1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Planned Modifications for my MCS

Well finaly got my DDMworks Cold Air Intake on and had a few problems that had me doing more than I should have, back is killing me. Going to have to get the hose that comes out of the Air Box as mine is starting to show some age cracks but nothing all the way through. Man did I have a time trying to get the hose on the Air Box Snout, the hose is getting hard and didn't want to stretch over the outlet. But I love it! It feels like it is quicker and oh that sound! With the radio off and can actually hear the Supercharger now as I run it up through the gears! I could go all day with no radio just listening to that sound!

 

I'll try and make it but don't know if I'll be able to make this one as I have 4 Daughters and 5 Grand Kids with another on the way so I'll have to send all of them some Christmas money. I have so many V.A. Dr.'s appointments so I'll just have to see if I have any appointments at that time and if I can save up all of the money in time as it looks like I might need to bring 1K. with me to attend and do the mods. I'll just have to see what I can do, if not this coming year then the next for sure as I would have the mods. done already and not be so rushed to save up all of that money and I'll have to make sure that I have all of my medications as I have to wear a Fentanyl pain patch and take 26 pills a day plus my breathing medications. Time will tell.

 

Thanks Nathan, How hard are they to install and do you need any special hardware to make the Craven Speed Strut tower Defenders work? I am also going to replace the tensioner damper with the teflon or neoprene bushing kit and I have read that I also need to add a stop in case the damper bushings let go to keep it off the tensioner pulley. What do you think or is this a waste?:idea:

 

Thanks Jason, My '03 MC S came with the sport suspension stock, not sure on the size of either sway bar but do like the adjustability of the H-Sport 19mm rear that has 3 different positions for adjustment. I will follow Nathan's advice and get the front tower plates and the X brace that goes underneath the car. I have looked at a Carbon Fiber rear brace and plan on deleting the rear seat as it is just me and the dog. I'm new to the MINI and like it pretty well stock but want to do some upgrades. I have found some 7 spoke black wheels in 16"x7" that weigh 16.9 lb and some non-run flat summer extra high performance tires that I want to add later down the line. I'm a 57 yr. old Army Veteran who draws 40% Service Connected Disability and S.S. so my money is tight also, so I just get what I can as I can. I have the factory White 5 spokes and all weather runflats now that are new 195/55-16", I like the white wheels but they show brake dust so bad that it's hard to stay ahead and keep then clean. I also have A/C but no sunroof so I know that adds weight and that the sway bars are heavier duty as are the springs and shocks over the basic MINI for '03. I just did some research and found out that the '03 MINI Cooper S came with the Sport Suspension Plus package that came with extra heavy duty springs, struts and shocks and a 24mm front sway bar and a 17mm rear sway bar from the factory. :thumbs up:

 

Thanks Jason, already had that in mind for the next time as the one's on and plan on replacing the brake pad sensor so the light will go off they don't look that old. And my little dog is a female who is now going on 7 years old which is not supposed to be that old for a Chi/Rat Terrier mix. :thumbs up: