Another R53 Mini Cooper S

[wozza182]

Jumping on the band wagon it seems, I took the plunge and after 6 years of Renaultsport ownership, I purchased a Mini Cooper S. Its a 54 plate and it's covered 86,000 miles. Initial thoughts is that it is a lot nicer inside, the driving position is better than my 182 and the supercharger whine is awesome.

The power does seem to be down compared with the 182, but, I will be looking to make it go faster.

Gave it a bit of a clean yesterday and took some photos.
I will be trying to keep this updated as I progress with the car.

IMG_3719 by warren todd, on Flickr

IMG_3728 by warren todd, on Flickr

IMG_3732 by warren todd, on Flickr

IMG_3733 by warren todd, on Flickr

IMG_3737 by warren todd, on Flickr

Things I'm looking to do next:

Front end respray
Alloy wheels refurbished
15% Pulley
JCW brakes
Front wishbone bushes
Intercooler
Lowering springs

 

[Stefan.]

Looks nice

The colour i would have too

 

[Philip.]

I like clean Minis! Was tempted by one in the past.

 

[fairm010]

Nice car Warren :up:

 

[wozza182]

Nice car Warren :up:

Cheers mate

 

[wozza182]

Looks nice

The colour i would have too

I like clean Minis! Was tempted by one in the past.

Cheers guys

 

[matthewson]

Looks nice that mate. I've had two R53's and one R56 FJCW. I would say give the springs a miss and get some coilovers. Springs are truly awful on minis.

Also budget for an upgraded intercooler if fitting a smaller pulley. And if you can get hold of a Dave.F induction kit you'll be laughing as the whine is epic!

Give me a shout if you have any questions!

 

[Daz_RT_04]

See, Eibach springs and non-runflats are definitely something I would recommend as a cost effective exercise and I am sure @brookie would agree.

Dont worry about a Dave.F induction kit, make your own like I did for alot less.

 

[wozza182]

See, Eibach springs and non-runflats are definitely something I would recommend as a cost effective exercise and I am sure @brookie would agree.

Dont worry about a Dave.F induction kit, make your own like I did for alot less.

Do you have a link to how you made your own induction kit??

 

[ForceIndia]

Dave.f kits aren't available anymore I think. I found a jcw one cheap and fitted that, same basic idea.
There's a diy guide on minitorque. If you're going for an intercooler, the gp one is the best to go for (but ££), grs motorsport the next best.

 

[Matthew]

Really like that. Looks lovely. Facelift headlights too, which is a bonus.

 

[wozza182]

Really like that. Looks lovely. Facelift headlights too, which is a bonus.

Cheers, do you mean R56 headlights?
Cos this is already a facelift R53 model.

 

[Matthew]

No face lift R53 headlights. I beleived facelift was 2005 onwards...?

 

[daveski]

Mine was a facelift on a 54 plate. 2005 registered car.

Looks great. After selling mine and going back to a car with normal suspension I'd ditch the spring idea. Never realised how bad the ride on my car was!

 

[wozza182]

I thought mine was facelift as the bottom light on the rear bumper is the fog light and not the reverse light.

 

[wozza182]

Mine was a facelift on a 54 plate. 2005 registered car.

Looks great. After selling mine and going back to a car with normal suspension I'd ditch the spring idea. Never realised how bad the ride on my car was!

What springs did you have?? @Brookie. has Eibach springs on his.

 

[daveski]

TEIN ones iirc. Eibachs may be better.

 

[wozza182]

TEIN ones iirc. Eibachs may be better.

Hopefully as those are the ones I'm looking to get. I only want a slight drop. So don't really want to go along the coilover route.

 

[Daz_RT_04]

Eibachs are awesome for just a spring.

http://www.minitorque.com/forum/f275/hybrid-airbox-tenner-ish-30411/

Exact guide I followed, its pretty easy to do. It should still be on @Brookie. Mini as that was my old car that I made it for.

 

[wozza182]

Eibachs are awesome for just a spring.

http://www.minitorque.com/forum/f275/hybrid-airbox-tenner-ish-30411/

Exact guide I followed, its pretty easy to do. It should still be on @Brookie. Mini as that was my old car that I made it for.

Looks pretty simple. I'll give that a go then.

 

[withoutabix]

Don't go anywhere near any lowering Spring on a R53 mini it will ruin the ride completely! It's makes them so crashy the dampers just aren't up to it. As said if you want lows then go for coilovers even the cheapest AP's are an upgrade on OEM dampers and Spring combo

 

[Matt Cup]

Very nice mate.

 

[wozza182]

Very nice mate.

Thanks

 

[wozza182]

Don't go anywhere near any lowering Spring on a R53 mini it will ruin the ride completely! It's makes them so crashy the dampers just aren't up to it. As said if you want lows then go for coilovers even the cheapest AP's are an upgrade on OEM dampers and Spring combo

I'm not wanting proper lows, just a slight drop.
I'm not looking at spending a fortune lowering it, so budget coilovers are a big no.

