Most liked posts in thread: Ben's MINI :: 2006 MINI Cooper S

Got my wheels cleaned up and powdercoated anthracite. No more track brake dust pits, no more curb rash. Those are new Bridgestone RE970AS PP tires, too.


Clean MINI by BThayer23, on Flickr

 

New BBK installed this week (still have to finish the other side). Supercharger rebuild (front drive and clearancing), new tensioner, idler pulley, belt, spark plugs, wires, boost gauge plumbing, and brakes bled.

TCE 13x0.92 kit:


Comparison to my old BBK:

 

I'm gonna start uploading pictures to this thread, just for kicks.

 

My failed CV boot and duct tape repair that held up for 1500 miles and four track days:



The windshield didn't survive the last track day of the season. Chip below the wiper kept growing.



Inspected the rear O2 sensor (P0420 before the O2 sim, then P2270 after O2 sim wired in). Found a blown exhaust gasket.

 

Replaced the exhaust gasket, still have a P0420. Might try another type of gasket.

Replaced the transmission mount bushing with a Powerflex polyurethane bushing. Before, the car had a lot of whiplash on/off throttle. After, it shifts like a dream. No lash, hardly any additional NVH, and I expect that to go away after the bushing breaks in (based on previous experience).

Bad news is the supercharger's making noise now. I think it's time for a rebuild and a new water pump.

 

The fix for that code was removing the O2 sim, but that brought back the P0420 code. I replaced the exhaust gasket and reinstalled the O2 sim, but I haven't driven it since then. Once I finish installing my brakes this week, I'll be able to get it out on the road and see if the O2 sim works now with the new gasket.

 

The pads on the TSW kit are only 12mm thick (including 2-3mm for backing plate). I got 4-6 track days out of them, and reduced heat tolerance towards the end of the pad. (Stock R53 rears are 16mm thick.) The pads for my new TCE Wilwood kit are 20mm thick.

I switched because the calipers started leaking after 9 months, 5k miles, and 6 track days. I'll rebuild them and sell them to somebody who doesn't abuse brakes like I do and doesn't need 13" rotors.

 

The old OEM header rusted in half, but the new RMW Street header wouldn't pass inspection, so I sucked it up and bought a new OEM header (center).

 

Thanks! We had an inch of rain yesterday, and those B'stones were fantastic.

 

Thanks. I've had a lot of help from some friends.

Don't mean to be rude, but we don't discuss speeding on public roads on this forum.

Now, if you're asking about speeds on a closed track, I can tell you that my MINI tops out at about 118 on the front and back straightaways at VIR. Any faster and I'd have to shift into 6th and then a few seconds later hit the brakes and downshift to 3rd, so I don't bother. Also, the MINI isn't very stable at those speeds. Any crosswinds make the ride very exciting. I have a set of plastic panels to install on the bottom of the car that should help, but I haven't gotten around to it yet.