[05MCSConvertible]

On my last car which was a 99 C2 Cabriolet, I put on the brembo frt/rear big brake conversion. It saved me 8 or 10 lbs a corner. That made a big difference. I was in a bad car accident and had to replace my 19"s, insurance wouldn't cover them as they exceeded the cost of the factory wheels by a large margin. They were 335/35/19 in rear and 245/40/19 front. When I went from the 19's to a set pf Techart 3 piece 18's that I picked up used with tires for 2400$ That also made a BIG difference in acceleration as hey were roughly 20lbs lighter per rim/tire combo. Last but not least I removed the factory rollover system (45lbs) removed the rear seats to fit the cab rollbar and (+15lbs) and replaced the factory power seats with carbon fiber sparcos (75lbs) So in total I removed 105lbs of weight from the vehicle and another 104lbs of unsprung weight. Believe me when I tell you that after doing Techart header/exaust and high flow cats, and Gemballa ECU remap. Although I noticed a fair power increase, I never dynoed so I can't back the 35hp claim. I will say that the weight savings made a much bigger impact on the acceleration and handling of the vehicle.
Something to think about for you hardcore modders and racers. Did I mention that not only did I lose 100% of the value of the aftermarket parts, but I also had a difficult time selling it because it was too tricked out. The S is a very fun car. Very tossable, but the speed is a problem at this point so I am opting to fix that problem. Although in a different league as the 996 was, the Mini is very fun and is very good at drawing looks. I am such a big guy I feel like a clown in a clown car... I love my new mini just as much as I loved my Porsche
Attached some pictures

[speedynz]

Great post, you'd better look out for the proposed lightweight Mini that Paul has been talking about (New Variants forum).

[RedUn]

Quote: Originally Posted by 05MCSConvertible

On my last car which was a 99 C2 Cabriolet, I put on the brembo frt/rear big brake conversion. It saved me 8 or 10 lbs a corner. That made a big difference. I was in a bad car accident and had to replace my 19"s, insurance wouldn't cover them as they exceeded the cost of the factory wheels by a large margin. They were 335/35/19 in rear and 245/40/19 front. When I went from the 19's to a set pf Techart 3 piece 18's that I picked up used with tires for 2400$ That also made a BIG difference in acceleration as hey were roughly 20lbs lighter per rim/tire combo. Last but not least I removed the factory rollover system (45lbs) removed the rear seats to fit the cab rollbar and (+15lbs) and replaced the factory power seats with carbon fiber sparcos (75lbs) So in total I removed 105lbs of weight from the vehicle and another 104lbs of unsprung weight. Believe me when I tell you that after doing Techart header/exaust and high flow cats, and Gemballa ECU remap. Although I noticed a fair power increase, I never dynoed so I can't back the 35hp claim. I will say that the weight savings made a much bigger impact on the acceleration and handling of the vehicle.
Something to think about for you hardcore modders and racers. Did I mention that not only did I lose 100% of the value of the aftermarket parts, but I also had a difficult time selling it because it was too tricked out. The S is a very fun car. Very tossable, but the speed is a problem at this point so I am opting to fix that problem. Although in a different league as the 996 was, the Mini is very fun and is very good at drawing looks. I am such a big guy I feel like a clown in a clown car... I love my new mini just as much as I loved my Porsche
Attached some pictures

sweet car

[BFG9000]

SCC magazine took nearly 1100 pounds/500kg off a Sentra (originally weighed only slightly more than a MCS) and dropped 1/4 mile by just 2 seconds. So the lightweight MCS will mostly be for improved handling: http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=776885

A similar experiment on a Cadillac 20 years ago got it into the 12s.

[05MCSConvertible]

The Sentra lost 1100 lbs. Good for 2 seconds. That is a big drop in 0-60. 1100 lbs is the equivalent of 110RWHP. For every 10lbs it is 1HP. So if I was the sentra owner I would be happy a piggy in a mudbath to shave that much time off my car.

[rkw]

The thread referenced above is hilarious.

Before
Curb Weight: 2,762 lbs
1/4 Mile:16.3 @ 84.0 mph
60-foot:2.9 sec.
0-60 mph:8.6 sec.



After
Curb Weight:1,674 lbs
1/4 Mile:14.3 @ 93.2 mph
60-foot:2.6 sec.
0-60 mph:5.8 sec.

