A MINI (R53 Cooper S) Adventure
Discussion
We’ll that looks better!
- refurbished subframe
- Meyle HD kit 3160500070 comprising brand new controls arms, rear bushes and brackets, inner and outer ball joints AND all the bolts in correct spec. This kit was an absolute bargain at £218 off of eBay
- new Lemforder inner and outer tie rods
- new power steering lines
- new lower engine mount, ARB bushes and steering rack bush
The only slight hitch was plumbing the outlet hose to the PAS pump. The hoses are pattern parts at less than 1/4 price of OEM and the bolt hole for the mounting bracket is a fraction off centre. Silly me rushing to button things up at the end of the day and stripped the threads in the pump body, oops. One heli-coil later and all sorted!
Great work, this is going to be a very well sorted R53.
I’ve got a second hand Miltek exhaust to go on mine. Was going to put it on before the MOT but my cat is throwing up an end of life code. Probably nothing wrong with it but seems silly not to do both at the same time.
There’s also nothing wrong with my existing exhaust except a previous owner has removed one of the rear silencers. Sounds quite good but drones a bit on longer journeys. The Miltek is resonated so will be a nice relief.
I’ve got a second hand Miltek exhaust to go on mine. Was going to put it on before the MOT but my cat is throwing up an end of life code. Probably nothing wrong with it but seems silly not to do both at the same time.
There’s also nothing wrong with my existing exhaust except a previous owner has removed one of the rear silencers. Sounds quite good but drones a bit on longer journeys. The Miltek is resonated so will be a nice relief.
ballans said:
Great work, this is going to be a very well sorted R53.
I’ve got a second hand Miltek exhaust to go on mine. Was going to put it on before the MOT but my cat is throwing up an end of life code. Probably nothing wrong with it but seems silly not to do both at the same time.
There’s also nothing wrong with my existing exhaust except a previous owner has removed one of the rear silencers. Sounds quite good but drones a bit on longer journeys. The Miltek is resonated so will be a nice relief.
I’ve got a non res Miltek and I don’t mid it at all on long journeys-it’s definitely not a drone box.I’ve got a second hand Miltek exhaust to go on mine. Was going to put it on before the MOT but my cat is throwing up an end of life code. Probably nothing wrong with it but seems silly not to do both at the same time.
There’s also nothing wrong with my existing exhaust except a previous owner has removed one of the rear silencers. Sounds quite good but drones a bit on longer journeys. The Miltek is resonated so will be a nice relief.
When driving hard the supercharger whine drowns it out a bit
I finally got around to fitting the new Direnza resonated system last week.
Unfortunately one of outer hanger brackets is shot and both inner hangers too.
I’ve ordered a full set from BMW and will fit tomorrow.
I’ve since bought myself a set of ramps off of FB marketplace for £25 virtually unused.
Unfortunately one of outer hanger brackets is shot and both inner hangers too.
I’ve ordered a full set from BMW and will fit tomorrow.
I’ve since bought myself a set of ramps off of FB marketplace for £25 virtually unused.
Finally got the alignment done and we’re back on the road!
Mechanically, that’s absolutely everything sorted (for now). I certainly never intended to do all this work and certainly not as quickly as I have but I’m really pleased with it all.
Also feeling better about the bodywork. The boot is now painted and the small patch of lacquer peel on the rear quarter was sorted. It’s polished up nicely and the stripes set it off:
Ironically, just as it’s roadworthy I’m heading off on holiday so I’ve put it to bed until I’m home again
Mechanically, that’s absolutely everything sorted (for now). I certainly never intended to do all this work and certainly not as quickly as I have but I’m really pleased with it all.
Also feeling better about the bodywork. The boot is now painted and the small patch of lacquer peel on the rear quarter was sorted. It’s polished up nicely and the stripes set it off:
Ironically, just as it’s roadworthy I’m heading off on holiday so I’ve put it to bed until I’m home again
and31 said:
Very interested to see how you get on with this-I might get this done next year-just had a look at their website.
what stage treatment are you going for?
‘Extreme’what stage treatment are you going for?
Their prices are much better than some other specialists and their work is extremely well respected so I figured stump up for the top service as it still felt like good value.
I asked for their assessment having cleaned and wire wheeled the corrosion they found, the response:
“Honestly really good under there mate ! Nothing serious at all it’s mint”
Now, I’m sure ‘mint’ is a relative term when you work with Land Rovers all day, but a reassuring verdict nonetheless!!
tallpaul26 said:
‘Extreme’
Their prices are much better than some other specialists and their work is extremely well respected so I figured stump up for the top service as it still felt like good value.
I asked for their assessment having cleaned and wire wheeled the corrosion they found, the response:
“Honestly really good under there mate ! Nothing serious at all it’s mint”
Now, I’m sure ‘mint’ is a relative term when you work with Land Rovers all day, but a reassuring verdict nonetheless!!
Their prices are much better than some other specialists and their work is extremely well respected so I figured stump up for the top service as it still felt like good value.
