Mini Cooper S R53
Discussion
I've recently got this Cooper S to replace a van that I've been driving for the past 8 years. I had the van to carry my motocross bike about at the weekends but used it as my daily driver all that time too.
The mini is a slightly different drive!
It's had a few bits done already. I'll list what's been done so far and then update as I do more.
Engine:
Kavs 15% pulley
Dave.f airbox
Samco intake
Milltek non resonated cat back
Chassis:
Front upper strut brace
Wheels:
Standard painted grey
Body:
Aero rear bumper
Black plasti dip grill, badges, headlight surrounds, scoop
Tinted rear lights
Plans in the future: (itallic means its been done)
Rota blitz wheels/OZ Ultraleggaras/non run flat tyres
Aero front bumper+grills & skirts
Black roof
Black mirror caps
Black belt line
Coilovers
Intercooler
Brake upgrade
Just doing some research currently on coilovers and trying to decide if I do want them for a daily driver.
The mini is a slightly different drive!
It's had a few bits done already. I'll list what's been done so far and then update as I do more.
Engine:
Kavs 15% pulley
Dave.f airbox
Samco intake
Milltek non resonated cat back
Chassis:
Front upper strut brace
Wheels:
Standard painted grey
Body:
Aero rear bumper
Black plasti dip grill, badges, headlight surrounds, scoop
Tinted rear lights
Plans in the future: (itallic means its been done)
Rota blitz wheels/OZ Ultraleggaras/non run flat tyres
Aero front bumper+grills & skirts
Black roof
Black mirror caps
Black belt line
Coilovers
Intercooler
Brake upgrade
Just doing some research currently on coilovers and trying to decide if I do want them for a daily driver.
Edited by andyr30 on Thursday 21st September 10:27
Edited by andyr30 on Thursday 21st September 10:28
Edited by andyr30 on Tuesday 10th October 15:53
Edited by andyr30 on Tuesday 10th October 15:54
CarsOrBikes said:
You don't need coils on a daily, but adjustable front top mounts will help improve handling a bit while reducing tyre shoulder wear, and getting off runflats will help too if not already
Oh but you do, the standard MCS suspension is beyond awful. You couldn't pay me to put the stock suspension back on my S, I would rather walk.I think it handles quite well on the stock suspension but I have been driving a van for ages before this so anything is going to be an improvement.
Reading other owners experiences they mirror the above, that coilovers transform it.
Like I said I think I'll do a bit more research into what may be suitable and then make a decision.
Few other bits I will be doing before then. New wheels and tyres are probably going to be next.
Cheers
Reading other owners experiences they mirror the above, that coilovers transform it.
Like I said I think I'll do a bit more research into what may be suitable and then make a decision.
Few other bits I will be doing before then. New wheels and tyres are probably going to be next.
Cheers
I've done a few other bits and bobs to this now and have a few other bits to fit:
OMP lower front strut brace and Whiteline 20mm rear ARB
LED Smoked rear lights to replace those horrible lexus style ones
Canton Aluminium expansion tank to replace the standard one which is prone to leaking.
Looking for wheels and tyres next to save a bit of weight.
Still enjoying the whine from the supercharger but it doesn't help with fuel economy!
OMP lower front strut brace and Whiteline 20mm rear ARB
LED Smoked rear lights to replace those horrible lexus style ones
Canton Aluminium expansion tank to replace the standard one which is prone to leaking.
Looking for wheels and tyres next to save a bit of weight.
Still enjoying the whine from the supercharger but it doesn't help with fuel economy!
andyr30 said:
I've done a few other bits and bobs to this now and have a few other bits to fit:
OMP lower front strut brace and Whiteline 20mm rear ARB
LED Smoked rear lights to replace those horrible lexus style ones
Canton Aluminium expansion tank to replace the standard one which is prone to leaking.
Looking for wheels and tyres next to save a bit of weight.
Still enjoying the whine from the supercharger but it doesn't help with fuel economy!
