Mini GP3 dropped off at Lohen
Discussion
Hi, Just to let you know that I have left the GP3 at Lohen for £6,000 worth of Performance parts to be fitted, incl...200 cell Sports Cat, Cobra valved full exhaust, Larger Intercooler, stage 1 performance pack to take the car to 350 bhp hopefully and last on the list a full Alcantara flat bottom steering wheel with carbon structured paddles....WOW, I can't wait to drive it in a few days time, the GP3 is a very quick car anyway let alone with these upgrades. All I need then is to work out how to post photos of the car on this forum.?
Yes, the car is completely stock with 12,000 miles on the clock, I have received an email after an Engine Health Check was done prior to work starting and Compression is 210 across all cylinders which is exactly what it should be and a piston leakage of 10 % which is exactly right, in fact they say the car is mint, all the figures are as they should be so we are good to go with the upgrades, brill...
Sounds like the perfect starting point, are you considering any other upgrades to compliment the expected power increase?
I've got a 2018 LCI JCW and have done a few bits to it but mostly aesthetic so far but i do keep thinking about a mild power upgrade. However I really think it would benefit from a wavetrac or quaife diff to help put the power down.
I've got a 2018 LCI JCW and have done a few bits to it but mostly aesthetic so far but i do keep thinking about a mild power upgrade. However I really think it would benefit from a wavetrac or quaife diff to help put the power down.
My days of trying to max the power from cars are long over, more subtle tweaks for me now but I do love the ideas of what you are doing OP.
Are you planning to just use this on the road? Going what must be over 225hp per tonne with a set on ohlins just seems to beg for a bit of track play.
Personally, I'd be looking at brakes closely sooner rather than later. I imagine the factory calipers are more than sufficient and its all very well going fast but faster for longer is better so like you say, pads are worth investigating for prolonged braking. Also, changing bushes and engine mounts before shocks is quick and cheap and often makes a very noticeable difference. No point in a set of ohlins if everything else is wobbly.
Depends on what you want. Big power and all the toys or functional performance. I'm still debating what to do but leaning towards a road legal racer.
Are you planning to just use this on the road? Going what must be over 225hp per tonne with a set on ohlins just seems to beg for a bit of track play.
Personally, I'd be looking at brakes closely sooner rather than later. I imagine the factory calipers are more than sufficient and its all very well going fast but faster for longer is better so like you say, pads are worth investigating for prolonged braking. Also, changing bushes and engine mounts before shocks is quick and cheap and often makes a very noticeable difference. No point in a set of ohlins if everything else is wobbly.
Depends on what you want. Big power and all the toys or functional performance. I'm still debating what to do but leaning towards a road legal racer.
Exactly, Functional performance is the game, the brake calipers are sufficient already I think. As you say tho if it goes well it needs to stop well, ha ha. I may track day it but i really don't want to bin it like I did on my 6 month old Honda Fireblade (1000cc) when I was just going faster and faster until my talent ran out, ouch..!!
Weejus said:
Functional performance is the game
Avoid serious carbon metallic pads for normal use, for the road its better they are cheaper, softer and replaced more regularly. I used to use Mintex on road but everyone has their favourites, pagid were always quite good as well. It's not just going faster and pure stopping power, its also having the confidence to go fast for longer that makes you quick.
Switching pads for track days to something more aggressive is easy enough but make sure you have a suitable set of alloys that can get shagged by the sintering. Upside is you then have an excuse for stickies but thats the start of a very, very slipperly slope
I'm hoping this year my son is going to start doing some track time and I have an excuse to build something suitable.
Edited by 21TonyK on Saturday 8th March 17:41
It all comes down to the weight of the car, calliper size and what you are doing, road, track, race etc etc etc.
Different cars, different drivers, driving styles and uses. And then its personal preference as well.
There are so many options out there, car specific feedback is always good but I did try EBC green (im sure blue as well). Wasnt a big fan, ISTR they needed heat in them to get them working properly. Not so great for everyday road use. The mintex 1144 were cheap, great from cold and very consistent. The downside was they would wear very quickly and died on track after a few laps. I think those are similar to EBC yellow but again, ISTR these are for lighter cars. Not so sure 1300+kg is that light.
Worth having a read through the trackway and brake sections.
Honestly, if you exceeded any pads capabilities on the road you need to be locked up
Whens the car back from Lohen?
Different cars, different drivers, driving styles and uses. And then its personal preference as well.
There are so many options out there, car specific feedback is always good but I did try EBC green (im sure blue as well). Wasnt a big fan, ISTR they needed heat in them to get them working properly. Not so great for everyday road use. The mintex 1144 were cheap, great from cold and very consistent. The downside was they would wear very quickly and died on track after a few laps. I think those are similar to EBC yellow but again, ISTR these are for lighter cars. Not so sure 1300+kg is that light.
Worth having a read through the trackway and brake sections.
Honestly, if you exceeded any pads capabilities on the road you need to be locked up
Whens the car back from Lohen?
I caught the train back up there in Friday afternoon to bring the car back, it is well cool it drives wonderfully, new oil, new spark plugs, foam air filter, Hi flow sports cat with cobra valved full system with a remote box in the cabin to adjust the % of valves opening, the sound is addictive + a stage 1 map, it's running 360 bhp now, yikes...Alcantara flat bottom steering wheel with matte carbon fibre paddles really looks the biz. I am well pleased, I did 5000 miles between MOT so cannot wait for this years 5000 miles.
I might pop over to see them about an alcantara steering wheel for our JCW, it has the GP pack so the same wheel as a GP3, the Mrs is a hairdresser and always ends up lathering the steering wheel with bloody hair serum and its slippery as hell, thought the alcantara might offer better feel and grip, do you have a picture of your wheel ?
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