Anyone familiar with the new Mini S (R56)?
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Evolved Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,480
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From: Tucson, Arizona, USA
Anyone familiar with the new Mini S (R56)?
I'm fascinated by the new Mini S Turbo (R56). Yet I'm perplexed when attempting to track down info on this car.
I'm interested in finding: good Mini forums with active sections on upgrading the R56, tuner shops that have tuned it, and top performance parts suppliers.
Maybe I'm not searching for the right parameters, but I can't find info on upgrading the new Mini S. All I seem to find are dress-up parts: wings, wheels, foam-dice, etc.
And I can't figure out how to search for the new Mini without finding all the crap for the original Mini.
or a bunch of shops in the UK 
What is considered a full-bolt-on Mini? Does anyone sell Staged Kits? Who are the Buschur and AMS of the Mini market? How are owners tuning the ECU on the R56?
Thanks for any ideas.
I'm interested in finding: good Mini forums with active sections on upgrading the R56, tuner shops that have tuned it, and top performance parts suppliers.
Maybe I'm not searching for the right parameters, but I can't find info on upgrading the new Mini S. All I seem to find are dress-up parts: wings, wheels, foam-dice, etc.
And I can't figure out how to search for the new Mini without finding all the crap for the original Mini.
or a bunch of shops in the UK What is considered a full-bolt-on Mini? Does anyone sell Staged Kits? Who are the Buschur and AMS of the Mini market? How are owners tuning the ECU on the R56?
Thanks for any ideas.
Jim,
I am your best alied again. Check mini2.com(I have been there for about 5 years now). I know plenty about mini since I almost purchase one on my return from a long tour in Europe in 02 and been following up year after year. I driven a few as well.
As long as Mini don't change the12" Flavo flave speedometer in the middle of the dash I will never ever buy that car. I like everything on that car but the 12" flavo flav clock, it is absurdly and ridiculously big for that car, further more it is unpractical.
The options on that car will pilled up $$$$ very fast, sure you can put just about every option on it but it will be a expensive car at the end. Side by side a VW gti offers more for similar price.
Please join me at 800pm on Fridays at Swan and Grant ave on Starbucks, I have been going to that car meet for years and the people that show up there have nice VW, Mini and BMWs(PM me for more details).
There is a member on the club named (Joel Funk) which has a big turbokit on his Mini Cooper S, he is a pioneer on Minis and he is local, he is one of the first owners to try big turbo and methanol and forged internals. I am your best POC locally if you want to get into that car I hope you take me serious. We also have local drives with a bunch of other minis and VW.
As far is tuners, there are plenty, Milltek, Alta and a few tuners in Phoenix(Dynocomp, evolutionmotorsports), etc. If the Mini Cooper S (turbo) doesn't fill the spot then you can always consider the new GTI which is an identical car on performance. Please don't forget about this Friday, local meet with Minis(every Friday). I can pick you up and take you there if you want to or I can meet you somewhere in town and introduce you the people in the car meet. I have a boss that retired and has a Cooper S with the John Works Package (blue). I also know another owners with a Works Cooper that actually is a vendor and also lives in Tucson.
Call my friend Jonh: http://www.t-rexmotorsports.com/ he has been in the Mini Cooper Scene for abour 6-7 years now, I am sure he has anything you might need and he is local.
The best way to get you into the Minis is to meet with people that already has them. Go no further, here in Tucson.
Carlos
I am your best alied again. Check mini2.com(I have been there for about 5 years now). I know plenty about mini since I almost purchase one on my return from a long tour in Europe in 02 and been following up year after year. I driven a few as well.
As long as Mini don't change the12" Flavo flave speedometer in the middle of the dash I will never ever buy that car. I like everything on that car but the 12" flavo flav clock, it is absurdly and ridiculously big for that car, further more it is unpractical.
The options on that car will pilled up $$$$ very fast, sure you can put just about every option on it but it will be a expensive car at the end. Side by side a VW gti offers more for similar price.
Please join me at 800pm on Fridays at Swan and Grant ave on Starbucks, I have been going to that car meet for years and the people that show up there have nice VW, Mini and BMWs(PM me for more details).
There is a member on the club named (Joel Funk) which has a big turbokit on his Mini Cooper S, he is a pioneer on Minis and he is local, he is one of the first owners to try big turbo and methanol and forged internals. I am your best POC locally if you want to get into that car I hope you take me serious. We also have local drives with a bunch of other minis and VW.
As far is tuners, there are plenty, Milltek, Alta and a few tuners in Phoenix(Dynocomp, evolutionmotorsports), etc. If the Mini Cooper S (turbo) doesn't fill the spot then you can always consider the new GTI which is an identical car on performance. Please don't forget about this Friday, local meet with Minis(every Friday). I can pick you up and take you there if you want to or I can meet you somewhere in town and introduce you the people in the car meet. I have a boss that retired and has a Cooper S with the John Works Package (blue). I also know another owners with a Works Cooper that actually is a vendor and also lives in Tucson.
Call my friend Jonh: http://www.t-rexmotorsports.com/ he has been in the Mini Cooper Scene for abour 6-7 years now, I am sure he has anything you might need and he is local.
The best way to get you into the Minis is to meet with people that already has them. Go no further, here in Tucson.
Carlos
Last edited by fromWRXtoEVO; May 5, 2009 at 11:39 PM.
Thread Starter
Evolved Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,480
Likes: 2
From: Tucson, Arizona, USA
Carlos, you da man. I didn't realize you were a MaINIac.
I've always liked the Mini, but thought the supercharged S was not my cup of tea. Now that BMW has made the switch to turbocharged, I'm very attracted. And now with the Clubman S, I think the Mini has the very smallest four-passenger car on the market.
