missed something out.
So yeah. Been a bit busy since Christmas and now rather skint. It’s all worth it though. The car drives perfectly and puts a real grin on my face.
Here’s a video of the 9am track session at Castle Combe Spring Action Day last weekend:
https://youtu.be/AdJWZ-pEpcY
Next up it’s due an MOT in a couple of weeks and then the first sprint of the year with Farnborough District Motor Club.
Fitted all new bushes and ball joints on the front end
Fitted 2 new wheel bearings on the front
Fitted new driveshafts
New driveshafts kept falling out
Damaged gearbox seal
Replaced gearbox seal and fitted good used OEM driveshafts.
Driveshafts now stay in the gearbox
Fitted Gen2 front brakes and braided lines all round
1320 fabricated a standard mini cat into the decat pipe
It’s now much quieter
It made 207 at the wheels in their dyno
Picked up a cheap facelift gearbox with LSD
While fitting above found the radiator was near dead so replaced
Clutch slave failed during gearbox seal, so replaced
Coilovers raised to a sensible height
Replaced a rear wheel bearing.
Won some Cobra Mini specific seat mounts and sliders on eBay
Won a cheap but perfect condition 18 month old Cobra seat for above on eBay
Fitted frame and seat
AD08Rs fitted all round
Wheel alignment done
I think that’s it but probably missed something out.
So yeah. Been a bit busy since Christmas and now rather skint. It’s all worth it though. The car drives perfectly and puts a real grin on my face.
Here’s a video of the 9am track session at Castle Combe Spring Action Day last weekend:
https://youtu.be/AdJWZ-pEpcY
Next up it’s due an MOT in a couple of weeks and then the first sprint of the year with Farnborough District Motor Club.
They have a few common problems like all 15+ year old cars like window mechs etc.
The Mini specific stuff is knackered rear arm bushes on the front. It’s a pig of a job but ruined bushes destroy the handling. Also stuff like timing chain tensioner rattles which is a cheap and easy fix.
There’s a few others as well.
They’re not low maintenance but seem pretty robust if looked after. I’d be looking for a post 2004 facelift car if I were looking to reduce hassle. They’re a bit better built and generally have better options. Plus most of the chilli pack cars will have an LSD already.
Right now I think they’re a proper bargain. I think in less than a handful of years there’ll be very few good standard cars left and prices will reflect that.
The Mini specific stuff is knackered rear arm bushes on the front. It’s a pig of a job but ruined bushes destroy the handling. Also stuff like timing chain tensioner rattles which is a cheap and easy fix.
There’s a few others as well.
They’re not low maintenance but seem pretty robust if looked after. I’d be looking for a post 2004 facelift car if I were looking to reduce hassle. They’re a bit better built and generally have better options. Plus most of the chilli pack cars will have an LSD already.
Right now I think they’re a proper bargain. I think in less than a handful of years there’ll be very few good standard cars left and prices will reflect that.
First sprint of 2018 completed. It was the Farnborough District Motor Club Dimanche Sprint at Rushmoor Arena.
Car went really well and I knocked 1.5 seconds off my PB I’d set in the supercharged MX5 back in 2016, in doing so bagged myself a 1st in class. I think a perfect run would have seen me dip into the 53’s. I’m waiting for the final results to be published but I think I came 11th overall.
Here’s a short video: https://youtu.be/UJ-PJm7wI_c
Car went really well and I knocked 1.5 seconds off my PB I’d set in the supercharged MX5 back in 2016, in doing so bagged myself a 1st in class. I think a perfect run would have seen me dip into the 53’s. I’m waiting for the final results to be published but I think I came 11th overall.
Here’s a short video: https://youtu.be/UJ-PJm7wI_c
Looks like it's going well, and car is now an excellent spec. Your class looked good, but surprised that the rest of the entry was a bit low. Perhaps because of the clash with Goodwood.
Shame that i've now moved further West, otherwise I would have come and given you some competition!
Shame that i've now moved further West, otherwise I would have come and given you some competition!
Small thread hijack, I've recently bought a R56 JCW that I plan on sorting out for occasional track days and fast road use.
I live in Farnborough and I had no idea they had a sprints club, how could I get involved in that? I am a complete rookie at trackdays/sprints in general so I wonder what the pre-requisites are for getting into the scene.
Nice R53 btw, my colleague just bought one after he drove my R56... fallen for it hard!
Heres mine:
I live in Farnborough and I had no idea they had a sprints club, how could I get involved in that? I am a complete rookie at trackdays/sprints in general so I wonder what the pre-requisites are for getting into the scene.
Nice R53 btw, my colleague just bought one after he drove my R56... fallen for it hard!
Heres mine:
Edited by Face Off on Tuesday 15th May 11:29
Face Off said:
Small thread hijack, I've recently bought a R56 JCW that I plan on sorting out for occasional track days and fast road use.
I live in Farnborough and I had no idea they had a sprints club, how could I get involved in that? I am a complete rookie at trackdays/sprints in general so I wonder what the pre-requisites are for getting into the scene.
Nice R56! I have an R55 Cooper D as a daily and the general build of the Gen2 cars is much improved over the Gen1 cars.I live in Farnborough and I had no idea they had a sprints club, how could I get involved in that? I am a complete rookie at trackdays/sprints in general so I wonder what the pre-requisites are for getting into the scene.
Edited by Face Off on Tuesday 15th May 11:29
As for Farnborough District Motorclub you can find their website here: www.fdmc.org.uk They're one of the best motorclubs in the UK and organise loads of events. Membership is £25 per year I think.
To go sprinting you need an MSA Speed Licence (Just a form filling, photo and money exercise), FIA race suit, FIA gloves, FIA Helmet and a few stickers on your car.
HorneyMX5 said:
Nice R56! I have an R55 Cooper D as a daily and the general build of the Gen2 cars is much improved over the Gen1 cars.
As for Farnborough District Motorclub you can find their website here: www.fdmc.org.uk They're one of the best motorclubs in the UK and organise loads of events. Membership is £25 per year I think.
To go sprinting you need an MSA Speed Licence (Just a form filling, photo and money exercise), FIA race suit, FIA gloves, FIA Helmet and a few stickers on your car.
Yeah part of the reason why I went for the R56 for the added refinement and extra mod cons, but having said that I have the N14 JCW but i've had no problems even after hearing all the horror stories.As for Farnborough District Motorclub you can find their website here: www.fdmc.org.uk They're one of the best motorclubs in the UK and organise loads of events. Membership is £25 per year I think.
To go sprinting you need an MSA Speed Licence (Just a form filling, photo and money exercise), FIA race suit, FIA gloves, FIA Helmet and a few stickers on your car.
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?
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