My first post, mostly I hang around and glean good stuff. Personal context: my wife and I are in our sixties, retired and in play mode. Goal: have a street MINI to drive with gusto in the twisties, yet comfortable enough to drive some distance to events like AMVIV8. K & N drop in filter: I swear there is benefit. But do I really care? Not so much. This filter is just something I always do. Milltek cat back exhaust: This is a beauty! The sound is deeper than stock. There is little difference in cockpit sound intrusion over stock. I swear the car is faster and much more pleasant than stock. The sound should be good for long distance driving. If I gained 10 hp with the filter and exhaust then I am very happy. If I didn't I am still happy because it feels faster and is the sound of fun! NM Torque Arm Bushing: No matter what, get this. Someone else can explain this and have as I recall, but I swear the shifter, clutch and throttle are more connected. The car is far easier to launch with authority, just like I was a good driver. Seems like the entire front of the car is solid and full of confidence. H Sport rear sway bar: Tippy is tippy and flat is flat. Ours is in the middle adjustment. Our MINI, entering a curve, no longer tips to the side while I wait to see if it is actually going to turn. Push, push, push, I got tired of it right out of the box. This MINI now turns on demand and stays flat as a pancake no matter how I flog it. If I come in too hot, no matter, the fun level just increases as opposed to fears of a crash, sliding off the road or otherwise losing control. TSW Springs: Now we are talking. These springs seem to me to be under rated in the forum world. Every bump that was felt with the stock springs is felt with these, only with these, response to bumps is a good thing. Railroad tracks, speed bumps, pot holes or degraded pavement are no longer objects of fear. Scraping the front end is less of a problem...go figure. The car no longer jumps up, or to the side. The bump crash is gone. A hit is solid, not jarring and doesn't upset anything! The MINI is no longer unrulely, it now has composure. As to presentation, the car has attitude. One knows it looks good, but can't be sure why sometimes. The fact that it is lowered is not necessarily obvious and certainly not the cars first presentation. In many regards it is a sleeper. WMW rear end links: I have no idea about these, they seem like they are better than stock(solid). I put them on just to finish out the changes and to help Way stay in business. I'm such a good guy... So this is what I think. This suspension is where MINI should start with all their models, period! It leaves room for additional mods, however, our MINI now drives and handles as I hoped it would when I purchased it. The ride is much better than stock by any criteria you wish to use. My wife had a rational fear I might muck up this wonderful little hot rod. She now heartily endorses the changes. Says the car is not so scary and rides better. I saved all the original parts just in case and now see I will never go back. Oh yes, I am still running my Pirelli P Zero run flats. I was going to dump them right away, but things are so much better I am going to keep them awhile. The fun to drive and comfort factors have at least doubled. The car hides driving sins. While we will not track the car per se, we do intend to attend some track events, get some instruction and beginner laps under our belts. Two mods left, the tires as I said, and the Bilstein HD's. I thank everyone for their consistent postings here. It took a good deal of time and reading (even between the lines) to learn what might get me what I was after. Way Motor Works is a good outfit to do business with and with Way's offer of free shipping for Christmas I had to pull the trigger and step up to the plate. Thanks Way and your recommendations are greatly appreciated. Kent PS, pictures will have to wait until the rain stops and the sun comes out....
I'm glad pictures are coming...... You describe a nice MINI, can't wait to see them pic's. Just curious, when you replaced the springs, reason for not going with camber plates at that time. Seems like from "other" posters, that's one of the major improvers. Quite a few of the items you went with are on my "to do" list. Thanks for posting
Thanks from here too Kent. Good description and like MM, some of those are I;ve already done or am planning to. Jim
That happens up there??? I thought it never shined up there... Sounds like a sweet beast. Looking forward to the photos!
How long does did the NM Torque Arm Bushings take to install? Just curious from a time/cost perspective. I would NOT be doing that myself :wink2
Thanks for your feedback, it's good to see from someone using the products. Then NM bushing will take only about 10min, even if it is your first time. It's one of the simpliest mods to do.
+1 Not hard at all to do yourself. Put the front wheels up on ramps, so you slide under the trans, and have at it.
"NM Torque Arm Bushing: No matter what, get this. Someone else can explain this and have as I recall, but I swear the shifter, clutch and throttle are more connected. The car is far easier to launch with authority, just like I was a good driver. Seems like the entire front of the car is solid and full of confidence. " I see that this mod is pretty inexpensive. ($60) How hard (or expensive) is it to install?
I must agree about the TSW springs. I was not looking for a lowered look but I was looking for an improved ride. The ride is much better and I don't fear my speed bumps that are everywhere here! I have really been wondering about the rear sway bar and was wondering if it would be that much better than stock.
Thanks Ben. I need to do some more research before taking the plunge but it does not sound like a big risk item with potentially big returns. I might order this for my b-day which is about one month away. Others --- sorry for asking a question that was already asked in this thread. I read the beginning then, was in a hurry, and just skipped to the end. Great forum btw. Prefer it to the "others" for overall quality.
Just curious, when you replaced the springs, reason for not going with camber plates at that time. Seems like from "other" posters, that's one of the major improvers. Quite a few of the items you went with are on my "to do" list. Thanks for posting[/QUOTE] Metal Man, my impressions when reading about camber plates brought me to racers and serious performance adjustments. There may be a good reason I should go back and do an install with new struts. I tend to run away when conversations get technical. Tell me more..... Thanks, Kent
David, I installed the springs and bar at the same time. Given they do different things I think I am safe reporting that the great results from the rear sway bar are the bar itself. Go for the bar... Kent
Johngo, it's true, it rains all the time and the sun never shines. Tell all your friends not to move to Oregon. The other problem here is all these well paved secondary roads winding through the Coast Range and Cascades mountains. They are smooth and everywhere. If you ever get to Oregon on a vacation I'll show you around... Kent
Never considered myself a writer, but I was always doing reports, evaluations and other such things as a consultant. With my post, I was trying to address the ever present question, "What do the changes mean to me the average driver." I attempted to communicate a "feeling" of the drive..... Kent
Hahahahaha Won't work.... When I finally retire, I'm moving to Oregon... Oh yeah..... And tell all your friends not to move to Oregon.
When you wear through your first set of tires, you'll understand. Spirited cornering tends to wear the outside edge of the front tires quicker than the inside edge. More negative camber will increase front cornering grip, too. When you turn the wheel, it's like the car enjoys the corner more and wants to turn. If you've ever been skiing, adding camber plates is like sharpening your edges.