Looks great. I think a lot of people go with Team Dynamics wheels when attempting to reduce weight. I've considering building one of these for track use in the past and may well do so once my E46 M3 sells.OMP lower front strut brace and Whiteline 20mm rear ARB
LED Smoked rear lights to replace those horrible lexus style ones
Canton Aluminium expansion tank to replace the standard one which is prone to leaking.
Looking for wheels and tyres next to save a bit of weight.
Still enjoying the whine from the supercharger but it doesn't help with fuel economy!
Not much to update really - got the hairpins fitted and wish I'd done it a lot sooner. The difference is massive.
Those heavy 17's with the runflats give such a bad ride although didn't realise how bad until switched to the hairpins.
Stil have the KW coilovers and all other susupension parts to fit which will probably be next job on the list.
Fitted an Atomspeed bonnet scoop after mine started rattling about due to broken fittings. Also fitted Aero grill, still got the bottom part to fit as it requires a bit of modding to fit to a non-aero bumper
Those heavy 17's with the runflats give such a bad ride although didn't realise how bad until switched to the hairpins.
Stil have the KW coilovers and all other susupension parts to fit which will probably be next job on the list.
Fitted an Atomspeed bonnet scoop after mine started rattling about due to broken fittings. Also fitted Aero grill, still got the bottom part to fit as it requires a bit of modding to fit to a non-aero bumper
Just updating this.
Picture below is as it stands now.
Just recently fitted Vibratechnics upper and lower engine mounts which have taken away a shudder it was suffering with at low speed.
The upper hydraulic mount was shot, common item to fail on these.
Fitted an orranje G Wing - not to everyones tastes but I like it.
Trying to do most of the work myself, however with it being a 14 year old car a lot of the fittings are rusted/knackered so struggling with some bits.
Still got a pile of parts in the garage waiting to fit:
Picture below is as it stands now.
Just recently fitted Vibratechnics upper and lower engine mounts which have taken away a shudder it was suffering with at low speed.
The upper hydraulic mount was shot, common item to fail on these.
Fitted an orranje G Wing - not to everyones tastes but I like it.
Trying to do most of the work myself, however with it being a 14 year old car a lot of the fittings are rusted/knackered so struggling with some bits.
Still got a pile of parts in the garage waiting to fit:
- KW V1 coilovers
- Compbrake Adjustable top mounts
- Whiteline Rear ARB
- Hardrace adjustable RCA's
- R56 Cooper S front calipers/dics
- HEL Braided brake lines
Not updated this in a while and added a few more bits:
Done all the work on the car myself just following guides and how to videos...Was a bit wary about doing the camshaft but it wasn't too bad in the end
The aim is for this to be fast road and possibly occasional track car
- KW Coilovers now fitted, although they were not compatible with the adjustable top mounts so running them with standard mounts for the moment. Not ideal as need to tweak alignment slightly.
- Fitted the whiteline rear Anti Roll Bar, definitely tightened the back end up
- Fitted a Newman PH2 Camshaft and Focus ST225 injectors and remapped it to suit - this has made it even more lively and it feels like it likes to build the revs quicker...going to book it in for a few dyno runs to check
- Fitted Airtec intercooler
- Fitted Corbeau Sportline bucket seats
Done all the work on the car myself just following guides and how to videos...Was a bit wary about doing the camshaft but it wasn't too bad in the end
The aim is for this to be fast road and possibly occasional track car
Edited by andyr30 on Tuesday 4th September 12:10
Another small update...
Now running Oz Superleggera's with big balloon tyres...these do help with the roads around here but probably would be better off running a lower profile.
Fitted a Sprintbooster which I was a bit sceptical about but have actually been pretty impressed by it.
Still love the coolerworx shifter and got the 3d printed surround to tidy it up a bit. Interior is still a work in progress though
Done a lot of small bits here and there such as the carbon dials and white led conversion.
A lot of recent work has been dealing with issues a 15 year old car has!
I've got a few bits waiting to be fitted as usual: Front Aero bumper, vented A wings, Full GP2 rear diffuser kit. Also have new drive shafts and pretty much all ball joints/bushes for the front end
Edited by andyr30 on Wednesday 24th July 11:35
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