RE: Mini Cooper S (R53): PH Buying Guide

[Leins]

greenarrow said:

In 2023 now and anyone else noticed that these are finally creeping up in value. However, compared with almost everything else sporty from the same era, they remain very cheap I think. This and the Mk1 Audi TT. These are now on my radar after a brief drive in a MK2 Mini Cooper before Christmas. I had never driven a BMW era Mini before and it just felt really nice on the road. Chuckable chassis, nice steering and just felt like it would be a blast on a backroad. The R53 is now on the "future classic list" for me.

Yes, values have definitely started moving up, probably aided by diminishing numbers. The likes of JCWs are nowhere near as cheap as they once were, and optional JCW parts are huge money these days, especially anything carbon

[Pebbles167]

I've just bought a 2004 pre face-lift R53 with 120k for £1400, pocket change really.

I wouldn't say It's been neglected, but it has sat about for the last year or two doing very little. Few jobs need doing, as it's not boosting properly. Suspect the supercharger bypass valve which is a simple enough fix.

Hopefully it'll be a decent little runner for a year or so, and not the money pit that these can be. MOT is imminent, which might reveal a bit more.

Fingers crossed.

[wobert]

I’m a former R53 owner from the noughties, I had an R53 bought new after a 9 month wait in 2003 and an R52 MCS bought new in 2005.

I now have the means to relive my youth so have just purchased a late 2004 R53 facelift model.

I pick it up on Friday.

It’s got pretty much every option less satnav and mfsw.

More importantly it’s had most of the “big” jobs already done, e.g. supercharger service, subframes dropped, rustproofed and re-bushed etc. dampers etc.

The only faults are a bodged repaired tailgate and a rear bumper that needs some attention. These I both plan to sort in the next couple of months.

Readers car thread coming soon!

[Dr Interceptor]

wobert said:

I’m a former R53 owner from the noughties, I had an R53 bought new after a 9 month wait in 2003 and an R52 MCS bought new in 2005.

I now have the means to relive my youth so have just purchased a late 2004 R53 facelift model.

I pick it up on Friday.

It’s got pretty much every option less satnav and mfsw.

More importantly it’s had most of the “big” jobs already done, e.g. supercharger service, subframes dropped, rustproofed and re-bushed etc. dampers etc.

The only faults are a bodged repaired tailgate and a rear bumper that needs some attention. These I both plan to sort in the next couple of months.

Readers car thread coming soon!

Were you on MINI2.com back in the day? I recognise the user name....

[wobert]

Dr Interceptor said:

wobert said:

I’m a former R53 owner from the noughties, I had an R53 bought new after a 9 month wait in 2003 and an R52 MCS bought new in 2005.

I now have the means to relive my youth so have just purchased a late 2004 R53 facelift model.

I pick it up on Friday.

It’s got pretty much every option less satnav and mfsw.

More importantly it’s had most of the “big” jobs already done, e.g. supercharger service, subframes dropped, rustproofed and re-bushed etc. dampers etc.

The only faults are a bodged repaired tailgate and a rear bumper that needs some attention. These I both plan to sort in the next couple of months.

Readers car thread coming soon!

Were you on MINI2.com back in the day? I recognise the user name....

I might have been

Simon (Interceptor?)

Edited by wobert on Tuesday 2nd May 11:49

[Dr Interceptor]

wobert said:

I might have been

Simon (Interceptor?)

I'm Jon, my username in the MINI2 days was minicabrio / minicabrio-uk

[wobert]

Dr Interceptor said:

wobert said:

I might have been

Simon (Interceptor?)

I'm Jon, my username in the MINI2 days was minicabrio / minicabrio-uk

I remember the registration no…

[Mod64]

