After the success of the primary technology MINI R53, 2006 noticed the launch of the automotive that has arguably gone on to turn out to be probably the most ‘moddable’ of all of them: the second-generation MINI R56.
Out there new up till 2013, the Cooper and Cooper S (together with the world-beating John Cooper Works and restricted version JCW GP mannequin) have proved their value not simply on the highway, but additionally on nearly each circuit on the planet.
It’s simple to see why these MINI vehicles stay so in style; the R56 provided an entire lot extra space than the earlier mannequin, together with a brand new 175bhp turbocharged 1.6-litre ‘Prince’ N14 engine (able to 0-62 in 7.1 seconds) for the Cooper S. What we’re taking a look at, then, is a hard-hitting package deal for probably the most avid efficiency followers, in addition to for these hankering after a trendy, economical and well-equipped Cooper-badged mannequin with a full of life, naturally aspirated 120bhp and a 0-62 time of 9.1 seconds.
Nearly inevitably, the R56 facelift got here alongside in 2010, seeing an entire load of upgrades throughout the vary – not least a brand new 1.6-litre BMW N18 engine for the Cooper S, offering 184bhp, a 142mph high pace, and a 0-62 time of 7-seconds useless.
And naturally, that’s not the entire story both. Let’s not overlook the base-model 1.4-litre MINI One, the number of 1.6 and 2-litre diesel variants (together with the Cooper D and Cooper SD), the price range MINI First, and even an ‘environmentally pleasant’ model – the MINI One Minimalism.
However, what does this imply for the modified automotive fanatics on the market? Effectively, it merely means you have got much more alternative – and the flexibility to buy round when in search of your good companion. From a modification standpoint not less than, the reality concerning the second technology MINI is that they’re all very comparable. Actually, apart from the heavy tuning stuff, you’re not merely restricted to the Cooper S if you wish to construct your self one thing really particular. With second-hand costs ranging between £600 for an early MINI One to £20,000 for a late John Cooper Works GP, there actually is one thing on the market for everybody.
So, regardless of which mannequin you select, right here’s our information to getting one of the best out of your second technology MINI with our choose of the ten best MINI mods of all time that you are able to do your self or get completed from a spread of tuning and modification specialists within the UK.
Earlier than you dive into modifying your R56, be sure you learn our article on how in style modifications have an effect on your automotive insurance coverage and which automotive modifications are authorized so that you’re conscious of what to anticipate.
1. Air filter upgrades
Picture supply: Adobe Inventory
It’s not simply the MINI vary – an air filter improve is probably the most well-liked tuning mod for any automotive, so there will definitely be loads of efficiency filters and consumption kits obtainable for yours.
At its most simple stage, tuning is all about airflow. The extra air – or, extra particularly, oxygen – you possibly can cram into the cylinders, the extra gasoline that may be burned. This leads to a much bigger bang and in the end extra energy.
Fashionable fuel-injected vehicles utilise a panel filter contained inside the usual airbox. Because the engine sucks in air from the ambiance, this filter catches particulates to forestall them from getting into the cylinders and inflicting injury. Normal filters are created from paper and designed to get replaced at each service interval, however whereas paper is reasonable and very best for filtration, it tends to limit airflow greater than different supplies.
What’s additionally vital right here is that, because the clear, filtered air exits the airbox (earlier than it enters the engine), the quantity is monitored by the mass airflow (MAF) sensor, which tells the ECU how a lot gasoline must be delivered. Basically, that is immediately proportional to how a lot energy the engine can produce.
Other than filtering out the particulates, the job of a efficiency air filter is just to permit extra air to move by way of. As you’d anticipate, this elevated quantity of cleaned air is monitored by the MAF and matched with elevated fuelling to supply extra energy. In essence, a efficiency filter (which is able to usually be created from foam or cotton gauze) permits your engine to breathe extra freely.
