Solving a friend's Mini 'problem'

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Sat 14 Jun 2003 09:50
Solving a friend's Mini 'problem' - DavidHM
A friend just bought a Mini Cooper 500 LE, two years old, one of the last of the old ones, from a specialist, for use as a fun second car.

He paid £8495 but got a very, very generous trade in on his M plate Cooper - he actually made a profit of about £1500 (!) over the year he had it, which included a fairly thorough restoration.

However, after getting it home and changing the plugs and oil, he found that it was still running a little rougher than he was expecting. It also ran a bit hot. A diagnostic check at Rover found nothing and even a new temperature sensor didn't cure the problem.

Then he took it to a specialist for rolling road analysis. Turns out the engine has been tuned with high lift cams, on top of the stainless steel exhaust he put on. With the injection timing sorted, the A series now develops ~110 bhp and has a massive boost from 2800 rpm on. The specialist insurer doesn't seem to mind either - so it'll be on with an uprated air filter next.

Woohoo! And a power to weight ratio of something like 160 bhp per tonne, should he wish to frighten any new shape Cooper S he might encouter.
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Mon 16 Jun 2003 09:31
Solving a friend's Mini 'problem' - 3500S
He He, now that would be something I'd pay to see. Old Cooper v bloaty new one.
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