Brown barn doors - mini R55 clubman

[drgoatboy]

At the start of the year I got myself a 2018 e300 cabriolet. It was a lovely car and enjoyed drop top motoring all summer. But with car prices going crazy my biggest fear of ownership of a big Merc did exactly the opposite. Come late August it was worth over 10% more than I paid for it! I couldn't resist. A quick visit to a local merc garage and a deal was done. The big Merc was going after just 6 months.
Now selling when prices are high is a problem, all prices have gone up across the board. So I started to look at a but closer to the bottom of the market. I am not currently commuting in the car so can afford to take a few more chances...

Now I have always fancied a BMW mini since they came out 20 or so years ago. I test drove one back then and loved it but never quite managed to buy one. Now as a father of 2 a r53 cooper s just wasn't going to be big enough. I had previously looked at the latest shape 5 door but I didn't get on with the seats. So the obvious choice? A 12 year old r55 clubman cooper s of course! Now I know the extra door is on the wrong side, and the N14 engine has a horrible reputation but still...

I started looking and found one local to me on Facebook, but it was brown. Oh well it's a cheap car and its local. I snuck out for a look and what do you know?! I love the little brown mini. A quick test drive, a very serious barter and the car is mine.
Picked it up on Saturday.

Here it is, a bit grubby, but ready to go from the sellers house. Lovely guy and a pleasure to do business with.




drive home was good, super fun little thing and feels so small after my last couple of cars. there is also something liberating about being to hustle along a cheap little car, I always feel less precious about it.

everything seems to work as it should, aircon is a bit pants, and its going to take some getting used to not have auto everything, not even climate, but its all good.
kids have plenty of room in the back and really seem to like it.

got it home in one piece....



now I know its very uncool, but with 2 young daughters the car needs a name, short list so far
- Wally the wagon
- Conker
- Jobbie
- Radagast

any other ideas? Answers on a postcard please to: Poo brown mini, Hertfordshire, HP1 8OO

[drgoatboy]

The previous owner (hi George!) Admitted that the oil needed topping up and the last time he topped up he put in "whatever I had lying around in the garage"
In a car renowned for eating oil and snapping timing chains this didn't make me feel overly happy.
First job when I get home with a new car is normally to wash it. Well this time it was a quick oils change.


My drive has a slight slope so the ramps do a great job of levelling the car and allowing a container to fit under the sump.
Did the oil change after my extended drive home so it was very hot and it came out rather after than expected overshooting my oil container and making a right mess. Bother.
Mess tidied up, time to take out the oil filter. Now some have complained this is fiddly but honestly it's the easiest oil change I have ever done. 10mm bolt to be able to move the expansion tank and then a 27mm bolt on top of the filter cartridge housing.

Ta da!


Oil was pretty black



New stuff just from my local motor factor. After mercedes and lotus it's refreshingly cheap to service! My local motor factor didn't have the correct size crush washer but did have a new plug and washer kit. It was only a few quid so why not!!




Also got a new dipstick. The BMW ones are both hard to read and prone to snapping off in the sump. Found this on sale so seem like a sensible investment.



As always the car seemed to run a bit more smoothly and quietly after the oil change but no idea if that's all in my mind!
Let's see how much oil it eats.

I know Castrol isn't everyone's taste in oil but it's fully synthetic and readily available for emergency top ups so I thought why not!!

[drgoatboy]

Just wanted to add the colour is A88 "hot chocolate". Sounds dead classy I reckon.
It's nothing like hot chocolate coloured but nevermind

[supacool1]

When I was thinking about downsizing from the FSTI I was strangely drawn to the Clubman Cooper S'. Loving the colour...I still might when the time comes as it's a little leftfield and I do like the proportions.

[CoolHands]

Love it; I've been looking at these very recently (in fact I looked at one yesterday!)

Here's my thread if you want to look at some potential future maintenance jobs:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing//topic.asp?h=0...

the only bad one is if you need a new clutch as it's such a big job. The other jobs are ok as a home mechanic if you're not in a rush.

By the way did that dipstick seem to help?

[Challo]

Looking good. I missed out on a Brown clubby when I was looking for one. Ended up finding a local Chilli Red N14 that’s already had the engine rebuilt. They are fun cars, and do shift when needed.

Does the service book indicate if the timing chain has been done?

[drgoatboy]

Thanks everyone. More love than I thought. Dipstick was still hard to read but with the oil being so clean it always is. Let me report back in a week or 2 when it's dirtied up.