From what I've read it is very expensive to upgrade the R56, and the high dollars spent only eek out very small incremental HP gains. I keep looking at the R56 Clubman as a possible replacement for the EVO, but I would not be happy with a lot less power than the EVO. By my calc, based on weight, the Mini would need 350whp to equal the EVO. I think the cost to achieve that would be 2-3 times what it cost on the EVO.
Thanks for the info. I might show up at the meet sometime.
Jim
I've always liked the Mini, but thought the supercharged S was not my cup of tea. Now that BMW has made the switch to turbocharged, I'm very attracted. And now with the Clubman S, I think the Mini has the very smallest four-passenger car on the market.
From what I've read it is very expensive to upgrade the R56, and the high dollars spent only eek out very small incremental HP gains. I keep looking at the R56 Clubman as a possible replacement for the EVO, but I would not be happy with a lot less power than the EVO. By my calc, based on weight, the Mini would need 350whp to equal the EVO. I think the cost to achieve that would be 2-3 times what it cost on the EVO.
Thanks for the info. I might show up at the meet sometime.
Jim
Jim,
I am your best alied again. Check mini2.com(I have been there for about 5 years now). I know plenty about mini since I almost purchase one on my return from a long tour in Europe in 02 and been following up year after year. I driven a few as well.
As long as Mini don't change the12" Flavo flave speedometer in the middle of the dash I will never ever buy that car. I like everything on that car but the 12" flavo flav clock, it is absurdly and ridiculously big for that car, further more it is unpractical.
The options on that car will pilled up $$$$ very fast, sure you can put just about every option on it but it will be a expensive car at the end. Side by side a VW gti offers more for similar price.
Please join me at 800pm on Fridays at Swan and Grant ave on Starbucks, I have been going to that car meet for years and the people that show up there have nice VW, Mini and BMWs(PM me for more details).
There is a member on the club named (Joel Funk) which has a big turbokit on his Mini Cooper S, he is a pioneer on Minis and he is local, he is one of the first owners to try big turbo and methanol and forged internals. I am your best POC locally if you want to get into that car I hope you take me serious. We also have local drives with a bunch of other minis and VW.
As far is tuners, there are plenty, Milltek, Alta and a few tuners in Phoenix(Dynocomp, evolutionmotorsports), etc. If the Mini Cooper S (turbo) doesn't fill the spot then you can always consider the new GTI which is an identical car on performance. Please don't forget about this Friday, local meet with Minis(every Friday). I can pick you up and take you there if you want to or I can meet you somewhere in town and introduce you the people in the car meet. I have a boss that retired and has a Cooper S with the John Works Package (blue). I also know another owners with a Works Cooper that actually is a vendor and also lives in Tucson.
Call my friend Jonh: http://www.t-rexmotorsports.com/ he has been in the Mini Cooper Scene for abour 6-7 years now, I am sure he has anything you might need and he is local.
The best way to get you into the Minis is to meet with people that already has them. Go no further, here in Tucson.
Carlos
I am your best alied again. Check mini2.com(I have been there for about 5 years now). I know plenty about mini since I almost purchase one on my return from a long tour in Europe in 02 and been following up year after year. I driven a few as well.
As long as Mini don't change the12" Flavo flave speedometer in the middle of the dash I will never ever buy that car. I like everything on that car but the 12" flavo flav clock, it is absurdly and ridiculously big for that car, further more it is unpractical.
The options on that car will pilled up $$$$ very fast, sure you can put just about every option on it but it will be a expensive car at the end. Side by side a VW gti offers more for similar price.
Please join me at 800pm on Fridays at Swan and Grant ave on Starbucks, I have been going to that car meet for years and the people that show up there have nice VW, Mini and BMWs(PM me for more details).
There is a member on the club named (Joel Funk) which has a big turbokit on his Mini Cooper S, he is a pioneer on Minis and he is local, he is one of the first owners to try big turbo and methanol and forged internals. I am your best POC locally if you want to get into that car I hope you take me serious. We also have local drives with a bunch of other minis and VW.
As far is tuners, there are plenty, Milltek, Alta and a few tuners in Phoenix(Dynocomp, evolutionmotorsports), etc. If the Mini Cooper S (turbo) doesn't fill the spot then you can always consider the new GTI which is an identical car on performance. Please don't forget about this Friday, local meet with Minis(every Friday). I can pick you up and take you there if you want to or I can meet you somewhere in town and introduce you the people in the car meet. I have a boss that retired and has a Cooper S with the John Works Package (blue). I also know another owners with a Works Cooper that actually is a vendor and also lives in Tucson.
Call my friend Jonh: http://www.t-rexmotorsports.com/ he has been in the Mini Cooper Scene for abour 6-7 years now, I am sure he has anything you might need and he is local.
The best way to get you into the Minis is to meet with people that already has them. Go no further, here in Tucson.
Carlos
Jim,
Don't be sorry. Tomorrow is your first oportunity, I will be at the car meet at 2000-2030 hours, PM me with your number or send me a PM.
I am going to Phoenix to flash my GTI on Saturday , I am a total brain sick bastard, I just got this car less than a week ago and I am already flashing the DSG software, the engine software and have a Dowpipe in route though UPS. LOL
Carlos
Don't be sorry. Tomorrow is your first oportunity, I will be at the car meet at 2000-2030 hours, PM me with your number or send me a PM.
I am going to Phoenix to flash my GTI on Saturday , I am a total brain sick bastard, I just got this car less than a week ago and I am already flashing the DSG software, the engine software and have a Dowpipe in route though UPS. LOL
Carlos
