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

[I WISH]

A little off topic ...... but am I the only person in the world who thinks that "privacy" glass ruins the look of any car. Just looks absolutely ste.
If you wanted a van ...... buy a van.

[MajorProblem]

Nothing about the crappy supercharger belt tensioner that can snap and take out all manor of things.

[David1976]

We had an R53 Cooper S and an R56 Cooper S.

The R53, despite being considerably slower and not as plush, was a far better car in my opinion. It felt more direct, was more exploitable, and made us smile more.

Outright speed isn't everything.

[mnkiboy]

Is the R56 really much faster than the R53? I haven't driven an R56 but i'm guessing it has more low down torque due to the turbo. It might feel quicker at 2000rpm but ultimately I don't think there would be much in it.

I don't have the figures to hand and could be completely wrong though!

[s m]

mnkiboy said:

Is the R56 really much faster than the R53?

Late or early model of R53? ( i.e. the 163bhp one or the later 170bhp version )

[DavidLScott]

I like my privacy glass and it means I can put larger stuff in the back without worrying it might be easily spotted and nicked.

[chris watton]

DavidLScott said:

I like my privacy glass and it means I can put larger stuff in the back without worrying it might be easily spotted and nicked.

As you can have this as a dealer/manufacturer option from new, I see nothing wrong with it at all.

[dukebox9reg]

mnkiboy said:

Is the R56 really much faster than the R53? I haven't driven an R56 but i'm guessing it has more low down torque due to the turbo. It might feel quicker at 2000rpm but ultimately I don't think there would be much in it.

I don't have the figures to hand and could be completely wrong though!

The R56 has a good 30lbft of tq more than the R53(163bhp) and it is available from around 1700-1800 (as per the norm with turbo cars nowadays)

Looking at comparing the late R53 and late R56 so 170bhp/162lbft vs 181bhp/177 (191 lbft overboost)

R53
60mph 7
100mph 19.5
1/4m 15.5

R56
60mph 6.6
100mph 17.1
1/4m 15

[s m]

dukebox9reg said:

mnkiboy said:

Is the R56 really much faster than the R53? I haven't driven an R56 but i'm guessing it has more low down torque due to the turbo. It might feel quicker at 2000rpm but ultimately I don't think there would be much in it.

I don't have the figures to hand and could be completely wrong though!

The R56 has a good 30lbft of tq more than the R53(163bhp) and it is available from around 1700-1800 (as per the norm with turbo cars nowadays)

Looking at comparing the late R53 and late R56 so 170bhp/162lbft vs 181bhp/177 (191 lbft overboost)

R53
60mph 7
100mph 19.5
1/4m 15.5

R56
60mph 6.6
100mph 17.1
1/4m 15

Are they from EVO or Autocar tests? Or claimed figures?

[chris watton]

I would think that performance figures are a little moot for the Cooper S models - or at least for those who are interested in such things and getting the best performance out of their Mini - they seem so easy to tune to get way past 200bhp, the manufacturer's figures are used merely as a baseline, surely?

[Matt UK]

HeMightBeBanned said:

Is it possible to make these things ride properly?

I stuck some 15's with 175/65 winter tyres on my R53 MCS back in Dec.

Suits me to the point that I still haven't put the 17's back on...

[s m]

Matt UK said:

I stuck some 15's with winter tyres on my R53 MCS back in Dec.

Suits me to the point that I still haven't put the 17's back on...

Have you got the Imolas? They're very lightweight compared to the run of the mill 17 S-spokes

[pembo]

Triumph Man said:

Can you easily remove it? I weird sinister part of me wants a GP Cooper S and blank the rear windows and create a commercial vehicle...

I'd check out some insurance quotes first, when I looked at getting one the cheapest quote was 3x what I ended up paying to insure a 350Z!

I eventually ended up with an R53 Cooper S with the 17% reducer pulley, M7 filter, GRS intercooler, JCW exhaust and K&N coilovers. I loved that little car and it was great fun but breaking up with the ex meant I had to sell it to cover her half of the rent for a couple of months.

I've been looking at them again recently as a fun little run about to take the rear seats out of and chuck the bike in the back to get to races.

[I WISH]

chris watton said:

DavidLScott said:

I like my privacy glass and it means I can put larger stuff in the back without worrying it might be easily spotted and nicked.

As you can have this as a dealer/manufacturer option from new, I see nothing wrong with it at all.

Nothing "wrong" with it at all. I just think that privacy glass (on the rear screen and side windows) ruins the look of any car. Just looks odd having half the car blacked out.

[mnkiboy]

dukebox9reg said:

The R56 has a good 30lbft of tq more than the R53(163bhp) and it is available from around 1700-1800 (as per the norm with turbo cars nowadays)

Looking at comparing the late R53 and late R56 so 170bhp/162lbft vs 181bhp/177 (191 lbft overboost)

R53
60mph 7
100mph 19.5
1/4m 15.5

R56
60mph 6.6
100mph 17.1
1/4m 15

Going by those figures then the R56 is noticeably quicker. Didn't realise it was that quick to be fair.

[bozzy101]

Is anyone else having trouble accessing the buyers guide through a mobile device?

[DavidLScott]

I WISH said:

chris watton said:

DavidLScott said:

I like my privacy glass and it means I can put larger stuff in the back without worrying it might be easily spotted and nicked.

As you can have this as a dealer/manufacturer option from new, I see nothing wrong with it at all.

Nothing "wrong" with it at all. I just think that privacy glass (on the rear screen and side windows) ruins the look of any car. Just looks odd having half the car blacked out.

We can happily agree to differ. Would be boring if we all liked the same thing.
I couldn't wait to get it fitted to mine as, to me, it looked weird all clear.
Sad to say my X3 has it also but my wife un-specced it on her Cooper.

[ArsE92]

Triumph Man said:

I used to hate the idea of them. Then I drove one. Now I feel like a wally for hating them. God they are fun!

Same. I hated them for years, then I drove my sister-in-law's one weekend. We bought one the following weekend.

We should have got one years ago!

We sold ours last year to a PH'er, only because we had Junior on the way and needed something bigger. I'd have another in a flash.

[0llie]

7s2000 said:

Is it true that the power steering pump will fail on the road randomly... IIRC BMW didn't fix it on the R56 facelift...? Can anyone confirm please?

The R56 went to an electric system, totally different to that on the 1st Gens.

[leedsutd1]

The JCW mini I owned, had Harmon Kardon, was very impressed ,especially as BMW standard sound systems do not sound good, had a 3 series with HK that was the same ,makes a big difference.

Contigo said:

3795mpower said:

Harman Kardon audio is brilliant.

I don't rate it that highly. I went to turn it up a little the other day and it blew the front passenger speaker. Now rattles and clips every time you go near the volume button