My R53 Mini Cooper S Thread.

[Daz_RT_04]

Well after test driving one and hating it.. Buying an Astra VXR and not really feeling tha much more, I went and took another look at Cooper S's.

Test drove my current Cooper S and wanted it straight away...

Anyway, heres its advert picture.

1st up was the normal number plates and de-tango'ing, LED's along with a genuine Aero Grille. The bottom part of the grille still needs to be done I know lol...

Next up was to sort a stereo out... The standard only played CD's and Im an iphone ***** that needs a connection!

Enter the Alpine CDE-136BT

Cant reccomend this unit enough tbh!

Bluetooth, Made for iphone, DAB, CD...it does it all whilst looking rather subtle. (Also, the speakers in the Mini are decent for standard, and this unit has brought the best out of them)


Next was lowering, now I umm'd and aaar'd about this as the Mini wasnt really 4x4 height anyway. After doing some homework I settled for Eibach Pro-Springs.

The day after being fitted by Dan@SJM

Dan a few days later also replacd the rocker cover gasket and carried out an oil change.

The next few bits are literally odds and sods.

Body coloured wheel bolt covers!

Citroen C2 Stubby Aerial

And a random dirty arse shot...

So thats my first 2 weeks of ownership covered!

 

[Sam@NP]

You are all making it very hard for me not to buy GP.

When you sticking the exhaust on it?

 

[Daz_RT_04]

You are all making it very hard for me not to buy GP.

When you sticking the exhaust on it?

Ohh if I could, I'd be all over one of those!

Well, the exhaust on this one probably wont last another 6 months... So its in the pipeline :evil:

 

[Sir_Dave]

Im jealous of your climate control & close-ratio gearbox

 

[_Tom]

Do they not all have a AUX in as standard in the glove box?

 

[Sir_Dave]

Do they not all have a AUX in as standard in the glove box?

Nah, but you can add it to the back of the cd player pretty easily (where the cd changer would plug into), mine has this.

 

[Sam@NP]

Im jealous of your climate control & close-ratio gearbox

Close ratio box? Go on.....

 

[_Tom]

Nah, but you can add it to the back of the cd player pretty easily (where the cd changer would plug into), mine has this.

Ah right. Our cab does. Which ones have a c/r box?

 

[BenSayers]

You are all making it very hard for me not to buy GP.

When you sticking the exhaust on it?

As an ex GP owner I can vouch for how great they are to drive. I miss mine but work issues meant it had to go.

At OP quite a tidy looking S. The best place to be for a technical stand point is minitorque if you haven't already signed up

 

[Daz_RT_04]

Im jealous of your climate control & close-ratio gearbox

Pre facelift?

Not going to lie, but the short box is epic fun!

 

[Sir_Dave]

Ah right. Our cab does. Which ones have a c/r box?

Facelift models, ie July 04 onwards

Mine's a pre-facelift and the ratios are very loooooooooooong.

 

[Dan@SJM]

I see what Daz means, they're similar to a 1*2 to drive, but more refined but not as agile. I just don't like the interior of them. And it's Proper gay x

 

[Sam@NP]

Facelift models, ie July 04 onwards

Mine's a pre-facelift and the ratios are very loooooooooooong.

Another reason to own a GP then

 

[Sir_Dave]

Another reason to own a GP then

Yup. What you waiting for then

 

[Sam@NP]

Yup. What you waiting for then

​For them to depreciate.

 

[Sir_Dave]

​For them to depreciate.

lol. Hai 5 to that.

 

[Daz_RT_04]

I see what Daz means, they're similar to a 1*2 to drive, but more refined but not as agile. I just don't like the interior of them. And it's Proper gay x

You secretly loved it! Plus so far, weve found its pretty well built!

 

[RDH]

I like that, the mods you've done are a must!

I'd say engine mods are a must though, I was always a little dissapointed with the performance of my old standard S, especially for the fuel consumption! The whine is awesome though...

 

[Daz_RT_04]

I like that, the mods you've done are a must!

I'd say engine mods are a must though, I was always a little dissapointed with the performance of my old standard S, especially for the fuel consumption! The whine is awesome though...

