R50 Cooper Spec Question

[Waugh-terfall]

Hi all, helping my friend replace his recently deceased Cooper, having a good old nosey through the Cherished website, finding quite a few without the red light/end to the Indicator Stalk. Does this mean they're without an Alarm or something? One has come up saying in Optional Equipment that it has 'Sports Suspension Plus', what does this mean?

Thanks in advance!

[DrainTheSpuds]

Waugh-terfall said:

finding quite a few without the red light/end to the Indicator Stalk. Does this mean they're without an Alarm or something?

I think you're right. Facelift models (July '04 onwards) with the Catagory 1 factory-fitted alarm had the red light in the indicator stalk and a yellow light on the wiper stalk to warn of low windscreen washer fluid. Pre-facelift, the red alarm light was on the right hand stalk.

Waugh-terfall said:

One has come up saying in Optional Equipment that it has 'Sports Suspension Plus', what does this mean?

There were three types of suspension available, depending on the model: Standard, Sport, and Sport Plus. Most Coopers will come with at least Sport Suspension, some with Sport Plus if it was specified from factory. My old Cooper S came with Sport Suspension Plus as part of the Chilli Pack. If the car you're looking at has this suspension with 17" wheels and runflats, the ride will be extremely firm.

[Waugh-terfall]

DrainTheSpuds said:

Waugh-terfall said:

finding quite a few without the red light/end to the Indicator Stalk. Does this mean they're without an Alarm or something?

I think you're right. Facelift models (July '04 onwards) with the Catagory 1 factory-fitted alarm had the red light in the indicator stalk and a yellow light on the wiper stalk to warn of low windscreen washer fluid. Pre-facelift, the red alarm light was on the right hand stalk.

Waugh-terfall said:

One has come up saying in Optional Equipment that it has 'Sports Suspension Plus', what does this mean?

There were three types of suspension available, depending on the model: Standard, Sport, and Sport Plus. Most Coopers will come with at least Sport Suspension, some with Sport Plus if it was specified from factory. My old Cooper S came with Sport Suspension Plus as part of the Chilli Pack. If the car you're looking at has this suspension with 17" wheels and runflats, the ride will be extremely firm.

That's great thanks, not sure what the dead car had, Runflats, 16" 7-Fins, felt pretty firm.

They're all Post-Facelift cara, so I guess that they just don't have an alarm?

[DrainTheSpuds]

Waugh-terfall said:

Runflats, 16" 7-Fins, felt pretty firm.

If he's had a MINI before then he'll know what to expect, but Sports Suspension Plus will make things that bit firmer. How I managed to put up with my R53 for 7 years (5 of those years on Runflats) I'll never know.

Waugh-terfall said:

They're all Post-Facelift cara, so I guess that they just don't have an alarm?

I'm fairly certain that you're right on this - perhaps someone with more knowledge than me could confirm. I seem to remember that the alarm was only standard on the Cooper S and optional on the One and Cooper, so it's perfectly possible that a Cooper of that age wouldn't have it.

[Waugh-terfall]

DrainTheSpuds said:

Waugh-terfall said:

Runflats, 16" 7-Fins, felt pretty firm.

If he's had a MINI before then he'll know what to expect, but Sports Suspension Plus will make things that bit firmer. How I managed to put up with my R53 for 7 years (5 of those years on Runflats) I'll never know.

Waugh-terfall said:

They're all Post-Facelift cara, so I guess that they just don't have an alarm?

I'm fairly certain that you're right on this - perhaps someone with more knowledge than me could confirm. I seem to remember that the alarm was only standard on the Cooper S and optional on the One and Cooper, so it's perfectly possible that a Cooper of that age wouldn't have it.

Great, thanks for that. Didn't even think about alarms when the last one was bought, just happened to have it. Can't say it's any downside really, my 207 hasn't got one.