Does anyone know anything about this highly-modified car ?
Discussion
I've been thinking of getting a Cooper S JCW to use mainly for track days but I've also been looking at this car
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/854399.htm
as it has a lot of work done to it and is still listed as a Cooper S which would mean a saving for me on the VRT import duty into Ireland.
Do any of you know anything about it?
How well has the work been done on it?
How much is the reliability of the Cooper S engine compromised with this level of tuning?
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/854399.htm
as it has a lot of work done to it and is still listed as a Cooper S which would mean a saving for me on the VRT import duty into Ireland.
Do any of you know anything about it?
How well has the work been done on it?
How much is the reliability of the Cooper S engine compromised with this level of tuning?
A couple of things from the photo.
That GT Tuning air filter is worse than stock, i know of a car that gained 7bhp by refitting an old airbox and dirty airfilter.
His intercooler boots aren't on properly, so it will have a boost leak.
Those GP wheels weigh more than the earth, so if you're wanting to change them go for something by OZ Racing or Team Dynamics
It also looks like he's got an SCNM sticker on it, so it would be a safe bet he's on there:
http://www.scnm.co.uk/
As for reliability, the tritec engine is bombproof, mine is running 241bhp with no troubles.
i would be concerned about it having no cat though as they lose torque (and don't gain HP) also they wont pass an emissions test so in all likelyhood it wont pass an MOT.
Also i'd be interested to see a dyno graph as to get past 240bhp, you're looking at head/cams/chargecooler/front mount intercooler.
That GT Tuning air filter is worse than stock, i know of a car that gained 7bhp by refitting an old airbox and dirty airfilter.
His intercooler boots aren't on properly, so it will have a boost leak.
Those GP wheels weigh more than the earth, so if you're wanting to change them go for something by OZ Racing or Team Dynamics
It also looks like he's got an SCNM sticker on it, so it would be a safe bet he's on there:
http://www.scnm.co.uk/
As for reliability, the tritec engine is bombproof, mine is running 241bhp with no troubles.
i would be concerned about it having no cat though as they lose torque (and don't gain HP) also they wont pass an emissions test so in all likelyhood it wont pass an MOT.
Also i'd be interested to see a dyno graph as to get past 240bhp, you're looking at head/cams/chargecooler/front mount intercooler.
I've been checking it out and it turns out the owner passed away last year.
I hope to have some more info on the car during the week.
Is it normal to need to run a tuned car on 97 octane petrol?
I as as it's not sold overe here.
The best we have available is 95 octane so obviously I don't want to destroy an engine prematurely.
I hope to have some more info on the car during the week.
Is it normal to need to run a tuned car on 97 octane petrol?
I as as it's not sold overe here.
The best we have available is 95 octane so obviously I don't want to destroy an engine prematurely.
It will have been mapped for shell vpower so if you can't get that then you'll need to get it mapped for normal unleaded, 1320 autos could do that no problem.
As for running it on standard unleaded, it should be ok, but I've never run mine on anything but vpower so I can't say for sure
As for running it on standard unleaded, it should be ok, but I've never run mine on anything but vpower so I can't say for sure
I knew the owner of that car (max) he was a good friend, and you said sadly passed away last year. All the work listed on the ad is correct and it has been maintained throughly ive driven it and can say that is certainly very very quick. As far as im aware the only thing max never got round to doing was up rating the suspension or adding a big brake kit.
The only major item of maintenance that car may need is a new supercharger (mini state a life span of 100k) if it has not already had this done its not a big job
The only major item of maintenance that car may need is a new supercharger (mini state a life span of 100k) if it has not already had this done its not a big job
So if it was all "go faster" work that was done and not handling or stopping, does that mean that the brakes and suspension will be inadequate for the extra power or is the standard set-up good enough to take it?
Also would I be correct in assuming that a new blower could probably be got off a breakers at this stage and it would do fine so long as it was a relatively low milage unit?
Also would I be correct in assuming that a new blower could probably be got off a breakers at this stage and it would do fine so long as it was a relatively low milage unit?
Ebay is also a good bet, you would be wise to get a spare teflon coated one, just in case.
As for the brakes, IMHO the standard brakes are hateful. I've upgraded to brembos but as a stop gap, mintex m1155s are an good pad for the standard setup.
Suspension on a cooper S is really good if it's the sports plus, the standard sports suspension is ok.
