THSCC Forums

So what sucks about an HS BMW Mini Cooper? All I can remember is limited camber, and lots of inside wheel spin based on watching Mark Chiles at Rocky Mount last year.

Anything autox-related or daily-driving related...

Also, is there a respectable Mini forum, and if so where?

http://www.roadfly.com has a mini forum

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'88 bmw 535is
'98 honda civic ex

Mark was running the GS car at Rocky Mount. The HS Mini has barely any wheelspin compared to the S. - AB

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'14 Toyota Sequoia Platinum 4WD
Super Westerfield Bros - '93 Integra - LeChump Du Jour
STX 93 - Scion FR-S

A friend at the old job had an S, and he had some irritating, but minor electrical issues with the car which are aparrently pretty common among the MINIs. His main glitch was a airbag idiot light, indicating that the airbag system was inop. He had the car at the dealer (Flow Motors in Winston Salem) numerous times, and eventually sold the car because of that and similar issues.

To folks like us, this doesn't mean that much - it doesn't interfere with the driving fun of the car, but it is irritating, and doesn't bode that well for the long term electrical health of the car.

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Tom Freeman
'98 M3/4/5 | '93 Spec3 325i | '12 TSX sport wagon | '03 Tahoe
Team Silver Bullets '91 240SX

The electrics in the car share most of thier parts with that of the regular 3 series BMW cars from what I read, or at least some other major BMW platform. So i bet the electrical problems if it had some are easily solved.

I think the thing that really sets them apart is really good shocks and stiff springs stock. I got to ride in an HS cooper when I still had my Cavalier. I think I probably was fairly close in cornering speed because my car had alot of alignment adjustment and maybe a bit better out of the corners because of torque. But that car would simply own me so bad in any slalom I'd have no chance of keeping up. It stops and turns in really really well too. Also, you can get the S suspension package on a stripper model base engine car. I bet those cars are under or around 2500 pounds.

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2006 Civic Si - #24 HS for 2015

2005 GMC Sierra
1991 318is Garage Ornament

My friend has had an S for about 2 years now and hasn't had any issues...period (knock on wood). Then again, he doesn't exactly abuse it much either.

BTW - It weighs in at 2700 lbs. Not a lightweight given it's overall size.

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www.ncvw.org
1993 VW Corrado VR6 - DSP15 (RIP)
1986 MB 190E 2.3L 16v - STX (SOLD)
1997 BMW M3 3.2L - BS for now

http://tom.kat.free.fr/mini.wmv

Enough said

Yes I know its an old mini but I just love that video

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91 Jetta GLI STS/DSP 111
85 Porsche 944 ASP 11
http://www.blackforestindustries.com

FWIW, when Brain Garfield won the HS Pro Solo Championship in his co-driver's Mini a few years ago it was on stock shocks. They had ordered the Sport Plus suspension. So, you don't have to dump a lot of money into setup to be fast. I'm sure the car can be improved with various setup changes though. It's hard to beat an HS Mini if you're looking for a level playing field in a class.

Eric

I know the same guy that Tom is talking about. With the airbag light issue, the following items were replaced by the dealer and the light would still come one sometimes...

* Airbag
* Computer that controls airbag and display
* Wiring harness

Car was still under warrentee and BMW/Mini could not fix the problem. I believe he sold the car out of frustration.

But I did drive the car and it was fun to drive.

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Richard Casto
1972 Porsche 914
2013 Honda Fit Sport
2015 Honda Fit EX
http://motorsport.zyyz.com
Money can't buy happiness, but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than a Kia.

One of the keys to successful Mini-crossing is to not get the big rims with Runflat tires. They, apparently, weigh 1.0 metric ass-ton.

Thanks for the info, guys. Unfortunately, I testdrove an STi on Saturday & now I have to sell my 2.5RSes & buy one of those.



Anybody interested?