the scuderiamini thread

[weezer2282]

hey berk...here's your own thread. Lets see how many posts we can get it up to. :thumbsup

[scuderia]

thanks man, i really like this, as a matter of fact, this going tobe my neverending indecisiveness thread... Should I do this, or do that? Alta or M7, H&R or JCW......

hey, did you want me to make arrangements for the sway bar? when would you be available?

[weezer2282]

thanks man, i really like this, as a matter of fact, this going tobe my neverending indecisiveness thread... Should I do this, or do that? Alta or M7, H&R or JCW......

hey, did you want me to make arrangements for the sway bar? when would you be available?

hehe so now you are looking at going all JCW? You wanted it lowered and now it might be a little higher. Next thing you know you'll want 15s with coilovers. :p Did you get a better deal than the $850 from Classic MINI? That's really not a bad deal at all though. One of the least expensive JCW mods indeed.

I'll pick the bar up sometime this week. Might talk someone at work into helping me install it this weekend in exchange for beer or something. :thumbsup

[scuderia]

yeah, i got a little better deal than that, not a whole lot though. It should arrive till the end of this week. As far as your sway bar, man, i am not sure if i can help you with that, i will call Gabe, who installed my springs tomorrow, and see how much he would charge. God, man, just after the alignment, i will need another one. According to Mini Center, they include the mandatory alignment after the JCW suspension kit installed, which makes sense. I rather have this one done there, because it will come to the same, if i get it done at another place, at least i will have piece in mind.

15"? they are ugly, hey I am a street racer, I like auto-crosses, but would not participate one, unless you guys all get together. I prefer karting, which is faster, more exciting, and i would not risk my only transportation.

17" are fine. I learned to live with them in my VW GTI, rough, but stylish. But on the other side, i am digging for the new 18" JCW wheels in gloss black....

[weezer2282]

berky has a pretty sister. :o :)

Thanks for the GTO ride! That thing flies. :thumbsup

[scuderia]

not at all, i wish we had less traffic and daylight ;)

[weezer2282]

when's the JCW suspension going on? we need to get a run together...maybe Dec. 11th? :D

[scuderia]

scuderiamini should be ready by then. yeah, i need a run before the christmas

when's the JCW suspension going on? we need to get a run together...maybe Dec. 11th? :D

[weezer2282]

my swaybar should be put on the 10th. :D the guy at the machine shop at work said it should be no problem...looked easy. This weekend he's busy installing a tranny in an old pickup. :mad: I guess I'll start an event thread and see if anyone else wants to join. :thumbsup

[scuderia]

cool, i am excited

[Derek]

howdy all - I'm new here and just checking in...

Nice hometown site here - I usually spend my time on NAM and MetroplexMINI.

Read teh above posts and have been thinking about mods I want to do next year and thought that I might offer some "light" installs (i.e. suspension, electrical, brakes, etc.) as a way to build up my "mod account". FWIW, I used to turn a wrench as an ASE tech in B/CS and in LA on VW/Porsche/Audi/MB (with most of the English makes thrown in as well) as a way of putting myself through school.

just a thought..

Anyway, I git a card on my old car and finnaly decided to un-lurk...

Derek

[weezer2282]

howdy all - I'm new here and just checking in...

Nice hometown site here - I usually spend my time on NAM and MetroplexMINI.

Read teh above posts and have been thinking about mods I want to do next year and thought that I might offer some "light" installs (i.e. suspension, electrical, brakes, etc.) as a way to build up my "mod account". FWIW, I used to turn a wrench as an ASE tech in B/CS and in LA on VW/Porsche/Audi/MB (with most of the English makes thrown in as well) as a way of putting myself through school.

just a thought..

Anyway, I git a card on my old car and finnaly decided to un-lurk...