[robbo mcs]

Quote: Originally Posted by BFG9000

SCC magazine took nearly 1100 pounds/500kg off a Sentra (originally weighed only slightly more than a MCS) and dropped 1/4 mile by just 2 seconds. So the lightweight MCS will mostly be for improved handling: http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=776885

A similar experiment on a Cadillac 20 years ago got it into the 12s.

Hi,

"Just 2 seconds"

I ran on a drag strip against a modded 996 porsche turbo, which was running sticky tyres It beat me by "just 3 seconds". I swear it was finished when I was around half way down the circuit. The difference in acceleration was enormous A 2 second difference on a quarter mile is a massive improvement in performance

Cheers

Robbo

[Charger_Pete]

You should expect to see 0.3sec improvement in 0-60mph for every 100kg of weight removed. This is a fairly robust engineering rule of thumb.

[obehave]

Quote: Originally Posted by robbo mcs

Hi,

"Just 2 seconds"

I ran on a drag strip against a modded 996 porsche turbo, which was running sticky tyres It beat me by "just 3 seconds". I swear it was finished when I was around half way down the circuit. The difference in acceleration was enormous A 2 second difference on a quarter mile is a massive improvement in performance

Cheers

Robbo

Yep.
2 seconds is huge

[BFG9000]

Quote: Originally Posted by obehave

Yep.
2 seconds is huge

My point was that there is no way a "lightweight" MCS is going to weigh 1100lbs less, otherwise it would resemble the extreme Sentra above . Perhaps it will be ~200lbs less, and as Charger_Pete pointed out, you can expect about 0.3 sec from that. Not so huge.

[obehave]

Quote: Originally Posted by BFG9000

My point was that there is no way a "lightweight" MCS is going to weigh 1100lbs less, otherwise it would resemble the extreme Sentra above . Perhaps it will be ~200lbs less, and as Charger_Pete pointed out, you can expect about 0.3 sec from that. Not so huge.

You're probably right.
I was agreeing with robbo that the statement "dropped 1/4 mile by just 2 seconds" is a bit of an understatement.

And charger_pete stated .3 sec 0-60. So that would be maybe .4 sec or a bit more in the 1/4.
I can assure you that losing by 4/10ths in the 1/4 is a mild spanking. Been there had that done to me.

[crazyaboutmini]

BayBridgeMotors has an enduro MCS thats around 1700 pounds... based on what they said at MMW they are pushing 250hp now.... thats a very good power to weight ratio

http://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1056610&page=1

i dunno if that linked worked but you can see it at baybridgemotors.com

[BFG9000]

Quote: Originally Posted by obehave

And charger_pete stated .3 sec 0-60. So that would be maybe .4 sec or a bit more in the 1/4.

The Sentra showed a much larger drop in 0-60 than the 1/4, so we'd expect the difference in the 1/4 to be less, not more. Traditionally in drag racing (at least with heavier cars), 100 lbs is only considered to be worth ~0.1 sec in the 1/4, so the Sentra's performance was actually already better than expected.

Any car that BMW is going to sell to the general public will not resemble a race car. But I expect that the weight loss will greatly improve handling even though it will not nearly be down to the same weight as the Elise, CRX or 1st gen Miata. Perhaps ~2400lb like the base MC,1st gen Integra,or 1st gen MR2.

The weight of my loaded MCS (~2720lb) borders on the obscene because it is 1000lbs more than the similarly sized Festiva/Mazda 121. 1984 Chrysler Minivans and Jeep Cherokees only weighed ~2900lbs just like the C2 Cabriolet! To 05MCSConvertible, my MCS (and probably your new Mini too) weighs more than your C2 after the mods!

[obehave]

Quote: Originally Posted by BFG9000

The Sentra showed a much larger drop in 0-60 than the 1/4, so we'd expect the difference in the 1/4 to be less, not more. Traditionally in drag racing (at least with heavier cars), 100 lbs is only considered to be worth ~0.1 sec in the 1/4, so the Sentra's performance was actually already better than expected.

Any car that BMW is going to sell to the general public will not resemble a race car. But I expect that the weight loss will greatly improve handling even though it will not nearly be down to the same weight as the Elise, CRX or 1st gen Miata. Perhaps ~2400lb like the base MC,1st gen Integra,or 1st gen MR2.