Direct-fit panel filters
Direct-fit panel filters are often the primary port of name, just because they are often put in into the usual airbox in a matter of seconds. These can be found from respected manufacturers, reminiscent of Pipercross and Okay&N, and usually see good points of 3-4bhp. In contrast to paper filters they need to by no means want changing. Actually, as they’re priced at round £40, technically they pay for themselves over a automotive’s lifetime.
Upgrading the airbox
By nature, the usual airbox additionally creates a restriction, however it is a trade-off between airflow and defending the filter from under-bonnet warmth. Scorching air comprises much less oxygen by quantity, and which means that it is going to really lose you energy. For that reason, a well-liked unique gear producer (OEM) improve for the Cooper S is putting in a second-hand airbox from the John Cooper Works (JCW) mannequin, just because it permits larger airflow. Mixed with a efficiency panel filter, it’s an efficient and comparatively low-cost improve.
Turbocharging MINI Cooper efficiency fashions
Picture supply: Lance Anderson through Unsplash
The last word answer for the turbocharged efficiency fashions – particularly the place airflow turns into the precedence to permit for additional tuning reminiscent of turbo upgrades – is a specifically designed chilly air consumption. These assist the engine produce a number of extra horsepower and, though they differ in design, the essential concept is to utilise a bigger cone-type filter reasonably than a flat panel. The form permits for a better efficient floor space, which in flip will increase the potential for higher airflow.
There’s a spread of top-quality chilly consumption kits obtainable, however maybe probably the most famend by Cooper S and JCW fans comes from tuning specialists AEM. Their all-in-one consumption system not solely utilises a big cone filter contained inside its personal high-flow airbox, but it surely additionally bolts on to the bonnet scoop to choose up the utmost quantity of chilly, oxygen-dense air. At round £600 it’s not the most affordable choice on the market, however it’s dyno confirmed for good points of round 20bhp.
2. Efficiency exhausts and sports activities cats
In case your air filter limits your MINI inhaling, consider your exhaust system as controlling the speed at which your MINI is ready to breathe out. In tuning phrases, it’s simply as vital to get the waste gases out of the cylinders as shortly and effectively as doable as it’s to cram the air in.
The science behind exhausts is lengthy and complicated, however the primary level right here is that customary exhausts supply all types of restrictions to the optimum fuel move, usually by way of the bends, silencer containers, resonators, and the comparatively small diameter bore. Being constructed from delicate metal, they’re additionally significantly inclined to failure introduced on by corrosion.
Technically talking, for max efficiency good points, a freer flowing exhaust of a bigger bore that’s optimised for move will inevitably unlock extra horsepower. In a perfect tuning world, after all (not less than on a turbocharged automotive just like the Cooper S), you’d have a straight pipe with no bends, silencers or resonators… however clearly that’s not doable, partly due to the route that the exhaust has to take below the automotive, and largely as a result of it could be horrendously noisy. As an alternative, all exhaust programs – customary or in any other case – are designed with a trade-off between energy potential, noise, and producer prices.
The reality is that, as OEM gadgets go, the usual MINI Cooper S exhaust is nicely designed and the JCW unit is even higher in the case of optimising fuel move. For a begin, it’s straighter than the system on most different vehicles due to the centre exit configuration. However this doesn’t imply that the setup can’t be additional improved for higher move and longevity by going aftermarket. There are barely extra bends within the format of the naturally aspirated fashions after all, however that solely makes these much more ripe for enhancements.
Stainless-steel ‘cat-back’ replacements
Picture supply: Ryno Marais through Unsplash
Stainless-steel ‘cat-back’ replacements from high-end producers reminiscent of Scorpion Exhausts and Milltek are extraordinarily in style. These are optimised over customary with a smaller, high-flow rear silencer (often known as the again field) and a bigger diameter bore, they usually dispose of the centre resonator altogether for higher move and to supply a far throatier tone. For a lot of MINI house owners, the efficiency ‘grumble’ these efficiency programs supply is simply as vital as a light horsepower hike. Actually, if there’s just one mod you’re contemplating, it’s in all probability this one.
