ECS News

Guesswork is expensive. It leads to costly repair errors that compromise vehicle safety. Talented pro-sumer or repair professional, you need accurate vehicle data and specifications. That's why ECS is happy to provide you with the Robert Bentley repair manuals; A reliable, respected source of repair data for many European vehicles. Pages are carefully edited and illustrated. A worthwhile investment.

Schwaben's reputation for producing highly reliable, finely crafted specialty tools is growing rapidly - consumers are beginning to see the extraordinary value behind the Schwaben name. Nowhere is the dependability and security associated with the Schwaben name more important than with their latest 3-Ton Aluminum Jack Stands. The all-aluminum stands feature heavy-duty flanged bases for exceptional stability, while the over-engineered .584" diameter load pin rigidly secures the post in six different positions for convenience and peace of mind.

Massive rotors, multiple-piston brakes, and advanced pads are glamorous, eye-catching upgrades to your vehicle. But experienced enthusiasts know that all that stopping power relies on adequately bled brake lines. Your brake fluid is incompressible, like a metal; but air is compressible, so ridding your lines of this gas is imperative for fully realized braking power and response. ECS has an array of solutions to tighten up your braking system, including a Power Brake Bleeder, multiple synthetic Brake Fluid options, and a premium Schwaben Brake Bleeder Wrench.

Designed in conjunction with KW Germany, ST X series coilovers deliver sporty handling by reducing the car’s body roll during compression as well as improving agility when driving fast. The high-quality production of each ST X series coilover includes a low-friction and pressure resistant housing alongside a chrome-plated piston rod for maximum longevity. A mono block guide and ST seal package ensures the twin-tube dampers remain free of dirt particles in all weather conditions. Lowering within TüV-tested adjustment range of 1.2" - 2.2"F, 1.2" - 2.2"R.

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. Three series of carts are offered, each 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.

If you need technical information about your MINI, for repair or simply for personal satisfaction, a Bentley service manual is a must-have item. DIYers will appreciate the detailed repair procedures and reference data that have made Bentley a trusted source of information for decades, and the industry benchmark for aftermarket technical books on European makes. Owners hungry for a better understanding of the technology and features that make MINI special will enjoy the richly illustrated, detailed explanations of vehicle components, assemblies, and operating strategies.

Two new genuine MINI wheel offerings are now available from ECS. BBS 17-inch double spoke polished finish alloy and JCW 18-inch 5 star spoke silver paint finish alloy wheels look right at home on the R56-R59 Cooper, adding a performance look that fits the MINI. Both styles are conveniently available in sets of four, and because these are original factory equipment, quality and fitment are guaranteed.

For track-ready cars like the R56/R57/R55 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.

17x7" ET48 MINI R90 BBS Alloy Wheels Featured on the MC40 Edition, the Genuine MINI 17-inch multi-cross anthracite spoke alloy wheels are a stunning addition to any performance-oriented MINI. The BBS two-piece composite wheels are made in Germany and perfect for the street or the track. *JCW 4 Piston Brake kits will need 25mm spacer for wheel fitment.

There are tools that any serious technician will regard as essential to their work - tools that make so many projects faster and simpler that access to a quality set is critical. Schwaben Specialty Tools recognized the need for better designed, more fully-featured puller tool kits; this variety of tool is so frequently used across such a wide variety of projects, mechanics deserve the best engineered product possible. Schwaben Pry Bar and Twin-Arm Puller Kits are highly adjustable, exceptionally durable sets of some of the most versatile tools in any home or professional garage.

For track-ready cars like the R56, suspension adjustments yield huge gains in handling characteristics. SPC Performance Adjustable Rear Control Arms are an excellent investment for the MINI owner looking to dial in a more aggressive camber specification, keeping the tire contact patch more parallel with the road surface during hard cornering when traction is most needed. The beautiful silver-anodized finished arms coupled with SPC "Red" nuts provide a full +/- 4.0 degrees of rear camber adjustment, giving you needed control over this critical parameter.

