Thought I'd drop a hello post after reading a few hundred posts here and finally pulling the trigger on an '05 MCS. I hate to leave my '96 BMW 328is behind but it's time to move into something a bit newer/nicer.

Looking forward to years of learning and playing. I already have my mod list made

 

Welcome to the forum, let the mods begin!

 

Congrats & Welcome! Hope you enjoy many years of MINI motoring fun & excitement...

 

Welcome!! Tell us about the MINI.

 

Welcome to the Mini crowd! I picked up my '05 MCS a few months ago and it did not help with my mod compulsion......

 

Congratulations on your new car. No mods here but I enjoy reading about everyone elses.
Have fun

 

Here are some pictures of the little guy/gal (I'll figure that out after driving it!).

~65k miles, H/K Audio, dual sunroof, leather.

Some of the plans:
ULTRIK Short Shift Kit
Alta 19mm Rear Sway Bar
H&R or M7 Springs
Unichip ECU Upgrade
Alta Air Intake
Alta Pulley and Ignition Kit
Borla Performance Catback Exhaust
Mini-Madness Strut Tower Reinforcements
Oil Catch Can
Kenwood KIV-BT900 Head Unit
PAC-SWI-JACK (Steering wheel audio control)
HK Enabler
Sirius Package
17" Kosei K1 Light Grey Wheels and Michelin Exalto Tires

 

Sweet car!! A female name came to me right away but as I've gotten to know my little car better, more male names come to mind.

 

What's the general preference on wheel size? I was going to do 17" but I see a lot of posts with 16". And 16" is a lot cheaper I've always ran 17's on my BMW but it's a little bigger of a car.

 

If you can find some light weight ones, 17's can be nice because you run a lower sidewall making the car a bit snappier. However light weight 17's are expensive and the both 16's and 17's have about the same absolute grip so long as you arent letting your tires onto the sidewall.

I have a set of 25 pound S-lites, when people get rid of those they usually say it transforms the car.

 

Welcome!

Weight aside, whenever I see a MINI with 16's I think it looks cute...which is not at all what I'm looking for! 17's make it look much meaner.

 

Welcome!!
I second the opinion on getting light weigh tire/rim combo...I run 16's for summer, and 15's for winter, and the differance is huge....16's imo is a good compermise on weight, looks, performance, and cost.
Alta does make some good stuff, just remember, they are not the only options!!

 

Go for the 22mm, IMHO, It is only a bit more expensive, and the minimum setting is only slightly stiffer than the 19mm. But if you decide to Auto X or track it, you can switch 2 bolts and make the rear rock solid.

Chipping is a bad solution for our cars. Much better to get a custom tune. It can be done remotely, too.

Alta intake is awesome =)

Also, unless your OEM ignition is wrecked, an A/M ignition is not recommended. The best MINI tuners/Gurus say the OEM is the best unless you are trying to go for 300+ HPs

 

This is what I was afraid of with 16s. I run 16s for my snow tire on my BMW... it always looks odd and makes the car look more like a grocery getter.

 

My MINI is being delivered today in about 3 hours! Woohoo

Here's what I have for it so far:

Helix Short Shift Kit
Way Pulley Package
Alta Air Intake (Red)
Slime Smart Spare Kit
Grey Kosei 17" Wheels
KUDA Dash Mount for my iPhone (to be used for music, phone and nav)
HK Enabler (back ordered I think so it might be awhile before I put the audio stuff in)
Kenwood KIV-BT900
PAC-SWI-JACK (Steering wheel audio control for Kenwood)


Future Plans:

Alta 22mm Rear Sway Bar
Coilovers (I was going to do springs but I wanted the ride of the M7s with the height of the H-Sport... so, screw it, I'll wait for coilovers unless someone has a better idea to lower it in the meantime)
RMW Tune
Invidia Exhaust
Mini-Madness Strut Tower Reinforcements
Oil Catch Can
Sirius Radio
Torsen LSD (Unless it happens to have the LSD already, the previous owner doesn't know and the dealer didn't mention it when I queried what options the VIN had... but the dealer wasn't happy I didn't buy from them and gave me very little info)

 

Go with the 17s if you are still thinking about it. A nice 17 x 7 wheel with 215/45R17s will look great and you won't have a problem with rubbing at all...

 

I have 18's for summers and 17's for winters. I have 16" steelies for backup too.

Welcome, nie '05. Looks like you also have auto A/C 05 was the first year for LSD, do you know if you have it? Maybe phone your dealer to find out

 

I ended up buying those 17" Kosei's from the marketplace on here. They look and feel great, I'll get a picture posted up sometime.

Unfortunately it doesn't have LSD :( I tested this by laying a single long black mark on the road before I put the new tires on.

Alta CAI is installed now. I'm waiting for an open weekend to install the WMW 15% pulley.