As with most trendy petrol vehicles although, the actual sticking level is the catalytic converter, extra generally often known as the catalyst, or cat. That is the half that converts the toxic exhaust gasses into much less dangerous C02. Of all of your exhaust system elements, this would be the most restrictive as a result of the cat comprises an enormous variety of particular cells that the exhaust fuel has to weave its means by way of on the best way out. The cross-section will not be not like a chunk of honeycomb and, as you possibly can think about, that serves up fairly the restriction. So, in a perfect efficiency world not less than, you’d merely exchange the cat with an unrestricted pipe, or a ‘de-cat’. Extra fuel move equals drawback solved, proper? Effectively, sure, except you really need to drive on the highway…
Sadly, UK MOT rules require a catalytic converter to be in place and it’s inspected each visually and thru the dreaded emissions check. Which means, whereas it’s completely authorized to purchase and match a de-cat for observe use (the costs for which begin at round £150), the one road-legal answer when it comes to efficiency is to improve to a sports activities cat.
Improve to a sports activities catalytic converter
A sports activities cat is a high-flow catalyst designed with a restricted variety of cells (usually 200 or typically 100). These nonetheless promote the response to create CO2 and are developed to scale back emissions to MOT requirements, however additionally they serve up a lot much less of a restriction to the general fuel move. You’ll additionally discover that these are typically much more in style over efficiency exhaust programs for severe tuners, they usually’re typically included within the package deal by corporations providing complete Stage 2 tuning bundles.
Specifically developed by the larger producers – reminiscent of Scorpion Exhausts, Cobra Sport Exhausts, and Akrapovic – sports activities cat costs vary from round £350 to £1,000 relying on design and move charges.
3. Stage 1 remaps
Historically, any automotive with BMW DNA – of which the R56 MINI actually suits into that class – responds nicely to remapping. A lot so {that a} primary Stage 1 map on a Cooper S or Cooper D will yield as a lot as 30-40bhp, with no different mods. And let’s not overlook that it’s a fast and easy plug-in job by way of the OBD2 (diagnostic) port. There’s additionally – albeit lesser – good points available throughout the remainder of the R56 MINI vary.
There’s a very good purpose that MINIs love a remap – it comes right down to their in depth distribution and, in lots of instances, worldwide reputation. Remapping is all about optimisation for the given circumstances. Normal software program is designed to compensate for quite a few variables, to maintain the engine secure in probably the most excessive circumstances.
In different phrases, your MINI has to function simply as reliably at -40°C within the Arctic Circle because it does at 40°C within the Center Japanese desert. There are additionally different safeguards for altitude (much less oxygen within the air implies that gasoline doesn’t burn fairly so keenly) together with poor high quality low octane gasoline and a scarcity of excellent high quality components for primary servicing. Principally, all the issues that we’re unlikely to come back up towards right here within the UK.
A stage 1 remap is designed to optimise the engine parameters, reminiscent of timing, fuelling, ignition, and turbo enhance (when relevant), to take advantage of the driving circumstances in that individual space. That is the place you see the additional energy launched. In some instances, it’s possible you’ll even get extra MPG because of the cleaner gasoline burn… that’s assuming you don’t change your driving fashion since you’ve simply bagged an entire load of additional horsepower!
Can a stage 1 remap injury the car?
Picture supply: Lance Anderson through Unsplash
As for whether or not a software program mod like a stage 1 remap will injury your engine, the reply is that it’s extremely unlikely. Assuming the service schedule is stored to and the engine is in good situation with out one million miles on the clock, a stage 1 map is a light software program tweak designed to stay nicely inside engine tolerances. You simply have to remember that the remainder of the drivetrain elements should be as much as the job too.
Drivetrain issues on the MINI are uncommon as a result of they’re barely overengineered from the manufacturing facility to have the ability to stand as much as important energy will increase over customary. That mentioned, there are circumstances for any automotive the place the drivetrain can turn out to be the weakest hyperlink. If, for instance, your clutch is worn and already on its means out, any important torque enhance might tip it over the sting. For probably the most half, although, a stage 1 remap is a good way to securely enhance energy and torque with minimal effort.
