Honda DC5 to MINI GP

[_BILLY_ZR_]

Ok so I swaped my Honda Integra type r for a mini cooper s jcw GP.

Here is some pictures of the DC5 before I returned it back to stock to part ex.

Awesome car and it's great on track too. The guy that owned the mini before me was a mate so we met up a few times before we did the big swap at brands hatch on a track day lol.

So I loaded the car up with all modifications I had collected as the car was now almost stock. Love the DC5s big boot, had a set of alloys, carbon bonnet and wing plus x2 full exhaust systems in there lol.

He got a good 2ks worth of mods with the car, half of the stuff was brand new, rbc inlet and samco hoses etc

So the deal was we got to try before we buy on track so here's some pictures.

So after taking it out on track and the brakes cooking in 5 laps I come in and checked the make of the front pads (Apec ) let down lol cheap budget tyres didn't help with the handling either. So I new money needed to be spent on these areas straight away. Plus the usual mods decat and filter etc

So after talking money and sorting out a deal I now owned a GP, build number 0496 out of 2000 built.1.6 supercharged 218bhp lsd and rear stripped from factory.


Then it was time to get my mod on

New supercharger


Just kidding that was for a mates dc5 lol.

Jcw R56 front and rear bigger brakes. All new with braided lines and 5.1dot brake fluid. Also needed spacers and longer wheel bolts to clear the GP alloys. And R56 rear hand brake cables.

Before

After

Next up was refurbished alloys with Jcw center caps and parada spec 2 tyres.

 

[_BILLY_ZR_]

Decat and induction kit de flap mod, janspeed manifold wrapped and itg drop in cone filter.

Before

After

Painted the intercooler cover and uprated engine mount as the old one was leaking. Also fitted a front tow hook.

Carbon fiber parts and Jcw sparco heated bucketseats.

Bought these as R53 head light surrounds but turned out to be R56 so need to sell them on.

 

[_BILLY_ZR_]

Uprated dipstick as the oem one can snap in the tube.

Fitted a new GP decal onto the carbon scoop from the GP2



Went a bit nuts with leds and fitted a full interior kit and number plate/side lights etc also fitted bulbs to the side reflectors that the GP has. The usdm model has them fitted by law so everything is in place just needs to be wired up.











Few random shots I like





Range 400miles yer right lol

 

[_BILLY_ZR_]

GP pacific jacking blocks as the side skirts are so deep. There is actually a bit of extra aero on the underside of all GPs almost flat under there. Kinda cool.







New windscreen



Give her a full service



Tempted by this DLC coated exhaust tip



Passenger side window one click auto up mod.





1st mod for all GP owners, stainless bolt upgrade





Ok so since I've had it I've took it to a few shows I'll let the pics do the talking.

Mini in the park









Trying to keep my inlet temps down lol, my best run was my 1st @14.7 down the 1/4mile.



GP1 vs GP2



Was a very close race.


Took the car on track at trax .

 

[_BILLY_ZR_]

USC










Winter wheels going on







Future plans are

Carbon fiber everything
Kw coilovers
White line RARB
17% supercharger pulley
Uprated HT leads and coilpack
Front strut brace upper and lower


Then after all that possibly a Newman cam and remap.

 

[_BILLY_ZR_]

Little update, more carbon fiber fitted. Jcw dash, gearknob and handbrake handle.

 

[Ellis]

Just dont thee any appeal in these. They handle realy well and the steering is responsive as hell but they just look so marmite imo lol

Each to there own tho be no good if we all likes same things

 

[Jimbo]

Nice build and progress so far, IMO the OEM JCW wheels better suit the car.

 

[flateric]

Nice car
But now comes the question.. how it drives compared to your previous DC5?

 

[CR1S]

Always liked these but Shirley they don't feel the same as a DC5?

 

[fez]

Wow i bet you felt like you lost alot of MAN points doing that swap?! Lol

Looks like a nice car though. And it must be better than the dc5 for you to have done the swap ?

 

[t3gav]

From memory the 17% pulley makes naff all power over the 15% as it starts generating too much heat above 15%. My mate had a 270bhp supercharged S, good cars

 

[_BILLY_ZR_]

They are both really good cars, interior is a much nicer place to be on the mini and I'm enjoying how much carbon fiber interior parts that are available. Brakes and handling are both about the same but the dc5 has a better engine with it being easier to obtain 250bhp.

 

[aRc]

what's happened to the photos?! interested to see this

 

[Biscuit]

Always liked these but Shirley they don't feel the same as a DC5?

 

[si8pny]

Wow that was a nice read! Dont see many of these modded.

Thanks for posting it up!

 

[aRc]

as with Si8pny, i enjoyed reading this

i recently test drove the GP2!

just got myself a JCW so will post up some photos soon!

 

[CR1S]

Haha I was waiting for someone to pick up on it

Any track videos mate?
Interested to see how it handles around a track
How much do these weigh?

 

[aRc]

How much do these weigh?

You can read all about the spec of these here: 2006 MINI GP vs. 2013 MINI JCW GP | library of motoring - An online collection of MINI information

 

[CR1S]

Wow didn't think they weighed that little, seem quicker than i thought!
Good choice mate