Mini Mods

[LeeDavis]

Coolant replacement will finish the job today. No big surprise, it's taking twice as long as I guessed.

Disassembly to access supercharger

Supercharger with smaller pulley (left) for more boost and new water pump (right)

Higher volume fuel injectors

Fuel injectors installed and lower heat range spark plugs

Higher volume air intake

[Bob]

Holy crap you killed it!

Hope you remember where everything goes. Tomorrow might be good for a half day drive if the rain stops as forecast.....

[LeeDavis]

I goofed and didn't connect a coolant intake hose to the water pump so when I started filling with coolant today it ran out on to the garage floor. So, I had to remove the front of the car again to access the hose and attach it then put the car back together again. This was very aggravating so after fixing my mistake I called it a day. I start over with coolant tomorrow (Wednesday).

[Bob]

No wonder you learned how to work on this car. A radiator hose replacement at a dealer would run you $1200.

[LeeDavis]

No wonder you learned how to work on this car. A radiator hose replacement at a dealer would run you $1200.

To keep these past the new car warantee you have to have an independant mechanic or work on it yourself. Dealer maintenance for items that need attention at higher milage will cost nearly the sale value of the car.

[Marc K]

My Mini is now out of its extended warranty so I plan on wrenching on it myself. Is there a good shop manual or do you google what you want to do ? Shop rate at Flow Mini is $195 an hour ! I did look after we talked and several web blogs said the best single cheap thing to improve handling is add a rear sway bar.

[Bob]

My Mini is now out of its extended warranty so I plan on wrenching on it myself. Is there a good shop manual or do you google what you want to do ? Shop rate at Flow Mini is $195 an hour ! I did look after we talked and several web blogs said the best single cheap thing to improve handling is add a rear sway bar.

I can't answer that but I'm sure Lee will chime in. But bring it on over to Morganton one day and we'll take the mini's and my cayman up the twisties! And the Focus RS too.
Edit: and Dan with his Golf R!

[LeeDavis]

My Mini is now out of its extended warranty so I plan on wrenching on it myself. Is there a good shop manual or do you google what you want to do ? Shop rate at Flow Mini is $195 an hour ! I did look after we talked and several web blogs said the best single cheap thing to improve handling is add a rear sway bar.

The Mini upgrades are finished and passed their road test - no more wrenching for a while - SUCCESS YAY!

Back when I bought a shop manual for my Mini the only thing available was the Bently which is huge and IMO, just about worthless. Now there are Haynes manuals so that's what I'd get now.

Pelican Parts has a fantastic list of detailed service, upgrade and repair articles for just about anything you'd want to do for a Mini. https://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/MINI/MINI_tech_index.htm

Youtube is also a good source.

Fast twisty driving exposes that the stock Mini has a lot of understeer so yes, it needs a stiffer rear sway bar. I also installed negative camber plates on top of the struts for the same reason. My Mini no longer has understeer.