4. Stage 2 tuning packages
If a stage 1 remap is about optimising the engine parameters from the manufacturing facility, additional mapping is a method to optimise the settings for different bolt-on modifications. Actually, previous the primary stage of mapping, the software program is written to regulate engine settings up to now that they really require these {hardware} modifications to make the claimed energy. It’s a symbiotic relationship between {hardware} and software program, and once more, a lot of the method is down to securely matching elevated airflow with the optimum quantity of gasoline.
Whereas it’s true that bolt-ons – reminiscent of a freer-flowing efficiency exhaust – sports activities cats and high-flow filters will yield a small energy hike on their very own, the ECU can solely alter up to now when it’s solely counting on the usual car sensors. To take advantage of the additional airflow by way of the engine, a stage 2 remap is designed to optimise the fuelling and timing to yield the optimum energy output. However there are security issues for probably the most extremely tuned engines.
What to contemplate earlier than you get a stage 2 remap
Engines working more durable get hotter, so whereas a stage 2 remap on a Cooper S mannequin will yield considerably extra energy because of the enhance in turbo enhance, it is going to additionally require an uprated intercooler to maintain the cost temperatures at a suitable stage. Uprated high-flow intercoolers designed for extra environment friendly cooling can be found from efficiency components specialists reminiscent of Forge Motorsport and AIRTEC. Costs begin at round £500.
You should purchase all these bolt-ons individually after all, however you’ll additionally discover that many corporations supply full stage 2 tuning packages that comprise all of the {hardware} required, together with the software program to optimise their efficiency. A stage 2 setup with MINI specialist A Reeve Efficiency can yield 250-270bhp with 340-360Nm of torque on earlier Cooper S fashions fitted with the N14 engine, and 260-280bhp with 350Nm on later vehicles with the N18 engine. In each instances, the software program is designed to cap the torque determine so it isn’t an excessive amount of for the usual clutch to deal with.
5. Stage 3 turbo upgrades
Picture supply: Dmitry Strelkov through Unsplash
On the turbocharged variants not less than, that’s not the place the {hardware} tuning has to finish. When a automotive comes with compelled induction, there’s all the time the chance to wind up the enhance past the bounds of the unique turbo. Let’s say you’re trying to improve your Cooper S to round 300 horsepower, you’ll be heading shortly in the direction of a Stage 3 tune, which is able to throw an uprated turbocharger into the combination.
There are numerous approaches geared toward totally different budgets right here: a hybrid turbo, aftermarket bolt-on kits that comprise a bigger turbocharger, or, in some instances, upgrading the usual Cooper S turbo to the higher-boosting unit discovered within the JCW mannequin. However the purpose is all the time to put in a turbocharger able to producing extra enhance than customary, or, extra particularly, a turbocharger able to forcing extra pressurised air into the engine.
Once more, when becoming a better boosting turbo, the software program should be upgraded to take advantage of the additional airflow, so a stage 3 (or greater) map could be required to regulate the fuelling and different parameters.
Besides, the ultimate energy output will all the time rely upon the quantity of enhance that the turbo is bodily capable of produce, and it will all the time differ between the totally different improve varieties. A JCW turbocharger might not create as a lot enhance stress as a hybrid turbo, and a hybrid might run out of puff earlier than a package with a bigger turbo, and this all comes with a big trade-off in prices.
If you happen to’re in search of the best energy figures, MINI specialist Lohen presents a well-liked bolt-on Stage 3 Massive Turbo Package able to making round 320bhp and near 400Nm of torque. This package is round £1,650, however you’ll additionally should price range £600 for the stage 3 software program… and it solely works with an AEM Chilly Air Consumption.
