A MINI (R53 Cooper S) Adventure
Discussion
Looking very good!
Would really recommend the gravity exhaust with carbon tips, I really like mine. I’ve still not driven the Mini since I fitted it but the sound is just perfect to my ears.
Be interesting how much those heat shields are from BMW, the one under my fuel tank has decided to fail after I fitted the new exhaust, typical.
Would really recommend the gravity exhaust with carbon tips, I really like mine. I’ve still not driven the Mini since I fitted it but the sound is just perfect to my ears.
Be interesting how much those heat shields are from BMW, the one under my fuel tank has decided to fail after I fitted the new exhaust, typical.
Dift said:
Love this thread, it made me want an R53.
So I sold my R56 and bought a 2008 R53, which turns out to be possibly the last registered R53.
I've had all the wheels and liners off like you looking for tin worm, not much found thankfully
Blimey, I’d expect this to have served as a warning not encouragement!!So I sold my R56 and bought a 2008 R53, which turns out to be possibly the last registered R53.
I've had all the wheels and liners off like you looking for tin worm, not much found thankfully
How did you end up with one registered in 2008? Production stopped in September 2006.
tallpaul26 said:
Blimey, I’d expect this to have served as a warning not encouragement!!
How did you end up with one registered in 2008? Production stopped in September 2006.
Ex-showroom stock it sat in a showroom in Cyprus for 2 years, in 2008 it was shipped back and registered.How did you end up with one registered in 2008? Production stopped in September 2006.
41k miles (currently in km on the obd, so I have a visit to MINI to swap it back).
Great cars, not sure to use it or pamper it (probably a little of both. This thread is an encouragement 100%. I'll be sending it to 1320 soon enough like you.
These cars are brilliant fun, and I thank you for your thread which I'll probably use as a template to smart this one up where needed
Bicester scramble last weekEdited by Dift on Friday 28th April 22:02
Ooh, look! A strut, bolted in to a strut tower. Yay!
I can’t be too smug, though. Alongside fitting the front suspension id aimed to change the front discs and replace their splash guards. Unfortunately, the offside disc retaining screw had other ideas. Despite the best efforts of my new impact gun, the torx bit I had just wasn’t up to the job and eventually exploded before the screw would budge. Luckily, Halfords to the rescue and they had stock of a torx bit set from their ‘advanced’ range. The quality was miles beyond my existing set and eventually the screw was persuaded out:
My joy was short lived as slipping off the disc revealed this horror show. At this point I downed tools and went for wine. I’ll attack this with the dremel tomorrow!
I can’t be too smug, though. Alongside fitting the front suspension id aimed to change the front discs and replace their splash guards. Unfortunately, the offside disc retaining screw had other ideas. Despite the best efforts of my new impact gun, the torx bit I had just wasn’t up to the job and eventually exploded before the screw would budge. Luckily, Halfords to the rescue and they had stock of a torx bit set from their ‘advanced’ range. The quality was miles beyond my existing set and eventually the screw was persuaded out:
My joy was short lived as slipping off the disc revealed this horror show. At this point I downed tools and went for wine. I’ll attack this with the dremel tomorrow!
Edited by tallpaul26 on Sunday 30th April 11:45
Another great update - loving this thread.
I’m sure you know this… but gently goes it when you’re tidying up around the hub/bearing. The wheel speed sensor will be one tiny tickle away from falling apart into dust while also somehow remaining welded within the hub and you’ll be in for a world pain sorting that out.
Oh, and for anyone who faces the same issue with the disc retaining screw, I can recommend a few good whacks to the face of the screw (and the disc by the screw) with a hammer before trying to remove - for me, it shocked the rust and came out easy each time.
I’m sure you know this… but gently goes it when you’re tidying up around the hub/bearing. The wheel speed sensor will be one tiny tickle away from falling apart into dust while also somehow remaining welded within the hub and you’ll be in for a world pain sorting that out.
Oh, and for anyone who faces the same issue with the disc retaining screw, I can recommend a few good whacks to the face of the screw (and the disc by the screw) with a hammer before trying to remove - for me, it shocked the rust and came out easy each time.
