Lohen Performance Pack 2

[GaryF]

Rather than changing my Coupe JCW I've embarked upon some upgrades...

I've just fitted an AEM induction kit and already have a set of Micelin Pilot Super Sports boots but I'm really smitten with the idea of the Lohen Performace Pack 2 :-

http://www.lohen.co.uk/shop/gen-2-mini/engine-ecu/...

And to pre-empt any clutch problems, one of their new TTV organic clutches :-

http://www.lohen.co.uk/shop/gen-2-mini/drivetrain/...

And possibly, one of these to allow switching of ecu maps :-

http://www.lohen.co.uk/shop/gen-2-mini/engine-ecu/...

No power / torque figures are quoted for the upgrade, but from what I can deduce from their dyno leaderboard, a similarly equipped R56 was putting out 272.7 bhp and 407.3 nm torque. Dyno chart here :-

http://www.lohen.co.uk/images/dyno/leader-board-gr...

Well as you have probably guessed by now, I'm looking for someone to reassure me this is the best use of my funds and will put a big smile on my face. All in, the cost is looking like ~£3,590 fitted, so not cheap but it does sound like big fun for a small car.

Your thoughs / experiences are very welcome on this potentilly foolhardy errand / brilliant wheeze - delete as appropriate.

Thanks.

[GaryF]

Thanks for the replies guys.

On the clutch front, I did speak to them and they recommended this new organic jobbie which is supposed to feel like a factory OEM clutch and perfect for every day road use and very capable of handling the uprated power and torque without the downsides that can come with a paddle clutch. I won't be taking it on track.

I'm in NI so it's not so easy to pop over and try a demo - I'd probably just take the car over with the intention of having it done and try out thier car on the day just to be absolutely sure.

It does sound like it could be a lot of fun. The gearing is already so short and tightly stacked that the torque on twisy roads makes it a complete hoot to drive. I can only imagine what another 60ish bhp and shedload of torque would bring. Possibly some problems with torque steer / getting the power down?

Does anyone have these mods and can comment on drivability / fun factor?

Also, do you get much in the way of pops and bangs with the high-flow Akropovic cat?

[GaryF]

Right then, I've started the saving required for this. I'm going to need a bigger piggy bank.

[GaryF]

The1Driver said:

Will be interested to know your thoughts after the upgrade.

Im currently on my second GP2. And have never thought it needed more power. Saying that. I'd be keen to know what a Mini with 270bhp felt like.

My hope would be "sublime" and a nice Q car

[GaryF]

Listening to your warnings, I think I'd really need to try a car with the PP2 and set just what it drives like. If it's unusable, then it would be totally pointless and expensive.

On the other hand..... it might be a complete riot

Any PP2 folks out there who can comment?

Being able to switch from standard map to the madder ones also may also be useful for when you don't need to have your pants on fire 100% of the time.

I don't want to have to fork out further again for uprated suspension on top of this kaboodle just to keep it out of the hedges.

The child in me thinks this is still a fun prospect!

[GaryF]

Thanks Slowstig for the lead. I saw this on their Facebook link from the website :-

"Yep, it's another F56 Mini Cooper S 2.0T in for custom mapping; and no wonder: group buy at JUST £325!!"

Hasn't anyone told them it's a 1.6

If they can do the business cheaper, then that is certainly an alternate option. Will need to contact them direct for info as not much on their site.

[GaryF]

Sorry, my fault for misreading. They are though referring to an upgrade for the Gen 3 F56 2.0l.

I'm Gen 2 1.6l and an R58 rather than R56 as I'm wearing a baseball cap the wrong way round... Complex this isn't it?

At the risk of derailing the thread completely...
I did note in passing on the Lohen site that they did not have any ecu upgrades at all listed for the Gen 3 when I first looked, but now they do! 285 BHP and 480 Nm of torque for the stage 2 (£720)

Edited to add: [i]The ECU tunes requires the MINI to be fitted with a performance air filter or induction kit, a quality uprated intercooler and a freer flowing Sport cat downpipe or de-cat pipe if the MINI is being used on track.
The Stage 2 ECU tune coupled with the hardware upgrades will deliver approximately 285 BHP and 480 Nm of torque.[/i]

So there still will be the additional expense of this, but does not mention need / recommendation for clutch upgrade. Hence the costs for 'my' upgrade in comparison are not obscene, relative to this.

