Looking at buying a Cooper S R53
Discussion
Clivey said:
TBH I'm not a fan either...or of grey paint but realise that's personal preference. What I would say though is please, please, please make sure you thoroughly read and understand the buyers' guides from the specialist forums before you part with your hard-earned.
I just spent three months at sea and whilst I was there I was reading up and these cars, and following the market.OK fellow Pistonheaders. I've seen another car I really like. The price however seems excessive but it has a lot of mods. Anyway it seems he's a fellow PHer himself as it's advertised on here. So can you give me feedback on what you think it's worth and of course if there are any issues you can see that I may have missed.
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Edited by Isysman on Tuesday 23 September 14:00
Edited by Isysman on Tuesday 23 September 14:01
Don't like the non OEM paint wheels but it looks a nice car, I'd take the kohen stickers off.
I'd prefer original springs, also beware 17% pulley and standard intercooler. Should be over 200 at the wheels and quite a bit quicker than a standard S.
Plenty of people seem to run them no problem, others say too much heat soak and go for 15% max.
Shouldn't be a problem with winter coming
, a hot trackday maybe.
Check out the insurance with all this mods, quite a list there.
New engine mount is good, they go every 3 years, wheel bearing recently done is good, they are expensive.
If you like the test drive go for it.
I paid 3,800 for a bog standard one same age and 80,000 mileage, with a few things that needed sorting, like engine mounts and some discs. Seems a reasonable price, offer 4,000 see what happens
I'd prefer original springs, also beware 17% pulley and standard intercooler. Should be over 200 at the wheels and quite a bit quicker than a standard S.
Plenty of people seem to run them no problem, others say too much heat soak and go for 15% max.
Shouldn't be a problem with winter coming
, a hot trackday maybe. Check out the insurance with all this mods, quite a list there.
New engine mount is good, they go every 3 years, wheel bearing recently done is good, they are expensive.
If you like the test drive go for it.
I paid 3,800 for a bog standard one same age and 80,000 mileage, with a few things that needed sorting, like engine mounts and some discs. Seems a reasonable price, offer 4,000 see what happens
Thanks for the feedback, I thought the same about the intercooler. I'd probably put one on and have it remapped. Not too worried about the insurance, with my age and NCB it should be fine. I have a modified 911 Turbo as well and it's under £700 so it should not be an issue. This would be my daily runner (want something fun and pretty fast as you can imagine.)
Edited by Isysman on Tuesday 23 September 14:35
No idea what's going on with prices, I've not really looked but I was considering trading mine in a month or so ago until the most I was offered was £2500!!!!
Mine is a facelifted 54 plate, in Silver Grey, half black leather, chilli pack, sport chrono, HK, panoramic sunroof... Pretty much everything.
I've added a few bits, suspension, pulley etc.
I thought for £2500 I'll keep it a strip it out. Use it as a toy!
I'm now expecting a company car in the next few weeks so the weekend toy idea sounds even better.
Maybe I'll look at selling it privately, I couldn't have before as I can't be without a car for my work.
Mine is a facelifted 54 plate, in Silver Grey, half black leather, chilli pack, sport chrono, HK, panoramic sunroof... Pretty much everything.
I've added a few bits, suspension, pulley etc.
I thought for £2500 I'll keep it a strip it out. Use it as a toy!
I'm now expecting a company car in the next few weeks so the weekend toy idea sounds even better.
Maybe I'll look at selling it privately, I couldn't have before as I can't be without a car for my work.
SteveS Cup said:
No idea what's going on with prices, I've not really looked but I was considering trading mine in a month or so ago until the most I was offered was £2500!!!!
Mine is a facelifted 54 plate, in Silver Grey, half black leather, chilli pack, sport chrono, HK, panoramic sunroof... Pretty much everything.
I've added a few bits, suspension, pulley etc.
I thought for £2500 I'll keep it a strip it out. Use it as a toy!
I'm now expecting a company car in the next few weeks so the weekend toy idea sounds even better.
Maybe I'll look at selling it privately, I couldn't have before as I can't be without a car for my work.
