Modifying my Mini - Do Coilovers improve handling ? [FIRST DRIVE]
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- My Mini JCW Roadster has more power thanks to Lohen and now has a completely new look thanks to the B Road Hunting Club. We fitted BC Racing coilovers, Team Dynamics wheels and thanks to Michelin a lovely set of Pilot Sport 4 tyres. Aesthetically we've done a complete de-chrome and a few other little bits to make Ruby look awesome.
The questions is...how does she drive ? This this film I take her on the road and on the track and talk through the good and the bad !
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Thanks!
Great channel. Great content. Love to hear someone from Great Britain talk about the mini's with their perspective. This fellow has a genuine love of cars that comes through on his videos
Thank you 🙏🏻
Ruby looking and sounding stunning. Never get bored of those roads in a MINI, had a fantastic drive home that way on Sunday.
Cheers Neil, our favourite roads 👍
That permanent smile on your face makes it all worthwhile. Top car top video 👍
Cheers 👍
Your ruby videos are always my fave! Prob because I love mini’s too!! Can’t wait to see the next one..👍🏻
You won’t have long to wait. LSD and clutch are booked in 👍
Other than the popping exhausts, I think you've made some good mods to the car.
The pops only happen in Sport Mode so I only turn them on when I want a laugh 😜
Wow
@petroped is it the standard exhaust?
Excellent upgrades. I really like what you've done so far and Ruby looks fantastic. Glad to hear that the suspension upgrades have made a great difference and that you're happy with them. Cant wait to see what's to come and I totally love the exhaust note, ha ha its awesome.
LSD and clutch are coming next in a couple of weeks time 👍
Petrol Ped awesome, can’t wait to see the difference 😉👌🏻
The red vents suit the front. The pops are too much for me. Great video as always!
Cheers Mike. You can turn the pops off 👍
@@PetrolPed I have a 2014 R58 JCW. I rescued it from a large used car lot in Houston. It had some pops and burbles with the original factory engine mapping. I took it to a MINI dealer and they did a software update on the car. Most of the pops and bangs are now gone (these were factory pops and bangs, nothing like yours). I suspect MINI gave in to customer objections. My wife did think something was wrong with the car when we first got it. I told her we paid extra for those noises.
Glad you shared this video mate, your enthusiasm is truly hard to contain!! Love it.............
That is the car doing that to me 😂
It does look nice being that low but that exhaust is brilliant!!
Ruby is coming together nicely Pete. Am I alone in thinking that the car in front in the track footage initially didn't want to see Ruby go past? On the straight probably, corners, no chance. The set-up and speed carried through the corners very evident to see, it must drive like a dream. Enjoy.
It really does feel great 👍
Hey Mr ped another great video ! i was at Lohen last week having my Ragazzon valved exhaust fitted and i have to say i am delighted with it two very different sounds , when the valve is open and closed, i recommend it , a great bit of kit ... . was thinking of getting Coilovers also but as i live in London where the roads are terrible i think would be a step to far . anyway great to see the progress on Mrs Ruby . The new up rated clutch and Lsd will certainly finish her off . keep up the good work !
I loved the Ragazzon on Lohen demo car. Up there again next week have a diff and clutch upgrade 👍
Looks great. I've just de-chromed the Wife's Cooper S, makes a huge difference. Nice one.
Cool 👍
Evening sir. I think the Mini gives a brilliant driving experience. Would love to see how she is compared to the standard JCW. I personally like the sport mode, the hotter the exhaust, the more she barks. You can always control it and that’s the best bit.
Definitely looks so much better with the blacked out trim. So much better! I've seen one or two others done this way and it really improves the look I hadn't realized how much the chrome look added to the pretend "Mini" look. But with the trim colour "coded" to the rest of the bodywork the improvement it huge, for my eyes anyway. Holy moley! I actually like a "Mini"!!!!!!!!!!!
And yes, suspension mods make a big difference to any car. My V6 Cavalier was modded on Eiback coils and Koni adjustables and it was a massive improvement over the stock setup. And after a rolling road session to see what effect my full stainless exhaust with de-cat had done, the Cav turned out to have 3.0l inlet cams. So the new suspension got well used!!!!!!
Chuffed I got you to like a Mini 😂
Fantasic results Pete. To be honest, having seen what you have achived with Ruby I quite fancy doing somthing similar as a project / weekend car :-)
Do it 👍
Great mods... pure fun!! However, my R59 is going to remain stock for a variety of reasons, and I'll continue to live vicariously through your videos. Actually.... I'm laughing with you during your videos!!!