But if you're wanting to upgrade it you will lose a lot of the finesse and it will become more crashy, i've not changed the suspension on mine and on the road IMHO i'm not losing any performance and i'll never track day it as i have the VX220.
As for the brakes, IMHO the standard brakes are hateful. I've upgraded to brembos but as a stop gap, mintex m1155s are an good pad for the standard setup.
Suspension on a cooper S is really good if it's the sports plus, the standard sports suspension is ok.
But if you're wanting to upgrade it you will lose a lot of the finesse and it will become more crashy, i've not changed the suspension on mine and on the road IMHO i'm not losing any performance and i'll never track day it as i have the VX220.
They're not essential, i don't have an LSD fitted, but it is the next thing on the list of upgrades.
There is a better one available, it's made by quaife.
But as they're a gearbox out job, i'm waiting until the clutch needs doing as well because if i put it in now i'll do the clutch anyway.
There is a better one available, it's made by quaife.
But as they're a gearbox out job, i'm waiting until the clutch needs doing as well because if i put it in now i'll do the clutch anyway.
Ireland said:
DanGT said:
The LSD is good. Ive driven a Copper S with and with out and the extra grip out of corners is realy good with the LSD.
Yeah, that's what I reckoned.Surely it would be essential on something with the power of that one.
Obviously, if i get the car rolling then floor the accelerator it will break traction, but that's both wheels.
Silent1 said:
Also, if you want someone to come and look at the car with you and want their opinion, i'm more than happy to go with you, as i'll be coming from cambridge i can pick you up from the airport etc.
You might be sorry you offered to do that as I might just take you up on that offer.I'm waiting for one or two more small bits of information on the car and I'll decide sometine next week if I'm going to go and look at it.
I would probably go on a weekday but I'll let you know if I'm going and we can sort it from there.
Thanks.
Ireland said:
I've been checking it out and it turns out the owner passed away last year.
I hope to have some more info on the car during the week.
Is it normal to need to run a tuned car on 97 octane petrol?
I as as it's not sold overe here.
The best we have available is 95 octane so obviously I don't want to destroy an engine prematurely.
that's right, it belonged to Max off SCNM (www.scnm.co.uk) I hope to have some more info on the car during the week.
Is it normal to need to run a tuned car on 97 octane petrol?
I as as it's not sold overe here.
The best we have available is 95 octane so obviously I don't want to destroy an engine prematurely.
he was very proud of his car, so I'm sure it would be a good buy So far the majority of the feedback I'm getting off here is very positive and that the car is in good order.
The thing that's holding me back is that a lot of the people dealing in high-powered and modified cars over here feel I'd possibly destroy the engine before too long using the 95 octane petrol which is all that is available over here.
Have any of you run modified engines on 95 octane petrol for an extended period of time (ie YEARS) and if so what sort of problems did you encounter along the way in terms of reliability (or lack of as the case may be) ?
The thing that's holding me back is that a lot of the people dealing in high-powered and modified cars over here feel I'd possibly destroy the engine before too long using the 95 octane petrol which is all that is available over here.
Have any of you run modified engines on 95 octane petrol for an extended period of time (ie YEARS) and if so what sort of problems did you encounter along the way in terms of reliability (or lack of as the case may be) ?
I bought a 4.2 rather than a 4.5 Cerbera to avoid having to add the correct amount of octane booster per tank.
I just felt it would be too difficult to get it spot on every time.
As much as I want the 265 bhp Cooper S I'm starting to think I'd end up blowing the engine through forgetting the "cough bottle" every time I filled it up.
But we'll see ....
I just felt it would be too difficult to get it spot on every time.
As much as I want the 265 bhp Cooper S I'm starting to think I'd end up blowing the engine through forgetting the "cough bottle" every time I filled it up.
But we'll see ....
Ireland said:
I bought a 4.2 rather than a 4.5 Cerbera to avoid having to add the correct amount of octane booster per tank.
I just felt it would be too difficult to get it spot on every time.
As much as I want the 265 bhp Cooper S I'm starting to think I'd end up blowing the engine through forgetting the "cough bottle" every time I filled it up.
But we'll see ....
the cooper S lump is a solid engine, but i would take it to 1320 in st neots and have them re-map it for 95 ron I just felt it would be too difficult to get it spot on every time.
As much as I want the 265 bhp Cooper S I'm starting to think I'd end up blowing the engine through forgetting the "cough bottle" every time I filled it up.
But we'll see ....
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