A MINI (R53 Cooper S) Adventure
Discussion
tallpaul26 said:
PS4 are quite pricey, looking at Kumho Ecsta PS71 as a compromise. The tyres on it now are non-rft and have plenty of tread, sadly they’re not much better than ditch finders!
Alloys are a subjective thing. They need to have been an OEM option for the R53 in 2006. R98 web spokes would probably be first choice a la my original MINI. R90 cross-spokes also in the mix. Neither are cheap options and could be tricky to find someone to do a good job refurbing.
ATS Euromaster have/had an excellent deal on Goodyear Assy 6s if you buy a set of 4. If it's still going, you should get a set for ~£300 fitted. They are every bit as good as the PS4.Alloys are a subjective thing. They need to have been an OEM option for the R53 in 2006. R98 web spokes would probably be first choice a la my original MINI. R90 cross-spokes also in the mix. Neither are cheap options and could be tricky to find someone to do a good job refurbing.
President Merkin said:
I think they're known as bullet alloys?
Not personally a fan of 16" wheels on these, they look too small in the arches to me but never met anyone who said they didn't improve the ride. The middle way is to keep the 17's & ditch run flat tyres. That alone makes a huge difference to the car.
The only downside of dropping to 16s (if you ignore the subjective) is the choice of tyres, sadly. Very few UHP options are available in the right size, which is a pain. NOS Michelin PS3s are the best option, sadly.Not personally a fan of 16" wheels on these, they look too small in the arches to me but never met anyone who said they didn't improve the ride. The middle way is to keep the 17's & ditch run flat tyres. That alone makes a huge difference to the car.
C70R said:
President Merkin said:
I think they're known as bullet alloys?
Not personally a fan of 16" wheels on these, they look too small in the arches to me but never met anyone who said they didn't improve the ride. The middle way is to keep the 17's & ditch run flat tyres. That alone makes a huge difference to the car.
The only downside of dropping to 16s (if you ignore the subjective) is the choice of tyres, sadly. Very few UHP options are available in the right size, which is a pain. NOS Michelin PS3s are the best option, sadly.Not personally a fan of 16" wheels on these, they look too small in the arches to me but never met anyone who said they didn't improve the ride. The middle way is to keep the 17's & ditch run flat tyres. That alone makes a huge difference to the car.
C70R said:
ATS Euromaster have/had an excellent deal on Goodyear Assy 6s if you buy a set of 4. If it's still going, you should get a set for ~£300 fitted. They are every bit as good as the PS4.
Coming in at £440 with their current offer. £75 per corner sounds crazy cheap but I'll keep my eye out for other deals, thank youtallpaul26 said:
C70R said:
ATS Euromaster have/had an excellent deal on Goodyear Assy 6s if you buy a set of 4. If it's still going, you should get a set for ~£300 fitted. They are every bit as good as the PS4.
Coming in at £440 with their current offer. £75 per corner sounds crazy cheap but I'll keep my eye out for other deals, thank youBath time!
Pleased to see no sign of rust whatsoever around the rear lights or elsewhere on the tailgate:
Did hoover a load of insects out of the light clusters whilst I was there. New (used) wiper motor arrived whilst I was outside so popped that on too.
Jobs for this weekend are to drain the coolant and flush the system and remove the dead PAS pump to send off for exchange.
Pleased to see no sign of rust whatsoever around the rear lights or elsewhere on the tailgate:
Did hoover a load of insects out of the light clusters whilst I was there. New (used) wiper motor arrived whilst I was outside so popped that on too.
Jobs for this weekend are to drain the coolant and flush the system and remove the dead PAS pump to send off for exchange.
The PAS pump was a complete t
t to remove but at least it’s out.
Radiator is also out. It looks ok and no sign of leaks but I’m minded to change it anyway. The AC condenser is dead, got a mobile guy coming to remove any residual coolant before I remove it.
Also have an oil leak from the front of the block. The very helpful Facebook feedback is crank sensor o-ring so I’ll add that to the list. Need to spend a couple of hours on realOEM getting the part numbers for a bunch of fasteners that are either missing, wrong or toast.
