Any engine mods for first generation New Mini?

Skeeter

Skeeter

Skeeter

Caporegime
Joined
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Just wondering, what kind of engine mods (cheap ones, not stick a supercharger on it ones) are available for the first generation BMW Mini Cooper, if any at all? I know nothing about them.
 
Cheers BaJ, I'll have a look. My GF has an 02 Mini Cooper and it just feels a bit gutless. She was thinking of swapping it for a Cooper S, but her one is such an epic spec (almost every box must have been ticked, bar the SatNav) that moving to an S would be a downgrade in every area except engine power. Would be much easier to just give her Cooper a bit more poke.
 
Anyone ever used the Superchips Bluefin on a Mini? I've always been dubious of 'chipping' products as they are usually accompanied by teenagers in Saxo's claiming '50bhp increase, yo!', when in actual fact they make no difference?
 
Skeeter said:
Anyone ever used the Superchips Bluefin on a Mini? I've always been dubious of 'chipping' products as they are usually accompanied by teenagers in Saxo's claiming '50bhp increase, yo!', when in actual fact they make no difference?
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Surely it is just going to smooth out the torque curve slightly? I can't see many gains without spending big bucks on it really, same as 90% of N/A engines.

I take it these are all 1.6's?
 
Yeah Begbie, they are 1.6. The issue is that the One and the Cooper and (I think the S) are all the same engine. The One is a detuned Cooper engine, and the S is the Cooper with a supercharger. Therefore there is very little you can do to the Copper engine as its already at the higher end of what it can do. Depressingly, you can remap a One engine to the same level as any remapped Cooper as the difference between the 2 is just software :(.

Sticking a S engine or a SC on the current one is more cost and hassle than its worth. It looks like the best bet is a new exhaust, air filter or induction kit, manifold upgrade, remap, and spark plugs, which should get you from 120ish to 145ish BHP. However, for well over a grand, its not worth it. I will tell her to spend the money on getting the bumper resprayed and tidying up a few other areas in it instead.
 
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I remember reading in Evo I think it was, that the difference between the One and Cooper was that the ECU just opens the throttle less on the .One for a given amount of travel on the pedal.

I can't see there being any respectable gains on a Cooper without spending a lot of money
 
I agree, the cost to performance ratio of any gains is not going to be worth it.

There are so many Mini's on the market that I would have thought you could pick up a similar spec Cooper-S without too much trouble.

What's the spec on the Cooper to make is so unique?
 
Aero Kit, Metalic Blue with White roof and bonnet stripes, White 17" wheels, grill spotlights, full leather, climate control and panoramic sunroof. Climate and sunroof are usually one or the other, not both, and full leather seems rare too. Its also rare to find the Aero kit.

Basically, when we we looking we saw loads of Minis, and this one has everything she likes about the inside and everything she likes about the outside all on one car. It also has only got 45k miles on it.
 
Dont do much to it
The Midland gearbox is gash
Just chip it, air filter and exhaust

Also if it has runflats, bin them and put on real tyres, the handling is so much better, and cheaper
 
Skeeter said:
Anyone ever used the Superchips Bluefin on a Mini? I've always been dubious of 'chipping' products as they are usually accompanied by teenagers in Saxo's claiming '50bhp increase, yo!', when in actual fact they make no difference?
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You get about 8bhp, you do "just" notice the small increase, but you do get better MPG* which it the best bit

* under normal driving
 
eatcustard said:
Also if it has runflats, bin them and put on real tyres, the handling is so much better, and cheaper
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I agree, but its not my car, and the runflats have stopped my GF being stranded late at night with a puncture, so she refuses to remove them, and tbh, I can see why.
 
Skeeter said:
I agree, but its not my car, and the runflats have stopped my GF being stranded late at night with a puncture, so she refuses to remove them, and tbh, I can see why.
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Women! :p

Doesn't look like there is a great deal to be done. N/A engines are a pain to squeeze bhp out of these days, without spending a fortune.
 
You can get them to over 130bhp with exhaust, filter and remap. Other than that, cams etc same as any other NA tuning, but not worth it really.

Also, yes midlands gearbox is gash, if it has never been done, expect it to go at some point.
 
Meatball said:
Can you not drop a Cooper-S engine in there or is it not that simple?
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You can.. I know a mate of mine who has done it but he's an auto-magician lol. You have all sorts of electrical looms, various components to change but it is doo-able

'In Theory' as it's a Tritec engine and all the commonents share a common background with Chryslers.. you can dump a 2L in there as well lol.

As far as Coopers go though, you should be thinking along the line of Induction Kits, Exhausts and Decat Manifolds. As for the engine itself other than what's listed above you can do things such as the BlueFin ECU Re-Map which I think with everything like performence heads and uprated throttle body can be good for about 150bhp... but for the sake of 30 odd bhp.. the money you'd be spending isn't that worth it.
 
I would imagine unless you get the engine cheap and can do it yourself, it would be cheaper getting the Cooper-S?

I don't know much about these, but I assume the suspension is also different?
 
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