Derek

Nice...are you in San Antonio? I'm having someone at work help me install an Hsport Comp bar next weekend, but next month I will need to have some Hsport springs installed. Once Berk gets them off his car they are mine! :D :p :dancing I'm glad you decided to un-lurk...maybe we'll see you at a run or a get together sometime. :thumbsup

[scuderia]

Derek,

thanks for joining in. we will certainly use your expertise and skills, let us know how we can reach you, you can pm me your numbers or your e-mail.

BTW, I am almost ready Greg, i mean, for the springs.

[weezer2282]

When are the 18s and JCW brake kit going on? ;) :p

[scuderia]

no no no noooo, not the brake kit, susp. kit :) Waiting for the rims to arrive, and then for you to buy my h-sports, and then my friend might buy my rims and tires (60% left in front and rear, runflats Pirellis) and then I will have to by tires, and the same they everything goes on the car. We are looking at at least 10 days.

[weezer2282]

no no no noooo, not the brake kit, susp. kit :) Waiting for the rims to arrive, and then for you to buy my h-sports, and then my friend might buy my rims and tires (60% left in front and rear, runflats Pirellis) and then I will have to by tires, and the same they everything goes on the car. We are looking at at least 10 days.

I just thought the brake kit would be next. :p What tires are you thinking about? The Goodyears are supposed to be really good, but are more pricey than Yokos and some others.

[scuderia]

i am between 205/40/18s which has very limited selection, one of them is runflats, over $250.00 per tire, the other option is 215/35/18. at that given point, i will consider what i really want, super stickies? or comfort? for performance, best bang for the buck are the Yoko AVS ES100s, and a little more extreme, BF g-force series tires. For comfort and overall, can't beat the Michelin Pilots, though. So that is my dilemna. 18" is the big dawg category and everything is freakin' expensive :cool: .

BBK- dunno yet?

Like i said before, more into looks for this year, car is too new to mess with the motor and performance parts yet. Randy at M7 should start the splitter for Aero pack next week, hopefully he sends me one for testing....

[weezer2282]

i am between 205/40/18s which has very limited selection, one of them is runflats, over $250.00 per tire, the other option is 215/35/18. at that given point, i will consider what i really want, super stickies? or comfort? for performance, best bang for the buck are the Yoko AVS ES100s, and a little more extreme, BF g-force series tires. For comfort and overall, can't beat the Michelin Pilots, though. So that is my dilemna. 18" is the big dawg category and everything is freakin' expensive :cool: .

BBK- dunno yet?

Like i said before, more into looks for this year, car is too new to mess with the motor and performance parts yet. Randy at M7 should start the splitter for Aero pack next week, hopefully he sends me one for testing....

I like that splitter that was in the other thread over on NAM. The worldoneperformance one I think it was. It was carbon fiber and had shorter connecting rods that attached to the black trim, instead of higher up on the bumper like the M7. The aero bumper looks like it already has a small splitter built into it, but another one will still look cool. That would be fun to test out. :thumbsup

I don't think I would ever go to 18s...that's just way too expensive. I'll stick with 16s that are like $60-120.

[weezer2282]

Are those Toyo's the T1R or T1S? Any chance you were driving on Broadway/Austin Highway this evening? I spotted a hyper blue MINI there. :thumbsup

[scuderia]

no it was not me, btw, T1S o'corse :D

[weezer2282]

I just put on the comp bar today...it's awesome! :D I haven't been able to make the front end slide yet and I have it on the middle position right now. I can't wait to test it out tomorrow. :D :thumbsup

The install was easier than I expected too. The hardest part was prying out the old one and putting the new one in. The new bushings were a little difficult too. Did you get the JCW kit yet? You definetly need to look into the sway bar. :dancing

[scuderia]

nope, the JCW is not on yet, and I am about to piss my wife off, I am trying to park the car to a hidden spot, today installed the 18" OZ Superturismo WRCs in white, looks killer, no rubbing under normal driving, very happy to leave run flats

comp bar is a must, but like i said, that is one of the reasons that i am holding the JCW deal. I fancy the JCW and sway bar at the same time.

Well, finally you will keep up with Will and I J/K, you know everytime you amaze me on the road.

