R53 Mini Cooper S JCW GP
Discussion
Hurrah! I've finally done it.
My car history goes something like this, since 1993
:
Astra 1200S
Cavalier LXi
God I'm old
Vectra LS
Vectra SRi V6 (1997 model)
Vectra SRi 130 (2000 model - brand new)
Honda Accord Sport (2004 model - brand new)
Honda Accord Type-R
Alfa 147 GTA
Mazda 6 MPS
BMW 335i E92
With a few beaters in-between. I've had the 335i for almost 5 years and whilst it's very accomplished in a straight-line, and is a wonderful cruiser, I decided I wanted something more fun.
I'd considered E92 M3, Z4M, C63, 997 - all sorts, but due to business commitments and wanting to move house next year I agreed with my wife that I'd try and change cars with as little outlay as possible.
My wife had previously had an R53 Cooper S when we lived in Edinburgh and we both loved it. I was aware that the GP existed and following a few threads on here, and reading some online reviews, I decided that as long as I could test one and enjoyed the drive I'd try and snap one up.
So that's what I did. I'd been casually checking Autotrader/PH for a few weeks, made a phone call about one car which sold the next morning. They clearly don't hang around.
Anyway, enough waffle.
This is the only decent picture I have at the moment. The car is fantastic fun with ridiculous cornering abilities! The MINI has about 150bhp less than my 335i but is obviously quite a bit lighter. I don't really feel that it needs any more power.
Hopefully this weekend I can make a start on cleaning her up.
I'll do my best to keep this thread updated, as I really want to make the car immaculate.
My car history goes something like this, since 1993
:Astra 1200S
Cavalier LXi
God I'm old
Vectra LS
Vectra SRi V6 (1997 model)
Vectra SRi 130 (2000 model - brand new)
Honda Accord Sport (2004 model - brand new)
Honda Accord Type-R
Alfa 147 GTA
Mazda 6 MPS
BMW 335i E92
With a few beaters in-between. I've had the 335i for almost 5 years and whilst it's very accomplished in a straight-line, and is a wonderful cruiser, I decided I wanted something more fun.
I'd considered E92 M3, Z4M, C63, 997 - all sorts, but due to business commitments and wanting to move house next year I agreed with my wife that I'd try and change cars with as little outlay as possible.
My wife had previously had an R53 Cooper S when we lived in Edinburgh and we both loved it. I was aware that the GP existed and following a few threads on here, and reading some online reviews, I decided that as long as I could test one and enjoyed the drive I'd try and snap one up.
So that's what I did. I'd been casually checking Autotrader/PH for a few weeks, made a phone call about one car which sold the next morning. They clearly don't hang around.
Anyway, enough waffle.
This is the only decent picture I have at the moment. The car is fantastic fun with ridiculous cornering abilities! The MINI has about 150bhp less than my 335i but is obviously quite a bit lighter. I don't really feel that it needs any more power.
Hopefully this weekend I can make a start on cleaning her up.
I'll do my best to keep this thread updated, as I really want to make the car immaculate.
moktabe said:
You can get all decals from the main dealers, some require proof of ownership.
Any changes planned for it or are you keeping it all standard?
Great, thanks. I'll give the local a call tomorrow.Any changes planned for it or are you keeping it all standard?
I'm a fan of OEM+ so I'm trying to work out how I can improve things that way. I'd like Xenons but they're a pain to do properly with levellers etc. I have seen these headlights which I think I like but I'm afraid to commit in case they look awful.
http://newministuff.com/black-headlights-with-led-...
Not too sure about the matching tail lights: http://newministuff.com/rear-lights---led-black-fo...
I like decent audio too. The previous owner has fitted a Pioneer head unit, Kenwood under seat sub, and JL components front and rear so it doesn't sound too bad. I'd like to improve it though.
Those lights are a bit er, well you get the gist
I put some uprated bulbs in mine and it was a vast improvement.
And that's how it started ending up like this :-)
Fantastic little cars, a few changes can make so much difference to them.
