70 replies to this topic

[jaydee]

Hi-jacking an old thread about a 1.3 MPI posting a vid of a bini is not the best idea for a first post.

[anthonysjb]

You're almost 6 years too late...

 

I've had 108 indicated, 100 on GPS, on Autobahn of course.

[scaffers]

I got mine to 102mph and then it died.........it was like the millennium falcon in Star Wars failing to make the jump into hyper space,


But I did get my merc upto 134mph on my private section of the A21 once,

[Chris99]

105 on the speedo (genuinely in Germany!) then frankly got s*** scared, as someone has already said they get a bit twitchy. I thought they were supposed to be limited to about 90 by the engine management but doesn't seem to be the case. She sat for long stretches at 90ish quite happily.

[Cooperman]

What a lot of over-optimistic figures.
Now the reality:-
A 1275 Cooper 'S' had 75 bhp which was more than a standard MPI. It was geared to pull max power rpm in top and the max speed recorded by accurate road testing was 98 mph.
However, an MPI has about 10 bhp less and is so high geared that it won't overcome the drag curve to pull up to around 5500 rpm in top, which is where peak power is.
The MPI has a lot, and I mean a LOT more aerodynamic drag as well with the wider wheels/tyres, wheel arch extensions & wing mirrors.
Realistically this puts the true maximum speed in zero wind on a level road at about 92 to 93 mph.
Remember, the aerodynamic drag increases as the square of the speed. Twice the speed = 4 times the aerodynamic drag.

[L400RAS]

Realistically this puts the true maximum speed in zero wind on a level road at about 92 to 93 mph.

 

I would totally agree.  2000 MPi sportspack, indicated 96 mph, GPS at 90 mph.  Perhaps a non-sportspack cooper on 12" would be slightly quicker.

[Cooperman]

The best way to improve the top speed and, by inference, the fuel consumption on a late Mini is to fit the 4.5" wide wheels with standard datum offset and use 145/70 x 12 tyres, remove the wheel arch extensions, remove both wing mirrors and fit just a small rectangular one on the driver's side A-post trim strip.

The 'Sportpack' arches and wide 13" wheels are really bad for top speed and fuel consumption. 

The original 998 Cooper had a max. measured speed of 88 to 90 mph. But, it had 3.5" wide wheels with 145 section width tyres, no wheel arch extensions and no wing mirrors at all. It also had a 3.76:1 FDR which meant that near its max speed of, say, 90 mph, it was pulling just over 6000 rpm which is about where its maximum power was developed, so at max power it had its maximum drag.

Higher geared cars simply can't overcome the 'drag curve' at the top end.

But compared with other cars from the early 60's, the Mini was very quick.

[Chris99]

The MPI has a lot, and I mean a LOT more aerodynamic drag as well with the wider wheels/tyres, wheel arch extensions & wing mirrors.
Realistically this puts the true maximum speed in zero wind on a level road at about 92 to 93 mph.
 

 

Don't forget not all MPI's had the sportspack. I remember one of the magazines did a rolling road feature a while back and every single one was a little 'optimistic' on the speedo and varied between about 5 and 15mph too high.

[anthonysjb]

Well when I'm back from holiday I'll test my MPI again through GPS, it is standard apart from K&N filter, full maniflow exhaust inc. LCB.

[Cooperman]

To make a test valid it must be done under controlled conditions. It needs to be on a level road with a long flat run up in nil-wind conditions or in a light wind with measured runs in both directions.

It would be interesting to do the test first with wing mirrors and wheel arch extension fitted, then use the same car with those items removed. My guess would be about 5 mph more max. speed with mirrors & arches removed. The frontal area removed with that done would be about 80 sq. inches, and that's a lot of drag creation.

[tomtaylor1994]

I have had 110 indicated on my speedo. Non-cooper mpi with 4.5x12 standard pepperpots and group 2 thin arches. Was also carrying a passenger.
Call it bull$#!7, but I know I got it.
This was also on a section of private road, if anybody was wondering

EDIT: mini is completely standard engine wise, with only a K&N air filter which goes in the standard air filter box

Edited by tomtaylor1994, 21 July 2013 - 09:29 PM.

[anthonysjb]

I didn't know you could get a non-Cooper MPI

[Cooperman]

I have had 110 indicated on my speedo. Non-cooper mpi with 4.5x12 standard pepperpots and group 2 thin arches. Was also carrying a passenger.
Call it bull$#!7, but I know I got it.
This was also on a section of private road, if anybody was wondering

EDIT: mini is completely standard engine wise, with only a K&N air filter which goes in the standard air filter box

 

The key words here are 'on my speedo'. I'm sure the speedo was reading 110, but what was the true speed?

The speedos are so inaccurate, many cars have had different FDR's fitted over the years, there may have been a tailwind and the road may have sloped downhill slightly.

The laws of physics cannot be altered and an MPI Mini will never, ever do even a genuine 100 mph unless it has at least 90 bhp and a FDR which gives revs for max power at max speed. So an MPI with around 65 bhp certainly won't go much over 88 to 90 mph flat out.

[Tommyboy12]

My 85bhp 1275 (MG Metro) barely manages 100mph (by GPS) and I have a 3.44 diff and 5.5 wide wheels. I cant imagine that a (factory rated) ~60bhp 1275 with a 2.7 diff and a very tame camshaft can manage 100mph without outside assistance.

[tmarmsi]

My box standard mpi sits at 100mph with ease, bloke I bought it off said his daughter did some road testing with it and maxed it at the 110mph, like you all didnt think it could, so I decided to test it out myself legally of course and with a proper dash calibrated speedo I hit a ton with ease