Now back to my R58 JCW....

Edited by GaryF on Wednesday 15th November 17:06

[GaryF]

mon the fish said:

The standard clutch in all variants has always been fine with more power, I'm sure it can easily take high-200s

If that is the case, then it shaves a chunky £1,560 off my potential bill (TTV Organic clutch: £1,200, Fitting: £360).

Lohen state that the the TTV organic clutch can take up to 475Nm and warn that:

"For MINI owners who were running more than 360Nm of torque, there only option for a reliable clutch was a paddle kit that compared with standard, was more noisy, heavier and not as user friendly for day to day driving on UK roads. Now, thanks to Lohen and TTV, we can now offer a road clutch that has no trade offs."

Whats the opinion here on putting ~270 BHP & ~407 Nm of torque through a standard clutch? I think its the torque that's the killer as opposed to outright BHP.

Lohen also have this Quaife ATB diff for helping get the power down but it is only for Cooper S models :-

http://www.lohen.co.uk/shop/gen-2-mini/drivetrain/...

What do I have in my JCW as standard?

[GaryF]

Sir Dave, yes - mine is an N14, but I didn't realise that they had a reputation for chocolate pistons.

I'm now starting to question my next move. All I've done thus far is fit an AEM industion kit and had hoped to go for more power as the next step with the Manic remap, bigger intercooler, Akrapovic downpipe, new sparks and likely the upgraded clutch.

Was the juddery clutch you refer to the TTV Organic version that they say has OEM feel here? :-

http://www.lohen.co.uk/shop/gen-2-mini/drivetrain/...

[GaryF]

Thanks Sir Dave.

I'll take a gander on Minitorque for more info regarding engine problems with higher states of tune. It may be prudent not to go too mad here and see how I get on with a Manic stage 1 tune instead and keep the standard clutch.

Would it be a big improvement with the Quaife LSD even with a milder stage 1 tune as regards getting the power down / overall driving experience? Comments welcome from anyone with Quaife diff experience on their Mini.

[GaryF]

I'm definitely going for the upgrade - currently saving for the Lohen Performance Pack 2, after which I'll run it for a while before uprating the clutch and diff (hopefully without losing the clutch in the interim). That will provide some time for the piggy bank to recover.

I found some very useful info on the other forum about clutch / diff upgrades so I'm trying to figure which is the best option between OS Giken clutch and diff v Quaife and Lohen TTV organic clutch. There is some good praise for the OS G option but some comments on low speed mis-behaviour on full lock (hopping) but not sure if that was just until things bedded in. Sacrificing day to day drivability would rule that option out for me in a DD. When I'm over at Lohen I'll see if I can try a car with the Quaife diff and TTV organic clutch.

To add to my expenses, it transpires that both my front shocks are leaking and need replaced. So I'm wondering if KW V1 coilovers are much of an improvement over standard. There is a chance tham Mini may help 'with' replacement OEM items and the car is due a service just as of this week so a few factors to think about as regards what to do when it's in - if Mini are going to be supportive and it will be cheap, I may just stick with OEM for now.

I've also got water ingress in the front fogs and some corrosion in there on the reflectors so want to get DRLs in whilst its in too. Why is it that its all happening at once?! Going to need an even bigger piggy bank

Any views on OS Giken v Quaife diffs appreciated in the interim saving period...

[GaryF]

mon the fish said:

I still maintain that the stock suspension is terrible, and seems like a good excuse to upgrade - but I would push to get the replacements from Mini, so that you have a set of stock suspension to put on if you sell the car, and sell it as standard

hehheh, I may a a few more un-mods to do by then to get it back to standard

Booked in for service now for next week with cap-in-hand to Mini re: the weeping shocks. Price for supply and fit of DRLs is TBC but I think it's around £350-375 based on what I have seen as a special offer before whilst in.