I just put on the comp bar today...it's awesome! :D I haven't been able to make the front end slide yet and I have it on the middle position right now. I can't wait to test it out tomorrow. :D :thumbsup

The install was easier than I expected too. The hardest part was prying out the old one and putting the new one in. The new bushings were a little difficult too. Did you get the JCW kit yet? You definetly need to look into the sway bar. :dancing

[weezer2282]

nope, the JCW is not on yet, and I am about to piss my wife off, I am trying to park the car to a hidden spot, today installed the 18" OZ Superturismo WRCs in white, looks killer, no rubbing under normal driving, very happy to leave run flats

comp bar is a must, but like i said, that is one of the reasons that i am holding the JCW deal. I fancy the JCW and sway bar at the same time.

Well, finally you will keep up with Will and I J/K, you know everytime you amaze me on the road.

Last time I smoked you. :p I'm still driving on all season run flats too. :eek2 Maybe I'll drive in manual mode this time and leave you guys in my mirror. :D

Hope the wife doesn't get too upset. That's kinda hard to hide going from black rims to white ones. They'll be interesting to see.

Hmm...I wonder how the MINI Center is with installing aftermarket parts. They shouldn't charge more than 1-2hrs for it. It took us about 3hrs and we were figuring out what to do and taking some long breaks...like 15-30minute breaks. They would have to take off the rear struts for the JCW, so a lot of the work would already be done there. Is it possible to buy the JCW kit without the install? I might consider it then. Right now I'm leaning towards Hsports with either koni yellows or bilstein sp's. I'm enjoying the stiff rear end, so I think those would work good to stiffen things up all around.

[scuderia]

yeah, absolutely, people on NAM are so worried about the deal with tailoring the JCW suspension according to your vin#, it really is not very important. There is very slight differences between the spring rates, so i call it BS. You can get them installed at other places, no worries.

Keith would answer technical questions better than I, but at the mid position on your vehicle, you should be very close to neutral, in other words understeer/oversteer. If I were you I would go with JCW unless you fancy slamming the car, which I believe is not your cup of tea. It is going to cost you less, trust me.

As far as aftermarket and Mini Center is concerned, why don't you get a TC kit and visit them :D Or, take an Alta 15% pulley and aske them to install (heh heh heeee, hope Faron is not reading this, if he is, HI FARON!!!). Well, so far, they did not give me any hard time, but i do not have any hardcore mods. I wonder what would happen if Keith went to service? They would prolly have heart attach :D

Anyways, my friend at work installed Alta 15% pulley, amazingly my car still feels and drives faster?????

[weezer2282]

yeah, absolutely, people on NAM are so worried about the deal with tailoring the JCW suspension according to your vin#, it really is not very important. There is very slight differences between the spring rates, so i call it BS. You can get them installed at other places, no worries.

Keith would answer technical questions better than I, but at the mid position on your vehicle, you should be very close to neutral, in other words understeer/oversteer. If I were you I would go with JCW unless you fancy slamming the car, which I believe is not your cup of tea. It is going to cost you less, trust me.

As far as aftermarket and Mini Center is concerned, why don't you get a TC kit and visit them :D Or, take an Alta 15% pulley and aske them to install (heh heh heeee, hope Faron is not reading this, if he is, HI FARON!!!). Well, so far, they did not give me any hard time, but i do not have any hardcore mods. I wonder what would happen if Keith went to service? They would prolly have heart attach :D

Anyways, my friend at work installed Alta 15% pulley, amazingly my car still feels and drives faster?????