What to contemplate earlier than you get a stage 3 improve
At all times keep in mind that, because the enhance goes up, so does the ability – and so does the chance of failure from the usual engine internals. It goes with out saying that any upgrades must be carried out on a wholesome engine however even then, most specialists advocate rebuilding the engine with stronger, fully-forged internals when taking enhance past the 20-21 PSI mark (the usual turbo on the inventory map solely boosts to round 12 PSI). Becoming cast pistons and rods isn’t an affordable course of although, and also you’ll have to discover a specialist. It might preserve your engine secure at greater energy ranges, however you’re taking a look at a invoice nicely into the hundreds to place all of it collectively.
At this stage, there’s additionally the query of the clutch. By most accounts, customary Cooper S clutches are good for as much as 400Nm of torque (and round 450Nm on the JCW fashions), however by now many MINI house owners will already be taking a look at an improve, particularly for more durable pushed autos. Among the finest efficiency clutches for the MINI could be discovered at Helix Autosport and Sachs Efficiency, with costs ranging from round £350.
The final query right here is, in the event you haven’t received a turbocharged MINI, is an engine swap a viable choice? Effectively, we’ve seen many engines transplanted into R56 MINIs through the years – all the things from Honda VTECs to BMW V8s – however there’s no doubting that it’s a pricey affair. Upgrading to a Cooper S engine in a Cooper or One mannequin can also be doable, however then once more, the truth that you should purchase an entire Cooper S for below £2,000 these days, makes all that expense and energy fairly redundant.
6. Suspension upgrades: coilovers
Picture supply: Erwi through Unsplash
Let’s not overlook that it’s not all about energy although. The MINI is famend for its go-kart dealing with and there are a lot of, many suspension upgrades obtainable to make it drive even higher – or not less than present the improved seems to be related to a drop in journey peak.
These chassis mods aren’t restricted to the Cooper S and JCW fashions both; they cowl the whole vary. Actually, with all the things from high-quality 25mm reducing springs obtainable from Eibach to air suspension kits from the likes of Air Raise Efficiency, it’s troublesome to know the place to begin.
The important thing questions are:
- What are you in search of on the subject of dealing with or seems to be?
- How a lot would you wish to spend?
A set of springs will begin at round £150 and air journey kits round £4,000. Simply don’t overlook that the last word efficiency isn’t the primary purpose for a lot of when deciding on suspension for his or her MINI.
When dealing with efficiency is the precedence, nevertheless, maybe the most well-liked suspension improve is a set of coilovers. Derived from racing suspension programs, these bolt-on upgrades supply the sought-after peak adjustability that many MINI house owners crave, together with the flexibility to tweak the damping settings for a lower in physique roll by way of the corners and fewer dipping and ducking throughout acceleration and braking.
Keep in mind to do your analysis
The important thing with coilovers is to do your analysis in the case of getting the precise model on the proper worth. Many kits can be found for the R56 MINI, and you will get one for as little as £250. That being mentioned, you get what you pay for. If you happen to’re not anxious about cornering and also you solely need to decrease your automotive as a lot as doable – and as cheaply as doable – for aesthetic functions, selecting a package with a low price ticket is okay. However it’s value noting that an affordable package in all probability received’t final all that lengthy both.
If you happen to’re trying to push the dealing with efficiency into the realms of the circuit racer, a set of coilovers from a good firm reminiscent of ST Suspensions, Bilstein or BC Racing will begin at round £800. It’s notable that the GP mannequin got here with a set of Bilstein coilovers as customary. KW Suspensions are additionally infinitely in style with MINI house owners they usually inventory a full vary of uprated setups geared toward each area of interest of the market – all the things from primary highway kits proper as much as these designed for observe days and membership motorsport.
7. Chassis upgrades: brakes and bushes
Picture supply: Cody Campbell through Unsplash
Different supreme chassis upgrades for all fashions vary from uprated polyurethane bushes and strut braces to full-on roll cages, and all have their place in stiffening the chassis for higher dealing with.
