1st Gen R50 Cooper Mods for a 05 non S Mini Convertible

Discussion in '1st Generation: 2002–06 R50, R53 & 2004–08 R52' started by MEANI, Aug 19, 2013.

  1. MEANI

    MEANI New Member

    Aug 19, 2013
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    Hello am new to this but have a 05 mini nonS and looking for ideas on how to increase hp on it. Any sugestions.
     
  2. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    Welcome to M/A the FUN Mini site. :Thumbsup:
     
  3. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    There are not many easy mods that I can think of to add horses to your Cooper. Maybe an intake & exhaust. Not much bang for your buck there. You'd do better to spend money on the suspension.

    Welcome to M/A....
     
  4. wmwny

    wmwny Well-Known Member

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    A cold air intake, an ecu tune, and a catback will not break the bank but still give you a bit more oomph than stock and will make your car sound sportier, too..
     
  5. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    Welcome, thanks for joining Motoring Alliance, the FUN and Friendly MINI Community.

    Suspension, tires and a drivers school will make it a heck of lot more fun. Hard to add much power to these.
     
  6. wmwny

    wmwny Well-Known Member

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    True, but a little more power than stock is a nice thing and the economy is still not stretched. I agree with the tires and suspension, but he wants to improve his power a bit, so I never added that to my suggestions.

    I remember my first school with Phil Wicks at Putnam Park and managed to pass an MCS in my very slightly modded MC-cvt. I could identify the instructor, but why embarrass him [he is a member of M/A]?
     
  7. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    Get light wheels and good tires... Same result as a few more HP if you're on OEM wheels and runflats.
     
  8. rkw

    rkw Well-Known Member

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    I have an 06 non-S convertible. For power, an ECU tune is very helpful. It probably won't increase your top end power but it provides a wider, flatter power curve that improves driveability. Importantly, it can also improve the throttle response at the low end. When you turn on the A/C, the non-S engine loses so much power that operating the clutch gets really funky in stop-and-go driving, and you have to careful not to let the engine stall (I'm assuming you have stick shift). The ECU tune improved the driveability with better throttle response. If you don't get an ECU tune, from what I've heard a Sprint Booster will give some similar benefits for the throttle response.
     
  9. rum4

    rum4 Club Coordinator
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    welcome to m/a
     
  10. eMINIparts

    eMINIparts Well-Known Member
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    Welcome to the coolest MINI forum on the net...........:cool:

    Post up some pics of your Cooper......:D
     
  11. wmwny

    wmwny Well-Known Member

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    I hear that and totally agree, which is why I went to an ecu tune while at MOTD this year. Since getting the tune, I have noticed much more throttle response as well as quite a bit more power even while running the a/c and being stopped at lights while sitting on exit ramps. At least with a stick, you can ride the clutch a bit, but with an automatic you are pretty much screwed by the lag caused by that a/c.
     
  12. Way Motor Works

    Way Motor Works New Member

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  13. wmwny

    wmwny Well-Known Member

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    True again, but your ecu tune just adds to the motoring pleasure! :Thumbsup:
     
  14. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    Welcome to MA
     

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