Dinan S3-R BMW M3 - Black Knight

Dinan S3-R M3Layout
Longitudinal front engine,rear-wheel drive
Engine
3.2-liter inline six, dohc, four valves per cylinder, supercharged and intercooled
Dinan S3-R supercharger package [Vortech supercharger, front-mountintercooler with integrated automatic fan, high-flow cold-air intake, high-capacityaluminum radiator and oil cooler, high-capacity fuel pressure regulator andinjectors, Dinan software]
Transmission
Six-speed manual, 3.91:1limited-slip differential
Suspension
Dinan springs, adjustable JRZ dampers, adjustable front anti-roll bar, adjustable
front camber plates, front and rear shock tower braces
Brakes
Dinan/Brembo calipers, vented and slotted rotors, Ferodo pads,Goodridge braided lines
Wheels and Tires
Dinan alloys, 9.5x19 (f)10x19 (r)
Michelin Pilot Sport 2, 275/30-19 (f)285/30-19 (r)Performance
Peak Power: 462 bhp at 8000 rpm
Peak Torque: 328 lb-ft at 5500 rpm
0-60 mph: 4.3 sec
Top Speed: 189 mph

Dinan Cooper S
At this point in time, just about every tuner out there has released its Cooper S motor upgrades, ranging from 180 to 225 bhp. However, in our experience, it is not just sheer horsepower but also the quality of delivery that is important to the enjoyment of this charismatic little hot hatch.

Aware of the fact that a car can only deploy its power when it is in contact with terra firma, and that if you are being jostled over a bumpy road you are not able to comfortably use what power you have, Dinan first set about creating an upgraded suspension system. Forget all your lowered and stiffened suspensions from Germany, this Dinan Cooper S proved on a most demanding road that ride comfort and crisp handling can happily coexist.

On the motor side, the changes are all positive. Dinan uses a smaller supercharger pulley than the JCW conversion, to increase boost pressure from 11 to 15 psi. To this, Dinan adds its high flow cowl induction Intake, larger throttle body, free-flow sports exhaust, and ECU software. The result is a strong spread of power and torque throughout the rev range, with better pickup and a greater willingness to rev.The airbox helps the engine to breathe better, and here, quality of delivery is improved. The car felt smoother and more eager to rev, like it had bigger lungs, producing a subtly throaty roar from under the bonnet, matched by a deeper growl from the sport exhaust. Upgraded brakes work a treat too, giving you the confidence to exploit the car's straight-line speed with no fear of the dreaded brake fade that afflicts even a stock Mini Cooper when driven very hard.

The larger wheels and tires put an edge on the ride that was not there when we drove the car on its stock footwear. In the real world, the one with bumps and camber on the road, over-large wheels and tires also feed large loads into the shell, twisting it and throwing off the suspension geometry. Dinan's front suspension strut tower brace helps here, but it is best not to overload the chassis to start with.

On balance, the Dinan motor conversion is perfect and a steal at the price, while the brake and suspension upgrades are also must-haves. To balance things out on the wheel front, a set of 17-inchers with the correct offsets to prevent torque steer is a must. Our experience underlines the conflict tuners have between what works best from a serious driver's point of view vs. what most customers think looks cool when they are with their peer group. In the final analysis, however, as an experienced racer and chassis guru, Steve Dinan thinks that the Mini steers and rides better on 16s or 17s than 18s, and we could not agree more.