I agree, its no rocket ship and Id expect a healthy 1*2 to pull on it above a tonne.

Engine mods are on the list, in the form of a 15/17% pulley and a GRS intercooler.

Im also just awaiting the K&N filter to arrive so I can copy the Dave F style box.

£17 spent at Wicks.

 

[Sir_Dave]

Ha ha, i was gonna do the hobo hybrid airbox as well, but by the time uve bought the filter its £50.

My Dave F was only £80, & i dont have to butcher my standard airbox lid - for when invariably, i get bored of it in 3 months and to put it back to standard lol.

 

[Sam@NP]

I agree, its no rocket ship and Id expect a healthy 1*2 to pull on it above a tonne.

Engine mods are on the list, in the form of a 15/17% pulley and a GRS intercooler.

Im also just awaiting the K&N filter to arrive so I can copy the Dave F style box.

£17 spent at Wicks.

LOL what is that?

Didn't know Wicks had an engine delvelopment department
​

 

[Daz_RT_04]

Ha ha, i was gonna do the hobo hybrid airbox as well, but by the time uve bought the filter its £50.

My Dave F was only £80, & i dont have to butcher my standard airbox lid - for when invariably, i get bored of it in 3 months and to put it back to standard lol.

£80? ideal! They dont come up for sale often do they?

Ive got the K&N on route from Euro Car Parts for £22 which seems to be cheap! Only problem is I've been waiting for 2 weeks now lol.

 

[Daz_RT_04]

LOL what is that?

Didn't know Wicks had an engine delvelopment department
​

LOL awesome aint it.

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

 

[Sam@NP]

LOL awesome aint it.

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

What stops the nuts coming loose and going into the engine?

 

[Sir_Dave]

The airfilter stops them going into the engine lol

Its a K&N airfilter, not a K-tec ITB setup.

 

[Sam@NP]

The airfilter stops them going into the engine lol

Its a K&N airfilter, not a K-tec ITB setup.

Ahh of course because they are on the outside. Slick, does it work?

 

[Sir_Dave]

Slick, does it work?

Yup: http://www.minitorque.com/forum/f845/before-after-dyno-run-6850/

 

[Matthew]

Great buy mate.

Used to love driving the GF's, handle awesomely.

​They always get a mucky arse though, not sure why?!?

 

[Sam@NP]

Great buy mate.

Used to love driving the GF's, handle awesomely.

​They always get a mucky arse though, not sure why?!?

​The air flow off the back of them is terrible! The R56 has bulges on the C pillars to combat this.

LOL all those links to minitorque are making me want one soooo badly.

 

[Matthew]

Ahhhh that explains it.They are always propper filthy on the arse.

 

[Daz_RT_04]

Another month has gone by and I'm still totally In love with this fag box.

One of the things that was bugging me was the size of the gear knob though...its massive lol.

Instead of going all OEM or anything, I took a fancy to this little £5.99 option on ebay. Its so so much better and I think its querky like the car.

Next up was abit a small component. From what I gather, the car's sump is leaking a wee bit (common issue).

After doing some research, some people claim a small breather valve on the rocker can also be to blame for this. After testing mine, it was apparant the breather valve was tired, so £14 later and a new one fitted, the oil consumption has dropped. I will still get round to gettin the sump gasket replaced at some point I would imagine.

Hobo box = done. The noise is pretty good now tbh, although my workmanship skills arnt as good as I would have liked... In time, this will be changed.

Random shot.

Quick video of the stock exhaust on idle

http://s488.photobucket.com/user/Da...FE-1847-00000142F0122A91_zps52f99993.mp4.html

 

[mini_nick]

Facelift models, ie July 04 onwards

Mine's a pre-facelift and the ratios are very loooooooooooong.

My 04 inbetween model (new steering wheel but long gearing) which was remapped used to do indicated 74 in second!

 

[Daz_RT_04]

My 04 inbetween model (new steering wheel but long gearing) which was remapped used to do indicated 74 in second!

My indicated in 2nd is pretty much just under 60. The short box is so much fun tbh.

 

[Wick]

The standaard exhaust sounds great!