ECS News

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.

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 & crush washer, 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.

Before your next stop light liftoff, add a space age digital system monitor to your cockpit. P3Cars Vent Integrated Digital Interface is a plug-and-play data display that "fits like factory," in easy view of the pilot seat. Pop it on and plug it into your car's onboard diagnostic connector. Then scroll through critical vehicle parameters and monitor manifold pressure, system temperatures, and other vital stats. No programming, coding, cutting, or splicing. Reads MINI Check engine codes and clears them with a touch of the button. Just tons of fun.

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.

The function of your suspension is highly dependent upon the quality of the bushings that each component pivots or rotates on. The R58/R59 Coupe/Roadster has a perfected suspension geometry; worn bushings widen clearances and decrease suspension articulation. Powerflex Performance Polyurethane Front Control Arm Bushings are made out of durable polyurethane for longevity and steering feel.

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.

The R58 MINI Coupe JCW/R59 MINI Roadster JCW N14 engine intake was designed with practicality in mind, presenting an obstruction and misdirection of airflow creating turbulence that minimizes intake manifold volume. Forge Silicone Intake Hose Kits exhibit a less severe intake angle & direct air across a perfectly smooth surface. The thick silicone rubber inlet hose is reinforced with nylon cording to provide stability & durability, while an attractive gloss finish imprinted with the Forge brand name oozes performance. New hose clamps are included to complete the installation.

Ready to blow off a little steam? Get Forge under your hood. Stock diverter valves just can't handle performance upgrades. Add a little boost and they get all weak in the knees and go to pieces. Forge knows this. That's why they've engineered boost-hardy blow off and diverter valves tough enough to take the pressure without blowing their lids. Aluminum housing. Faster Response. Works and plays well with engine management systems.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Over time, the plastic windshield cowl fitted to your MINI Cooper will fade and show signs of weathering. The part is critical to your car because it covers the brake fluid reservoir and battery, sealing them from debris and fluids. ECS now offers the genuine MINI Windshield Cowl Kit, complete with all required installation hardware. This smart part replacement keeps condensation away from your battery terminals, extending battery life and protecting vital electronics.

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.

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.

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 R58/R59 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.

You won't believe the difference an LED lighting package makes on your car until you see it with your own eyes. LED illumination is a far brighter and friendlier light, crisp and clean, especially when compared to the dingy yellow glow from conventional filament style bulbs. Ziza lighting is proud to introduce LED license plate bulbs for your MINI that will not cause a "bulb out" warning. These are direct replacement bulbs that install in minutes, there is no need to wire up fancy resistors or rework your factory wiring to get them functioning properly.

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.

If your MINI is kitted out with the JCW Aero body panels, and you're still searching for a more aggressive look, look no further than the GP2 Rear Diffuser. A Genuine MINI product, this factory piece installs easily to the JCW Aero rear bumper. Because it's factory, you can expect fit and finish to be on par with the rest of your car. Accentuate the aggressive bumper lines and brawny center-exit exhaust tips and diffuse any thoughts that you're not driving the baddest MINI around. *Note* You must purchase, or your car must already be equipped with the JCW Aero rear bumper.

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.

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!

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.

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 R58/R59 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.

Thoroughly engineered, well designed cars are known to require OEM replacement parts; aftermarket copies offer cheap, immediate satisfaction, without applying the advanced engineering methods used on the rest of the car. Your MINI is just such a vehicle - designed the correct way from the factory, with very little tolerance for cost-cutting imitation. The genuine OEM MINI fuel filter is the only acceptable replacement unit for your car, and the only one guaranteed by MINI to adequately screen out dirt, rust particles, and other contaminants from your fuel system.

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.