2nd Gen JCW Intercooler recommendations

I found a fun new set of wheels that are attached to a Cooper S and instead of my 2010 Cooper I now have something with power and a manual transmission to autocross in. A friend mentioned putting on a larger intercooler. I'd love to hear some feedback on brands to check out. And also some pros and cons of adding this to the car. I have a JCW engine and aero kit on the car that was dealer installed. I also have Pirelli runflats that skipped all over the place during last weekends autocross.
Thanks, Pete

 

It's a gen 2 2010 S. Is the sole purpose of an intercooler to boost horsepower? I was thinking part of the benefit is to help keep the engine cooler out here in AZ.

 

The runflats are definitely going away and newer lighter wheels are being looked at. Forged or cast? Price is definitely an issue. Quality brand ideas?? There are so many manufacturers-wow!

 

This seems to be the advice I needed to hear. I checked SCCA rules and an intercooler would change my class and I don't need that. Tires and wheels- here I come. Lighter wheels and stickier tires-Yahoooo!

 

Right now I'm in the STX Open class. The car came with 205/45/r17 Pirelli runflats on 17x7" wheels. I don't have a problem with the class I'm in because I'm still having fun. I won most of my novice races in a mostly stock Mini that was stock until the wheels I bought had .06" too much offset. After I changed the wheels I moved from Novice 1 to Novice 2 then 3. I also added a sway bar once I figured the class change was something I could live with. Now I have the Cooper S and after some questions to people that understand the classing and categorizing of cars, I'm in STX open. TMI? So the intercooler question or change would really throw me into a whole new place I don't think I'm prepared to compete in. Sorting though different mods for the car is exciting . I enjoy the feedback form all of you that have been doing this awhile. Pete

 

I think because I'm still so new to the sport that my next mod would be tires and wheels, then/or the 19mm three hole sway bar from Hotchkis. I liked how that felt in our other Mini. After that I was thinking Koni shocks or springs to lower it?? Any other things to add to the list?

 

Those last two points are high on my list of important things to consider.
When I purchased and installed the 19mm sway bar in my first Mini, it was the Hotchkis brand and it looked as though if it were any bigger it wouldn't fit. Does the 25.5 mm fit in the 2010 Cooper S? Camber plates? Way out of my league for research and intelligent choice making in terms of pros and cons and unintended consequences. The car is a mostly daily driver with a once or twice a month autocross. The Vorshlag plates sounded good in the most recent reviews. Is this a slippery slope that leads to a novice driver to chasing one mod after another? I want to make sure I feel and learn how to appreciate each change in tuning up the performance of the car.

 

Ok, so the camber plates move into higher consideration but now I need to hear about the pros and cons of the different brands-Vorshlag,Ireland Engineering(sp?), NM,and others , camber and castor(sp?),ride harshness, adjustability, etc. Will they work better if I lower the car a bit. New wheels and tires are on their way(19 lb & 45mm offset and yokos ad08s)???? Thanks for the info!!