Let me tell you , BEWARE ! ,this ain't all it seems, in 2019 I bought a " Half Tidy" R53 S ( Had to have a Pan Roof / Red and White so it was rarish even then) Boy has My Credit Score suffered the experience ,and my nerves are shattered!
Its had 5k Spent on Repairs ,3k on cosmetics cos I'm Super - Anal about my Cars and Scooters... and service work / Maps etc ,plus bits I wanted to get it looking if I say so myself a Bit Special and Retro.
Having done all this I despaired &
I got to the point I put it on WBAC
Last June , Before they stopped paying Schofield silly money to sell me the idea ...and I Quote "Our Offer
Is £870 "....Oh ste ....
So my advice is,,,BUY ONE...I laugh
Every time I get in and notice another noise...but be prepared to play Roulette with your Hard- Earned ..I paid 2k for it ...so it owes me far more than I can sell it for ...
It still needs a PAS pump..I like it as it is because it feels better so that can wait..and watch the Rear washer pump hose..it comes off and Decorates the inner tailgate...
Mine was Rotten ..and so it goes on ....
But I'm 60 so hopefully I can return the investment and Buy a Much Dreamed 65 Vitesse with a Webasto ! When Retirement comes.
Having said all this , its still gracing my drive , has 98 Octane in the Tank ...Gets Ceramic coated twice a month ,,,it Sounds like a WW2 Fighter plane ...and just last week it got compliments off two separate
Car Wash Centres on how nice it was...I'm Sorry ,,but you don't get that with a German Kraut Box.
MOD

[jasonrobertson86]

Mod64 said:

Let me tell you , BEWARE ! ,this ain't all it seems, in 2019 I bought a " Half Tidy" R53 S ( Had to have a Pan Roof / Red and White so it was rarish even then) Boy has My Credit Score suffered the experience ,and my nerves are shattered!
Its had 5k Spent on Repairs ,3k on cosmetics cos I'm Super - Anal about my Cars and Scooters... and service work / Maps etc ,plus bits I wanted to get it looking if I say so myself a Bit Special and Retro.
Having done all this I despaired &
I got to the point I put it on WBAC
Last June , Before they stopped paying Schofield silly money to sell me the idea ...and I Quote "Our Offer
Is £870 "....Oh ste ....
So my advice is,,,BUY ONE...I laugh
Every time I get in and notice another noise...but be prepared to play Roulette with your Hard- Earned ..I paid 2k for it ...so it owes me far more than I can sell it for ...
It still needs a PAS pump..I like it as it is because it feels better so that can wait..and watch the Rear washer pump hose..it comes off and Decorates the inner tailgate...
Mine was Rotten ..and so it goes on ....
But I'm 60 so hopefully I can return the investment and Buy a Much Dreamed 65 Vitesse with a Webasto ! When Retirement comes.
Having said all this , its still gracing my drive , has 98 Octane in the Tank ...Gets Ceramic coated twice a month ,,,it Sounds like a WW2 Fighter plane ...and just last week it got compliments off two separate
Car Wash Centres on how nice it was...I'm Sorry ,,but you don't get that with a German Kraut Box.
MOD

you ok?

[Leins]

jasonrobertson86 said:

you ok?

Don’t tell him his MINI is basically a German car, it won’t go down well I suspect

[President Merkin]

A German Kraut box you say?

A BMW Mini? OK then.

[MightyBadger]

Mod64 said:

Let me tell you , BEWARE ! ,this ain't all it seems, in 2019 I bought a " Half Tidy" R53 S ( Had to have a Pan Roof / Red and White so it was rarish even then) Boy has My Credit Score suffered the experience ,and my nerves are shattered!
Its had 5k Spent on Repairs ,3k on cosmetics cos I'm Super - Anal about my Cars and Scooters... and service work / Maps etc ,plus bits I wanted to get it looking if I say so myself a Bit Special and Retro.
Having done all this I despaired &
I got to the point I put it on WBAC
Last June , Before they stopped paying Schofield silly money to sell me the idea ...and I Quote "Our Offer
Is £870 "....Oh ste ....
So my advice is,,,BUY ONE...I laugh
Every time I get in and notice another noise...but be prepared to play Roulette with your Hard- Earned ..I paid 2k for it ...so it owes me far more than I can sell it for ...
It still needs a PAS pump..I like it as it is because it feels better so that can wait..and watch the Rear washer pump hose..it comes off and Decorates the inner tailgate...
Mine was Rotten ..and so it goes on ....
But I'm 60 so hopefully I can return the investment and Buy a Much Dreamed 65 Vitesse with a Webasto ! When Retirement comes.
Having said all this , its still gracing my drive , has 98 Octane in the Tank ...Gets Ceramic coated twice a month ,,,it Sounds like a WW2 Fighter plane ...and just last week it got compliments off two separate
Car Wash Centres on how nice it was...I'm Sorry ,,but you don't get that with a German Kraut Box.
MOD

Sounds like you were unlucky/bought a bucket/didn’t check it properly before buying.