ECS now offers a superbly matched wheel and tire set from legendary MINI tuner JCW. The 18-inch JCW LM Rad Cross Wheels are finished in Gloss Turned Black or Gloss Black and are wrapped with Pirelli P Zero or Bridgestone Potenza RF asymmetrical Run Flat High performance tires. The combination not only perfectly complements any MINI's styling, but offers fitment, quality, and performance only possible through JCW. The balanced wheels with MINI JCW center caps and TPMS sensor arrive ready to mount - just top off with air and drive.

ECS now offers a superbly matched wheel and tire set from legendary MINI tuner JCW. The 18-inch double-spoke wheels are finished in either matte black or bright silver and are wrapped with Pirelli P Zero asymmetrical Run Flat High performance tires. The combination not only perfectly complements any MINI's styling, but offers fitment, quality, and performance only possible through JCW. The balanced wheels with MINI JCW center caps arrive ready to mount - just fill with air and drive. JCW 4 Piston Brake kits will need 5mm spacer.

Many MINIs have logged a ton of miles by now, and most have road-weary suspension dampers. KONI struts and shocks are always a favorite replacement choice for enthusiasts, since they add a blend of sporty handling and comfort that is unavailable in stock-shocks tuned to match OE ride quality. KONI fine tunes their shocks and struts by application, refusing to take a "one-size-fits-all" approach used by lesser manufacturers. KONI shocks and struts are a durable performance choice for stock cars.

Hella Twin Supertone Horns are now available for your MINI. These horns are characterized by their strong penetrating and concentrated sound, making anyone within a sizable distance aware of your presence. All of Hella's horns are constructed with durability in mind from impact resistant plastic and feature a 400 Hz low tone and 500 Hz high tone horn. All kits include the horns, relay, and mounting brackets.

Small pleasures make life fun. Take your MINI; small in size, big on looks. Why not sprinkle a little added flavor over that small pleasure with a set of bright white LEDs for your front position lights. This is another bright idea from Ziza.

The primary appeal of new wheels is in the new, shiny appearance they offer. The majority of the time, a different style, size, or color isn't really the ultimate goal. With such a deep catalog of staggeringly effective wheel cleaning and restoration products from specialists Sonax and Chemical Guys, getting what you really want from your wheel setup is fast and easy - and it's all available now from ECS. Acid-free and pH balanced rim and wheel cleaners effortlessly dissolve grease, brake dust and dirt, while safely preserving your wheel's finish.

KW V1 Series Coilovers have been engineered with a damping setting that perfectly suits the MINI R56, while allowing the driver the flexibility to choose a variety of ride heights. KW "inox-line" coilovers feature stainless steel technology that is superior to galvanizing, better resisting corrosion while maintaining smooth operation over the long term. V1 Series coilovers also utilize trapezoidal threading to facilitate height-adjustment and increase load tolerance. An average lowering of 1.2 - 2.2 inches can be expected at both the front and rear.

The most popular spring in H&R's line-up, Sport Springs will lower your MINI an average 1.4" in front and 1.4" in the rear for a lower center of gravity, improved handling, and a more aggressive appearance. Sport springs are an excellent choice for street and occasional track use, featuring a spring rate that is firmer than the OE Sport spring but still comfortable enough for daily use.

A frequent dilemma when fitting an upgraded seat belt to track-prepared street cars is how to balance the needs of daily driving with the demands of performance driving. A dedicated track-day setup is typically impractical, while running without a substantial harness forces the driver to use the steering wheel to hold themselves in place. Schroth Racing Quick Fit Harnesses are fully reversible and anchor to the factory seat belt pre-tensioner, allowing the airbags to deploy as the MINI engineers intended. Both left (driver) and right (passenger) harnesses are available.

