A legend celebrates its anniversary: 40 Years of the MINI Cooper S
No other model has influenced the sporty character of the MINI brand more than the MINI Cooper S. The luxuriously motorised top model with front-wheel drive
has been writing car history around the globe for more than four decades on the road, racetrack and rally circuit.
Continue reading New Roof Design Celebrating 40 Years of the Cooper S
“Let’s Motor Faster” is Rogue Engineering’s catch phrase for their new MINI range. Tongue in cheek and playful as that may be, Rogue engineering take their tuning very seriously, and their Cooper S ‘Cold Air Intake’ is an prime example of their work for the new MINI range, continuing from their history in developing performance and styling parts for BMW vehicles.
Part One: The Installation…
The installation of the cold air intake kit was very simple indeed. If you have the right tools (and there’s not even many of those required) you could probably do this modification even as a ‘first step’ in DIY mechanics. Rogue supplied the kit with good a good set of illustrated instructions, and a list the required tools.
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The standard MINI Cooper S airbox (below). |
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Removal of the factory air box and filter was the first simple step. All it takes is a torx screwdriver or spanner and a screwdriver.
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The cold air intake kit fitted. Very neat (below).
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The (protected) top mates up nicely with the bonnet (below).
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The kit fits on using the existing screw/bolt holes for the standard air box. The positive battery terminal hooks on the new kit.
Part Two: First Impressions…
The kit is very easy to fit, although I did find that one 8mm bolt on the instructions was a torx bolt on my MINI, and being so simple to install this gives you a nice sense of achievement for very little effort indeed. Once you’re on your first journey, you can hear the difference more so than feel it, which isn’t to say this doesn’t affect performance, but the effect on the SuperCharger whine is superb. As with the PlayMini exhaust (reviewed separately) I fitted this during run-in, so the 4,500 and no full throttle limits had to be adhered to, but the whine of the charger is noticeably increased, which is nice, and the drive feels a little more ‘pokey’ too. The performance gains are not dramatic, but you certainly can feel a difference, there’s no side effects so far. However I feel this is a modification best appreciated nearer the redline, which I will report on at a later date.
Part Three: In Summary…
I ran the car for several hundred miles with the Rogue CAI installed, and I have nothing but good to say for it. Power gains were not huge, but those extra ponies you get are amplified greatly in ‘experience’ simply because of the fantastic noise fitting an open intake like this creates from the ‘S’ engine bay. During the time I had the kit installed I noticed no considerable difference in fuel consumption, which seems a concern to many when considering performance upgrades.
Compared to the standard plastic box and airfilter, this is a great improvement, and offers good value for money, however a fairer test would be to compare this kit with other CAI, which is something we plan to do at MINI2 soon. In summary, this CAI kit is extremely easy to fit (really is a 15 minute job), looks good, not out of place in the hi-tech MINI engine bay, and a treat for your ears, as well as improving the performance.
Part Four: Video Evidence…
Click Here to watch a 2mb video of the standard S, vs an S with the Rogue CIA and a PlayMINI Exhaust fitted, this should demonstrate the cabin noise levels before and after. You should be able to tell when the car changes! ONLY in WMV format at this time, sorry!
Rogue Engineering can be contacted via their website at www.RogueEngineering.com
PlayMini should be a well recognised name to those new MINI fans who come from a Classic Mini background. They have a reputation for making some nice products, and in particular top notch exhaust systems. I’d also seen and heard good things about their range for the new MINI, so, purely for the benefit of MINI2 readers (of course) I decided to try their stainless steel cat-back exhaust system for the new MINI Cooper S for myself.
Part One: The Installation…
After years of tinkering with various classic Mini’s, I felt confident that with the aid of Keith’s DIY advice on fitting a Cooper S exhaust (see here), I would be able to cary out this little modification for myself, and be able to reverse it just as easily if not satisfied with the results. This confidence was further enhanced by the design of the PlayMini system. It’s been designed to utilise the existing mounts and fixings for the factory system, so it should be a case of ‘plug and play’ or as close to that as you can expect with this sort of mod.
The system is designed to be free flowing, and sporty sounding. PlayMini have made no specific claims of BHP increase for this system, but when compared to the standard set up, however they do say it will improve the cars performance. Looking at the standard fitment below, you can see how this could theoretically be quite restrictive.
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The standard pipe from cat to silencers (below).
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The first thing I had to do (of course) was to remove the standard system from the car. This, I thought, would be the easiest part of the entire process. The standard system is held in place by around 12 nuts and bolts, and a few rubber hangers. How hard can that be? Very turned out to be the answer. I decided to carry out this particular modification as soon as possible, as from experience I know dealing with rusty and ‘well established’ nuts and bolts can create all kinds of havok. Following the steps in the DIY guide, all went to plan, until I got to the rubbers at the back. They just wouldn’t let go! It took some extreme (excessive) WD40 use and a lot or patience, but finally the silencer straps came off, and I was ready for the new system.
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Each silencer has two 10mm bolts on each side of this strap (below).
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Dropped silencer, you can make out the top half of the strap, and see the (orange) rubber hangers the strap is inserted through (below).
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A view of both silencers after being carefully removed from the straps (below). With these free and the cat pipe removed (above) you can slide the exhaust out from under the car.
