ECS News

The MINI Steptronic transmission is highly sensitive to poorly filtered or low fluid levels. Symptoms of a transmission in need of service are lurching during acceleration and occasional gear slipping. The ECS Assembled MINI Steptronic Automatic Transmission Service kit is an excellent way to take care of your advanced automatic transmission in one servicing. The kit includes the transmission filter, and pan gasket with gasket dowel pins (washers).

Leave it to Forge Motorsport to accept the challenge and improve on an already brilliant design. Forge is now offering a stunning Alloy Header Tank replacement for the MINI R55/R57. The polished alloy tank is a direct-fit replacement for the factory unit, and completely resists the cracking and fading of the original part. The alloy coolant tank also adds a high-performance, premium look to your engine bay.

Another convenient tool from Schwaben, the 6-Liter Extractor/Filler System makes oil, ATF or any type of fluid change simpler, cleaner, and faster. The Extractor/Filler tank features an extendable foot step for stable use when pumping. Nine adapters are included, with storage for each on the tank for easy access and convenience. The 5-foot long main tube makes reaching transmission and oil filling/draining locations easier. The main tube also features a quick disconnect and shut off valve. Free yourself from finding a power source with the Schwaben 6 Liter Extractor/Filler.

The Schwaben 100-piece specialty bit set includes bits to fit a wide assortment of automotive fasteners, including triple square, tamper-proof Torx, tri-wing, and hex. Breeze through repairs knowing you can remove odd specialty fasteners with ease. The premium bits are made of hardened chrome vanadium steel - handsome and tough enough for daily use. Packaged in a handy blow molded case with silhouetted slots for easy organization and inventory. With the increased use of specialty fasteners, no tool box is complete without this versatile bit assortment.

ECS has assembled a timing chain kit with all the parts you need to do a complete timing chain replacement on your MINI. Chains, guides, pins, and tensioners. Don't wait until that loose, noisy chain jumps time, causing a catastrophic engine failure. If your timing chain is slapping the guides loud enough to make noise, don't just turn up the radio, save your engine. ECS Tuning. Great parts. Great timing!

GEOMET® is a special coating containing metal oxides, zinc, and aluminum flakes, sprayed over the entire rotor surface to ensure complete coverage, and baked on at 600 degrees to form a durable and attractive silver-gray finish that fights rust far better than paints or other conventional coatings. Slotted or drilled and slotted, GEOMET® rotors outperform and outlast factory R57 MINI Cooper rotors, and look stunning behind alloy wheels.

Chemical Guys has consistently released outstanding exterior and interior detailing products - the name has come to represent the most innovative, exciting automotive cleaning and finishing products available. Their latest series of releases, Chemical Guys Interior Cleaning and Detailing Products offer a seriously wide range of solutions for whatever interior maladies your Euro may suffer. Leather conditioner, carpet cleaner, air vent tools, glass and interior trim cleaner - browse through their catalog and pick the kit or product you need to bring your interior back to factory.

ECS Tuning is now supplying the excellent Schwaben Work Gloves for our dedicated following of DIY enthusiasts. The black Schwaben gloves provide hand protection at locations especially prone to cuts and scrapes during automotive work. The best design for tight engine work or delicate electrical work, the close finger design offers exceptional dexterity. Featuring a tailored elastic cuff and textured latex palms and finger tips, these work gloves are also breathable and comfortable with their knit top. Choose from Medium, Large, and Extra Large sizes.

For the R57 MINI, suspension adjustability yields huge gains in handling characteristics. SPC Performance Front Adjustable Camber Plates are an excellent investment for the MINI owner looking to dial in a more aggressive front camber and caster specification, keeping the tire contact patch more parallel with the road surface during hard cornering when traction is most needed. The aluminum plates are coupled with an OE-style bearing within a bonded urethane insulator, allowing for +/- 2 degrees of camber and +/- .75 degrees of caster adjustment.

When it comes to the essentials of wheel tools there are really only a few categories, Schwaben has an answer for each. When removing or installing wheels, using wheel hangers makes mounting an easy task and using the Protecta sockets prevent damage. When it comes to storage since many car owners today have more than one set of wheels, the wheel tree and wall rack are the perfect accessory to keeping your garage clean and organized. Keeping the tires off of the floor also extends the rubbers life.

The exterior of your vehicle can only be significantly improved in a few areas - one of those ares is the lighting. Tedious stock lighting does the job, but it certainly won’t stir up emotions. The LED tail lights from Spyder give off an unforgettable look while outputting a much more vibrant field of light, improving nighttime safety and visibility. These tail lights are plug-and-play with included harnesses. Additionally, a highly convenient installation tutorial has been included to ensure a professional-level project.

