Just a thread about your planned and/or current mods on your R56 Cooper. Aero kits, interior packages, wheels. You name the mod, you can post it. My current mod wish list is a JCW lickfest. JCW Recaro seats, JCW Aero Kit for the Cooper, JCW Alcantara Auto Shift Knob, JCW Carbon Fiber e-brake handle, and a GPS holder and GPS to go along with it. Or an iPhone if I can get my hands on one.
I want to put driving lights on, but need to get the modified grill first. The dealership is quoting me at around $1100 to put the grill on, mount and wire the lights...uh...not a chance.
TYhe VIP two or four brackets work great and the harness is simple. The have the pre cut grill as well for nothing near that price. I installed the VIP set up on mine in a couple of hours. Jim
Hmmm.....looks like this thread fizzled out. Let's see if we can get it going again. After all, mods are not just for the Cooper S. I have a Copper 08 that I take to the track. And, until recently, I had planned to trade for an S within the next 12 to 18 months. I have changed my mind. I now plan to keep my trusty Cooper and mod the hell out of it! As you probably know, there is not much you can do to the engine to make it around the track quicker. But there is plenty you can do to scoot through the turns faster. And after all, isn't that the fun part? So my next project includes TSW springs, Vorshlag Camber Plates, and maybe 2 TSW Rear Control Arms (if needed to achieve enough neg camber in the rear). My plan is to frequent tracks that are "MINI friendly" (i.e. lots of turns and shorter straights), like Summit Point Shenandoah course. The Vets and 'stangs will always catch and pass me on the straights but I plan to take it back in the turns.
Mine is a Cooper also, which in the "mod world" I call the Forgotten Generation. I can tell you that a DDM Air intake, NM Torque Arm bushing and a Sprint Booster wil make a big difference. They all three call for a Short Shifter which is next on the list. Then I have my eye on a spliter and rear wing, as soon as Group4Autosports (Joel, hint, hint, hint) gets a wing in production. Jim BTW: I grew up in Roanoke and still have family there. I get down there as often as I can. I stop there for the night on the way to the Dragon, so perhaps we can hook up next year.
A short shifter is definitely on my list of future mods. The sprint booster is also on my radar but suspension upgrades are at the top of my list for now. I have a VIP cold air intake and the NM Torque Arm bushing. The bushing was a wonderful addition considering the price. Let me know the next time you're passing through. We should definitely hook up.
You'll need the rear control arms for exactly the opposite reason--if you lower the car, to get the excessive negative camber OUT of the rear. After I lowered my car, before changing the alignment, my negative rear camber went to somewhere around -2.0; I think it was even worse than that....
There's a Justa for sale here on Craigslist with 65K on it and a blown Midlands - the car looks brand new too. - $3K as is. I was thinking if I could find a wrecked S.......I could have a pretty cheap track car.....
Shoot... for $3k, if you have the space you can make a profit just parting the sucker! Or fix the tranny and sell it to make a quick couple of grand. Matt
Space, the final frontier.....I have a garage full of E-Type right at the moment, and Momma ain't letting me take over her side! And there's no fixing this transmission, it has several large holes in it where there weren't any when it left the factory! Anywho, there will be others, I'm sure.... We're about this close to signing a contract to build a new house on some land we own out in the country - if we do it - part of that design includes a nice 2 car shop in addition to the 3 car garage! Oh, and there'll be a small house attached there somewhere too....