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Below you can see the rubber hangers and the silencer ’strap’ top section. They REALLY didn’t want to separated! Removal of the black metal plate (two nuts) meant I could tease the lower fitting out (towards the right of this picture), and then take off the second rubber, away from the car.
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Once I finally freed the Cooper S of it’s standard exhaust, and stopped for a cup of tea, it was time to istall the new PlayMini system. I have to say, this part was a real breeze, top marks to PlayMini for making a system so well constructed and easy to fit!
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The PlayMini main pipe from cat to silencers (below). Using standard mounting plate and rubbers, seen in middle of picture.
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The PlayMini system in place, with heat shield reinstalled. Each silencer has mounting points welded to it which slot neatly (and easily) into the rubber hangers which formally housed the factory silencer ’straps’.
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This is the PlayMini system with heatshield in place.
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What the public sees! Twin pipes fit snuggly inside the standard exit point. Sounds even better than it looks! (Below).
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Part Two: First Impressions…
First impressions of the system are very good indeed. The ease of installation gives you an instant sense of satisfaction if you take the DIY route, as well as giving you the confidence that the system is very securely in place, and isn’t going to fall off the first time you take it out on some less than billiard table smooth country lanes.
Firing up the car to check for any blowing or rattles, the change from stock is resounding. The sound is nice, deep and throaty, and certainly more sporty than the standard system (which I believe is already a fantastic system in terms of acoustics). When you rev the engine, it growls eagerly then burbles away sweetly, as if saying ‘go on, do it again’. Already I am convinced this is a worthwhile modification!
The tail pipes look good too. In a similar style to those fitted to the MGF, but more round and less oval, they are big, but not comically so, and they fill the standard exit point nicely, they certainly don’t look out of place on the Cooper S at all.
Once I hit the road, I had a pleasant surprise. Considering this car is still in it’s running in stage, I cant ‘floor it’ to any degree, but once the engine is warm, I can certainly ‘blip’ the throttle, and get some decent power from the eager engine that’s waiting for the magic 1,250 miles and it’s moment to shine. So, I hit the throttle, and I could immediately feel the difference. This wasn’t something I particularly expected, as I saw the system more as being about the ‘experience’ than the power. However the MINI certainly felt more eager than with the standard system. This is a good sign of things to come!
Part Three: In Summary…
Early impressions were certainly very good. Easy to fit, easy on the eye, and a pleasure on the ears, as well as apparently improving the performance. It was smiles all the way. After several hundred miles with the PlayMINI system on the Cooper S, the initial delight wasn’t reduced. The exhaust sounds nice and throaty, and amplifies the usual Cooper S burble magnificently, making it sound like you’ve got real punch under the bonnet. On longer motorway journeys the exhaust isn’t too boomy or droning, the only time I felt it was a little too loud was driving home late at night when it’s dead quiet. Not sure the neighbours liked it as much as I did!
For a cat back system for the Cooper S I cant see that there’s much more you could ask for than the PlayMINI system gives. Looks good, sounds good, fits well, cant really fault it!
Part Four: Video Evidence…
Below are links to two videos (WMV Windows Video Format Only) to demonstrate the PlayMINI System. One from outside compared to standard, and one from inside compared to standard. The video from the cabin also has the cold air intake kit fitted, which explains the extra howl!
Outside: Click Here
Inside: Click Here
PlayMini can be contacted via their New MINI website at www.PlayMini2.co.uk
MINI will present its four models and new equipment options at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show.
Since the market launch of MINI more than two years ago its community of enthusiasts has grown to over a quarter of a million “members” in more than 70 countries. And
the zenith of its popularity has still to be reached, a fact underlined by the growing number of honours it has received: only just recently in July the MINI Cooper was named “Top Automotive Client” in the Top Clients Report 2003 published by Strategy magazine in Canada. This is a remarkable achievement for the smallest vehicle on Canada’s roads.
MINI returns to rally roots as MINI Canada enters 2003 Targa Newfoundland
Whitby Ontario - MINI Canada announced today the MINI Cooper S will return to its rally roots in the 2003 Targa Newfoundland beginning in St.John’s Newfoundland on September 13th through to September 20th. The rally will showcase the MINI’s dynamic performance and handling capabilities as it competes in both the Targa and Touring classes. Well known Canadian automotive journalists will be behind the wheel of both MINI Cooper S entrants - Jim Kenzie and Gabriel Gelinas will be driving in the Targa Class, while Brian Harper and Paul Williams will compete on behalf of MINI Canada in the Touring Class. Beginning September 13th, MINI and rally enthusiasts alike can visit
www.mini.ca for online updates and to follow both teams’ progress at Targa Newfoundland.
Continue reading MINI returns to rally roots as MINI Canada enters 2003 Targa Newfoundland
The new MINI Collection 2003/2004 - A Lifestyle
MINI have announced that “The MINI Collection is about to enter its third round”.
Just in time for the International Motorshow in Frankfurt, MINI now presents its new Collection for 2003/2004. It comprises what MINI are calling “daring fashion articles, extravagant accessories, technology and mobility products, and a whole lot more”. Sounds exciting doesn’t it!?
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