9 replies to this topic

[inim_repooc]

Hiya, I'm currently looking at buying an imported cooper sport (1998) and frankly, I don't know if there are many differences in the spec of the cooper sportspack over there and ours here, (apart from a/c!) but I would be very grateful to know what is different mechanicly as much as anything (especially if the final drive ratio is the same as the tall geared ones we have because I want to be able to sit comfortably at 70 on motorways and such - even if a little low down grunt is lost!), but every little helps!

Thanks!

[SiZT]

The engine will be an SPI but it will have a coil pack rather than a dizzy

[timmy850]

I've got a Japanese mini magazine with all the models and specs listed in it. I'll dig it out and have a look tonight.

[spiguy]

As far as I know they used the MPi engine but with a side mounted radiator (as per SPi and pre-SPi) and also the SPi fuelling setup. The ignition setup is MPi, ie there is no distributor body - instead it uses coil packs and no doubt then also a wasted spark system so as to only require 2 coil packs.

 

The ECU is a Jap specific program, and should have a unique part number as such, as it needs to run SPi fuelling and MPi ignition effectively.

 

Unfortunately I am not sure of the FDR, I suspect it will be the lower MPi one. However you can do 70 OK in any mini really. 

[darrell26]

Mini Cooper Spi (Japan) have

A+ 1275 cc

Single Point Injection, Cooper, 10.1:1 CR

Air Conditioning
10.1:1 Compression Ratio

Std. Ratio Rod Change gearbox with Pot Joints
3.21:1 Final Drive

[spiguy]

Mini Cooper Spi (Japan) have

A+ 1275 cc

Single Point Injection, Cooper, 10.1:1 CR

Air Conditioning
10.1:1 Compression Ratio

Std. Ratio Rod Change gearbox with Pot Joints
3.21:1 Final Drive

 

True, in fact that is exactly what I have - although gladly without the Aircon as it was never fitted. However, there are later cars which used a hybrid of SPi and MPi technology, as I mentioned above. Pretty sure that a '98 car would be in that category.

[inim_repooc]

Hi all - thanks for all the info!  I shook hands the other day with the soon to be ex owner of mini and I will be paying her tomorrow and hopefully getting it home later on the same day!

 

The car is very original all things considered with the only thing to be changed is the exhaust because the original had rotted away, but fortunately the car is pretty solid apart from a few bits of the paintwork starting to bubble on the near side A panel and also on the offside part of the scuttle. 

 

As mentioned before, the car was built in 1998 for export to Japan where it lived until around 6 years ago where it was imported back here - but that is all I really know and I have been wondering if there are any clubs etc.. that would have the records of its' history - e.g. where it was sold in Japan, who to and such? 

 

Anyways, I am still very curious to find out if there are any other unknown differences to the UK cooper sport that hasn't been mentioned above?

 

So far ( correct me if I'm wrong!) the differences found are:

 

• A/C
• Hybrid of MPI engine and coil pack with SPI injection
• original location of rad
• Japan unique ECU program

  also I noticed that the car has a sump guard on it and am I right in assuming that the gearing is the taller final drive of the later coopers also?

 

Thanks! 

Edited by inim_repooc, 27 May 2015 - 11:01 PM.

[timmy850]

Sorry I couldn't find any info on final drive ratios in the book I have..

[spiguy]

I'm not sure if there is any way to get info on it's history, I certainly don't have any with mine, though I don't know if the importer / purchaser got any. My car is indistinguishable from a UK car apart from the KM/h clocks (no air con and normal SPi engine). Therefore I have decided to just view it like any other mini except that it has been on holiday (a long holiday!)

[inim_repooc]

Haha, i wish I could have a holiday like that! And I don't suppose the FD matters all that much - I guess I will soon find out when I give her some beans! Aha :)

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