MDifficult said:
Another great update - loving this thread.
I’m sure you know this… but gently goes it when you’re tidying up around the hub/bearing. The wheel speed sensor will be one tiny tickle away from falling apart into dust while also somehow remaining welded within the hub and you’ll be in for a world pain sorting that out.
Oh, and for anyone who faces the same issue with the disc retaining screw, I can recommend a few good whacks to the face of the screw (and the disc by the screw) with a hammer before trying to remove - for me, it shocked the rust and came out easy each time.
Cheers, the hub and wheel speed sensor on the other side were both changed by the previous owner for this very reason!I’m sure you know this… but gently goes it when you’re tidying up around the hub/bearing. The wheel speed sensor will be one tiny tickle away from falling apart into dust while also somehow remaining welded within the hub and you’ll be in for a world pain sorting that out.
Oh, and for anyone who faces the same issue with the disc retaining screw, I can recommend a few good whacks to the face of the screw (and the disc by the screw) with a hammer before trying to remove - for me, it shocked the rust and came out easy each time.
There were several percussive moments in removal of the screw. Some via a socket extension to direct the force others more imprecise and rage driven!
On those hopelessly stuck fixings, this is by some distance the best tool I ever bought. It's never failed to undo anything, including the bolt that holds that grim backplate on(!) & best of all it's cheap as chips.
https://www.halfords.com/tools/hand-tools/screwdri...
https://www.halfords.com/tools/hand-tools/screwdri...
Edited by President Merkin on Sunday 30th April 10:03
Honestly, it’s a travesty that this much effort will basically never see daylight again!
Discs in with new stainless steel screw barely tickled tight. These are the fancy high carbon discs which might corrode slightly slower than OEM. Or not.
There’s basically now no excuse not to replace the front callipers. I think the nearside is still dragging slightly anyway. Those ugly hardlines probably need changing too…
Discs in with new stainless steel screw barely tickled tight. These are the fancy high carbon discs which might corrode slightly slower than OEM. Or not.
There’s basically now no excuse not to replace the front callipers. I think the nearside is still dragging slightly anyway. Those ugly hardlines probably need changing too…
President Merkin said:
On those hopelessly stuck fixings, this is by some distance the best tool I ever bought. It's never failed to undo anything, including the bolt that holds that grim backplate on(!) & best of all it's cheap as chips.
https://www.halfords.com/tools/hand-tools/screwdri...
Magic. I’ll pick one up next time I’m there! https://www.halfords.com/tools/hand-tools/screwdri...
Edited by President Merkin on Sunday 30th April 10:03
So I tackled the offside front corner first as I figured it would be the worst side. You know, exposed to the worst of spray and crap from the road. Indeed, as I started on the nearside it looked promising; the disc retaining screw popped right out, the splash guard was significantly less corroded and 2/4 of its screws just came out. Then, my luck ran out!
The strut wasn’t original but whoever changed it seems to have gone to town on the bolt which clamped it to the hub carrier. I’d given this bolt (as with the other side) liberal doses of penetrating fluid over the last couple of weeks. Indeed, the offside bolt came off without fuss but it’s friend was less than compliant.
So, here’s what I’m left with. A bolt, sans head, still very much in situ. b
ks.
The strut wasn’t original but whoever changed it seems to have gone to town on the bolt which clamped it to the hub carrier. I’d given this bolt (as with the other side) liberal doses of penetrating fluid over the last couple of weeks. Indeed, the offside bolt came off without fuss but it’s friend was less than compliant.
So, here’s what I’m left with. A bolt, sans head, still very much in situ. b
ks. Chedders said:
Ouch! 
Yeah, it’s a bummer but not surprising that st like this happens with a rusty 17 year old!I’ll try and extract the remnants and see what I’m left with. May just need a longer bolt and nut if the threads are shot. Worst case I’ll pick up a scrap part with good threads. Not sure I fancy tackling the ball joint or track rod bolts after this tho!
