What is new Mini R56

What is new Mini R56

THIS R56 IS MIKE BAKER’S FIRST VENTURE INTO MODIFYING MINIS – A PROJECT THAT HAS TAUGHT HIM A LOT, AND ONE THAT YIELDS FANTASTIC RESULTS

I designed it on Forza Horizon and sent the pictures to the wrapping company, who brought the design to life,” smiles Mike. “It’s completely changed the car.”

The graphics are the only part of the whole project that Mike didn’t fit himself. He did all the design work, but as confidence in his mechanical abilities grew, Mike soon found himself getting up close and personal with the oily bits of his MINI R56. The engine of this Cooper S may remain largely as the guys and gals at Plant Oxford intended (for now, at least), but as any N14 engine owner will testify, that doesn’t mean it’s a case of ‘fit and forget’. Direct-injection Prince engines need properly looking after, so Mike saw fit to replace the notoriously troublesome timing chain and guides before they started to give him any grief.

In a similar fashion, he knew that the mileage on the car would mean the clutch was going to be on its last legs, and upon finding out the N14 clutch and flywheel is another potential weak spot he opted to fit stronger LUK items. Wise moves, especially from someone so new to the performance modification game.

While doing the maintenance stuff and ensuring the 1.6-liter turbo lump was in good health, Mike continued to tweak the cosmetics. A GP diffuser found its way under the rear bumper, while the de-chroming and black headlight surrounds were added not long after the graphics. 

After the graphics were applied, Mike wasn’t keen on the black alloys. They suited the car with just the plain red paintwork, but with flashes of bright white forming part of the design, Mike thought that picking out the highlights on the wheels would look better – and he was right. The SuperTs in bright white add a bit of motorsport-inspired aggression to the overall appearance and really complement the graphics.

But, racy wheels and a lofty stock ride height is a big no-no on any self-respecting road and show car, so to add some lows Mike sourced a set of ride height-adjustable AP coilovers. “They have made a huge improvement. Not just to the way it looks, but how it handles too,” explains Mike.

By now Mike’s self-taught spanner skills were in full flow, so he turned his attention to that Prince powerplant once more. Not looking for radical changes (yet), Mike concentrated on making the MINI sound more aggressive. The factory exhaust has since been modified, with the resonator and rear silencer completely removed. 

At the same time, he replaced the factory bypass valve with a Forge Motorsport blow off valve – another well-planned upgrade that replaces a part known to cause issues with something that not only prevents potential failures but also enhances the car at the same time. The bark of the exhaust, along with heightened pops and crackles, is accompanied by the distinctive ‘whoop-ssh’ sound of the turbo dumping excess boost between gearshifts.

Mike says, “The noise it makes is definitely my favorite thing on the whole car. The pops and bangs sound amazing. It’s hard to drive sensibly when it eggs you on so much. 

That is the reason it's effectively my top choice." So, a little more than a year after he previously began his MINI R56 changing class, Mike's Cooper S has gone from an industrial facility unique to day by day driven show vehicle. "I would not like to surge things, however the most explanation it took a year was on the grounds that I preferred the manner in which it looked and drove, so besides the steady fights with the N14 motor, I was glad to simply continue driving and getting a charge out of it," Mike clarifies But don't feel that is the head of the story. this is regularly just GCSE-level MINI altering, and Mike's as of now selected inside the A-Level class by looking at up a GP-style back seat erase, and a 

remap to take capacity to around 210bhp. 

Who comprehends what will come after that – we wouldn't be amazed to see much more of Mike and his wonderful MINIs in years to come as he graduates towards a Masters in MINI alteration.