Add push button convenience; raise your VW MKV Rabbit rear hatch effortlessly. The ECS Tuning Hatch Pop Kit makes it easy to open your rear hatch, whether your arms are full of groceries or golf bags. Just push the hatch release button on your key fob, and stronger-than-stock lift struts raise the hatch for you, automatically. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to add this great convenience. Our online video shows you how to do it using standard hand tools. *Kit does require coding to operate properly*

Whenever raising your vehicle, safety is the primary concern. Reliability is a close second, and the genuine MINI Cooper Jack Pad Replacements ensure both with their exact-fit design and rugged construction. The MINI Jack Pad Kit contains 4 pads that provide an excellent surface to place your jack on, making working under your vehicle safer and protecting fragile sheet metal from crushing or deforming. Another smart investment, take the danger and aggravation out of lifting your MIIN Gen2 R55/R56/R57 with the anodized aluminum ECS Tuning Jack Pad Adapter.

Automotive electrical work demands patience, knowledge, & above all else, the correct tools. European car owners oftentimes find themselves using ineffective, dangerous, & cumbersome methods when attending to electrical issues - Schwaben Tools has developed all the right solutions for these common problems. Offering 2 or 4 amp charging, LED setting indicators, and a reverse polarity warning, the Automatic Battery Charger is a highlight of this Schwaben release. The 12 Ft 6-Gauge Booster Cables are also offered, while the Coiled Cord Circuit Tester is ideal 6 to 24 volt systems.

A series of exceptionally convenient and useful specialty tools have recently been made available by Schwaben, the leader in European performance car tools and accessories. Wheel install and metrics tools are the subject of this release. Long Reach Protecta Sockets prevent damage during the installation or removal of wheels, while the strong and attractive Portable 4-Way Lug Wrench Kit is ideal for regular or emergency use. Reliable and accurate Schwaben Digital Tire Pressure Gauges and Wheel Bolt Pattern Gauges give you precise measurements for professional-level DIY work.

Is your MINI Cooper making noises over bumps, or does your steering feel loose and less responsive than it once was? The control arm bushings are a big cause of front suspension problems, and the only remedy is to replace them. This kit was built by the experts at ECS Tuning, and it includes both lower control arm/wishbone bushings. Both bushings are already pressed into their brackets, so you won't have to worry about renting or buying the equipment needed to press the bushings in. Fix your front suspension issues today with this kit from ECS Tuning.

There are several critical automotive projects that require pulling fluid lines – these jobs oftentimes end in an unnecessary mess from using inadequate tools and procedures. The tool experts at Schwaben have developed the highly convenient Fluid Stopper Kit for this reason, allowing you to properly clamp any fluid hoses and avoid messes or fluid losses. Additionally, the clamps offer a temporary seal, meaning you will not compromise any lines for later use. Address all common hard lines, including fuel lines, brake lines, and banjo connections.

Many enthusiasts have had to do a tie rod service on their vehicle at one point or another, and many have had to deal with stubborn tie rods. The Schwaben Inner Tie Rod tool makes it as easy as it looks by automatically adjusting to the right size while in use, giving you the proper leverage required to break the tie rod free - A must have that can cut hours down on your job. The other difficult area of a tie rod replacement is getting the ball joint end at the knuckle to break loose. The Schwaben tie rod separator is perfect for wedging in between the knuckle and ball joint.

The strut tower for the MINI Cooper was designed to adequately support the stresses and forces encountered during typical daily driving. Aging models or vehicles that are routinely pushed past the limitations of the chassis oftentimes experience strut tower deformation, compromising the crisp and responsive handling that defines every MINI. Machined from 15mm thick 6061-T6 aluminum, ECS Strut Tower Plate Kits eliminate the prospect of tower mushrooming while improving chassis rigidity for your MINI R55/R56/R57 Cooper.

Schwaben Specialty Tools has been making at-home vehicle repair more simple and more professional with each successive release. Each member of their unparalleled catalog represents a significant achievement in tool design and engineering; their Drain and Fill Service Tools are excellent examples of Schwaben's success. The 5" Diameter Funnel features a 12"-24" flexible neck, making transmission and differential fluid change service procedures quicker and cleaner. Schwaben's 6-10 liter Oil Storage Cans allow for a mess-free oil change and easy transport of all drained oil.

