It's a Mini adventure
Discussion
Not a lot to say about it yet, but we picked up a new to us Mini Cooper S with the N18 engine.
It's a 2010 with good service history, 3 previous owners in laser blue. It's due its timing chain soon (miles are at 85k) and needs some tidying up on the front bumper, otherwise it is a good little car.
Spec wise, it has xenons, climate control, heated leather, panther black headlining, auto lights, auto wipers, dab+, sat nav, cruise control, Bluetooth audio and the headlights turn with the steering wheel.
This has been bought to replace my Skoda Octavia vRS which I am currently trying to sell.
I only have 1 pic as such at the moment.
Plans? Well it's going to get a few mods, can't help it
I've replaced the fuel cap for a new one and replaced all 3 wiper blades.
It's a 2010 with good service history, 3 previous owners in laser blue. It's due its timing chain soon (miles are at 85k) and needs some tidying up on the front bumper, otherwise it is a good little car.
Spec wise, it has xenons, climate control, heated leather, panther black headlining, auto lights, auto wipers, dab+, sat nav, cruise control, Bluetooth audio and the headlights turn with the steering wheel.
This has been bought to replace my Skoda Octavia vRS which I am currently trying to sell.
I only have 1 pic as such at the moment.
Plans? Well it's going to get a few mods, can't help it
I've replaced the fuel cap for a new one and replaced all 3 wiper blades.
tvrfan007 said:
I loved the one my R56 wife had, once we got it off run flats. Was a go kart..
Probably needs new arb bushes at the rear, they were made of recycled liquorice I found.
This is very darty, and very economical too! We've driven over 120 miles in it and the fuel gauge lights haven't dropped yet (I know they work!) and it's showing around 440 miles left for the range. I can get the seat comfortable for me which I could never do in my wife's Twingo, which makes a massive difference.Probably needs new arb bushes at the rear, they were made of recycled liquorice I found.
I'll get those looked at, there's no bangs from the rear, it all feels quite tight and there's no rattles inside the car either - rare!
Canon_Fodder said:
Loving the laser blue OP
Black mirrors and roof perhaps? Or perhaps too much agg to be worth it?
Cheers! I wanted a colour other than Red, Black, Silver, White, so Laser Blue was a good choice. I'm going to leave the white bits white. If I did do a colour change, it would be a wrap on the roof anyway.Black mirrors and roof perhaps? Or perhaps too much agg to be worth it?
Bobupndown said:
Does it really need a timing chain at 85k??
Yes it does - well, not as such as it's not making any noises, but ideally it wants to be done soon. The N14 is even worse.Court_S said:
Looks good.
The R56 passed me by at the time because I was such an R53 fanboy, but these days I really like them. They’re a lot of fun.
Cheers! I really like the R53 Cooper S with the supercharged engine, but I wanted a turbo due Euro 5 so I could take it into London and because the R53 Cooper S drinks nearly as much fuel as my M5 The R56 passed me by at the time because I was such an R53 fanboy, but these days I really like them. They’re a lot of fun.
Mr Tidy said:
That should be fun!
I remember Mrs Tidy ordering her R56 Cooper at the launch event at our local Sytner. She collected it on 23 December 2006 so an early Xmas present and still has it now.
I loved borrowing it when I got the chance so a Cooper S must be even better.
Nice, I've not always liked the Mini, I felt it was too big and not really a "Mini", but they've really grown on me. Sounds like Mrs Tidy really likes it to have had it 16 years - rare for any car of that age to be one owner!I remember Mrs Tidy ordering her R56 Cooper at the launch event at our local Sytner. She collected it on 23 December 2006 so an early Xmas present and still has it now.
I loved borrowing it when I got the chance so a Cooper S must be even better.
D4MJT said:
Great little car OP, and it'll be a great contrast to the M5. My Mrs ran an R53 Cooper with the JCW kit and sound pack for 3 years and it was an absolute riot, loved it.
Cheers! Yeah it's definitely a contrast! I just hope it doesn't spoil me lol. I bet that was a proper riot and looked good!TheAngryDog said:
Mr Tidy said:
That should be fun!
I remember Mrs Tidy ordering her R56 Cooper at the launch event at our local Sytner. She collected it on 23 December 2006 so an early Xmas present and still has it now.
I loved borrowing it when I got the chance so a Cooper S must be even better.
Nice, I've not always liked the Mini, I felt it was too big and not really a "Mini", but they've really grown on me. Sounds like Mrs Tidy really likes it to have had it 16 years - rare for any car of that age to be one owner! I remember Mrs Tidy ordering her R56 Cooper at the launch event at our local Sytner. She collected it on 23 December 2006 so an early Xmas present and still has it now.
I loved borrowing it when I got the chance so a Cooper S must be even better.
A/C, Xenons, full leather with red highlights, black roof and bonnet stripes, heated front screen, disco lights - the list goes on.
But 16 years later I realise she was right, even if it has only done 62K miles.
I'm feeling the need to try a Cooper S now though!
I’ve got an R58 so same engine… keep an eye on cold start problems as it’ll be the high pressure fuel pump on the way out. Mini say it’s a non serviceable part and will happily sell you another one for a grand, but there’s companies out there which will refurb them for couple hundred of quid.
Love the exhaust noise on these. Always tempted by a cheeky remap but can’t help worry about the fragility of the French engine!
Love the exhaust noise on these. Always tempted by a cheeky remap but can’t help worry about the fragility of the French engine!
The timing chain is due to be replaced this coming weekend, so that will be a small weight off my shoulders.
I've been driving it around, sorted the drivers side window sun visor with some clips from a different colour set, but for now it's better than having it fall out when I try and use it.
Not the most exciting of pictures
Really enjoying using the car, it's fun and is surprisingly nice to drive over a longer trip (2 and a half hours is the longest up to now). Very pleased with it.
I've been driving it around, sorted the drivers side window sun visor with some clips from a different colour set, but for now it's better than having it fall out when I try and use it.
Not the most exciting of pictures
Really enjoying using the car, it's fun and is surprisingly nice to drive over a longer trip (2 and a half hours is the longest up to now). Very pleased with it.
Channel swap is a nice free mod to do too, if it hasn't been done already....
https://www.minitorque.com/threads/did-the-channel...
https://www.minitorque.com/threads/did-the-channel...
GiveItSomeWellie said:
Lovely car!
Quite a rare interior combination, not many went for the aluminium dash on LCI cars never mind with the really expensive Lounge Leather, polar colour line and anthracite headliner, very nice!
Thank you! I haven't seen any in this combination, but I haven't been looking since I bought one lol. My fil has a 2011 MCS, but his has the lighter head lining, and lower spec as well. I like the aluminium dash, though I also like the cf effect one. Quite a rare interior combination, not many went for the aluminium dash on LCI cars never mind with the really expensive Lounge Leather, polar colour line and anthracite headliner, very nice!
My car also has the extra "glove box" above the main one, which I understand is less common on the LCI cars.
I can't think much of what my car doesn't have, I'll need to check the brochures. It doesn't have the panoramic roof which was welcome!
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