The Flamers replacement - Mini Cooper S

[Djw John]

Well I can't quite believe it myself but the time has come to move on from the flamer. It'll be getting put back to near standard and sold along with all the various spares and tarty bits I have lying around. So this pic will never be repeated

After a lot of searching about in the 2-3k area it was a toss up between a RX8 or a MCS. The mini scares me less so I've gone for that!

So a few plans straight away are to lose the stripes and mirror covers, repaint the calipers silver and do something about the wheels. They've just been refurbed and from the look I had tonight are in great nick, I just don't like them in black! It'll also get the back seats removed pretty soon after getting it home (clio has been a 2 seater for about 5 years!). I'll probably go down the handling and stopping route first with a whiteline rear arb being high up my list after loving it on the clio.

Things I know about it at the moment are its got xenons, climate, full leather, new clutch, new oil seals, chain, pulley belt, fsh and a minidisc player! I'll have to go to my Mums and see if all of mine are still there!

Its at my Grans just now as I already have too many cars at home and don't have the space or need for it right now but I popped over to see her today and got those awful stripes off!

Which revealed a bit of a problem

Oh well! So I think I'll take the chance to get some of the chrome painted too, defo the fuel cap, possibly the headlight surrounds too and anything else that'll improve it.

TBH I don't think it'll ever replace the clio fully but I need to try other cars and that isn't going to happen if I keep it forever.

Cheers
John

 

[Leonardo]

Now I wonder what's under my stripes!

 

[Djw John]

Yeah it's the risk you take! They all rust there so I can't say I was that shocked. Still, id argue that it looks better with 2 bits of fuller than it does with those stripes!

 

[Goodj]

What scared you most about the RX-8?
At a guess, the engine?

Now I wonder what's under my stripes!

Exactly why my old 172 have full length, 2-tone stripes.

It wasn't a taste thing.

 

[Djw John]

Yup. The potential for a bill to be the same as the car cost and recoup nothing as a result.
I think if I ever do it I'd buy a non runner and get the engine rebuilt. Then it costs about the same as a running one!

 

[Goodj]

Yup. The potential for a bill to be the same as the car cost and recoup nothing as a result.
I think if I ever do it I'd buy a non runner and get the engine rebuilt. Then it costs about the same as a running one!

Yup, all the cheap ones need new engines, no matter what the seller says.
every 70-80k, without fail.

Shame that....but they do take an LS3 in the nose

 

[Djw John]

Sssshhhhhhh. Don't say things like that!

 

[Goodj]

Sssshhhhhhh. Don't say things like that!

I'm saying nothing....

 

[Djw John]

You're a bad man.

 

[ForceIndia]

Brilliant little cars. Get the 15% pulley upgrade, r56 front brakes and its pretty perfect as a package

 

[Daz_RT_04]

15% Pulley and a Orranje airbox.. oh and chop a silencer off... Thats power and sound sorted!

 

[Djw John]

Yeah been speaking to @Sir_Dave and he's been saying 15% as well so that'll be happening.
And on the look out for a decent exhaust but I'll probably end up doing the one ball mod and losing the mid silencer for now.
I want the R56 brakes as well but I also want to run 15s. May have found some that allow it I just need to confirm before buying.

 

[ForceIndia]

Yeah been speaking to @Sir_Dave and he's been saying 15% as well so that'll be happening.
And on the look out for a decent exhaust but I'll probably end up doing the one ball mod and losing the mid silencer for now.
I want the R56 brakes as well but I also want to run 15s. May have found some that allow it I just need to confirm before buying.

The brakes are essential!

 

[Djw John]

So I hear! I take it even kick ass pads in the standard setup won't cut it?
Knockhill is quite hard on brakes, or at least I am there anyway. 2 big stops and not that much recovery between them.

 

[Paprika123]

Get the Mini Cooper SMRC package on it.

 

[Djw John]

Funnily enough it's David Sleigh who I'm waiting on confirming what team dynamics I need!

 

[The Chubby Pirate]

Its already so much better without the stripes, why not pick up some turini's for it? iirc, same offset as the Clio's? They look great on them (as they do on everything!)

 

[Daz.]

Get the willy wheels on it!

 

[ForceIndia]

So I hear! I take it even kick ass pads in the standard setup won't cut it?
Knockhill is quite hard on brakes, or at least I am there anyway. 2 big stops and not that much recovery between them.

