Advise needed for tracking my R56 (S)
 

Hey everyone:
I need some help setting up my 2010 cooper S hatch (w/ 104k on the odo) for track and daily driving.

So far i have upgraded the rotors and pads with Stoptech street rotors and hawk dtc60, new SS brake lines. Eibach pro plus suspension kit (lowering springs and front and rear sway bars), 17" wheels with Continental DW extremecontact tires.

to save weight i will be removing the rear seat only.

My Instructor at the track thinks i might have something going on with my clutch since it engages at a high position and it's a bit on the stiff side.

Any other thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

What brake fluid are you running? If you haven't upgrade your fluid, I'd highly recommend it. Look into ATE Typ 200 HERE. Last thing you want to deal with at a track day is your brake fluid not performing well. I'd maybe look into the CravenSpeed Short Shift Kit here as well. It's nice to be able to significantly reduce the throw of your shifter for the track so you aren't spending so much timing shifting. Another good suspension performance upgrade would be Powerflex Bushings here. Look into them as they can definitely improve your MINI's handling. Let me know if you have any questions!

I'm using RBF600 brake fluid. The short throw sounds interesting but i'd like to upgrade the Clutch before the shifter.

Now regarding the Powerflex, i've had bad experiences with Diazen. They squeak a lot. how are the powerflex compared to the Diazen?

Look into South Bend Clutch HERE. Great quality and have installed these on everything from daily drivers to high horsepower builds. I don't see anything listed for a 2010 though, but you might be able to give them a call and see what they have. I honestly haven't seen one complaint about the Powerflex bushings and noise for MINI's. All reviews and from personal use are very positive. They also provide a lifetime manufacture warranty as they're very confident in their products performance.

Thanks. I'll give them a call for the clutch. I haven't narrowed the problem to which wheel but it sounds like i might need new wheel bearings for the rear. Do you guys normally suggest getting the wheel hub assembly or have the bearing pushed for these cars?

The rear wheel bearing on MINI R56 models bolts into the trailing arm, unlike older model vehicles that were pressed in. This makes replacing it much easier. We have them HERE. We also have a DIY article outlining the replacement of the rear wheel bearings if needed. Let me know if you have any other questions. :)