Schwaben products are characterized by simple, clever designs. Their wheel storage solutions may be the best examples of these qualities. The Schwaben Wheel Tree holds up to 275lbs and allows you to safely stack your wheels without the risk of scuffing and scratching. Convenient locking casters allow you to easily move the whole set anywhere in your garage or shop at one time. And when saving floor space is the highest priority, the Schwaben Wall-Mounted Wheel Rack allows you to securely store up to four 11½" wide wheels and tires against the wall, away from your work space.

More traffic means more traffic accidents. But because we know you aren't going to stay home to avoid the risk, we offer these mirrors to improve visibility and safety. These mirrors are a double threat. Aspherical for increased blind spot visibility, and heated to avoid icing or fogging. Because they are Genuine MINI parts, you are assured of quality and fitment. Plug-and-play for your MINI. Get them, and get safe!

Avoid finding yourself without a key trim fastener - stock up for good with the Vaico BMW/MINI Fastener Assortment Kit. Designed with the DIY enthusiast or body shop in mind, this assortment comes stocked with clips for fender liners, interior trim, and body mouldings, all in a convenient storage case.

Don't let conventional spacer options leave you feeling down and 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 extra-long wheel bolts; these come complete with all the low profile bolts needed to properly torque the spacers to the hub in factory looking black and your wheels to the spacers. ECS bolt-on spacers will have your car sitting just wide.

Clicking or sticking doors are typically the result of a failed or worn door brake. ECS offers genuine MINI Front Door Brake replacements, giving your R55/R56/R57 MINI Cooper a factory feel when opening and shutting your front doors. The door brake attaches to the side of the door jam and mounts inside the front of the door. Driver and passenger side doors use the same unit, with one door brake required per side.

With only 2,000 units produced worldwide, the MINI JCW GP2 represents the most complete fulfillment of the R56 chassis' performance capabilities. The model is distinguished primarily by its exceptional suspension arrangement, sporting increased spring rates and a lowered ride height. ECS now offers a fully assembled, OEM MINI JCW GP2 suspension conversion for your R56 MINI, including not only the main struts and springs but all hardware and installation parts required for a complete assembly. The already lowered GP2 ride height can be further adjusted across a 20mm range.

Quit fussing with wood blocks, ramps, and the like with the Schwaben Low Boy floor jack. The Low Boy is low-profile, allowing you to sneak it under the ground-hugging rockers on your lowered car. Constructed of lightweight aluminum, this floor jack features a front central roller for increased ease of use and maneuverability. If you work on your car, you'll be doing some lifting. Get the right equipment with the Schwaben Low Boy floor jack, a great compliment to the other Schwaben tools in your arsenal. Atta' Boy.

The lowered ride height achieved by upgrading your factory suspension is a consequence of the modification, not its purpose. With this knowledge, you can appreciate the value of more finely wrought suspension designs, like those from ST. The ST X Performance Coilovers utilize tempered high-strength springs, hardened chrome piston rods, and galvanized zinc-plated strut housings - a consequence of which is a powerful, aggressive stance. But the enduring value of this arrangement lay in its durability, reliability, and reverence for precise engineering.

The most popular spring in H&R's line-up, Sport Springs will lower your MINI an average of 1.4 inches for a lower center of gravity, improved handling, and a more aggressive appearance. Sport springs are an excellent choice for street and occasional track use, featuring a spring rate that is firmer than the OE Sport spring but still comfortable enough for daily use. Lowering : 1.4 Front / 1.4 Rear

Fresh coolant is paramount to safe & reliable engine operation. Unfortunately, the process of bleeding air out of your cooling system during a coolant refresh is tedious and therefore often neglected. ECS offers a highly convenient solution to the tedium & frustration associated with a coolant servicing – the Schwaben Coolant Evacuation Kit. The unique kit resolves several common cooling system issues: - No heat, overheating, or erratic temperature gauge readings after a cooling system service - Problems with coolant uptake or circulation - Cooling system leaks