What are you saying, the prices are very low? Trade in is always below market price IMO Mine is a facelifted 54 plate, in Silver Grey, half black leather, chilli pack, sport chrono, HK, panoramic sunroof... Pretty much everything.
I've added a few bits, suspension, pulley etc.
I thought for £2500 I'll keep it a strip it out. Use it as a toy!
I'm now expecting a company car in the next few weeks so the weekend toy idea sounds even better.
Maybe I'll look at selling it privately, I couldn't have before as I can't be without a car for my work.
Isysman said:
OK fellow Pistonheaders. I've seen another car I really like. The price however seems excessive but it has a lot of mods. Anyway it seems he's a fellow PHer himself as it's advertised on here. So can you give me feedback on what you think it's worth and of course if there are any issues you can see that I may have missed.
Its far too expensive. Backed up by the fact its been for sale since May: http://www.minitorque.com/forum/f228/r53-pepper-wh...
Ok so I made a few offers on the White car and we came to an agreement. I probably paid a little more than I might have wanted but I think it is a good example judging by its MOT history, service records and other history on the car. The sale is based on satisfactory inspection when I go to collect the car.
Now I have to travel from Cheshire to Colchester! Should be an interesting drive back though. Let's hope the car is as good as it looks and was described.
Thanks for the help on here from everyone who gave advice. I'll post some photos once I've collected the car.
Now I have to travel from Cheshire to Colchester! Should be an interesting drive back though. Let's hope the car is as good as it looks and was described.
Thanks for the help on here from everyone who gave advice. I'll post some photos once I've collected the car.
Sir_Dave said:
Its far too expensive.
Backed up by the fact its been for sale since May: http://www.minitorque.com/forum/f228/r53-pepper-wh...
Oh thanks for that. I did have that conversation with him and then offered way him less than £4000. We haggled and he settled for much less than the advertised price so I'm happy. Just have to inspect it now when I go to collect.Backed up by the fact its been for sale since May: http://www.minitorque.com/forum/f228/r53-pepper-wh...
Hopes its good. I've been looking for about 7 months now and put in a few miles in my other car driving around looking.
Just thought I'd update this thread. Picked up the car and drove it 230 miles home from Colchester to Cheshire. Man it's a stiff car, very bumpy ride. I was feeling it by the time I got home.
I plan to change the suspension to a more comfortable coilover setup and remove the lower strut bar which keeps bottoming out on speed bumps.
Anyway here are a coule of pics. First thing I did after getting the car home was remove the hideous stripes on the sides.
I plan to change the suspension to a more comfortable coilover setup and remove the lower strut bar which keeps bottoming out on speed bumps.
Anyway here are a coule of pics. First thing I did after getting the car home was remove the hideous stripes on the sides.
Goes without saying, but drive a few. At the age they are now many are baggy or have been ragged to death.
Recaro seats are desirable.
Open the bonnet and check the strut top mounts for any splits. It's not a massive job to fix, but if they are split the camber on the front wheels will be out and this will scrub the tyres/the car won't handle right.
Smaller supercharger pulley/works airbox is desirable, gives a noticeable power increase.
Final things to look out for are same as buying a classic Mini:
Oil leaks and rust....
Get the car on a ramp, check the rear subframe and body around the fuel tank/rear subframe area for corrosion. Have a look at the underside of the engine while you are at it for oil leaks.
It can be surprising how rusty the R53 can be underneath, when it looks all fine on top. Especially if it has lived somewhere with a lot of salt on the roads.
Check around the tailgate for rust spots too.
Recaro seats are desirable.
Open the bonnet and check the strut top mounts for any splits. It's not a massive job to fix, but if they are split the camber on the front wheels will be out and this will scrub the tyres/the car won't handle right.
Smaller supercharger pulley/works airbox is desirable, gives a noticeable power increase.
Final things to look out for are same as buying a classic Mini:
Oil leaks and rust....
Get the car on a ramp, check the rear subframe and body around the fuel tank/rear subframe area for corrosion. Have a look at the underside of the engine while you are at it for oil leaks.
It can be surprising how rusty the R53 can be underneath, when it looks all fine on top. Especially if it has lived somewhere with a lot of salt on the roads.
Check around the tailgate for rust spots too.
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