You won't have any need for the fancy setup gear! There just aren't the adjustments available, and even if there were, there is so much free play in the Tamiya design that you can't set anything precisely.

The setup book won't get much use either. In my opinion, Mini "setup" is less about tuning the handling (because they always seem to handle about the same), and more about controlling the vices.

The steering system is one of the M05's biggest vices! Out of the box, it will wander on the straights. At it's worst, it can make the car undriveable.

I've had more than my share of troubles with the M-05 while trying to make it work with kit steering parts. Threw a load of hop-ups on it last night, raced it today, and TQ'd a meeting that I was 7th or 8th at last time out!

A list of things I have on my car that seem to help...

- High torque servo saver (#51000)
- Aluminium steering posts with some extra shims
- Run a couple of degrees toe-out on the front wheels (manual setting on the linkages gives that)
- Check that there is no binding whatsoever in the linkage - I had a slight bind in one of the steering cranks than needed to be reamed out
- Running the diff as a diff rather than as a spool-in-disguise

A list of things that don't seem to do any harm...

- Running a stiffer front spring (short blues vs short yellows on the rear)
- Raking the chassis (ie running the front a shade lower than the rear, I have the rear arms level and the front arms just below)
- Ball diff and UJs - take some of the judder out of the drivetrain
- Alloy long steering turnbuckle
- Spacing up the outer balljoint to minimise the bumpsteer.

A list of things that might also help (but which I don't have)...

- Full alloy steering rack and cranks
- Alloy steering uprights
- Alloy servo saver arm

You don't have to throw hop-ups at your car... but sometimes it helps!