I bought low mileage one two years ago for £2500, had great fun in it and sold to a mate who is now enjoying and looking after it. Noise and handling was fantastic.

Only sold as it as fancied a change, went the opposite way with a 3.0 barge, pretty much same fuel consumption/tax/insurance and a smidgen faster than the mini. Love the sound of both engines though, lovely noises.

[and31]

Mod64 said:

Let me tell you , BEWARE ! ,this ain't all it seems, in 2019 I bought a " Half Tidy" R53 S ( Had to have a Pan Roof / Red and White so it was rarish even then) Boy has My Credit Score suffered the experience ,and my nerves are shattered!
Its had 5k Spent on Repairs ,3k on cosmetics cos I'm Super - Anal about my Cars and Scooters... and service work / Maps etc ,plus bits I wanted to get it looking if I say so myself a Bit Special and Retro.
Having done all this I despaired &
I got to the point I put it on WBAC
Last June , Before they stopped paying Schofield silly money to sell me the idea ...and I Quote "Our Offer
Is £870 "....Oh ste ....
So my advice is,,,BUY ONE...I laugh
Every time I get in and notice another noise...but be prepared to play Roulette with your Hard- Earned ..I paid 2k for it ...so it owes me far more than I can sell it for ...
It still needs a PAS pump..I like it as it is because it feels better so that can wait..and watch the Rear washer pump hose..it comes off and Decorates the inner tailgate...
Mine was Rotten ..and so it goes on ....
But I'm 60 so hopefully I can return the investment and Buy a Much Dreamed 65 Vitesse with a Webasto ! When Retirement comes.
Having said all this , its still gracing my drive , has 98 Octane in the Tank ...Gets Ceramic coated twice a month ,,,it Sounds like a WW2 Fighter plane ...and just last week it got compliments off two separate
Car Wash Centres on how nice it was...I'm Sorry ,,but you don't get that with a German Kraut Box.
MOD

5k on repairs? What have you had done?
I modified mine as soon as I bought it around seven years ago, only big things I’ve had to spend on were changing all the brake pipes as they were rotten,n/s driveshaft and I bought a stainless header tank after the original st it’s self.
Perhaps you bought one that was a bit of a dog?
Edit to add:
You sound surprised at we buy any car’s offer? I’m sure I’d get offered similar,if you want to sell it get on some of the owners forums, but you do realise you’re never getting back what you’ve put into it?
I’d say 2 grand in 2019 was a proper “ cheap” one. At least you have a sorted car now,just enjoy it

Edited by and31 on Sunday 31st December 15:03

[Robster]

I love my R53 JCW , I wanted to find one of the best examples I could find and was lucky enough to find this one , any repairs get sorted straight away as I plan to keep it for a looong time !

[and31]

Robster said:

I love my R53 JCW , I wanted to find one of the best examples I could find and was lucky enough to find this one , any repairs get sorted straight away as I plan to keep it for a looong time !

That looks very clean indeed!!

[Leins]

Robster said:

I love my R53 JCW , I wanted to find one of the best examples I could find and was lucky enough to find this one , any repairs get sorted straight away as I plan to keep it for a looong time !

That’s lovely. Any inside pics?

[Robster]

Leins said:

Robster said:

I love my R53 JCW , I wanted to find one of the best examples I could find and was lucky enough to find this one , any repairs get sorted straight away as I plan to keep it for a looong time !

That’s lovely. Any inside pics?

There you go !


[url]

|https://thumbsnap.com/m5KrXDKe[/url]

[Leins]

^^^ That is very nice! Like the JCW carbon bits too

[Robster]

Leins said:

^^^ That is very nice! Like the JCW carbon bits too

Thank you , i may spend a bit too much time cleaning the car !

[and31]

Robster said:

There you go !


[url]

|https://thumbsnap.com/m5KrXDKe[/url]

Bloody Recaros!! Love them!!