I'm sure eibachs will be fine.

 

[Daz.]

Looks spot on height wise as it is?

I wouldn't spend a penny on suspension

 

[ForceIndia]

I'm not wanting proper lows, just a slight drop.
I'm not looking at spending a fortune lowering it, so budget coilovers are a big no.

I'm sure eibachs will be fine.

It's your car, so completely up to you. But have a read up on minitorque. All info I've read echoes what Neil said, springs muller the ride quality.

 

[Cookson]

Lovely. Always been tempted by one of these

 

[ForceIndia]

@wozza182 have you thought about getting the one ball exhaust mod done? I'm really happy with it, makes the exhaust a tiny fraction louder, but increases the pops.

 

[wozza182]

Lovely. Always been tempted by one of these

Cheers. I would recommend having a go in one.

 

[wozza182]

@wozza182 have you thought about getting the one ball exhaust mod done? I'm really happy with it, makes the exhaust a tiny fraction louder, but increases the pops.

I've not heard about that. The standard exhaust on mine isn't in a great condition. So I will be looking at an aftermarket one soon anyway.

 

[ForceIndia]

I've not heard about that. The standard exhaust on mine isn't in a great condition. So I will be looking at an aftermarket one soon anyway.

Where they tend to rust, that's the bit that's removed for the one ball. Mine cost £80. I'm not too far from Isleworth if you fancy a look at it.
Bar the springs I've got all the same mods you're planning.

 

[Waitey]

Mines gone into hibernation today.

 

[ForceIndia]

Mines gone into hibernation today.

Too big and fast

 

[Gally]

Seems to be becoming a popular car on here these days. I think they're a great drive. Dave set his one up pretty well for fast road and track also.

 

[wozza182]

Seems to be becoming a popular car on here these days. I think they're a great drive. Dave set his one up pretty well for fast road and track also.

Yea I'm gonna take a look at Daves thread for his.

 

[wozza182]

Where they tend to rust, that's the bit that's removed for the one ball. Mine cost £80. I'm not too far from Isleworth if you fancy a look at it.
Bar the springs I've got all the same mods you're planning.

You're down near Hammersmith right?
It's the back box on the drivers side that has rotted away. It just about passed the MoT but was an advisory.

 

[ForceIndia]

You're down near Hammersmith right?
It's the back box on the drivers side that has rotted away. It just about passed the MoT but was an advisory.

Other direction fella, slough way. Drivers side box is removed for the mod.

 

[Sir_Dave]

Lovely looking car this, best colour combo imho!! I much preferred my grey one to the current blue shed.
Although, as standard, i do prefer the chrome 😌
Before refurbing the wheels, perhaps change to the other style 17s, they are considerably lighter!!

Things I'm looking to do next:
Front end respray
Alloy wheels refurbished
15% Pulley - keeps the standard power curve, 17% gives more boost, but i prefer the delivery of the 15%, although keeps engine temps a little lower
JCW brakes - R56S front calipers, ECP discs (or Nitrac if you want to spend the money/will run hardcore pads), then Mintex 1144 pads (or Carbotech XP8 for track/broken nose on steering wheel when braking) & Goodridge/HEL braided lines
Front wishbone bushes - yes, essential!!
Intercooler - if you get a GRS, make sure its the Motorsport version if buying 2nd hand, alot of people do not know what they are selling!
Lowering springs - nope

Most of that list is good, i'd not bother with the front end re-spray though, the money would be a lot better off upgrading from springs only. On the mini, they are terrible on standard dampers, absolutely awful, it'll bottom out all over the place, bounce you off the road and generally be poop, especially with the runsh4ts. Either leave it standard, or fit coilovers. Brand new AP's are £400 or so, or Meister R's like mine are circa £450 second hand. By fitting a good set of coilovers with top mounts, you will also protect the strut towers from mushrooming!

Any other q's dont hesitate to ask, ive especially built mine to handle like my old clio's, which id make to handle like my saxo vts 😂

 

[wozza182]

Lovely looking car this, best colour combo imho!! I much preferred my grey one to the current blue shed.
Although, as standard, i do prefer the chrome 😌
Before refurbing the wheels, perhaps change to the other style 17s, they are considerably lighter!!

Most of that list is good, i'd not bother with the front end re-spray though, the money would be a lot better off upgrading from springs only. On the mini, they are terrible on standard dampers, absolutely awful, it'll bottom out all over the place, bounce you off the road and generally be poop, especially with the runsh4ts. Either leave it standard, or fit coilovers. Brand new AP's are £400 or so, or Meister R's like mine are circa £450 second hand. By fitting a good set of coilovers with top mounts, you will also protect the strut towers from mushrooming!

Any other q's dont hesitate to ask, ive especially built mine to handle like my old clio's, which id make to handle like my saxo vts 😂

Nice one Dave. I'll keep that in mind.

 

[wozza182]

Other direction fella, slough way. Drivers side box is removed for the mod.

Oh. Seems like an easy job then. I'll have a look on MiniTorque.