MINI Most liked posts in thread: R53 s

there is a lot of stuff you can spend coin on to make the Mini faster. First you have to ask yourself what faster is for you: curves, straight line, or just looking faster (the trend with current Minis - add lots of red paint and carbon fiber bits and who needs a new cylinder head?)

My list of what makes a car faster in the corners, top to bottom in diminishing importance

a) sticky summer performance tires - don't bother doing anything else unless you have this one checked.
b) rear anti roll bar upgrade
c) replace all suspension bushings and ball joints
d) lower car with quality coilovers, add to that lower control arms in back, as well as shorter downlinks
e) reduce unsprung weight on all corners - i.e. spend coin on ultra light sub 16 lbs wheels
f) remove weight from the car overall - i.e. ditch rear seat, justify aftermarket exhaust, justify aftermarket brakes with aluminum mounting hats (helps with step e as well)
g) add some braces where they may help the car - mostly added weight and placebo effect, but a welded roll bar will stiffen things up real nicely.

My list of what makes the R53 go faster in a straight line is a lot shorter, because I feel the car has plenty of pep even if you keep these things close to stock

a) 15 or 17% pulley. I have cars with both and must say in daily driving I highly prefer how the 17% comes on. obviously new spark plugs and belt go along with this upgrade.
b) Milltek cat-back exhaust (or Megan Racing if lower quality and louder noise are ok)
c) DDM Works cold air intake. Even if there's not much extra power, the sound track inside the car changes dramatically and you will feel like Carol Shelby just tuned your engine
d) Detroit Tuned bypass valve (for more pickup and better throttle response around 3000rpm)


Other worth while updates/fixes/maintenance

a) engine mounts. Replace with new, immediately, or get aftermarket for all three if you have $800 burning a hole in your pocket. Makes shifting smoother, reduces vibrations, just better.
b) ATI engine damper, new idler pulley, new belt tensioner. All worth while doing while you are putting that 15/17% pulley on the supercharger
c) stainless steel braised brake lines
d) Royal Purple SynchroMax oil in the 6 speed and thoroughly spray the shifter linkage with some teflon dry lube - shifting will be so much smoother.

 

Just buy a big RMW 1.8 stroker motor. (( Kidding ))

All the list will give you a nice boost in power. Just remember what goes faster must also stop better. Brakes upgrades are a good investment.

Also make sure you upgrade or replace suspect OEM maintenance parts. Pullies, belots, fluids, bushings and so on.

When you are all done your upgrades you can get your car custom tuned on a dyno. Most people that want 250 hp at the wheels get a larger injectors, Cam and a big valve head.

 

Welcome to the modness... This is a great site and greater people. The first thing to do before any mod's is to make sure your engine is up to snuff. A compression and leak down test would be in order before you sink any money into a bunch of mods. And then go as wild as you like...we're here to answer questions and spend your money

 

Good morning and welcome to MA!
There's plenty of R53 owners that have MINI's from slightly modded to completely built and breathing meth. I'm sure they'll be happy to help.

 

Post some pictures of your MINI!