While the car is on the naughty step I decided to waste time on cosmetic item (which you can’t see)…
The caliper carriers were a crusty mess and I’ve just ordered some lovely red refurb calipers so I thought I’d try and make them look a bit more presentable. Here they are with the first strokes of rust converter going on. Note that I’d wired brushed them and soaked them in white vinegar first (fyi that degreased them nicely but did nothing to shift any rust, despite what the internet claims!):
Hopefully the Bilt-Hamber Hydrate80 seals in the rust!
After that went off I slapped on a coat of Hammerite smooth. Still ugly as sin but hopefully a fraction more presentable up against the otherwise new brakes!
tallpaul26 said:
Yeah, it’s a bummer but not surprising that st like this happens with a rusty 17 year old!
I’ll try and extract the remnants and see what I’m left with. May just need a longer bolt and nut if the threads are shot. Worst case I’ll pick up a scrap part with good threads. Not sure I fancy tackling the ball joint or track rod bolts after this tho!
While the car is on the naughty step I decided to waste time on cosmetic item (which you can’t see)…
The caliper carriers were a crusty mess and I’ve just ordered some lovely red refurb calipers so I thought I’d try and make them look a bit more presentable. Here they are with the first strokes of rust converter going on. Note that I’d wired brushed them and soaked them in white vinegar first (fyi that degreased them nicely but did nothing to shift any rust, despite what the internet claims!):
Hopefully the Bilt-Hamber Hydrate80 seals in the rust!
After that went off I slapped on a coat of Hammerite smooth. Still ugly as sin but hopefully a fraction more presentable up against the otherwise new brakes!
Lovely job, it's the little things that make the difference, even if no one ever sees them. t like this happens with a rusty 17 year old!I’ll try and extract the remnants and see what I’m left with. May just need a longer bolt and nut if the threads are shot. Worst case I’ll pick up a scrap part with good threads. Not sure I fancy tackling the ball joint or track rod bolts after this tho!
While the car is on the naughty step I decided to waste time on cosmetic item (which you can’t see)…
The caliper carriers were a crusty mess and I’ve just ordered some lovely red refurb calipers so I thought I’d try and make them look a bit more presentable. Here they are with the first strokes of rust converter going on. Note that I’d wired brushed them and soaked them in white vinegar first (fyi that degreased them nicely but did nothing to shift any rust, despite what the internet claims!):
Hopefully the Bilt-Hamber Hydrate80 seals in the rust!
After that went off I slapped on a coat of Hammerite smooth. Still ugly as sin but hopefully a fraction more presentable up against the otherwise new brakes!
I’ve been following this thread for a while and like others it took me back 20 years to my first MCS which I bought new in 2003 after a 9 month wait.
That lasted until Sept-2005 when I took delivery of a new MCSC.
I’ve been taken back so far, I too have jumped back into R53 ownership and have bought a late 2004 face-lift car.
It’s pretty much loaded in terms of factory options, only missing satnav and mfsw.
It’s had pretty much all the major work already done, but still needs some attention around the rear, as the hatch rust repair was bodged.
I’ve bought a replacement tailgate, which I’m picking up next week, I’m hoping a machine polish will sort it, if not, I’ve budgeted for a respray.
The rear bumper needs some love too, which definitely needs paint, so it maybe easier / more cost effective to get both done at the same time.
I’ll call it a WIP, which I intend to complete over the next couple of months.
I’ll start a new thread to cover the work needed.
That lasted until Sept-2005 when I took delivery of a new MCSC.
I’ve been taken back so far, I too have jumped back into R53 ownership and have bought a late 2004 face-lift car.
It’s pretty much loaded in terms of factory options, only missing satnav and mfsw.
It’s had pretty much all the major work already done, but still needs some attention around the rear, as the hatch rust repair was bodged.
I’ve bought a replacement tailgate, which I’m picking up next week, I’m hoping a machine polish will sort it, if not, I’ve budgeted for a respray.
The rear bumper needs some love too, which definitely needs paint, so it maybe easier / more cost effective to get both done at the same time.
I’ll call it a WIP, which I intend to complete over the next couple of months.
I’ll start a new thread to cover the work needed.
Edited by wobert on Thursday 4th May 19:01
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