I asked for their assessment having cleaned and wire wheeled the corrosion they found, the response:
“Honestly really good under there mate ! Nothing serious at all it’s mint”
Now, I’m sure ‘mint’ is a relative term when you work with Land Rovers all day, but a reassuring verdict nonetheless!!
Nice work.
On doing the exhaust on mine I noticed the bottom of the battery box needs a small amount of attention.
I’m seriously considering dropping the rear subframe over the winter and giving it the same treatment as the front has had.
It’s not in bad shape and probably just needs a tidy up.
I might consider an R56 rear arm conversion too.
On doing the exhaust on mine I noticed the bottom of the battery box needs a small amount of attention.
I’m seriously considering dropping the rear subframe over the winter and giving it the same treatment as the front has had.
It’s not in bad shape and probably just needs a tidy up.
I might consider an R56 rear arm conversion too.
What a great read from start to finish! I admire your enthusiasm and willingness to get stuck in tackling all kinds of jobs with the car on axle stands.
I had always dismissed these as a bit "poser" back when they were new, but having briefly driven an R53 Cooper S (totally standard and a bit leggy) a few years back I found it an absolute hoot at relatively modest speeds, and immediately understood that I'd got them totally wrong! I can only imagine that a well sorted model with the suspension fully refreshed would be a brilliant thing on winding B-roads.
I had always dismissed these as a bit "poser" back when they were new, but having briefly driven an R53 Cooper S (totally standard and a bit leggy) a few years back I found it an absolute hoot at relatively modest speeds, and immediately understood that I'd got them totally wrong! I can only imagine that a well sorted model with the suspension fully refreshed would be a brilliant thing on winding B-roads.
Mine looks like that underneath but it's mostly the oil leaks.
Wobert, hope you're hanging in there man. Just did a quick look at my Miltek backbox as it's sitting high against the valance. I'm thinking I might have my rear sub off over winter too for a quick refurb, rust proofing & a few new bushes, all the usual. We'll swap notes if you go for it.
Wobert, hope you're hanging in there man. Just did a quick look at my Miltek backbox as it's sitting high against the valance. I'm thinking I might have my rear sub off over winter too for a quick refurb, rust proofing & a few new bushes, all the usual. We'll swap notes if you go for it.
Yep, I’m ok, thanks for asking. 
The rear on mine has had all the bushes done, it’s just looking less good than the front and nowhere near this one!
One of the studs for the exhaust tray is missing, so I’m thinking of dropping the lot and the tank and checking all is well right underneath.
I’d need to park the car front into the garage (I currently reverse in) as there isn’t a huge amount of room on the right.
That said, I can make some room and dump some of the stuff in the spare room.
Just waiting on my aero skirts to come back from the painters…..I have the fasteners ready and if I’m unsuccessful getting the door strips off I’ll buy some from here….
https://whatageek.co.uk/shop/gel-sill-strips/
The rear on mine has had all the bushes done, it’s just looking less good than the front and nowhere near this one!
One of the studs for the exhaust tray is missing, so I’m thinking of dropping the lot and the tank and checking all is well right underneath.
I’d need to park the car front into the garage (I currently reverse in) as there isn’t a huge amount of room on the right.
That said, I can make some room and dump some of the stuff in the spare room.
Just waiting on my aero skirts to come back from the painters…..I have the fasteners ready and if I’m unsuccessful getting the door strips off I’ll buy some from here….
https://whatageek.co.uk/shop/gel-sill-strips/
pmorg4 said:
What a great read from start to finish! I admire your enthusiasm and willingness to get stuck in tackling all kinds of jobs with the car on axle stands.
I had always dismissed these as a bit "poser" back when they were new, but having briefly driven an R53 Cooper S (totally standard and a bit leggy) a few years back I found it an absolute hoot at relatively modest speeds, and immediately understood that I'd got them totally wrong! I can only imagine that a well sorted model with the suspension fully refreshed would be a brilliant thing on winding B-roads.
I see where that perception of these came from but I didn’t get any daft comments when I had my original one. Bearing in mind I played footy at the time, I was half expecting a hammering from the lads the first time I turned up at training in it, but actually everyone was positive about it. I think it was (and still is) just a great car. I had always dismissed these as a bit "poser" back when they were new, but having briefly driven an R53 Cooper S (totally standard and a bit leggy) a few years back I found it an absolute hoot at relatively modest speeds, and immediately understood that I'd got them totally wrong! I can only imagine that a well sorted model with the suspension fully refreshed would be a brilliant thing on winding B-roads.
I’m really pleased with how the suspension work has turned out. Obviously the travel is still short and the springs are reasonably stiff but it’s not crashy and it quietly hustles along until you open it up, then the ‘charger whine picks up and you get the pops and burbles on downshifts and overrun. It’s just genuinely fun but capable little car that actually rewards a bit of hooning.
tallpaul26 said:
So having removed the wheels, arch liners, exhaust and heatshields, the brakes and engine/downpipe were masked off. The underside was cleaned, rust was wire wheeled and treated with a rust converter then they went to town with the dinitrol!
I plan to keep my Clubman long-term and am thinking about getting the same done. Would you be willing to share what that cost to do?Thanks
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