Never tried, but according to the forums, the r56 upgrade is the only worthwhile option. For road use, the standard setup is poor, on track I think they'd be appalling!

 

[Djw John]

Its already so much better without the stripes, why not pick up some turini's for it? iirc, same offset as the Clio's? They look great on them (as they do on everything!)

Would look good on them. And aye whilst checking for some other wheels it looks like all I would need are spigot rings.

Get the willy wheels on it!

That's the wheels I was checking! I'll trial fit them when I get it home.

Never tried, but according to the forums, the r56 upgrade is the only worthwhile option. For road use, the standard setup is poor, on track I think they'd be appalling!

Mmm should probably bite the bullet then.

 

[Sir_Dave]

Not sure if R56S front setup will fit will 15's, hence i run 16s! R888's are expensive in 195/50/16 size though

I run R56 front setup with Carbotech XP8 pads, Nitrac grooved discs, braided lines & Castrol SRF. Bear in mind that on track, the pedal isnt as firm as the clio (even when bled about 20 times in a row), not much you can do about it, will feel a little odd at first, but works perfectly fine.

 

[ForceIndia]

Not sure if R56S front setup will fit will 15's, hence i run 16s! R888's are expensive in 195/50/16 size though 😧

I run R56 front setup with Carbotech XP8 pads, Nitrac grooved discs, braided lines & Castrol SRF. Bear in mind that on track, the pedal isnt as firm as the clio (even when bled about 20 times in a row), not much you can do about it, will feel a little odd at first, but works perfectly fine.

Iirc changing the master cylinder sorts that. But more hassle than it's worth.

 

[Sir_Dave]

Iirc changing the master cylinder sorts that. But more hassle than it's worth.

Yes, the e46 M3 one fits apparently, but "a rod" needs changing, which is a massive faff!
http://r53trackcar.phatphoto.com/2014/04/e46-m3-master-cylinder-swap/

 

[Djw John]

I should be able to confirm or deny be R56 setup and 15s soon so ill let you know.
That swap looks like such a massive faff! Do the R56 have the same feel?

 

[banther]

Orranje Stealth CAI makes these sound sooooo good!! The one thing I liked about mine lol.

 

[Djw John]

I'll have a look into them then

 

[ForceIndia]

I'll have a look into them then

There's a few options, orranje, jcw, Dave f diy. All pretty much the same job.

 

[wozza182]

Make your own airbox mod. So easy and sounds so good.

 

[Sir_Dave]

JCW is the original one, Dave F is the copy, Orranje is the copy of the Dave F.
There is also the "hobo version" which you make yourself with some drainpipe & a dremel.

 

[Waitey]

JCW is the original one, Dave F is the copy, Orranje is the copy of the Dave F.
There is also the "hobo version" which you make yourself with some drainpipe & a dremel.

I still detest that forum. Although I did make £500 on my Recaros lol.

 

[Djw John]

Yeah not a big fan of all the hobo chat! Joined up to newminiscotland too and they seem a decent bunch

 

[Sir_Dave]

I still detest that forum. Although I did make £500 on my Recaros lol.

Its awful isn't it. Makes CS seem like a sensible forum for adults.

 

[ForceIndia]

Its awful isn't it. Makes CS seem like a sensible forum for adults.

Isn't "slam it or f**k off" the standard advice?

 

[Djw John]

Track prep it, never track it, split it seems to be the norm.
So basically CS a couple of years ago.

 

[Sir_Dave]

Isn't "slam it or f**k off" the standard advice?

Pretty much, along with what has been said above lol.
Difference is that CS members fit V-Maxx coilovers & camber bolts for £300, whereas Mini owners will only fit KW ClubSports.
No point fitting anything else because they are all suspension engineers who adjust their dampers before each trip to McDonalds.

 

[rctempire]

Nice choice, but the flamer 😞

 

[Djw John]

Nice choice, but the flamer 😞

No one is sadder about it than me but it's time.

 

[Thrust-Rated]

Shame to see the Flamer go, nice replacement though. Never driven one myself
Quick?

 

[Djw John]

Not particularly! Nearly 20 bhp less than the flamer and about 150kg more! £500 should see it fast though.

 

[CrippsCorner]

I take it you guys are talking about MiniTorque? It's a bit of a weird place... I thought the 'Hello and welcome to the forum now PUT COILOVERS ON IT" was a joke thing, but it seems it's not :unamused:

Also anything non Mini related is frowned upon even in off topic sections!

I'll always be on ClioSport no matter what car I have.