A set of ‘polybushes’ from Powerflex or SuperPro is a well-documented improve for the R56 MINI, just because the inventory rubber bushes are identified to perish and degrade over time, significantly on vehicles which are usually pushed onerous. Polyurethane bushes received’t perish and are stiffer than rubber, serving to to carry the suspension geometry and eradicate flex by way of probably the most excessive cornering. A full set for the MINI could be had for below £250, and there’s varied stiffness choices to select from.
Extra excessive suspension stiffening options, reminiscent of strut braces and roll cages, additional eradicate flex by triangulating and stiffening key chassis factors. The one query is: how far do you need to go? Strut braces can be found from varied producers, reminiscent of OMP, for round £140, and roll cage costs begin from round £500 for a bolt-in rear cage and may go as much as about £2,500 for a customized weld-in merchandise for racing.
It goes with out saying that these could be extraordinarily specialist, however there are a lot of specialists, reminiscent of SW Motorsports, who’re well-versed within the artwork of becoming and fabrication on R56 race vehicles.
All this mentioned, arguably crucial chassis improve of all of them – and the one which makes our high 10 – is uprated brakes. In any case, higher brakes not solely make your MINI safer, however additionally they make it real-world sooner!
Contemplate investing in a set of quick highway brake pads
Many house owners have reported {that a} set of quick highway brake pads from EBC Brakes or TAROX Efficiency Brakes are a worthwhile improve to considerably enhance the stopping energy, but it surely doesn’t have to finish there. Matching your uprated pads with a set of direct-fit, uprated discs will additional enhance your capacity to tug up shortly and safely.
Uprated discs are available all types of configurations, however maybe the most well-liked are these with a grooved friction floor. These are designed to deglaze pads and assist the gases that trigger brake fade escape extra effectively.
In fact, becoming bigger diameter discs and multi-piston calipers all the time gives the last word brake improve, and the aftermarket serves the R56 MINI extraordinarily nicely. All the massive names, reminiscent of AP Racing, KSport, TAROX Efficiency Brakes, and Yellow Pace Europe, supply huge brake kits in varied sizes that begin at round £1,000. There are many different choices on the market, too. Simply ensure your wheels are sufficiently big to accommodate them!
As soon as once more, there are additionally the OEM upgrades, one of the best of the bunch being becoming the discs and Brembo-made calipers from the JCW MINI to the Cooper or Cooper S – a straight-swap that’s proved infinitely in style through the years. Proper now, you will discover a set of JCW calipers on the second-hand marketplace for round £500.
8. Inside upgrades: alternative seats
Picture supply: Julian Hochgesang through Unsplash
There’s no denying that the funky R56 automotive inside is among the points that made it extraordinarily in style. Once more, probably the most widespread upgrades within the MINI neighborhood is just to take advantage of the wealth of OEM options on the second-hand market.
Taking the sports activities seats from a Cooper S or perhaps a JCW and becoming them to a base mannequin MINI will all the time be a fantastic improve – in spite of everything, they bolt straight in and supply extra assist proper out of the field.
Then once more, there’s final, after which there’s final, and maybe probably the most sought-after OEM improve is the £3,000 Recaro seat choice initially provided within the JCW. It’s no shock that not many JCW patrons ticked that significantly costly field on the supplier, however that’s translated on to their availability now. If you happen to can really discover some, we hope you have got deep pockets!
The excellent news is that, with a set of direct-fit seat rails from round £200, aftermarket seats are extraordinarily simple to bolt in, and arguably supply one of the best assist for fast-road and observe use. Many MINI house owners look to producers reminiscent of Cobra Seats, Recaro and Corbeau to search out their good perches, and also you’ll discover a set of fixed-back bucket seats or adjustable recliners for nearly each price range.
9. Styling upgrades
For many MINI house owners, physique styling is stored with a level of subtlety in thoughts. With such good-looking seems to be from the manufacturing facility, it’s simple to see why. That mentioned, there are a number of low-cost and straightforward choices… together with some that may set you again an entire lot extra.