🤣😂🤪
Great to hear. I had my stock for 4 years and loved every minute 👍
I could listen to that exhaust all day! Thanks for the track view perspective, I was really hoping you would do that and I for one would love to see some more.
Your wish is my command 😜
Boys and their toys! Thanks for modifying a sensible car and not an unaffordable supercar like many other TH-camrs seem to do, although Shme 150 has some balance with his Ford focus. Great car, great video.
Cheers, glad you enjoyed it 👍
Honestly sounds like there's a soldier with a machine gun living in that exhaust. Crazy!
Yep 😂
Blimey! I said in your last video how much more your gp3 will be than a standard (new) jcw. But when you mentioned character and connection to the road, it now seems hard to imagine how much more ‘mini’ you’ll get when gp3 arrives (ahahahaha you just went though the tunnel!!!🤘😁)
But I’m looking forward to seeing you fall for gp3!
Great vid sir.
I am sure the GP3 is going to be very special 😬
Ruby's looking really great now and sounding like the British Commandos taking Pegasus Bridge in WW2.
It'll be good to know the lap times difference now and before.
I’ll try and look back at some footage once I get a complete flying lap filmed 👍
De-chrome looks good. The exhaust is “antisocial” (love it!). The red vents lift the front. It would be too dark without. Great video as always!
Cheers Andrew. Glad you like it 👍
Pmsl 😂 Kalashnikov on wheels, I love it. Awesome mods Pete nothing crazy, subtle looks improvements but my God she's a goer now and those sounds are just epic, please remember me when you get your new GP 3 and if you decide to sell Ruby 👍. Great video as always, I've been waiting for this one since you had coilovers fitted. Can't wait for the next stage, Lsd hell yes😁👍🏁
LSD and clutch going in next week 👍
@@PetrolPed
Excellent 👍
Oh wow. Your Ruby is true R5x goals right now! Amazing.
Never heard of the interior trim wraps before. Can you share any details on the Alcantara wrap?
Ha ha ha! Love it! And how many times did you go through the exhaust appreciation tunnel??? Ruby is amazing on track and with a clutch upgrade and LSD (no not the drug) you will complete the upgrade.I wouldn`t even contemplate taking her on roads with speed bumps, and at all cost ,avoid the B road from Cranleigh through Dunsfold to Chiddingfold. You name it ,its got it potholes, subsidence adverse camber etc etc
LSD and clutch being done next week 👍
Ruby looking good. My car is no JCW (just a mapped F56 cooper) but I am thinking of upgrading the suspension, don't' want to lower much (or at all) as I have far too many speed bumps on my commute, but do fancy having better handling, you probably made me spend more £££ lol but if I get even a quarter of those smiles you have it'd be worth it.
It is highly recommended 👍
@@PetrolPed Cough... I'm getting Eibach Pro kit springs fitted on Sat... after saying I'd never lower the car. I'm not doing pops and bangs though, noise isn't for me particularly. In fact I'm super interested in the electric mini - do you think you'll get to try it one day?
BLOOY MARVELOUS WELL DONE
Awesome! I love everything you've done and the ideas I've gotten to jazz up my R59 (and my old R50 is along for the ride too).
Even more to come 👍
Awesome through the tunnel Pp, who wouldn't do that :-)
Very childish but lots of fun 😂
Amazing little thing!! Have you heard of String Theory Garage?? They’re based at Caffeine and Machine near Stratford and they’re unbelievably good! If that’s something you’re wanting to look into then they’re your guys. Great video, love this little thing!
That is where I want to go 👍
Petrol Ped I’ve heard they’re brilliant! Have watched them work before and it’s mesmerising 👍🏻
Very nice mini and those pops are sublime, I’d probably get kicked out of my town if I had that mini because ALL I’d be doing is going up and down the brilliant Welsh mountains (where I live) then through the main town “street” popping & banging all the way through watching people drop their shopping it rear view mirror JEEZ I’d have SOO MUCH FUN. And on my laptop right now I’m actually looking for a nice 1 on fleabay to buy but an older one as I’ve just bought a new motorbike (now for sale). Don’t know much about the BMW mini as I’m a classic mini builder but looks like time for a change, I prefer turbos but the supercharged one would do so any advice would be great cheers SCOOBS UK (Wales) .