No timing chain not done, tensioner was replaced recently so gives a little piece of mind but full chain replacement is high up the list as is the turbo oil feed and a walnut blast of the valves. Just trying to find somewhere local to do all 3 in a oner. If anyone knows somehwere near Hemel Hempstead then let me know!

[drgoatboy]

Challo said:

Looking good. I missed out on a Brown clubby when I was looking for one. Ended up finding a local Chilli Red N14 that’s already had the engine rebuilt. They are fun cars, and do shift when needed.

I was tempted by a forged car I found in Milton Keynes. Over £10k of work done recently and was for sale for a lot less... Also red.
But I just couldn't get past hot chocolate!!

[Hyde]

Great choice and health to enjoy it.
Hot Chocolate is a cracking colour

I searched for ages before I found my Clubman Cooper S, 4 years in and still loving it.

[Mikebentley]

Why don’t you call it Roy as in Roy Clubby Brown.

[Court_S]

Looks good. Can I be cheeky and ask how much you managed to pick it up for?

As a massive R53 fan boy, I really hated the R56/5 cars at the time. They just weren’t the same without the noisy hydraulic steering etc however, I’ve really grown to like them over time. They’re a much more resolved design than the F56 cars.

I took advantage of the current prices this year too, swapping my M140i for an old 130 LE which so far I actually prefer.

[J4CKO]

Mikebentley said:

Why don’t you call it Roy as in Roy Clubby Brown.

Thats pretty good

[drgoatboy]

Court_S said:

Looks good. Can I be cheeky and ask how much you managed to pick it up for?

As a massive R53 fan boy, I really hated the R56/5 cars at the time. They just weren’t the same without the noisy hydraulic steering etc however, I’ve really grown to like them over time. They’re a much more resolved design than the F56 cars.

I took advantage of the current prices this year too, swapping my M140i for an old 130 LE which so far I actually prefer.

Pm sent. I really like the R53 too but they are just too small inside for my needs and they aren't without their problems!

[drgoatboy]

J4CKO said:

Mikebentley said:

Why don’t you call it Roy as in Roy Clubby Brown.

Thats pretty good

Agreed. Properly funny!

[Jimmy No Hands]

I have a secret crush on these. Especially the "quicker" ones. I adore a boxy wagon-esque car and these are so quirky. The brown would be my first choice.

Any tuning plans? I assume these are the turbo variant rather than the early supercharged Minis?

[Ardennes92]

Mikebentley said:

Why don’t you call it Roy as in Roy Clubby Brown.

Given the colour, surely it has to be Errol

[mikeswagon]

Ardennes92 said:

Mikebentley said:

Why don’t you call it Roy as in Roy Clubby Brown.

Given the colour, surely it has to be Errol

That was my first thought, but given he mentioned 2 young daughters, would they get the ref?

Gotta love a Clubby, and hot chocolate looks better without the silver roof etc, imho. My last car was a Pepper White JCW, which recently come up for sale again, still tempted but getting back with an ex isn't always a good idea.

Edited by mikeswagon on Tuesday 7th September 09:25

[Alfa Pete]

Love an R55.
Until last week I had an F54 but wouldn’t mind another Mini as a second car one day.

[Court_S]

drgoatboy said:

Court_S said:

Looks good. Can I be cheeky and ask how much you managed to pick it up for?

As a massive R53 fan boy, I really hated the R56/5 cars at the time. They just weren’t the same without the noisy hydraulic steering etc however, I’ve really grown to like them over time. They’re a much more resolved design than the F56 cars.

I took advantage of the current prices this year too, swapping my M140i for an old 130 LE which so far I actually prefer.

Pm sent. I really like the R53 too but they are just too small inside for my needs and they aren't without their problems!

Thanks.

Yeah, the R53 is not exactly spacious inside! It’s ok on the front but other than that. They’re old cars now too, which as you say brings plenty of problems.

Hope the R55 treats you well.

[Challo]

This is mine which I picked up in 2020 as a bit of a project. The previously had a ton of work done to it as the valve stem seals went and it needed an engine rebuild. He also got the tensioner, chain, and new clutch added as well. I have lowered mine 30mm, performance air filter and running MG Hairpins instead of the 17's.

Mine is rough round the edges as it has some laquer peel, and the rear barn doors have the dreaded rust which Mini refuse to fix. I keep toying with the idea of chopping it in for a R53 but I have two dogs and need the extra space.