Yeah it is just about neutral. Last night I took my parents to the movies and noticed just a slight hint of understeer, but no dramatic tire screeching like before. That's good to know you can get the JCW kit without them installing it. If the front struts are as easy to remove as the rears then it would be fairly easy swapping them out. If the springs and struts come assembled then it should be a piece of cake. Those red JCW springs would look real good too. :thumbsup

[scuderia]

Well, you need to drive the car for 100-150 miles before the alignment becuase the springs need to settle. A little neg. camber is ok, I am on -1.6 in the rear, which gives a little edge on sharp corners, as well as keeps me away from rubbing when i hit a deep slope, a sharp dip.

you need to be very careful to consider the spring rates before you decide on the new shocks. I have been studying susp. geometry for the last several weeks and i will share when i decide on the set-up and get your engineering knowledge on that. see people are all over the web, doing some stupid things based on what others say, i decided to put together my own set-up, and i won't fail. Here is the dilemna: Dropping money on adjustable coilovers is pretty unnecessary for me, i want to fulfill the lack of harmony between the lowering springs and stock shocks. Are stock shocks good? Absolutely, but i hate the gap between the fenders and tires, you canliterally stick your fist in between. You need to lower the center of gravity to get some better traction and handling. On the other side the with lowering springs you do not have enough shock travel, it will eventually, and sooner than expected wear out the stock suspension.

when i drove Jason's car, i was very impressed with the way it drove. He is running on 17" with non-runflats and on H&R coilovers with a 2" drop (if i am not mistaking). The car is slammed, and yet more comfortable than my previous stock shock/spring set-up. We did not push the car around corners, because he lives in Stone Oak and, I was kinda concerned, but the car drove perfect, no rubbing issues either (although i should say he had some fender plastic side dremmeling i guess, if i remember right). I do not want to slam the car 2", becuase i am on 18s and seriously digging the big rims, so i will stay in 1" territory.

there is not to many quality options out there. Konis, H&Rs, KWs (which i like a lot) and Bilsteins. I started seeing Teins, but they are more into Japanese market, which is fine, reflects a lot of experience to me.

right now, i am in between KWs and Bilsteins. Konis are in the 3rd place. But this might change as per my calculations and engineering skills improve :) .

I will donate the rest of this thread for a discussion of suspension geometry and performance mods. BTW, have you guys heard from Keith, where is Sensei?

[weezer2282]

Where is Keith? Last I heard he was experimenting with heat disperrsant coatings. I wonder if he'll be trying out that new Alta intercooler. :cool:

[weezer2282]

there is not to many quality options out there. Konis, H&Rs, KWs (which i like a lot) and Bilsteins. I started seeing Teins, but they are more into Japanese market, which is fine, reflects a lot of experience to me.

right now, i am in between KWs and Bilsteins. Konis are in the 3rd place. But this might change as per my calculations and engineering skills improve :) .

I will donate the rest of this thread for a discussion of suspension geometry and performance mods. BTW, have you guys heard from Keith, where is Sensei?

KW offers one fixed damping coilover kit. That might be a good choice. I assume with Bilsteins you mean SP struts and not the PSS9s.

I've noticed a lot of the spring rates on the coilover kits are pretty high. Also when you are looking around notice which ones have split rates front to rear. A higher front rate will tend to add understeer and a higher rear rate would reduce understeer. The H-sports you have on now are biased significantly towards the rear so there should be less understeer than stock. The H&Rs are one of the few that I've seen where the rate is the same all the way around. They wouldn't have as much of an effect on understeer/oversteer, which would be tuned with a sway bar. The H&R and Bilstein kit is very nice too.

You were asking about Alta springs on NAM and Keith has them. Maybe he could figure out the spring rates of them. :confused: I don't know if he is running stock struts or aftermarket either.

[MacGuruTX]

today installed the 18" OZ Superturismo WRCs in white, looks killer, no rubbing under normal driving, very happy to leave run flats


where'd you find the Superturismo WRC's at? And got pics? I've been eyeing those for a while now :dancing

[scuderia]

I sent you a pm, here are couple of killer pics :D
http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/gallery/data/500/56.jpg
http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/gallery/data/500/55.jpg

[scuderia]

Today, I picked up my car with JCW CAI, Spark Plugs, 380cc. Injectors and JCW ECU upgrade. Previously I was running with ALTA CAI, 15% and custom exhaust.