Took longer than I’d hoped but the weekends objectives have been met and I’ve not discovered anything ruinously expensive or terminal (yet).
t to remove but at least it’s out. Radiator is also out. It looks ok and no sign of leaks but I’m minded to change it anyway. The AC condenser is dead, got a mobile guy coming to remove any residual coolant before I remove it.
Also have an oil leak from the front of the block. The very helpful Facebook feedback is crank sensor o-ring so I’ll add that to the list. Need to spend a couple of hours on realOEM getting the part numbers for a bunch of fasteners that are either missing, wrong or toast.
Took longer than I’d hoped but the weekends objectives have been met and I’ve not discovered anything ruinously expensive or terminal (yet).
The list grows:
Urgent:
- Change expansion tank, flush coolant system and refill with G48
- Replace low-speed fan resistor
- Replace PAS pump. Also going to do the reservoir as apparently it has a built in filter and the CHF is murky (my initial fear that the wrong fluid was in there proved wrong once I got a proper look in better light; it's just dirty not red!)
- Replace rear wiper motor and wiper arm. It's pissing fluid in to the boot and the arm disintegrated when I tried to remove it!
- New wiper blades. 4 hours of squealing wipers was a bit tiresome yesterday
- crank sensor o-ring
- dipstick tube o-ring
- AC condenser
- PAS pump fan
- PAS hose
Preventative:
- Dipstick. Metal one ordered
- Rear window trim. Rubber has perished and don't want water to sit in an area prone to rot
- check behind rear lights and tidy/rust proof as required
- Fuel filter
- Supercharger service (this will get relatively expensive as there's a bunch of other stuff you 'might as well' do whilst it's off). Will be going to 1320mini for this and to get suspected idler pulley investigated plus whatever other horrors unfold
- radiator
Nice to have:
- 4 better tyres
- nicer wheels
- suspension refresh and the crusty underside sorting
- aero side skirts
- driving lamps
- bonnet stripes
- new side repeaters
- new rear fog lamp
- polish headlights
Urgent:
- Change expansion tank, flush coolant system and refill with G48
- Replace low-speed fan resistor
- Replace PAS pump. Also going to do the reservoir as apparently it has a built in filter and the CHF is murky (my initial fear that the wrong fluid was in there proved wrong once I got a proper look in better light; it's just dirty not red!)
- Replace rear wiper motor and wiper arm. It's pissing fluid in to the boot and the arm disintegrated when I tried to remove it!
- New wiper blades. 4 hours of squealing wipers was a bit tiresome yesterday
- crank sensor o-ring
- dipstick tube o-ring
- AC condenser
- PAS pump fan
- PAS hose
Preventative:
- Dipstick. Metal one ordered
- Rear window trim. Rubber has perished and don't want water to sit in an area prone to rot
- check behind rear lights and tidy/rust proof as required
- Fuel filter
- Supercharger service (this will get relatively expensive as there's a bunch of other stuff you 'might as well' do whilst it's off). Will be going to 1320mini for this and to get suspected idler pulley investigated plus whatever other horrors unfold
- radiator
Nice to have:
- 4 better tyres
- nicer wheels
- suspension refresh and the crusty underside sorting
- aero side skirts
- driving lamps
- bonnet stripes
- new side repeaters
- new rear fog lamp
- polish headlights
Waking up to a 41%discount on AUTODOC made up my mind about ordering the rad. £75 for a Nissens one, same again for their AC condenser. Order in at LLLParts for loads of fasteners too.
I think I’m at the point where I’m just waiting for parts to put it back together and it be driveable again. Then I can book the supercharger service.
While it’s sat I’m showing the battery some love:
I think I’m at the point where I’m just waiting for parts to put it back together and it be driveable again. Then I can book the supercharger service.
While it’s sat I’m showing the battery some love:
President Merkin said:
TBH if you've gone as far as taking off the radiator assembly, you may as well do the supercharger service yourself. It's only a few bolts further in, isn't particularly challenging to do & it has to come off anyway to get to the crank sensor o -ring. Go on, you know you want to!
SC can stay in place for the crank sensor o-ring; it's about half way up the front of the block so unrestricted access with the rads out.Honestly, I am tempted to do the SC service myself but part of the logic of getting a specialist to do it is their once-over of other bits whilst it's apart. They can see what I've missed or may be worth getting done preventatively.
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