The weight of my loaded MCS (~2720lb) borders on the obscene because it is 1000lbs more than the similarly sized Festiva/Mazda 121. 1984 Chrysler Minivans and Jeep Cherokees only weighed ~2900lbs just like the C2 Cabriolet! To 05MCSConvertible, my MCS (and probably your new Mini too) weighs more than your C2 after the mods!

Did a bad conversion. He said per 100Kg I was thiinking pounds. Ooops.

But yeah, I'm well aware of the 100lbs = .1 sec rule of thumb.
I used to drag race some as a kid. That's why I know if you lose by 2/10ths you're looking at the back of the other guys head. As short as the MINI is you might just be looking at the back of the other car
I'd like a lightweight version.
But NOT if they're going to bill us $1K or more like the MC40. Not for a 200 pound weight loss.
I agree with you it'll probably be as much ornament as it will be function.

[rica_roel]

My MINI S 2003 with some modifications, feels much more faster when I have half a gas tank than full.

Cheers

Ricardo

Quote: Originally Posted by 05MCSConvertible

On my last car which was a 99 C2 Cabriolet, I put on the brembo frt/rear big brake conversion. It saved me 8 or 10 lbs a corner. That made a big difference. I was in a bad car accident and had to replace my 19"s, insurance wouldn't cover them as they exceeded the cost of the factory wheels by a large margin. They were 335/35/19 in rear and 245/40/19 front. When I went from the 19's to a set pf Techart 3 piece 18's that I picked up used with tires for 2400$ That also made a BIG difference in acceleration as hey were roughly 20lbs lighter per rim/tire combo. Last but not least I removed the factory rollover system (45lbs) removed the rear seats to fit the cab rollbar and (+15lbs) and replaced the factory power seats with carbon fiber sparcos (75lbs) So in total I removed 105lbs of weight from the vehicle and another 104lbs of unsprung weight. Believe me when I tell you that after doing Techart header/exaust and high flow cats, and Gemballa ECU remap. Although I noticed a fair power increase, I never dynoed so I can't back the 35hp claim. I will say that the weight savings made a much bigger impact on the acceleration and handling of the vehicle.
Something to think about for you hardcore modders and racers. Did I mention that not only did I lose 100% of the value of the aftermarket parts, but I also had a difficult time selling it because it was too tricked out. The S is a very fun car. Very tossable, but the speed is a problem at this point so I am opting to fix that problem. Although in a different league as the 996 was, the Mini is very fun and is very good at drawing looks. I am such a big guy I feel like a clown in a clown car... I love my new mini just as much as I loved my Porsche
Attached some pictures

[05MCSConvertible]

I know guys that like to keep there tanks at 1/4 full because they also swear it makes a difference, although I think that is a bit extreme! But I guess if you are going for EVERY ounce of performance.

[obehave]

At 6.2 lbs per gallon every bit helps.

I hate it when I forget and fill my tank the weekend of an auto-x event.

[05MCSConvertible]

Quote: Originally Posted by obehave

At 6.2 lbs per gallon every bit helps.

I hate it when I forget and fill my tank the weekend of an auto-x event.

The words of a true autocrosser! LOL

[05MCSConvertible]

Quote: Originally Posted by Charger_Pete

You should expect to see 0.3sec improvement in 0-60mph for every 100kg of weight removed. This is a fairly robust engineering rule of thumb.

Do you think this figure would be the same if you remove 100kg of weight off of the general vehicle or if you removed 100kg of UNSPRUNG weight by means of lighter rims,tires, breaks and suspension components.
I remember reading something on either this board or NAM that stated removing unsprung weight is SIGNIFICANTLY better than...... lighter seats, no heater or AC or sound deadening. This was because of the less amount of rotating mass.

[robbo mcs]

Quote: Originally Posted by 05MCSConvertible

Do you think this figure would be the same if you remove 100kg of weight off of the general vehicle or if you removed 100kg of UNSPRUNG weight by means of lighter rims,tires, breaks and suspension components.
I remember reading something on either this board or NAM that stated removing unsprung weight is SIGNIFICANTLY better than...... lighter seats, no heater or AC or sound deadening. This was because of the less amount of rotating mass.

Hi,

There was a long thread on about the physics of this (I think it was on NAM??).

As a rough rule of thumb losing 1kg of unsprung weight is roughly equivalent to losing somewhere between 2-4kg of sprung weight in terms of improved performance.

Cheers

Robbo