[MarkW19]

Excuse my ignorance guys

I've recently done the MTH Tuner remap for my Cooper, along with K&N Typhoon intake and Milltek catback exhaust.

I'm now looking at getting even more power out of it.

Lohen have suggested their own 58mm throttle body and schrick (road) camshaft.

Would the TB and new cam produce ANY more sound? I don't want any more noise that's for sure it's loud enough as it is

I've also heard the schrick can make the car idle rougher...is this true?

Also, I've read about irridium spark plugs and Magnacor leads etc. - could someone please explain to me exactly what these do, what the advantages would be, and if they'd be worth getting?

Also, as my warranty expires soon, I'm reluctant to do all this stuff to my car as undoubtedly wear and tear will increase and the potential for problems/damage will presumably increase quite a lot?

I've also read about injectors, lighter flywheels etc. Again, what do these do and will they be worthwhile?

I just want better acceleration, without any more noise or anything causing any problems. I don't want the engine to rev any higher or anything because then motorway driving etc. would be louder and less comfortable; I also don't want to lose any low-down performance as this is my daily driver so I use it for everything. If anything, I'd want the power increased over the whole of the rev-range, not bothered about top speed just acceleration.

And I don't do any track days, just spirited day to day driving

Oh and I don't want the parts to mean I have to replace anything any sooner than I would with the OEM parts. ie. I don't want high performing parts that need messing about with/changing regularly, and I don't want the new mods to cause me to have to replace/change other parts sooner, if you get what I mean.

As you've guessed, I want some SIMPLE, low-maintenence performance mods.

Any help/advice appreciated!

[MarkW19]

Cheers Max, I do trust them - going down next week to have my short shifter/Milltek fitted, along with eibach coilovers soon. They're a great team

But I'm not made of money - I don't want to have to pay for things repairing/replacing that have worn more or get damaged by the extra performance being made by these mods.

How do I make sure not to overdo the torque? I guess Nick & Andrey will make sure this is fine, and they'll know the tolerances of the box etc.?

Also read about a head port and polish...how much would this cost do you think and would it be worthwhile again?

And, magnecor leads and irridium sparkplugs...again what differences will I see and is it worthwhile?

[hyperbluejames]

hi mark, with what you've added so far what sort of performance boost have you noticed so far? and did the remap make any real difference?

cheers

[MarkW19]

HBJ: a significant difference, yes. The K&N is just for sound, no noticeable power gain; the Milltek is going on next week but I've heard very good things about it (and I'll be having the MTH updated to take advantage of it next week too), and as for the MTH:-

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...TH+tuner+remap

It's great

[hyperbluejames]

cheers mate!

[RedUn]

if it was me a manifold would be the next logical step, decent gains for fairly low cost but it will be noiser, manifold and throttle body would see a nice little gain for ya

[MarkW19]

Definitely don't want ANY more noise at all.

Milltek catback and K&N Typhoon is far noisey enough for me

[MarkW19]

RedUn do you think the TB, Cam, Denso Irridium sparkplugs, Magnecor 8.5 leads, Screamin' Demon coil would make a good improvement with no negative aspects or any sound/noise increase?

[obehave]

Don't do the TB without the cam. Would be a waste of money.

I'd like to see some data on the shrick cam. The one for the MCS doesn't do much until fairly high rpms.
This "street" cam might be an improvement on that.

[MarkW19]

I believe schrick do a race cam in which the performance comes in obviously at higher rpms, then the "road" one (which Lohen suggested) where the power comes in further down in the midrange.

If I was doing anything, it would be both the TB and cam together.

[RedUn]

Quote: Originally Posted by MarkW19

RedUn do you think the TB, Cam, Denso Irridium sparkplugs, Magnecor 8.5 leads, Screamin' Demon coil would make a good improvement with no negative aspects or any sound/noise increase?

don't bother with the "Denso Irridium sparkplugs, Magnecor 8.5 leads, Screamin' Demon coil " as they will make next to no difference at all.

if yer going to do the cam you might as well do the head at the same time (more money i know but worthwhile if yer after more power) but to get the most out the head and cam you need a manifold, it'll be louder but not that much on a cooper, worth while the gains if you ask me, without the manifold yer limiting yer self a bit

[RedUn]

Quote: Originally Posted by MarkW19

I believe schrick do a race cam in which the performance comes in obviously at higher rpms, then the "road" one (which Lohen suggested) where the power comes in further down in the midrange.

If I was doing anything, it would be both the TB and cam together.

don't forget to take into account how you drive the car, if you like to keep it up in the revs through the gears then possibly the race cam would be more suited to you, it'll be a touch flatter lower down and might tick over a little bit rougher but the top end will be spot on

[MarkW19]

Hmm so without a new manifold the gains I get from anything will be very minimal because the manifold is one of the biggest bottlenecks?