[GaryF]

Well some minor progress to report...

Had the DRLs fitted (£375 all in) - I know, I know form over function, but the originals were getting tired.

Not got a response back from Mini yet if they will cover the weeping shocks but I'm very taken by the prospect of Ohlins Road & Track coilovers. I've done a lot of reading up on all the options and Ohlins, though expensive, seem to get great reviews with their DFV (dual flow valve) technology for compliance over bumps but also for improved cornering at higher speeds.

Best price for these I can find is £1,670 + fitting. If I can do better, plese let me know...

[GaryF]

Just ordered the Ohlins as the next step.

Will report back when fitted...

[GaryF]

moonigan said:

Great decision. I found setting them 7-10 clicks from full hard was perfect for UK roads. You might needs spacers if you are running standard Mini wheels. Get the 11mm ones.

Thanks moonigan. In my head I'd already started to think of beginning half-way at 15 clicks and adjusting from there based on my findings, but that's helpful to know that it's fine to go in stiffer than that (oooer matron).

I don't plan to drop much from standard ride height so as not to loose any tractability so whatever it comes out at with the recommended minimum preloading done (10mm drop would probably be ok - no slamming as I'm 47 years of age and have a nice tweed cap). Will also be running stock JCW rims. With that in mind, do you think I'll need the spacers?

[GaryF]

Thanks moonigan. I had a read through your thread over there and am liking your positivity about the Ohlins. Can't wait to have those fitted.

Then it'll be on to saving for the next bits which won't come cheap either. It's a slippery (but fun) slope...

[GaryF]

Yes, I'd like to avoid the spacers altogether if I can by not lowering the ride height much. It cuts out their extra weight and the extra weight of the longer bolts that are needed in conjunction with them. Not to mention some additional cost of spacers, longer bolts / locking bolts that can instead go towards the performance pack...

Moonigan, tell me about the Akrapovic downpipe (which is part of performane pack 2) as I see you had one of those fitted and quoted that it was just the right side of an ASBO. I don't know you, so I don't know if that is good (i.e. would not contribute to an ASBO), or, bad (would contribute to an ASBO)

I don't want it to draw to much of the wrong type of attention. Loud? Poppy? Farty?

[GaryF]

The Ohlins finally arrived!

Left them and the car in today for fitting. Can't wait to see what difference they make. Though I did find myself sitting in a new F56 JCW on Sat wondering whether I should be putting the cash toward something like that rather than into a six and a bit year old R58...

Of course I'm doing the right thing

[GaryF]

Picked it back up today with the Ohlins and another couple (of enforced) goodies - new Brembo drilled and slotted front discs and pads. Hmmm, these are rather nice!

Turns out the new pads that my main dealer had fitted last year were shot on the inside as the discs were complely knackered on the inside (though looked ok from the outside). Also, they had fitted the pads the wrong way round (incorrect leading edges). Not happy about that so will have a word with service department. The new discs certainly look the part and will hopefully provide a little more bite.

My TVR mechanic did the install and he is a perfectionist and totally trustworthy so I think I'll use him more often for the Mini once the TLC XL comes to an end.

The Ohlins? Well, first impressions on 15 clicks from soft (halfway) is that the crashiness of the standard suspension is largely gone but I'll need some time over broken surfaces and crap roads to really see what the score is. I want to dial up the firmness a bit more to see what it would be like. Have to say though, on 15 clicks as a starter it seems very good indeed and I don't want a really firm ride as that can be counter-productive on the road.

No issues with fouling / any need for spacers so happy with that. I think we dropped ride height by 13mm all round as I didn't want any compromises on clearance. Initially started at 18mm drop but this was wound back. The Ohlins for the R58 don't have separate height adjustment, it's just accomplished via preload on the springs and winding the collars up.

So another big bill then and a little more than expected due to the extras. That Performance Pack 2, clutch and Quaiffe diff will have to wait a bit now and it seems there is some work on the TVR to do too first too. First world problems though...

[GaryF]

Here's a pic of the new Brembos peeking out...