John Cooper Works Tuning Kits for MINI to Debut at Geneva Motor Show….
The MINI brand is inseparable from a famous name in motor sport history: John Cooper.
Even before the first series manufactured Mini appeared in the showrooms, he had already developed a power-enhanced brother. However, this only existed on the
drawing boards of the Mini designer and his close confidant Alec Issigonis. A legend was born.
We actually knew it since our first test drives in a standard MCS. This car has the potential to be a triple-A hot hatch, but needed more grunt; the car was just a bit too heavy for the 163 bhp super charged engine.
So what was it gonna be? SKN, Kelleners, Digi-Tec, Hamann, Hartge, MST Wiesman, Maxi-tuner? Or should we opt for the BMW-supported but highly over-priced JCG Works kit? Decision time… From a practical point of view, a rough first selection had to be made without prior test drives. The two winners after reading several car- and tuning magazines’ test reports were Digi-Tec and Hartge. JCG was not available at the moment and in any case too ridiculously over-priced in our opinion anyway. Appointments were made, Digi-Tec was first at Saturday February 9th, with Hartge soon to follow a week later.
Saturday February 9th
Digi-Tec’s head office is based in Datteln, a good two hour drive from where we live in the Netherlands. Digi-Tec has over 12 years experience in engine tuning. At 10.00 am QQQ arrived at Jos’ place, from where they continued their trip to pick up OS4Me. From OS4Me’s place we travelled to Datteln (3 big Dutchmen in a MINI and no problem!) where we arrived at 12.30 pm. We were awaited with coffee by Mr. Michael Pollmueller, the general manager. Although all three of us were a bit sceptical towards Digi-Tec (for unclear reasons) and in advance favoured Hartge a bit, mainly because of their over 30 year reputation in BMW tuning, this sceptisism was gone at the moment we entered the Digi-Tec showroom. This looked so neat and professional (containing amongst others a (tuned!) Ferrari 360 Modena, Ferrari Testarossa, two Porsche’s 996, a 450 BHP Audi RS4 and a 320 BHP New Beetle), that just couldn’t be the showroom of some unreliable, second class car tuner.
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Outside we already saw the extremely lowered (7 cm/2.75 inches!) Chili Red MCS which succeeded in so many test reports. The car was wearing absolutely stunning 17 x 7.5 BBS RKII rims. After 20 minutes of conversation with mr. Michael Pollmueler, he finally spoke the magic two words: “Shall we?”
QQQ was the lucky first one to join mr. Michael Pollmueller in the red Digi-Tec MCS. Thereafter it was Jos and OS4Me’s turn. A first quick look at the Chili Red MCS showed how sturdy this car stood on his wheels, negatively cambered and much, much lower than the standard MCS, giving it a such a better and more aggressive look, with the two 85 mm centre placed stainless steel tail pipes from the Digi-Tec exhaust system to finish it off.
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In each of the three test drives it was Mr. Michael Pollmueller to first get behind the wheel, taking us to a nice bendy road just outside Datteln. A clear but bearable roll when he started the engine (nice!), then taking us slowly through the busy Datteln streets, leaving us unknown with the power he was retaining from this little red beast. Until we arrived at the bendy road (which looked as if it was just put there for the MCS), with big old poplars on both sides. 2nd gear, about 40 km/h and he floored it……..Whooooow, bloody hell, it just took of like a rocket and kept going until 7300 rpm, shift to 3rd, head slapped backwards and floor it again, 170 km/h, big brembo braking and back to 2nd for a sharp right. No understeer and amazingly balanced, up to 3rd again, 160 km/h in a fast right hander, superb, like a warm knive cutting butter. Adrenaline pumping through our veins…. Then brembo emergency stop, and although the brakes were damaged by a journalist, which made the car shiver under heavy braking, it’s still anchors out, good thing we were wearing seat belts. Again very impressive! Until 5000, 5500 rpm the engines super charger is more noticeable than in the standard MCS but the car doesn’t sound loud at all. In the higher revs the Digi-Tec MCS adds a nice roll to it, very, very nice. From the outside the car has rather a kind of metallic sound, than a deep dark drone. Again, all three of us liked it, the car definitely sounds tuned albeit in a refined way. We can however imagine that some expect and want more noise out of an aftermarket exhaust. A matter of personal taste.
After mr. Pollmuelers heavy break it was our turn to get behind the wheel, all three of us drove the car through the same bendy road and busy Datteln traffic back to Digi-Tec’s head office. From the off, the car has so much more power than the standard MCS and it just keeps on going, every change of gear (although we didn’t come further than 4th) comes with your head being slapped backwards. This car has all that the standard MCS was missing. And that (KW manufactured) suspension kit, it’s just so perfectly balanced, turn in even better, we didn’t manage to get it into understeer, and God (as well as mr. Pollmueller for that matter) knows that we tried. And still, hard to believe admittedly, more comfortable than standard set up (tested by OS4Me on a speed ramp with the Digi-Tec MCS and QQQ’s (still) standard MCS). Maybe partially due to the Conti Sport Plus’s on the Digi-Tec, but still.
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Back at base camp again, smiles all over and impressed, very impressed. Even OS4Me, though used to quite some power delivery from his Civic Type-R was overwhelmed by the performance he’d just experienced.
Afterwards we had another two hour conversation with mr. Michael Pollmueller, who really took all the time we needed. We had a fantastic day in Datteln and the Chili Red MCS exceeded all our expectations. We already read some very positive reviews in car- and tuning magazines and we can assure anyone, what you might have read is no word of a lie. And then to think, that this was only our first test drive, what more too expect? Next week it’s Hartge’s turn, Digi-Tec sure has set a high standard though. But first we had to go back to Holland, three big Dutchmen in a standard MCS, wishing they had more power…
Review by: QQQ and OnlyS4me
For more information on the Digi-tec Conversion, visit: www.digi-tec.de
The MINI One D will travel to Geneva to make its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show on March 4 2003. It will be the fourth model to join the MINI range and is the first series production MINI ever to feature a diesel engine. Combining the fuel economy of a modern diesel engine, whilst maintaining the agile driving characteristics so typical of MINI, the MINI One D will go on sale in the UK on June 7 2003. Pricing will be confirmed nearer to launch.