The first gen if the new Mini (R53) is super charged if you get a Cooper S or JCW. The next Feb (R56) had a 1.6 turbo in Cooper S and JCW form. Get an R56 Cooper S and give it a Stage 1 or 2 👍
Fantastic Pete! What beauty 😳👍🏎💨🍻
Cheers 👍
I had a go in a Motech tuned mini the other day n had wilds amount of fun. Way different to yours as it was a hatch.
Love the new look! Certainly looks better in all areas. Also has the handling and performance to match. I'd be surprised if the brakes stood up to a full track day so maybe that's more important than a clutch? Sorry, I know you love them, but the exhaust pops & bangs and massively excessive and annoying. Just a couple of mild ones on over-run has more class. ASBO ! 😀 Looking forward to next vid... 👍
*are (not "and")
Pops and Bangs only happen in Sport Mode when I fancy a laugh. Planning on getting some Mintex pads 👍
The TTV organic clutch & flywheel kit is very good and will easily handle the torque.
Clutch and LSD going on the car in a couple of weeks 👍
I love what you’ve done to Ruby, all the upgrades spot on. Now I have a disabled and do have spine problems, that said I’m an ex-racer. I wondered if you could have the best of both worlds. Let me explain, standard suspension feel and height. Then when you get to the track you could then have a race setup as you have. I wondered if anyone had any ideas 💡. The pops do sound good. It brings back memories to when I used to race, but what’s the legalities for using them on the road? As always love 💖 the vid just awesome 😎. Keep up the great work 💋
The damper softness can be adjusted but not really that much, so they are pretty firm even when on Soft setting 😪
The mini sound amazing.
Thank You 🙏🏻
Personally I would lift the front 1/2 a turn, and the rear 3/4 a turn.
It will still have the look and help with the ride. Now would be the time to do it before you get it aligned, in case you have to pull the rear shocks out to alter the ride height.
I’ll look into this 👍
Car looks great Pete, sounds great fun..if you need advice with comb-overs what with the roof coming down, i'm yer man (doesn't say much for your clientele hehe)..thanks Pete :)
LOL 😂
Have you thought about yellow tints on your headlights? I’ve applied yellow tints to my Astro black de-chromed r56 & I’m very pleased with the results.
No, but I am now 😜😂
Ruby Rocks!👍
This is just my opinion and I'm not a hater,
I've had a couple of cars with extremely low sports suspension and have to say that although they did handle like tron the ride quality and lack of paint/underseal under the car was appalling.
The other visual mods look good and lessen the hairdresser looks of Ruby :-) Keep the videos coming. Thanks
Hi Dean. Actually, as Ruby was in this video I agree with you. Her ride was too firm and a little too low, especially at back. Since then I have had Lohen change the ride height (+15mm and the rear and +5mm at the front), soften off the dampers and set up the geometry properly. The difference is amazing. Much more compliant for general driving but still pin sharp when you get to a corner 👍
@@PetrolPed Glad you have had it sorted, I used to work at RRMC in Goodwood and some of the nearby roads are quite unforgiving :-) I had an R50 cooper with factory sport++ suspension (brutal)
I miss the pops and bangs , I miss my R53 but I’m now stuck with a stage 1 cooper sd hatch still sounds like a tractor 🚜💨💨
Stephen Melling bet it has amazing torque pull though! I have an f54 clubman cooper S with a stage 2, but drive an f54 clubman SD auto with a stage 1/2 and it was amazing!
Did you wrap the handles or are they covers? Ruby looks fantastic!
The door handles and roll over hoops were wrapped 👍
Looking good Pete 👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌
Cheers 👍
Love those wheels!
Thanks for the mega catch up Buddy 👍
Perfection.........what Fun...
Thanks 🙏🏻
Hi Peter, great video. Ruby looks great. Did you just leave out the Dobbelsteen wind deflectors because of the vinyl on the rollbar? Didn’t see them in the video
Sadly yes. I did try to put them back in but they damaged the vinyl so they had to stay off 😪
I am totally unhappy with the BC Coilovers on my F56. I love the low look so I’m not expecting a smooth ride. But, these things are teeth shattering at the hardest and not much better absorption at the softest. TTV makes the best clutch. I bought a strapped 5 paddle that makes engagement unbelievably smooth and it can hold all the torque you can throw at it.
so tires where 205-45-18 to 215- ? Did you do front diffuser?
" So childish "🤣🤣🤣. Love that car especially the exhaust notes 🤣 👍👍👍. Another great video. 😀
Very 😂
Should look into getting a Coolerworx shifter next for the Coupe :D
They drive great. Lohen do a really nice integration with a gaiter and 3D printed cup holder with new button position 👍
@@PetrolPed I've got a couple of mates who have them in their Mini's and they love it!
