[MINIMANIAUK]

We are looking to develop a conversion kit aimed at the Mini One/cooper , will make in the order of 185 bhp more is possible but the costs increase ,I am posting to get a feel for the demand for such a conversion,and what sort of budget people would have for a conversion and insurance implications. the gearbox we can uprate and clutch and flywheel also but they alone would be around £1400 the conversion ball park would be £4000. would people prefer to bring the car to us for fitting or DIY ? would an option be for us to build a complete engine and have you replace it? This is not a turbo conversion and would be unique to us.I know S owners will say just buy an S BUT the number of One/cooper owners far outnumber the S owners in UK,and a 185 BHP Mini One will out perform the S in all areas , We could offer LSD as an option and handling /brake packages as an option. If there is enough interested we will go ahead and make such a conversion.
Adam

[NeoTheOne]

If I still have my One by the time its ready and I'm earning a bit more cash, I'd be interested. Love the idea of 185bhp from a naturally aspirated 1.6, though I'm not sure how'd it'd be done!

[fishylid]

Personally I would buy an S if I was looking for that sort of power, I am considering a Bluefin for our One C but would not go any further with a One

[Richard22b]

Yes i'd say i would be interested as well. Whats the ball park cost for you to fit as well.

[Charlie Crocker]

Sounds interesting - just wondering whether to trade my lovely Coop up to an S but a tune up would be a good alternative - been waiting a while to see if anyone would come up with a kit for the One/Cooper.
Let me know if you need a test car !!!

[St00ge]

as long as it stays naturally aspirated, it might be good for cooper owners. However, to say that it'll out-perform the S is a big call. Yes it'll outperform a stock S, but those who actually race their cars, usually mod them as well. A pulley, intake and remap on an S (very cheap), will murder a souped up one/cooper

[Capsaisin]

Have I missed something here?

If I had a MC and £4000 to spend, wouldn't I be thinking MCS? The base price differential new is only £3100.
The differential between the Cooper Park Lane and the S Checkmate is only £2,400.

OK as a MCS owner I might be biased, but it appears to make no financial sense to spend £4000 on tuning a Cooper except for track racing.
A MCS owner could afford to spend another £900 to get 210bhp before reaching the £4000 differential between the two cars.

Can't be insurance reasons, as a 185bhp modded Cooper would probably cost more to insure than a JCW and most insurers probably wouldn't touch it.

So what am I missing?

[S33BBY]

I've got to be honest; for warranty reasons and the hassle aspect, I'd be inclined to go for an S.

[Rakey]

Quote: Originally Posted by Capsaisin

Have I missed something here?

If I had a MC and £4000 to spend, wouldn't I be thinking MCS? The base price differential new is only £3100.
The differential between the Cooper Park Lane and the S Checkmate is only £2,400.

OK as a MCS owner I might be biased, but it appears to make no financial sense to spend £4000 on tuning a Cooper except for track racing.
A MCS owner could afford to spend another £900 to get 210bhp before reaching the £4000 differential between the two cars.

Can't be insurance reasons, as a 185bhp modded Cooper would probably cost more to insure than a JCW and most insurers probably wouldn't touch it.

So what am I missing?

exactly what I was thinking too, and don't forget come trade in time a dealer won't touch such a modified Cooper and it will be harder to sell due it been modified

[Blusox]

I'd probably be interested, in fact I'd go and as far as offering up my car as a tester! OK, so the price difference between a cooper and an S can be as little as £2400 but I spent almost a year waiting to find the exact cooper I wanted. Also I'm not a boy racer but more an effiiciency freak, 185 bhp from an normally aspirated 1.6 would do it for me!! Minimania my credit card is ready and waiting!!!!

Got any ideas how you're going to do it?

[MINIMANIAUK]

the starting point will be 4 throttle bodies and ditch the less than perfect intake manifold- , easier said than done , if you just think about it for a few seconds and you will see the difficulties and engineering required hence not cheap

[Blusox]

Thats a lot of throttle bodies!!! Custom made to fir the inlets? Still got to have some sort of manifold to get the air to the throttles though don't you? Space might be your main problem!

[jdcminicooper]

hi i have just got my new mini one all spec up so my 17yearold son can drive it ,so in the near future i will trying to get as much power as can safley so what is wrong with a one

[MINIMANIAUK]

Yes the inlet will be made to suit and allow clearance,that is not the difficult bit ,its the mapping which will prove problematic cost wise, standalone ecu is going to add to the cost,to use original ecu is a possibility but the throttle bodies would need to be electrically actuated with a feedback circuit to the ecu again possible The tech side is not the problem its the cost factor/demand. some interesting points raised ref just get an S,BUT when it comes to resale/used values remember that this area is very fickle and dealers will only entertain sub 50000 mile/3 year old cars on the forecourt at premium rates,so if you have a well treated Mini One would it not be reasonable to tune it rather than buy a 5 year old S that may have had some abuse and or 100000 miles.One thing is for sure used prices will only go down and major failures will happen could it not be an option if your engine suffer catastrophic failure? sometimes "specials" fetch more money used than factory cars what price for a costello MGB or Lister Jaguar,Lotus Cortina ?etc In terms of performance the One/Cooper is lighter and
light is good (works GP) and 185 verses 163/170 would be hard to beat also aspirated
it will not run out of puff at the higher rpm and suffer the heated induction air problems
the supercharger does have mechanical limitations and does not run for free

[bill-t]

intresting as this is some thing ive been planing for my cooper intresting to know what ecu your thinking i was thinking mbe

[Blusox]

Still up for it here!

[MINIMANIAUK]

Ok Bluesox,we will develop it ,may end up being the only one ! we have 4 x 40 mm throttle bodies ,proper motorsport ones,and manifold is under way ,so we have an airbox to make and actuator to modify.then we can do the normal internal upgrades.the throttle bodies are good for 240 bhp larger ones are available but that is a way down the line,so I suggest we aim for as close to 240 as we can get .If you are willing to use you car as a doner we will build engine and trans put it in your car and you keep your engine/trans stock,We will keep all the costs at trade and provide all labour free. but we would require you to take your car to various car shows/demos from time to time,and please give me a call on 01633 866865-Adam

[supercoopers]

Adam at MiniMania is the Man

They have great customer services and a very well equipped outfit. You're in good hands

Henry

[NeoTheOne]

I have a feeling this will be a very loud car

[MINIMANIAUK]

unfortunately It will make considerable intake noise and suck in small kids and animals but on a deserted twisted country road on a sunny day ,music off,up and down the box-a motoring delight ,unless you are the sheep in the field next to it.
Its unlikely to be a conversion with huge demand but an interesting project for us, and maybe for the members on the forum perhaps I should put up pics of the progress?