ECS News

In most cases the best way to get the perfect gift in the holiday season is to go with a solid choice gift card. This makes shopping convenient and simple for both the person giving the gift and the person receiving. With an ECS Tuning gift card the family European enthusiast can choose from needed replacement parts, upgrades, or the next tool for the collection. ECS also offers a virtual gift card, perfect for last minute shopping or if your looking to set a custom amount, maybe enough to get the product you know they want but not quite sure on the fitment? 


Changing the suspension setup on a refined German car often times feels like meddling with perfection. With an advanced, highly wrought coilover system, you can be confident your addition is a reliable improvement. ST coilovers by KW are made of high grade, galvanized steel, and come with a 5 year limited warranty. With engineering tailored specifically to your MINI, preset damping and height adjustability provide the perfect balance between performance and ride comfort.

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.

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. 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.

Genuine MINI steel wheels are arguably the best solution for the enthusiast looking for a practical, affordable winter wheel setup. The strong metal construction and 5.5” width make for a rugged, highly serviceable arrangement capable of withstanding the rigors of winter weather. Genuine MINI Wheel Hub Caps are also available, completing the look and further protecting your wheels. MINI silver inner center caps with MINI logo are yet another option, giving your steelies a slick OEM appearance.

The best oil for your MINI? Clean oil. Regular oil changes with a quality filter cartridge are cheap insurance against costly breakdowns, and the best way to keep your MINI healthy. Now you can perform this essential service yourself and save big with MINI oil change kits that contain an OEM filter cartridge with drain plug, plus your choice of name brand engine oils that meet BMW LL-98 and BMW LL-01 standards. Spend a little up front and head off major repairs, down the road.

A sticking or broken hood cable is not only a pain when it comes time to service your engine; the issue also presents a significant risk to your driving safety. Over time, corrosion can cause the release to seize, potentially making it impossible to even open your hood. ECS now offers the genuine MINI Hood Release Kit, including each part required for the complete job.

Forge has created a simple, easy to install part that allows your factory boost solenoid to vent excess boost to the atmosphere, much like a blow-off valve. The Blow Off Adapter simply bolts in between the electrical solenoid and turbocharger housing with three Allen bolts. Instead of recirculating excess charged air back into the turbo, the air is vented into the atmosphere through outlets in the adapter. The result is that hot air is not allowed to be reused by the turbo while the critical function of a diverter valve is retained, keeping the turbo spooling and reducing lag.

Schwaben's latest additions to their catalog of excellent specialty tools, the Automatic Battery Charger and Coiled Cord Circuit Tester are professional-quality, highly convenient tools that belong in every home mechanic's toolbox. Utilizing short circuit protection, 8 LED indicators, charging voltage auto-select, & selectable charging current, the Schwaben Automatic Battery Charger is designed to work on 6 or 12 volt Lead-acid batteries. Featuring an easily visible high-intensity LED bulb, the Schwaben Circuit Tester is a superb example of one of the most useful electrical tools.

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.

Tire pressure monitoring is a convenient feature - when it's working properly. Too often, when the tire pressure light illuminates in your MINI, the cause has nothing to do with the pressure inside your tire. A worn tire pressure sensor is usually the culprit, sending false readings to the ECU, causing unnecessary concern to the driver. ECS offers replacement Tire Pressure Sensors, sold individually or as a set of four. After installation, simply navigate to the TPM screen to clear the light from your dash.

Tire pressure monitoring is a convenient feature - when it's working properly. Too often, when the tire pressure light illuminates in your MINI, the cause has nothing to do with the pressure inside your tire. A worn tire pressure sensor is usually the culprit, sending false readings to the ECU, causing unnecessary concern to the driver. ECS offers replacements sold individually or as a set of four. After installation, simply navigate to the TPM screen to clear the light from your dash. Also great as a set of four when upgrading or changing to new wheels.

Owners of European automobiles often find that alongside the pleasures of driving a more refined, tasteful vehicle exists the very real challenge of finding the correct tool for these cars' unique fasteners. Featuring swivel-head triple-square bits, Torx screwdrivers, one hundred specialty fasteners, and the exceptionally sturdy go-through screwdriver set, the Schwaben European Essentials Tool Kit allows you to approach any project with confidence. Each tool is secured in a molded case, helping you keep track of your investment.

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.

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.

By now, sun and the elements have undoubtedly taken their toll on your MINI's cowl covers. Once a dark matte black finish, they have probably faded to gray, requiring constant attention to keep them looking good. Both sides of this cowl cover are more than a styling statement; one has a built-in access panel to the brake fluid reservoir, and the other has an integrated battery cover.

Keep dust, dirt and other elements off your car during indoor storage with this new single layer nylon universal car cover from FK. Blue sides and black and white checkered center gives your car great looks, even when you can't see it. This particular cover is intended for indoor use, and uses high-quality materials for exceptional protection of your MINI.

Features of convenience and versatility define this latest group of industry-standard hand tools from Schwaben, the European specialty tool experts. The 24-inch long, flexible Locking Hose Clamp Pliers make removing metal or plastic self-tightening hose clamps an infinitely more simple and quick task. For oil & fuel filter removal, Schwaben's 4-position adjustable Swivel Jaw Filter Wrench Pliers feature Sure-Grip teeth to provide the right amount of clamping force for the job. The superb 12-piece Metric Socket Set completes this latest new and exciting Schwaben product release.

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.

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.

The most popular spring in H&R's line-up, Sport Springs will lower your MINI an average 1.2" in front and 1.1" 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.

SPC Performance Adjustable Rear Control Arms are an excellent investment for the R57 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.

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.

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.