New and don't know much about mini

Discussion in 'Starting Line - New Member Introductions' started by Marshmallow, Jan 16, 2016.

  1. Marshmallow

    Marshmallow New Member

    Jan 16, 2016
    1
    0
    0
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    I'm new to the whole forum but I modified my mini (r50 06 Mini Cooper hardtop base model) with
    Exsaust system
    Air intake
    V jet performance chip
    I wanted to make my mini go faster. Any suggestions on what else to install and where to buy at a reasonable price ✌️

    Ps. Am looking for a body kit to make it look awesome. Some held would be great.
     
  2. cristo

    cristo Well-Known Member

    Jan 4, 2015
    5,360
    883
    113
    Male
    physician
    York, Pa
    Ratings:
    +1,107 / 0 / -1
    Faster is hard to come by on an R50. You could add a header, cam, and
    ported head and re-tune again for a few more hp, but it's a lot of $ for a little gain.

    What wheels and tires are you running? If they're on the heavy side, lighter ones
    would help acceleration a little and handling a bit more. Strong but light options
    that won't break the bank would be Enkei PF01 or RPF1, or OZ ALLEGGERITA HLT.
    Strong but light options that will break the bank would be something like Volk CE28
    or TE37 or similar true forged wheels.
    There are some good light tires, also, but need to know size and purpose
    (summer + winter sets or all-seasons) before looking down that road further.
     
  3. Mr. Jim

    Mr. Jim Mudshark
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 22, 2010
    3,390
    1,213
    113
    North Carolina
    Ratings:
    +1,221 / 0 / -0
    Work on making it handle better and it will surprise you. R50's do good in autocross events because they can't go fast.
     
  4. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
    Staff Member Articles Moderator Supporting Member

    Jul 31, 2009
    11,163
    6,169
    113
    Male
    Ratings:
    +7,874 / 10 / -3
    Welcome to MA!

    For handling go with a good rear sway bar first. Then springs and struts when you have some money. Our sponsors have plenty to chose from. You can plan on spending around $250-$300.

    I have heard a good custom tune may help but I don't know if its the best bang for the buck.
     
  5. 00Mini

    00Mini Well-Known Member

    Feb 24, 2013
    20,844
    2,021
    113
    Retired
    Ratings:
    +2,974 / 6 / -5
    Lots of great information for you to think on and Welcome to Motoring Alliance the bestest MINI forum on the interweb !!
     
  6. wmwny

    wmwny Well-Known Member

    May 29, 2009
    4,033
    2,236
    113
    Male
    Retired
    Piqua, Ohio
    Ratings:
    +2,788 / 10 / -0
    Welcome to M/A!

    With regard to owning a Cooper and wanting to make it go faster, you are only dealing with half of the problem...the other half being YOU. SEAT TIME behind the wheel gives YOU the opportunity to see what YOU can do [such as YOUR limits] for the car as much as what a modded car can do for you. I'd take a high performance driving school for fast, safe driving experience before getting involved with adding a lot of power to your Cooper.
     
  7. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 4, 2009
    25,021
    13,497
    113
    Burbs of Philly, PA
    Ratings:
    +14,644 / 10 / -4
    Not a whole lot you can do with a "Justa" Cooper for more power because the motor internals are not built for a huge power increase. Now if you have very deep pockets you could always buy a completely built "stroker" motor.

    The best mod is as people have said is education for the "nut behind the wheel". Along with light wheels and very grippy non run flat tire's. Learn the car and how to push it and you to its limits and you will be surprised how fast and fun a "Justa" is.

    Lots of horsepower is no good if you can't control or worse stop it when you get into trouble.
     
  8. mattc85

    mattc85 Active Member

    Sep 24, 2013
    277
    222
    43
    Heating and Air
    Mocksville, North Carolina
    Ratings:
    +222 / 0 / -0
    I have no problem keeping up with the faster drivers in our club in my justa on public roads. It has forced me to learn to drive smoothly to keep up my momentum. In the time that I've had it, I feel like I've improved substantially as a driver. I don't know if that would have been possible if I had another 60-80hp to rely on. Outside of DaveO's suggestion of a fully built stroker motor, I don't really see any power adders being worth the effort, except that more loud=more cool.
     
  9. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

    Mar 30, 2009
    25,144
    10,052
    113
    Writer
    Short North
    Ratings:
    +10,069 / 0 / -0
    Welcome, thanks for joining Motoring Alliance, the FUN and Friendly MINI Community.
     
  10. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 4, 2009
    3,532
    2,896
    113
    Professional Facilitator and Alignment Consultant
    Holly Springs, NC
    Ratings:
    +2,896 / 0 / -0
    ... And while the fully built RMW stroker is a fantastic engine and would definitely add a bit of torque... it's also massive overkill for a Cooper, the internals are built to handle 30psi of boost...
     
  11. quikmni

    quikmni Moderator

    Jun 6, 2009
    774
    174
    43
    Aerospace Engineer
    Orcutt, CA
    Ratings:
    +174 / 0 / -0
    Welcome to Motoring Alliance.
    As many have said not too much more power to be gained with the standard Mini Cooper without spending a lot of money. It would be better to sell the R50 and get a R53 if speed/power is your primary goal.
    Again as other have said, with a R50, I would focus on handling and driver training. Auto-X is a great event for R50s.
    For better handling I would be thinking:
    - Lower/Stiffer Springs
    - Adj shocks
    - Adj Rear Sway Bar
    - Front Camber Plates (Fixed or Adj)
    - Adj Lower Rear Control Arms (to adj rear camber after lowering)
    - Stickier tires (type depends on your location and driving conditions)
    - Lighter wheels
     
  12. mattc85

    mattc85 Active Member

    Sep 24, 2013
    277
    222
    43
    Heating and Air
    Mocksville, North Carolina
    Ratings:
    +222 / 0 / -0
    That would turn the gears in a justa's midlands box into glitter. I imagine that combined with the gear oil would resemble the glitter glue my kids like to get all over everything. lol. I wonder if the later 5 speeds were any more robust. I do think it would be cool to assemble a very high revving n/a engine mated to a better gearbox, though.
     
  13. mrntd

    mrntd Well-Known Member
    Supporting Member

    Sep 30, 2011
    5,083
    1,762
    113
    Male
    Sales and Marketing manager
    Hilliard, Ohio
    Ratings:
    +1,763 / 0 / -0
    If you spend your money on suspension, wheels and tires you can transfer them over when you up grade to an R53. Just save the stock parts to put back on.
     

Share This Page