Beautiful🍁🍁🍁
Thank you👍👍👍
Thank you 🙏
How is the torque steer with power upgrade. Mine stock pulls steering wheel.
It’s running a Quaife ATB diff so to isn’t too bad 👍
Love the handling and power mods - I’m with anything that makes a car better and more fun to drive.
I have to admit that I am “of a certain age” and I love the occasional low frequency pop and bang that my car emits on the overrun, but that incessant cracking would drive me more gaga than I am already.
I appreciate that this is how you want your car to be and I mean no offence, but how long will it be before you drive with it mainly turned off?
Will you treat us to the occasional “Still Luvvin’ it” video?
They only happen in Sport Mode which I only turned on when I want cheering up 😜
How are the bc coilovers these days? Still recommend them?
For the money they are great 👍
Loving the progress Pete
But please lose those awful rear lights
The OE black line ones will complete the exterior look
They will come in time 👍
Hi just wondered what year Ruby is?
2014 :-)
Is there a warthog attached to the rear ?!! Is that the remap the pops and bangs
LOL...yes, it's part of the map and only happens in Sport Mode when you want a bit of fun 😜
I think I might be in the minority by saying those exhaust pops and bangs are really annoying - I definitely couldn’t live with that.
I agree with you.
I'm with you on that, some small burbles and quiet occasional pops are ok, that would drive me mad
Agree it's too much.
Yeah don't like super loud exhausts. Myself
Agreed, it's way too over the top, just sounds ridiculous imo
The best way for driver to take good care of any car is having his car lowered cuz in his mind he will be driving his own car and his normal reaction will be to be careful all the time and he could be driving an suv that he will slow down or stop to go over speedbumps etc. Lol
Good vid car looks great.
Thanks Richard 🙏🏻
First 👍🏻 good goodwood presenting too btw
Cheers 👍
should have painted chrome part of scuttle red but the rest is amazing.
Ooo...didn't think of that 🤔😜
Couldn't live with that exhaust
It is extreme but only happens in Sport 😜
I was told that having pops and bangs will damage the cat. But if I decat car might fail it’s mot. How are you getting on with car. Has the pops and bangs damaged your cars cat.
No damage and the new CAT is a 100 cell and therefore passes the MOT. Just make sure you go to a specialist that knows what they are doing 👍
Great presentation - Glad your enjoying your car tweaks.
Hope Mrs Ped convinces you to drop those endless pops n bangs or throws your clothes out the bedroom window 👍🏼
They only happen in Sport Mode 👍
bigger rear sway bar will totally change the way the roadster will handle.
Hi Pete. Regards Steve.
Hi Bud 👋
Ruddy hooligan!
Yep 😂
Awesome, I love it! I thought the JCW's came with a diff?
It has a diff but it needs a limited slip diff to help out delivering the power 👍
Petrol Ped Ohhhhhh
Its nice and flat in the corners
Yep 👍
Yep 👍
Well done 😅
Thanks 🙏🏻
Pure hooliganism. Love it.
Yep 😂
00:22 'Your spoiler is still extended'
And 🤷♂️
@@PetrolPed I've got a coupe S... I was just referring to the sound when you turn the engine off and what it says on the screen haha
Great vid, sounds like you are in war zone lol :-)
Take cover 😂😂😂
There's no way those fronts don't rub at full lock over a bump.
They don’t 👍
Love the look of the car! You should check killallchrome.co.uk they have flowing side scuttle indicators you can get that are fully blacked out and the indicators flow like Audi’s indicators.... also love the pops and bangs! They make it so much fun! And bring something more to the car
Also miniworks are selling Gen2 Union Jack lights
Driving a car like that you will always be 10 -15 years younger lol
Absolutely 👍
Illegal number plate spacing!
Yep 👍
First
Congrats 👍
That banging exhaust KIND OF ruins it for me, actually it stops me watching full stop.
It only happens in Sport Mode 👍
Union flag - just in time for Brexit! Fantastic.
IT IS NOT A MINI !! That is a bmw shitwagen , the ONLY Mini is the one designed by Sir Alec Issigonis ......
Time and technology moves on, get over it!
They both have there merits. I love a classic Mini but the performance of modern Minis is also impressive 👍
@@PetrolPed The mini was named so because it was the smallest 4 seater car on the market ie it was small , the bmw abortion is the size of a family hatchback so there is no comparison .