Do a search on faceache, there is an owners bit on there (unless you've already found it)
I put some uprated bulbs in mine and it was a vast improvement.
And that's how it started ending up like this :-)
Fantastic little cars, a few changes can make so much difference to them.
Do a search on faceache, there is an owners bit on there (unless you've already found it)
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 4th October 20:30
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 4th October 20:34
ArsE92 said:
Yeah I'll leave the lights I think! I'll just order some Osram Nightbreakers or something.
Yours is stunning. Congrats. What have you done to it?
I wouldn't mind a big brake kit, if only for aesthetics. Expensive though!
They're the ones I put in.Yours is stunning. Congrats. What have you done to it?
I wouldn't mind a big brake kit, if only for aesthetics. Expensive though!
One of the best things you can do is to lose the runflats if they've not already been done
Spec of the car below. Has been sold on now.
KW ClubSports and adjustable top mounts,
Adj RCAs,
Whiteline adj drop links,
Polybushed where needed,
GTT upper strut brace, OMP lower strut brace,
Camber of – 2 deg front and – 1.5 deg rear
BBS RC wheels, 17 x 7 in chilli red with Yoko AD08 tyres.
IRO of 25 - 30mm lower than standard.
Engine / exhaust : -
17% SC pulley
Vibratechnic top mount
Polybushed lower mount
Cat Cam, 550cc injectors and remap…currently at 250 BHP, 210 WHP
Janspeed manifold & sport cat, Milltek centre pipe with R56 Scorpion back box.
Brakes : -
AP Racing BBK to front with 2 piece discs, standard discs to rear. Mintex 1144 pads and uprated fluid and Goodridge hoses.
Interior : -
Recaro Pole Positions in half leather, half alcantara (faux but still nice)
Dash, down tubes, armrests, gaitors and dash top done in black nappa leather with red stitching.
All interior plastic in satin black
JCW leather / alcantara steering wheel
Misc : -
Vented A panels..
Wheel stud conversion.
Black roof
Front vents in body colour.
Mini Challenge rear diffusers.
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 4th October 20:47
ArsE92 said:
Thanks. I've read your GP thread a few times so you're partly responsible for my expensive weekend!
Can I ask where you got replacement decals? I need a GP one for my scoop!
Haha, sorry about that! Can I ask where you got replacement decals? I need a GP one for my scoop!
Yeah, as Moktabe said I got all the decals from my Mini dealer. They were all available within a coupe of days, with the exception of the roof number. That was on back order and took a few months
Doing the brakes for aesthetics is a good idea. The only thing that brassed me off was that you can do very little with the rear to stop them looking like push bike brakes.
I'm aware of "over braking" the rears but even looked down the route of altering the brake bias, ended up unnecessary as the only upgrade was to a R56 JCW rear set and and the visual improvement wasn't very well matched up to the cost.
Had the AP one piece kit to the front but felt it didn't look too good visually, the big one piece disc left much to be desired visually (it's amazing how these things matter!). Spoke to AP and it turns out they do a 2 piece disc the same size as the one piece, it's just not advertised. Yes, you can buy a 2 piece kit that includes a bigger calliper but the price is along the lines of "how much??"
The discs I ended up with weren't exactly cheap but when the disc needs replacing you already have the bell. Just need disc and new bolts which doesn't break the bank.
I'm aware of "over braking" the rears but even looked down the route of altering the brake bias, ended up unnecessary as the only upgrade was to a R56 JCW rear set and and the visual improvement wasn't very well matched up to the cost.
Had the AP one piece kit to the front but felt it didn't look too good visually, the big one piece disc left much to be desired visually (it's amazing how these things matter!). Spoke to AP and it turns out they do a 2 piece disc the same size as the one piece, it's just not advertised. Yes, you can buy a 2 piece kit that includes a bigger calliper but the price is along the lines of "how much??"
The discs I ended up with weren't exactly cheap but when the disc needs replacing you already have the bell. Just need disc and new bolts which doesn't break the bank.
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