14 replies to this topic

[ERonowitz]

Just brought my mini. Wondering if i should buy a stage 1 and want to know the perks that it will have on the car and will it affect my insurance...?

[oltonlad]

hi, what size engine does your mini have?, a stage 1 kit does make a difference to the performance of the car but dont expect it to be loads quicker because it wont be!,
i went for the stage 1 kit with a twin box RC40 exhaust as i wanted it to be quiet, but i fitted twin carbs to mine, a stage 1 kit will definetely affect your insurance so i would get a quote first, it depends on your age really, a lot of insurance companies frown on mods to mini's if you are young, it cost me an extra £45 to add my manifold. exhaust, K&N filters and twin carbs to my policy.......and i'm an old git ....lol......

Edited by oltonlad, 21 August 2011 - 10:14 AM.

[ERonowitz]

its a 1993 mayfair 998. And ive only just started driving so they would probably not be to happy if i stick one on. But is it worth it? And if not is there any other alternatives?
Thanks

[oltonlad]

its a 1993 mayfair 998. And ive only just started driving so they would probably not be to happy if i stick one on. But is it worth it? And if not is there any other alternatives?
Thanks

it depends on your insurance company really some are ok with stage 1 mods some arent, it is worth doing as it will make your engine breathe a lot easier and low down power will improve, the stage 1 kit is the first modification to do to a mini performance wise so there arent really any other alternatives, if you use a specialist or classic car insurance company then they are usually ok with minor modifications such as a stg 1 kit and they wont sting you too much on price hopefully....good luck.......

[ERonowitz]

would you recommend a place to get one from or any good sites that you use? i am very new to all this lol
thanks

[freshairmini]

Maniflow are good place to get exhaust systems from, prlly the best for minis, their also very helpful in advising what best system to get for your mini, so you don't have to worry about whether its the right one or if it fits!

also you may want to think about getting it rolling roared, as changing the exhaust system will mean that your carb will need to be re tuned because of the greater amount of gases going in and going out. And also you will get the most power out of fitting a stage one kit.

[andymini12]

I think they are quite a good place to start tuning your mini, a good stage one kit for a 998 is maniflow cooper freeflow manifold with a 1.75" twin or single box system. And the rest of the stage 1 kit with inlet manifold and airfilter etc.
When you fit it though it is best to get it set up on a rolling road to get the best out of it.

[lrostoke]

I doubt you will see massive speed increases, a properly set up 998 will zip along quite merrily.
Look at the figures 998 approx 40 bhp, Stage 1 20% increase, thats a massive 44 bhp

You could say run the mini as it is, get some no claims discount and experience and then look at tuning.

Putting my old bastard head on had 2 minis when I passed, non of them got touched tuning wise, still best fun on 4 wheels

[Bungle]

as well as a bit more power you should also get a few more MPG if driven with out a heavy right foot

[lrostoke]

yeah but who does that ha ha,

[yellowmonster]

Look at the figures 998 approx 40 bhp, Stage 1 20% increase, thats a massive 44 bhp

Errr....make that 48 bhp..right?! (40 x 1,2 = 48)
You're right when you say there'll be hardly any difference in topspeed, but it'll get there quicker!
More importantly: low-end ooompfhh is much better.

[SimonWicklow]

Is it worth doing this with a 1.3 SPi? it's a daily driver and i'm going to have to be doing a lot more motorway driving soon?

[lrostoke]

my bad your right 48 bhp, assuming you arent bolting it onto a tired engine to start with.

[yellowmonster]

Yup that's right; first check the compression on all fours before even thinking of installing a Stage I set...
A tired oilconsuming engine won't reyuvenate by just fitting some go-faster-thingies.

@Simon: a 1.3i engine already has significant more power than the 998 lump.
It'll do 85-90 mph/ 150+kph on its own without too much stress.
If you still want more...err..fun / speed/ power than yes; you also can fit a Stage I (but a different one) to a 1275...

Edited by yellowmonster, 21 August 2011 - 05:42 PM.

[AVV IT]

You are actually pretty unlikely to get a full 20% power increase. In my experience stage 1 kits really do only give up to an extra 20% BHP, which in reality means that you normally get nearer 10%. Sadly though, because all the stage 1 marketing literature mentions a 20% increase, then unless you have "before and after" rolling road data to submit as evidence to your insurer, then you are going to have to declare a 20% power increase, even if you actually only got half of that figure in reality. Despite only getting just over an extra 10% out of my stage 1 kit, I certainly noticed the difference. But whether that extra power is worth having or not, depends very much on your individual circumstances.

My insurer tends to use the rather simplistic formula of increasing my premium proportionally to the power increases of any modifications made, therefore a stage 1 kit adds an extra 20% to my premium each year. In my case according to the rolling road data I got an extra 6 BHP after fitting a stage 1 kit. As I only pay £130 per year for my policy in the first place, then that extra 6 BHP only costs me an extra £26 in premium so it's well worth having. But then if I was seventeen and paying nearer £2k for my insurance, then the prospect of paying an extra £200 for that same extra 6 BHP would probably be much less appealing.

Edited by AVV IT, 21 August 2011 - 06:15 PM.