supping up a Mini

[djmini03]

i was wondering if anyone has installed a short throw shifter in their mini and if it was worth it to install one

also i was wondering if the cold air intake was a good investment to install to help give the mini a little pep

what is everyones opinion on exhaust which company is the best to go with (borla, flowmaster, skunk, etc)

[herbie hind]

i've been thinkin' about a short shifter as well as far as the intake goes i can only go by my "s" it didn't really do sh$t until i got the exhaust fitted . i mean it sounded better and was a little livelier but once i put the exhaust on that's when it came alive . recommendations? i think a tuner who has tested a variety of them may post . hopefully . i can't help with that (sorry).

[wrecker]

Quote: Originally Posted by djmini03

i was wondering if anyone has installed a short throw shifter in their mini and if it was worth it to install one

also i was wondering if the cold air intake was a good investment to install to help give the mini a little pep

what is everyones opinion on exhaust which company is the best to go with (borla, flowmaster, skunk, etc)

djmini, Yes, yes, and a bunch.

I put the Alta short shift kit on My 05 CR/B S. What a wonderful improvement. If you go with the Alta, you can adjust it from stock down. If you want to shorten it up any more you can remove the cover and go another half inch but I am extremely happy with it in it's current position. I would also suggest purchasing both the Alta shift knob and the adapter to use the OEM knob, acouple extra bucks but the feel of the Alta knob is worth it. It does get cold in the winter though. If you can get use to the feel of the OEM knob after using the Alta for a while it is more comfortable in the cold. I just unscrew it and take it in to work with me, then run it under hot water before I leave work and it stays warm for a long time in the cold car. This is one of the best imprvements I've made for low bucks.

The cold air intake was my first mod. HP gain for the Alta CAI is about 8 or 9 but the sound of the supercharger is "Enhanced" also. You can really hear it whine. I like the Alta but there are many others that I hear are also quality products.

As for the exhaust, there are a few out there that are all great, depends what you are looking for. I went with the Magnaflow just to be different. I was inpressed by the sound of KOOLMINI's at my first Dragon event and everyone in the Michigan MINI Motoring Club was getting MIlteck's at the time so I had to be different. Again there are a few to choose from. If you want to hear them all (well most) go to NorthAmericanMotoring.com and search for the soundbites from about 10 different exhausts. I must have listened to them 10 times before making my decision on the Magnaflow. It did increase my gas mileage by about 1 mpg. besides sounding a whole lot throatier.

I know Chad Miller at DetroitTuned.com would be able to hook you up if you are the DIY kinda person. I just don.t figure you are anywhere close to Detroit. He will ship anything to you though. Tell him wrecker sent you and he will only charge you double.

Warning, once you start down the mod road, it gets real slippey, it's hard to stop. I keep all my old parts the Chad takes off and replaces with aftermarket performance parts. Soon I will have enough for a second MINI.

Good luck on what ever you decide on.