1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Cheap Mods

Keep saving your money.... $200 won't get you much as new parts...
You might get lucky and find a set of used Ireland Engineering fixed camber plates from a forum member.
That mod plus a new alignment will make your MINI handle better than stock....
When you are dealing with a suspension mod, going cheap might not be in your best interest....

 

In my experience, going cheap is not an option with a MINI. I especially wouldn't do it with anything related to suspension/steering/etc. These are the things that keep the car planted on the ground, and facing in the right direction. Unless already done, your '03 will need new lower control arm bushings (Powerflex, $87). While you're in there, replace the inner and outer ball joints (OEM). These items alone will take more than your $200 budget.

 

If your suspension is in good shape a larger rear sway bar would fall in your two hundred dollar budget.

 

At 200 bux, your factory suspension is FAR superior to anything you would be replacing it with for that amount of doe. As stated above, if you can find a nice rear sway bar for around that, that's something you can do that'll make an improvement.

 

Agree, on that budget rear sway bar is where to start.

Cheap parts will end up costing you more in the long run; do it right the first time, as budget allows. You're much better off in long run both from a performance standpoint and financial standpoint waiting and saving up for a quality part that may come up used rather than buying something because you can afford it, only to realize that it performs worse than OEM.

 

Honestly....most MINI cars are on tires that are WAY TOO CHEAP...
Unless your tires are grippy enough, changing the suspension won'thelp....
First , make sure everything is in good mechanical shape...
Ball joints, bushings....then look at the tires...
Are they the limiting factor?
You might choose too take some $$ and save it...and buy better tires when you want/need a set...or even do it early.
Many MINI drives fall into the trap of going far too cheap and if the tires don't grip, it doesn'tmatter what you do....gotta grip..
Honestly look at how you drive....
The stock suspensionis good enough for 90% of street drivers with little more than a good alignmentand maybe a good rear sway bar....a rear sway bar is about $200, plus install if needed...
Camber plates can bee good, but if you do more straight miles, you can chew up tires on the inner edges....hard driving scrubs them more even...but if you want them, RATHER THAN NEED THEM, don't get them.
Next, shocks and struts vs coilovers.....
Cheap coilovers are good to lower a car.....ride becomes worse compared to FULL FUNCTIONING stock...
Handling....can be worse if setup poorly...soring rates on cheap units are generic...heck the stock springs were tuned on tracks...
That's why a GOOD SET OF KONI SPORTS OR YELLOW shocks/struts are the best till you want to spend SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS and another few hundred on corner weighting your car.....cheap coilovers are there to lower a car, and say to the "Hommies" "look what I got, I can race like in a movie".

 

When I bought my S new in 2006, I went to TSW springs shortly afterwards and put my '06 springs into my R50, where they have been ever since. What a difference the '06 springs made and I have never regretted doing that as the '03 R50 springs were a real POS. The car handles much better, as a result.

 

How has nobody mentioned doing the dave-f air box mod yet? Practically free and completely changes the throttle response and supercharger whine!

 

opcorn:

 

the dave F box is not super easy to come by here in the states.

 

I know a guy who knows a guy who can get em' for under 200 bucks.

CD

 

No need to buy one. Just buy some drain pipe, a drill with a hole cutter and a cone filter. It's a nice little DIY job for a Sunday afternoon!

 

Well crap, looks like my commission checks just got smaller. Thanks. :incazzato:

CD

 

I'd keep your $200 and stay away from modding all together. It's a slippery slope. Next thing you know, your house is gone, and your considering selling your body to keep the mod train rolling...

 

This is a very good point! Modding three Minis did earn me a divorce...well that and the fact I am an dick!

 

If you just bought your car, the best mods you can make for 'cheap' are to change your oil, coolant , and brake fluids...maybe the air cleaner also. Then start saving your money...

 

Haha that's awesome :cornut: I've spent so much time and money on my mini I think even my dog is starting to question my sanity. I don't know what's wrong with me. It's a disease really.


I think I know why there are so many scrub questions on mini forums in general. Because the value of the vehicles has tanked so bad you can afford to buy one as your first car. Thats why.

 

He ain't lying!!! I've had to sell myself a lot over the last 10 years to build mine, and it's still far from being done, and the 8 year enlistment contract expired a couple years ago...

Never sell yourself for a car, it's hell on your knees, back, and mental stability. [emoji23]

 

Here's a good sway for just under $200-http://www.greeneperformance.com/collections/mini-oem-performance-parts/products/whiteline-20mm-rear-sway-bar