Once more, the OEM upgrades – extra particularly the MINI Aero Package initially fitted to JCW and the uncommon GP fashions – are a particularly in style alternative. The GP rear diffuser is especially revered within the MINI neighborhood and obtainable – brand-new – for £422 from Lohen. Additionally they supply the aerodynamic GP entrance undertray, giving your Cooper S some precise useable aero!
Elsewhere, different respected specialists, reminiscent of RSI C6, manufacture an entire number of components, from spoilers and flared arches to carbon fibre door handles and bonnet scoops. However maybe the maddest within the enterprise is the well-known Stanceworks package from Liberty Stroll. We’re not suggesting that this loopy 8-piece widebody package is for everybody – beginning at £4,690, it’s actually priced on the unique facet too. However, in the event you’re trying to construct the last word present automotive, it could be an choice.
10. Wheels and tyres
Picture supply: OSX through Wikimedia Commons
It’s secure to say that, of all our high upgrades, altering alloy wheels must be the primary for reputation. The factor about wheels, although, is that they’re a deeply private alternative. There are actually a whole bunch of designs and sizes on the market, some proving far more in style than others. So, with that in thoughts, we are able to’t make the selection for you right here – however we are able to actually enable you alongside the best way with all of the related data.
All second-generation MINIs – together with the Cooper S and JCW fashions – use wheels with a 4×100 stud sample. Normal wheels vary in sizes between 5.5×15-inch and seven×18-inch, with offsets from round ET45 to ET52, and, principally talking, they’re all interchangeable. Which means, in the event you’d wish to put a set of GP2 or JCW wheels in your MINI One, you possibly can. Actually, many individuals do.
Predictably, nevertheless, OEM choices aren’t the most well-liked within the MINI neighborhood – that’s the reserve of the aftermarket. That is just because there are a lot of, many 4×100 wheels on the market – it’s really one of many motoring world’s most typical stud patterns and covers all the things from Vauxhalls and Datsuns to Hondas and VWs.
There are many choices in the case of wheels
Actually, over 850 totally different automotive fashions use 4×100 wheels, in order that they’re not precisely onerous to search out. Simply control these offsets, and keep in mind that the decrease the ET quantity, the extra they’re going to poke out and threat rubbing your arches. Offset is important when selecting alloys on your MINI.
As they are saying within the wheel world, something is feasible, and we’ve seen all the things from 8.5×15-inch wheels to 9×19-inch monsters fitted to R56 MINIs. The beneficial vary by most producers and fans is as follows:
- diameters between 16 and 18 inches
- widths between 6.5 and eight.5 inches
- an offset vary of ET35-55
Among the extra in style ‘sensible’ fitments embody:
- 8×17-inch (ET35) with 215/45×17 tyres
- 8×17-inch (ET40) with 195/40×17 tyres
- 7×18-inch (ET38) with 215/35×18 tyres
As with all ‘plus sizing’ workouts, tyre measurement is essential and can differ in line with the wheel you select. Because the wheel diameter goes up, the tyre sidewall will need to have a decrease profile to bodily match below the arches. For probably the most aggressive fitments with wider wheels and tyres, suspension and arch modifications might also be vital. What’s extra, all the things additionally is dependent upon in case you have lowered your automotive within the first place.
In brief, it actually does pay to do your analysis earlier than making your wheel alternative, however the excellent news is that every one producers and their sellers will likely be comfortable to assist with recommendation on what suits your automotive and – most significantly – what doesn’t.
Keep in mind to take out modified automotive insurance coverage on your MINI
Determined to make the leap on a number of of the modifications on this record? Whichever modifications you select, be sure you take out modified automotive insurance coverage. At Adrian Flux, we cowl all varieties of modifications and may do that on a like-for-like foundation or supply agreed worth cowl. We additionally supply tailor-made automotive insurance coverage for modified MINIs. Name us on 0800 081 0777 for a free, no-obligation quote.
