1. Capn D

    Capn D New Member

    Apr 26, 2016
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    Hello All,

    So I am new to the whole Mini thing. I just purchased an '03 Mini Cooper S. I don't have much money so looking at doing some ultra cheap mods. Any recommendations? I've heard really good things about Alta parts. Thanks for any insight.
     
  2. 00Mini

    00Mini Well-Known Member

    Feb 24, 2013
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    Welcome to Motoring Alliance the onlyest MINI forum you'll ever need !! Be advised that Alta is not a highly thought of outfit in these parts.
     
  3. JMC40

    JMC40 Well-Known Member

    Sep 1, 2010
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    O...H...!!
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    Yeah Alta parts are to be avoided at all cost...
     
  4. GokartPilot

    GokartPilot Well-Known Member

    Jan 9, 2012
    962
    715
    93
    training specialist
    Maysville, North Carolina USA
    Ratings:
    +780 / 0 / -0
    Welcome aboard! Post a picture of your MINI and I am sure people will give you a few ideas on some mods. It is always easier to spend someone else's money:D
     
  5. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
    Staff Member Articles Moderator Supporting Member

    Jul 31, 2009
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    Welcome to MA! Do you know what maintenance or mods have been done to the car? If you don't know the history here is what I would do. Check the control arm bushings, do this by kicking the front of the front tire, if it moves then you need to replace them. The stock ones only last about 30 or 40k. replace them with Powerflex bushings they will last a very long time. The biggest bang for the buck is a 15% supercharger pulley. When you do it go head and replace the idler pulley and belt tensioner. Also look at the crank pulley. The inner and outer parts have rubber between them if the rubber is cracked you need to replace it. Use a ATI super damper. Its not cheep put will last for ever. The crank pulley is a known failure point.
    As fair as Alta goes.........I don't know. Some here say their parts are crap. I have their SC pulley on my car, but people have had problems with them. I got mine early on so I have had it for several years. But I do not do business with them. Long story but I had a problem with a part and they could not have cared less.
    I can say this we have some great sponsors. They all support the MINI community and MA. They stand behind their parts and are always a lot of help. I wish I had more money to through at them. I have used Detroit Tuned, Outmotoring, eMiniparts, Helix. My wife bought me a Cravenspeed gear shift knob, it did not work for my year Mini their support was incredible and I hated to send the part back, this was not their fault. I have not used Revolution Mini Works but they have helped me with questions. All of them are great. So I would say there are better choices then Alta.

    Sorry for the long post.
     
  6. Qik

    Qik Well-Known Member

    Oct 27, 2015
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    IT
    Atlanta-ish
    Ratings:
    +811 / 0 / -0
    Welcome! Avoid Alta unless it's just an air filter, than it's ok. Avoid suspension components and pulley's, and really anything that's important when it comes to performance... Pictures please :D
     
  7. mrntd

    mrntd Well-Known Member
    Supporting Member

    Sep 30, 2011
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    Sales and Marketing manager
    Hilliard, Ohio
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    Welcome Aboard! I'll second MCS02 as for the quality of the sponsors here. I too have used a number of them and they are always great.
     
  8. eMINIparts

    eMINIparts Well-Known Member
    Motoring Alliance Sponsor

    Mar 13, 2012
    3,751
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    MINI Parts Advisor
    Bedford NH
    Ratings:
    +1,090 / 0 / -0
    Welcome to the coolest MINI forum on the net...................:cool:
     
  9. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
    Staff Member Articles Moderator Supporting Member

    Jul 31, 2009
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    Oops I forgot Bentley Service Manual, its a must if you do your own work.

    By the way we are good at spending other peoples money.:D
     
  10. ZippyNH

    ZippyNH Well-Known Member

    Jan 25, 2010
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    Pilot
    Southern NH
    Ratings:
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    Welcome!!
    Regular maintenance and repairs are the BEST mods ever. Honest.
    Till you spend a bit of $$, the the cheap stuff I'd just that junk....
    It cheaper than the OEM stuff cause it isn't made to last, and often makes the car perform WORSE.
    Even Alta stuff can be kinda shady....some of their CAI ...COLD AIR INTAKES...are junk..they rust...some are ok..but that's why they were copied so many times...you don't know of you are getting a future rust magnet or a nice piece of bling.
    Honestly...if you want a nice starter mod on a 13+ year old car, get a pair of fuzzy dice...jk there, but do save some $$ for repairs.
    What do you have on the car now? A couple pictures will help...both engine bay, interior and exterior will help. Used parts can save $$, but check to see if the seller has been around a bit...internet scammers pop up, sign up..rip folks off..then disappear...but a poster with a couple year of time and a few good posts over that time is usually safe.
     
  11. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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

    Goldsmithy MINI Alliance Ambassador
    Articles Moderator Supporting Member

    Jan 30, 2015
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    TCB
    Main Street in the land of Oz
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    Welcome to the modness...best MINI site with the best people. I second what everyone has said about suppliers.
     
  13. wmwny

    wmwny Well-Known Member

    May 29, 2009
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    Retired
    Piqua, Ohio
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    Welcome to M/A! :Thumbsup: Enjoy your Gen 1 old, but new-to-you ride! :cornut:

    As you can see, we love to share opinions on everything MINI, as well as about anything non-MINI!:devil:

    I disagree with what has been said about ALTA. I have the ALTA CAI with the airbox and the silicone hose on my '06 MCS [which I bought NEW and which now has over 116,000 troublefree miles]. Ditto the ALTA rear adjustable control arms.

    Choose whatever you like and don't let the opinions of a few influence your decision.
     
  14. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 4, 2009
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    Burbs of Philly, PA
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    Welcome to M/A.

    Friends don't let friends buy ALTA. :devil:
     
  15. wmwny

    wmwny Well-Known Member

    May 29, 2009
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    Piqua, Ohio
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    You say the same about M7. I have M7 parts, too, and have never had a problem with them, either.

    I still say that it is truly one's own decision to buy parts. What works for one person does not necessarily work for someone else.
     
  16. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 4, 2009
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    Thanks for the reminder. :rolleyes:

    M7 is overpriced but still crap. :lol:
     
  17. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 4, 2009
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    Thanks for the reminder. :rolleyes:

    M7 is overpriced but still crap. :lol:
     
  18. M1N1

    M1N1 Well-Known Member

    Jan 5, 2014
    726
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    Tool and Die Maker
    NW Ohio
    Ratings:
    +330 / 0 / -0
    Welcome to the addiction. If you haven't already done so, do your basic maintenance items first. Oil & filter change (good oil and OEM filter), plugs/wires/coil (OEM, not so-called "performance" items in pretty colors), lower control arms bushings replaced with Powerflex, etc.

    Read the threads on this forum for "how-to's". For instance, you will need the 36mm socket for the oil filter housing cap.
     
  19. Capn D

    Capn D New Member

    Apr 26, 2016
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    The Land of Douche
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    Wow thanks for all the warm welcomes...seems like a pretty cool place! Here are a couple of pics of my baby. As far as I know it is completely stock.

    001.jpg
    004.jpg
     
  20. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    Sep 29, 2009
    12,713
    7,659
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    Ex-Owner (Retired) of a custom metal fab company.
    Columbus, Ohio
    Ratings:
    +7,913 / 1 / -0
    Welcome to MA...

    Get with David.0, he's a big fan of Alta, he always puts up used Alta parts on the forum whenever Alta comes out with something new he's selling his hardly used old Alta parts. Ask him for the "Alta Deal"

    I think he has stock in that company.

    David.0 is the reason Alta parts are red and his MINI is red... I suspect he's a Alta rep. but he won't admit it...:D
     

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