The Car Connection has published some exclusive photo’s of the new convertible INI, undergoing cold weather testing in Sweden. These online images follow the publication of further shots in UK motoring publication AutoExpress of the same frosted all black MINI.
Brief History :-
After many years of enjoyable driving and owning many vehicles, including company cars, I had thought that I had outgrown the need to modify any car at the age of 42.
However I did not reckon on the lure of the MINI.
Initially I purchased a Pure Silver & Black Cooper, which, unfortunately, had a minor altercation with another vehicle, so I pursued the possibility of acquiring the most coveted and recently released Cooper “S”.
At no time did I ever consider altering the Cooper so it was with great surprise to me, that I should get urges to change the performance of an already exciting little hot hatch.
As a standard car the Cooper “S” is really worthy of the plaudits that it receives from the many car magazines that grace our newsagents and stores nationwide. Much so that I made many excuses to just “nip out” and get the vital piece of shopping that I would never normally venture out into the cold winters night for.
However, I was soon to discover that my valued car was to embark on a series of modifications that would break my bank manager’s heart.
Prior to modification my Cooper “S” was a revelation, easily coping with the combination of tight and twisty roads around where I lived though I felt there were some inherent “faults”.
For the car to perform at its peak I felt I had to push the car quite hard mainly by keeping the revs up over the 3500 rpm mark, gear changing was annoying with the engine rpm simply taking too long to decrease resulting in “lurchy” changes. In the lower gears the car seemed to reach the red line quickly but in the higher ratios the car climbed slowly but steadily.
My car also suffered from the yo-yo effect in 1st and 2nd gear, though not significant it was a distraction. At times during motorway driving I would find that when in 6th gear and sitting around 75 mph and very slowly passing another vehicle someone would appear in the rear view mirror urging you to speed up. By simply depressing the accelerator to get the desired increase in speed it invariably resulted in changing into 5th to get the required momentum.
Having been an active member of MINI2 since Sept 2002, I read with interest of the forthcoming engine conversions but didn’t give it much thought. One in particular though did catch my eye, namely the Hartge conversion.
Many posts later I was convinced that pound for pound the Hartge conversion suited my driving style and also my wallet. Compared to others this was truly an economical way to increase the BHP output to 212 BHP.
Taking the Plunge :-
So it was with great trepidation and anticipation that I dropped my car off to Birds Engineering in Uxbridge for the conversion.
Originally quoted as a 2 day operation I was overjoyed when I was informed that the car was completed in 1 day.
Having picked the car up and intending to drive home, some 500 miles as I live in Scotland, I was able to test the car in every aspect.
From the moment I started the engine I new there was a vast improvement in the engine department. The supercharger whine had increased, pleasantly, not intrusive and I actually sought the note whilst driving.
Immediately upon engaging 1st gear I was ready to be let down, nothing could be further from the truth, gone was the slight yo-yo effect and even more importantly the engine rpm reduced significantly between gears allowing for a much smoother gear change.
With a huge grin on my face I tackled the extremely busy roads out of Uxbridge and onto the motorways to take me home.
Though I would never recommend it, the engine easily climbs into the 7000 rpm range pulling strongly in every gear. The power really sprang to life from 3000 rpm and up which compares to the original set up though now it is applied slightly lower in the revs, but, there was definitely more power on offer.
One of my worries was that around town the car would be sluggish in higher gears, this again never materialised as the car is equally at home in all driving conditions.
Gone also is the hassle of changing down a gear when accelerating whilst overtaking, now the car pulls in 6th like it did in 5th.
Powering though corners has brought an extra edge to the cars performance as the engine revs more freely and allows for more adventurous driving.
Common sense has to prevail when starting off as simply just flooring the engine in 1st will only induce the DSC (if on) to kick in and restrict the power such that the wheels will not spin, however the take off is very responsive and exhilarating and will leave most cars stranded.
This particular conversion is TUV approved and a part of that means that the conversion must make use of the cars stock parts, including, suspension, brakes and exhaust. I would never suggest that the car would not benefit from upgrading those parts in particular.
All in all the car is an absolute joy to drive, whether you are out for a Sunday drive or a controlled excursion into the never ending testing roads that surround most towns.
One last point regards the fuel consumption, which I didn’t consider as I fully expected a significant reduction after the conversion as a matter of course, so, again I was pleasantly surprised to find that I was 15 miles worse off from a full tank.
However, since installing an aftermarket exhaust I can confirm that I have regained my 15 miles.
Review by: Alan Mercer, known as ‘Bonnie Scotland’ on the MINI2 forums.
Monster Garage Morphs MINI into Wacky Snowmobile
Woodcliff Lake, NJ February 10, 2003…. How about a MINI Cooper that can claw its way over 4-foot snow drifts and speed effortlessly across a frozen lake? Is this the next new model? Not exactly.
Nevada City, CA (February 12, 2003) - Mini Mania Inc., recognized as the market leader in MINI Cooper performance parts and accessories, announced today the official launch of the new MINI Spec Class in cooperation with BMW CCA Club Racing and The Tire Rack. Mini Mania has been selected to provide an authorized performance package that includes performance upgrades to racing quality levels in brakes, exhaust and suspension.
Continue reading Mini Mania Announces a new MINI Spec Class for BMW Club Racing.
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