After a long research and going through a lot of parts I decided to harmonize both JCW and good quality aftermarket parts together in the name of having a faster and reliable car.

I ordered my parts through Renee at BMW Center and scheduled an appointment for yesterday a week ago. I dropped my car yesterday noon time (I was late an hour, but Daniel said np), and picked it up today around 4.30pm. As promised, the car was ready, and It looked cleaner than I left before.

Man, it is a great difference from the previous set-up. Although I do not have that famous ALTA sound, however after 4500 rpm, that nice, quality sound comes from my JCW CAI. I was a little concerned about the 380cc. injectors, but suprisingly, the car gets almost 3 mpg more :eek2 I think the ECU upgrade has a finger in it. As you know, i have a 15% reduction pulley, so I wanted colder plugs, and yes, I know there is better ones cheaper out there, I just could not pass on these JCW spark plugs.

So how does it drive? Absolutely quiter, and faster. Ohh, one less thing to worry, no more flat spots. The only thing bothers is the traction control, well, i will deal with that personally :D

One last thing, I was pretty determined to get Milltek cat-back, but today purchased an Invidia system from Worldoneperformance, Jonathan is the guy to deal with, cut me a good deal, still more expensive than the Milltek, but better quality. It will be here on Friday and hopefully on the car on Monday. I will let you know Scuderiamini readers the latest improvements if I can survive from my wifey :D

[scuderia]

btw, I have 2 sets of Uni Filter Service Kit, 1 of them is sold, the other one is sitting, lemme know if anybody needs to clean their aftermarket airfilters, in exchange of a large soda :p

[weezer2282]

btw, I have 2 sets of Uni Filter Service Kit, 1 of them is sold, the other one is sitting, lemme know if anybody needs to clean their aftermarket airfilters, in exchange of a large soda :p

I might. :p

[weezer2282]

Today, I picked up my car with JCW CAI, Spark Plugs, 380cc. Injectors and JCW ECU upgrade. Previously I was running with ALTA CAI, 15% and custom exhaust.

After a long research and going through a lot of parts I decided to harmonize both JCW and good quality aftermarket parts together in the name of having a faster and reliable car.

I ordered my parts through Renee at BMW Center and scheduled an appointment for yesterday a week ago. I dropped my car yesterday noon time (I was late an hour, but Daniel said np), and picked it up today around 4.30pm. As promised, the car was ready, and It looked cleaner than I left before.

Man, it is a great difference from the previous set-up. Although I do not have that famous ALTA sound, however after 4500 rpm, that nice, quality sound comes from my JCW CAI. I was a little concerned about the 380cc. injectors, but suprisingly, the car gets almost 3 mpg more :eek2 I think the ECU upgrade has a finger in it. As you know, i have a 15% reduction pulley, so I wanted colder plugs, and yes, I know there is better ones cheaper out there, I just could not pass on these JCW spark plugs.

So how does it drive? Absolutely quiter, and faster. Ohh, one less thing to worry, no more flat spots. The only thing bothers is the traction control, well, i will deal with that personally :D

One last thing, I was pretty determined to get Milltek cat-back, but today purchased an Invidia system from Worldoneperformance, Jonathan is the guy to deal with, cut me a good deal, still more expensive than the Milltek, but better quality. It will be here on Friday and hopefully on the car on Monday. I will let you know Scuderiamini readers the latest improvements if I can survive from my wifey :D

Better buy the wife a nice house. :thumbsup

[scuderia]

that has already been taken care of, so no worries on that part :D

[scuderia]

So here is the deal, as you see the sig, i have completed the first part of my mods, at least for now. Invidia catback is veryyyyy nice, good quality, if you have a 04+ car, needs a little modification on the hangers, no biggie. I have been in cars with Milltek, Magnaflow, Remus, and Invidia is better quality. Fit and finish, titanium tips, I am diggin' my exhaust now. It is just a notch louder than the Milltek. So Monday I will dyno Scuderiamini and see where we are at.