Companies that dedicate themselves to a specific industry niche have a head start on large, excessively diverse manufacturers. A familiarity with the challenges of making superior products is gained through the sheer time spent within a more narrow market. Sonax produces car care products. Each release by the company is a leader in its category, & their catalog is growing every day. ECS offers a staggering array of Sonax products, from the highly effective acid-free Wheel Cleaner, to deep-cleaning & odor-eliminating Upholstery/Carpet Cleaner and Premium Class Carnauba.

Don't let conventional spacer options leave you feeling down & out. ECS bolt-on wheel spacers are the right way to push your wheels out to the fenders. These precision-machined, 6061-T6 anodized black aluminum spacers have 4140 integral steel threads. Forget the perils of sourcing the correct extra-long wheel bolts; each ECS Spacer Kit includes the required longer bolts in factory-look black for safe & precise fitment. Additionally, the hubcentric design centers the spacer perfectly on the wheel hub, eliminating the shaking & wobbling at speed characteristic of inferior spacers.

Many MINIs have logged significant miles to date, and most have road-weary suspension setups. KONI Struts and Shocks have been a favorite replacement choice for performance enthusiasts; they offer a perfect blend of even, more stable handling dynamics with ride compliance & comfort. KONI fine tunes their shocks & strut kits by application, refusing to take the 'one-size-fits-all' approach used by less thorough manufacturers. Available with Frequency Selective Damping (FSD) technology, KONI shocks and struts are a wise performance upgrade for your R55-R59 MINI Cooper/S/JCW.

Automotive electrical work demands patience, knowledge, & above all else, the correct tools. European car owners oftentimes find themselves using ineffective, dangerous, & cumbersome methods when repairing or replacing wiring harness connectors. Schwaben's latest release, the European Car Electrical Terminal Tool Kit, gives enthusiasts the exact tools required for bullet connectors, common ABS sensor and power connectors, trailer light plugs, and more. Extend harness life, ensure proper diagnostic equipment connectivity, and preserve wiring harness life with this superb release.

The specialty tool experts at Schwaben have released a series of superbly engineered, exceptionally reliable car ramps, ramp extensions, wheel stands, & wheel chocks - now available from ECS tuning. The 30" to 67" Low Profile Car Ramps are specially made to accommodate vehicles with low bumper clearance - eliminating the risk of body damage & sliding ramps. Schwaben Wheel Stands feature a cradled wheel support for superior stability compared to jack stands, supporting up to 3000 lbs. And when lifting your vehicle or placing it on an incline, Wheel Chocks are a wise investment.

Add eye-catching LED lighting from DEPO to your MINI with clear or smoked tail lights with LED brake lights. These show-stopping tail light upgrades are complete LED units that plug and play with your stock wiring harnesses without causing any "bulb out" warnings. Utilizing a smart, simple design, these tail lights look like they could have come on your MINI from the factory, and are ECE and SAE compliant. Using bright LED lights in place of the standard brake light bulbs, the lights thoroughly update the look of your MINI R57.

Prevent cooling issues before they begin with an ECS Tuning Thermostat Replacement Kit. The experts at ECS have identified all of the common parts that tend to wear significantly or fail and have assembled a comprehensive kit including all replacement parts for a thorough refresh. If your MINI has high miles or has an unreliable thermostat, replace all the critical components at the same time for added assurance.

The average home mechanic might not even realize the benefit of having a sturdy, hand-height shelf to place tools on in the heat of a project. Instead of carelessly leaving tools on the ground or mixed up in a pile, Schwaben Service Carts bring the professionalism of a reliable mechanic's cart to your own garage. These carts are offered, featuring a stunning, durable high-gloss powder-coated finish, chrome plated steel handles, and large 4" casters. Heavy-duty Deluxe units are also available, with a third product adding a locking top lid and drawer.

During suspension work, there are a few critical tools that make installation and removal infinitely more simple. In order to remove the retaining nut at the top of struts on European cars, a dedicated tool that fits the unique shape of the strut mount is required. Many enthusiasts will damage the strut nut using a wrench or inappropriate socket to accomplish the task, bringing their project to a halt. For professional quality work, Schwaben Specialty Tools has assembled a collection of premium Strut Nut Sockets in all the most popular sizes for your European car.

Prevent cooling issues before they begin with an ECS Tuning Thermostat Replacement Kit. The experts at ECS have identified all of the common parts that tend to wear significantly or fail and have assembled a comprehensive kit including all replacement parts for a thorough refresh. If your MINI has high miles or has an unreliable thermostat, replace all the critical components at the same time for added assurance.