On the hunt for an R53 Cooper S. To Buy or Not To Buy.

[si_xsi]

TinyCappo said:

Sorry to sound like a complete Mini-Newb but is it 04 or 54 that the facelift came into force? Also how do I check if the car has a LSD? I know how to check on a rear wheel drive car but what about a front wheel drive one?

Thanks Ben

PS is there any way I can change the title as i have just noticed the "an R53" and its annoying me now

pretty sure it was 54 when facelift came into effect. If you are ensure, the visual clues are rear reverse light low in the bumper changed to fog light, revised rear light cluster, no interior clock next to internal rear view mirror on facelift.

As for if it has LSD, If the owner doesn't know, ask a mini main dealer and they can tell what options were ticked when the car was ordered. Mine does and although i've never drive one without a lsd, you can really feel the car pull in tight particularly on rounderbouts and getting power down our of corners. Grip is amazing. It also makes a sort of mechanical whrring noise when parking and turning lock to lock - not to be confused with the power steering whine. Not sure how else you could find out.

[CooperS]

scotty_d said:

TinyCappo said:

That is what I thought. However if its been remapped on a rolling road properly economy would improve but 46 is a tad optimistic 35 maybe.

Other than the economy is there anything else that screams Run away (other than the orange wheels?)

I have had 43 mpg out of our r53 on a round trip of 400 miles on a steady motorway run. It can be done and that is not going on the computer that was calculating it tank to tank full.

Most if the time town driving we see 28-30mpg but nice to know it can be not too bad on a run.

I use to get 27- 30 a tad more on a motorway staying between 60 - 70 but on a proper drive mine would consume petrol hence why i wouldn't get it although supercharger whine was lovely with popping over-run.

I'm thinking of getting back in after getting a Cooper D as a customer car for a day!!

[Marcia]

CooperS said:

scotty_d said:

TinyCappo said:

That is what I thought. However if its been remapped on a rolling road properly economy would improve but 46 is a tad optimistic 35 maybe.

Other than the economy is there anything else that screams Run away (other than the orange wheels?)

I have had 43 mpg out of our r53 on a round trip of 400 miles on a steady motorway run. It can be done and that is not going on the computer that was calculating it tank to tank full.

Most if the time town driving we see 28-30mpg but nice to know it can be not too bad on a run.

I use to get 27- 30 a tad more on a motorway staying between 60 - 70 but on a proper drive mine would consume petrol hence why i wouldn't get it although supercharger whine was lovely with popping over-run.

I'm thinking of getting back in after getting a Cooper D as a customer car for a day!!

I can't get more tham 30mpg out of mine either,she's a thirsty little thing
And yes,the supercharger does sound great

[s m]

si_xsi said:

As for if it has LSD, If the owner doesn't know, ask a mini main dealer and they can tell what options were ticked when the car was ordered. Mine does and although i've never drive one without a lsd, you can really feel the car pull in tight particularly on rounderbouts and getting power down our of corners.

Yep, bang on - ticked that option on ours ( it was only £100 new ) after driving a demo with it. A friend already had a Cooper S without one and he drove the same demo as us and reckoned it was worthwhile too. It's quite mild compared to some fwd cars with diffs but ntoiceable. We also went for 16s as it seemed to handle/rise so MUCH better than on the bigger 17s.
Even better on non-runflats ( as I'm sure the 17" wheels are )

[istoo]

Chipping into this thread as I am in a similar position to the OP, an supercharged Mini Cooper S is on my list of cars. I see that BBR offer a rather nice conversion for them for not "that" much money as well. http://www.bbrgti.com/product_details.php?id=8050&...
I have been aiming for a car with around 50k on the clock and a dark/black colour. Add the above and it on paper seems like a little cracker. 4 seats, seemingly cheap running costs???

On the other hand the same sort of dough will get me a Boxster S, S2000 or a 350Z... I love/hate shopping for new cars.

Can anyone point me towards a good buyers guide? What are the usual pitfalls, recalls and other such to look out for?

Edited by istoo on Thursday 19th April 14:34

[Justin S]

4 seats in an R53 ? You must have family with no legs.................... Luckily the current wife is short so we can get someone behind her.............. but not a 4th if I am there, unless I cut the bulkhead out and lie my legs across the gearbox........

[TinyCappo]

well we have no kids and shes 5ft4 so I expect I could sit behind her and tbh there is often no room behind me in any car!

[scotty_d]

We can get 4 in ours if you are all under 6ft it is no problem for short runs

[RossP]

Bought an 03 plate MCS with the 'works' upgrade for the wife late last year. Awesome little pocket rocket!

[M@1975]

As long as you are realistic with what you are buying the R53 is a good car, mine has had a new supercharger, new seering rack, 4 new tyres, new brakes and a few other bits since I bought it, it's genuinely a good car but the R53 is getting on and it'll need some maintenance.

I've put braided lines on mine, 17% pulley (trust me you'll want to do that as soon as you get it), Janspeed manifold and decat and it came with spax coilovers and some seriously uprated engine mounts along with being pretty much completely polybushed.

They handle great for FWD and it is fun but for me I don't love FWD and this has just confirmed it for me so it'll be up for sale on here if it ever stops raining long enough for me to get some pics!!

If you want a modded one then drop me a line !

[TinyCappo]

in the end she wanted a newer one. So she's got a new new one a r56 from a bmw dealership.......she loves it.

Me im going back to mr2s! i know how to fix them if they go wrong.