Definitely not doing head as that'll be a lot more money still.

Others say the ignition upgrades make a worthwhile improvement...hmm

[MarkW19]

Does it really matter if a car idles a bit rougher? Don't understand this really ...

I usually drive at between 3.5k and 6k. Quite a bit of motorway driving (approx 3.5k). I don't rev it that high and since the MTH remap I've also often been able to be in a gear higher than before, so again revs even lower.

[RedUn]

Quote: Originally Posted by MarkW19

Hmm so without a new manifold the gains I get from anything will be very minimal because the manifold is one of the biggest bottlenecks?

Definitely not doing head as that'll be a lot more money still.

Others say the ignition upgrades make a worthwhile improvement...hmm

it's a bit of a bottleneck but in most cases people do the head, cam and manifold at the same time to get the most out of it, out of the 3 mods the manifold is really one i'd consider based on price, ease of fitting/removal and gains

wise choice

try it then but I really can't see it doing anything at all to power, the only thing i've ever noticed by changing plugs is that it makes it a touch smoother, nice finishing touch but if your after perfomance put the cash in other mods imo

[RedUn]

Quote: Originally Posted by MarkW19

Does it really matter if a car idles a bit rougher? Don't understand this really ...

I usually drive at between 3.5k and 6k. Quite a bit of motorway driving (approx 3.5k). I don't rev it that high and since the MTH remap I've also often been able to be in a gear higher than before, so again revs even lower.

not really but it depends how pedantic you are about these things

if your driving between 3k and 6k i'd go for the rougher race cam then, under 3k it'll prolly be a bit flat but once it comes on cam it should fly

seriously tho for the money and work on the car do the manifold/TB before the cam

[MarkW19]

Thing is as you know I don't want ANY more noise at all...the Milltek catback is more than enough for me

So therefore the manifold is out of the question. And, if I was to get the head, Lohen (like you) said it would be pretty pointless doing the head without the manifold, and it's also a LOT more money so I won't be getting the head either.

So, that leaves the throttle body and the cam. If I get just these 2, with the MTH remapped to them, do you think they'll make a good difference without causing any negatives to anything, and also without increasing the sound at all?

Basically, its either TB/Cam or nothing...manifold and/or head isn't an option

[RedUn]

Quote: Originally Posted by MarkW19

Thing is as you know I don't want ANY more noise at all...the Milltek catback is more than enough for me

So therefore the manifold is out of the question. And, if I was to get the head, Lohen (like you) said it would be pretty pointless doing the head without the manifold, and it's also a LOT more money so I won't be getting the head either.

So, that leaves the throttle body and the cam. If I get just these 2, with the MTH remapped to them, do you think they'll make a good difference without causing any negatives to anything, and also without increasing the sound at all?

Basically, its either TB/Cam or nothing...manifold and/or head isn't an option

going off that then i'd leave it as it is then, the gains your going to get from the TB and cam will be minimal, 15bhp at most and it's going to cost about 600 quid and thats fitting the parts your self!

spend the money on some decent non runflats (if you haven't already got some), upgrade the pads, fluid and hoses and still have money to spare, power isn't everything

[MarkW19]

OK cheers...sort of what I was hoping to hear I guess

As the ignition upgrades are cheap, I may do them for the hell of it anyway (and cheap to fit I guess).

I've already got Toyo T1S...replacing with Goodyear Eagle F1s when the time comes

To be honest I find the brakes good, and people have commented on how "keen" they find the brakes on mine compared to some other MINIs. So I'll be leaving them be.

OK so, eibach coilovers (50mm) definitely going on by Lohen in a couple of months, and currently debating whether or not to go with the JCW seats (full leather, which won't match my rear seats though...).

http://www.mini2.com/forum/interior-ice/111171-john-cooper-works-seats-choices.html

Cheers for all help guys.

[RedUn]

Quote: Originally Posted by MarkW19

OK cheers...sort of what I was hoping to hear I guess

As the ignition upgrades are cheap, I may do them for the hell of it anyway (and cheap to fit I guess).

I've already got Toyo T1S...replacing with Goodyear Eagle F1s when the time comes

To be honest I find the brakes good, and people have commented on how "keen" they find the brakes on mine compared to some other MINIs. So I'll be leaving them be.

OK so, eibach coilovers (50mm) definitely going on by Lohen in a couple of months, and currently debating whether or not to go with the JCW seats (full leather, which won't match my rear seats though...).

http://www.mini2.com/forum/interior-ice/111171-john-cooper-works-seats-choices.html

Cheers for all help guys.

sounds promising

upto you on the brakes, i'd never say no to better brakes than i already have tho

i'd still avoid the ignition upgrades, i'd rather spend my money on petrol!

as for the seats it depends what your after, if you want it to look pretty inside go for the jcw's if you want some proper support go for some proper buckets