Again coming from Mustangs and how easy it is to mod that car I was wondering what is usually the easiest bang for the buck mod people do to their mini s.

 

Replace the off-white city lights with something that better matches the zenon headlights.

$20 for LED city lights from AZNOptics is pretty cheap mod.

I would also do the rear license plate lights with LEDs. Also about $20 (and adds at least 20 bhp )

 

try a stubby antenna.

 

Yes agreed. Every time I see a MINI with the regular antennae I think of remote controller cars. I find it rather distracting now

 

When it comes to mods, what do you consider a mod? Some would first believe your asking about engine mods.

Right now the only engine mods available that are worth the money can only be found for the JCW engine AKA; N-14 with a intercooler , down pipe and stage 3 accessport tune your looking at 246 hp and 296 ft tq at the wheel. That moves you past a hp to weight ratio past a 2012 stock 302 Boss. If engine mods are what you want on the S with the VVT in the N-18 you will have to wait.

But alot of people consider , tint, strips , suspension and rims all mods. The question everyone faces is one persons mods is another waste of money, the sky and the pocket book are the limit.

Just my 2 cents

 

I replaced the stock air filter with an aFe 2nd Gen MCS High Flow Dry drop-in panel from Defenders of Speed for $70. Glad I did....a little more exhaust sound, a little more power. You'll just need two different sized Allen wrenches to open the box.

 

I plasti dip'ed my front headlight trip and grill trim to get an all blacked out look. $20 worth of Plasti Dip and 1 day's worth of spraying/waiting to dry. See attached.

 

Thats a good one but you have to keep an eye on your dealer because we had a couple replaced with OEM during service.

 

I really meant engine mods but I like them all actually. What about a muffler option?

 

There are a lot of choice and you can listen to a lot on you tube, IMO the Miltek has a very nice sound with reasonable gains. The said truth cat backs are not much bang for the bucks if your looking at performance, unless you want to and the sounding cool factor into that price. The problem with performance mods on the S right now is you won't get much out of the and in some cases even cause problem with out the car being returned

You know an over looked mods that you get a lot out of

1. Ceramic window tint, saves the interior allows you to drop the self dimming mirror package and since your looking at a roadster were are only talking about 2 window plus the cool factor.

2. Suspension a rear sway and some FDS make for a great daily driver unless you want to drop the car.

3. This one isn't for what it seems, a top level radar detector and in NY I think it has to be undetectable. One problem with these little cars is it never seems like your going as fast as you think your going and some thing to reminds you comes in handy

4. For a coupe and a roadster they know have some nice blue tooth back up cameras that help with the rear view. We have a few Cabrios that love them when the tops up.

 

A Spint Booster is also an option for improved speed since there is not much you can do right now with the N18 engine.. It does not increase HP. It remaps and tricks the accelerator to think the pedal is being pressed further than what it is. I have one on my Crossfire and it really wakes it up. Check out One of the vendors here on NAM sell them but I forget which one.

 

IMO the Miltek has a very nice sound with reasonable gains.

I like a nice sounding car. Not a rice rocket sound either. Ill check into these Miltek's

What does the JCW model use?

 

It uses a system designed by mini. It sounds nice I most likely won't change mine until I decide to do the down pipe. The miltek has a little deeper sound with more burble then stock.

 

ECU programming, upgraded intercooler, exhaust downpipe.
Those three modifications have the most bang-for-buck.

Most other items are typically more for "style" than they are for power.

- Erik

 

Erik, you are spot on except for one thing the N-18 in the S can not be tuned through the OBDII yet you have to pull the ECU send it I crack it and have the tune done. Doing that kind of causes problem for your warrenty. If he were to do the JCW which still has the N-14 he would be go to go and could just get an AcessPort.

 

Correct, and still one of the biggest downsides of the N18 to date.

Indeed; that's why I love mine.

- Erik

 

Did you keep the JCW exhaust or did you do a full catback and down pipe? Which pipe and intercooler?

 

What about tires????????

The first thing to change on any new Cooper is the GRIP. We went with Hankook Ventus R-S3.

 

Borla - the system was designed on my R58

 

I've just gone with the simple inexpensive things for starters. Blackout the grill and head/tail light surrounds, blackout the headlight housings, and stubby antenna. Getting ready to powdercoat my Challenge spokes black, tint the windows and add some 3M 1080 CF vinyl to the rear diffuser, scuttles and a few small interior pieces.

I'm planning to do some powerplant/drivetrain and suspension mods down the road but for now I'm just doing my homework and weighing my options for cost vs. benefit.