The top 5 performance mods for Gen 1 R50, MINI One and MINI Cooper
Introduction
Long-dismissed as ‘just’ the lower-powered alternative to its supercharged MINI Cooper S big brother, the R50, both the MINI One and MINI Cooper, holds a special place in Lohen’s heart as the first naturally aspirated model we embraced and modified. To the uninitiated, these Generation 1 ONEs and Coopers may seem underpowered however they shared significant hardware with its S-sibling, including brakes and suspension, making it an ideal platform to tune giving a standard R53 a run for its money.
1. The Lohen LO1 Package
The Lohen LO1 package combines a Superchips Bluefin, Denso Iridium Spark Plugs and Pipercross Panel Air Filter to take your R50 from standard horsepower (either 90 or 110 bhp depending on model) to around 130 bhp. Lohen developed this LO1 package with Superchips and have sold hundreds of them over the years. A doddle to install on your drive way (but we can always help if you struggle, fitting is available at Lohen), this £300 performance upgrade will be giving that extra zip in about 15 minutes, which is about 20 bhp to Cooper owners and a whopping 40 bhp to ONE owners.
2. Janspeed Manifold & High Flow Catalyst for MINI One and MINI Cooper
Improving exhaust gas flow is next on the agenda and the Janspeed Manifold & High Flow Catalyst does that perfectly. The Janspeed manifold section has much smoother bends than the MINI OEM part and, combining with the 200 cells per inch catalyst, will benefit from freer-flowing gasses and improved engine performance and sound. Admittedly it’s not the cheapest mod but you certainly get what you pay for. This will combine with a standard cat-back exhaust however truly comes into it’s own when installed with the Milltek below… View the Janspeed Range >>
3. Milltek Sport Cat-back Exhaust System for R50 MINI One and MINI Cooper
Is your exhaust showing signs of flaking? Perhaps your MINI's exhaust is blowing? Prone to corrosion, the standard steel cat-back exhaust should be replaced by a stainless steel Milltek Sport Cat-back Exhaust. Lohen offers a pair of tailpipe options: the Meteor design that mimics the MINI OEM look or the Jet 90 mm that has an altogether sportier feel, perfect for the aftermarket enthusiast. These cat-back exhaust systems offer some mid-range performance gains and sound superb. When you combine Milltek's sensible pricing and lifetime warranty, it really is a no-brainer. Shop our Milltek Sport Cat-Back Exhausts >>
4. ST Suspensions ST-X Coilovers for R50
All MINIs benefit from a small amount of lowering and the R50 is no exception. As a sister brand of KW Automotive, you know the ST Suspension range will be great quality but carry a more modest price tag. Reducing your MINI One or Cooper’s centre of gravity will improve handling and allow you to harness and make more of your bhp so it’s truly maximised. This kit will also benefit fully from a Lohen in-house suspension setup service – think of it as the icing on the cake! See the entire ST Suspension Coilover Range >>
5. OMP Upper Strut Brace for MINI One and MINI Cooper
Speaking both figuratively and literally, OMP Strut Braces tie everything together. These iconic red strut bars not only look great in the R50's engine bay but also help to link chassis points making your MINI behave more predictably in cornering. If you’re looking for a cost-effective, inexpensive modification, you will struggle to do much better than this! Looking to other areas of the MINI, for general road use Lohen recommends you stick with the standard brake calipers as they’re the same as used on the Cooper S models and consider great brake pads and brake fluid, plus regular MINI servicing when the time comes. If you look after your MINI you’ll have an R50 to be proud of. Buy OMP Strut Braces for your R50 >>
If you want to maximise both power and performance in your R50 then we recommend fitting the following:
6. Lohen Performance Head
For those of you looking to get even more from your R50 then we recommend fitting a Lohen Performance Head and a set of uprated camshafts. The exhaust and inlet ports are CNC machined and precision cut whilst the enlarged exhaust ports remove restrictions in the head to allow for maximum power. Our performance head fitted to your R50 improves top-end performance and provides increases to both bhp and torque. For example, In-house testing on an R53 Cooper S saw gains of around 20 bhp when this head was fitted. You can get a more in-depth understanding of the performance benefits of the Lohen Performance Head by reading this BLOG POST.
Opting to fit any of the modifications to your R50 will improve either the power or performance of your MINI, however combining them all will produce something truly epic. Remember that we have tuning options for everyone and all applications, if you have any questions regarding your R50 or simply want someone to walk you through the tuning process then contact one off our team members on sales@lohen.co.uk or 01785 859999.