2006 R53 Mini Cooper S
Discussion
An R53 has been on my radar for ages now. I have a 10 mile commute to work through B and unclassified roads and wanted something small, relatively powerful and rewarding to make me smile in a morning.
I knew I wanted an 05/06 model, always best to get the last of the breed I think. For a while I considered getting a poverty spec one with 16" wheels, but after testing one 5 miles away it wasn't a nice place to be. So decided to find the 'right' spec with the 'right' service history. If nothing else it would make it easier to sell.
I swore I gave up travelling miles for cars now - having a day off with a 1 year old at home is difficult! But then this car came on my radar...
Problem was it was in Norfolk, and Bristol is a bloody long drive to there! I'd normally rope in a friend/wife to drive me to see a car, but I wouldn't put them through it. So after many conversations with the vendor we agreed a price and I booked a single train ticket... 5 trains and 6 hours it took me to get there!
For me to go through all that effort, it was obviously a cut above most others on the market...
It's a '56 reg, 62k with some great options like the heated Recaro seats, anthracite headlining, cockpit chrono pack, cruise control, climate, heated front screen.
But it was the seller that really made me want to make the journey. An engineer at Lotus, he bought the car last January to do a month long 4000 mile road trip around Europe with 3 of his friends all in MINIs. After buying the car he pretty much totally refurbished it mechanically so it wouldn't fail on said journey. While it was being refurbished he also added a 17% pulley, colder plugs, Scorpion exhaust, 1320 optimised bypass valve, a K&N cone filter in the existing airbox and some non-run flats. Of interest is the rear crankshaft oil seal was done - that's a gearbox drop job and 8 hours labour for a £20 part - how very BMW. The receipts from the last year tot up to approx £2k.
Coming back from Norfolk was a joy, I went cross country to really get to know the car - 200 miles and 4 hours. What a blast! Those Recaro's are well worth it.
There's a few things I want to do in the short term - the rear wiper motor needs replacing, the non-OEM front screen means the auto wipers are erratic. It smells a bit manly. It has some black decals down the sills and door I want to remove at some point. I need some way of playing media from the 21st century. On the performance side I think I may upgrade the brakes and intercooler.
Plus PH smiley arrived too
First mod 
I knew I wanted an 05/06 model, always best to get the last of the breed I think. For a while I considered getting a poverty spec one with 16" wheels, but after testing one 5 miles away it wasn't a nice place to be. So decided to find the 'right' spec with the 'right' service history. If nothing else it would make it easier to sell.
I swore I gave up travelling miles for cars now - having a day off with a 1 year old at home is difficult! But then this car came on my radar...
Problem was it was in Norfolk, and Bristol is a bloody long drive to there! I'd normally rope in a friend/wife to drive me to see a car, but I wouldn't put them through it. So after many conversations with the vendor we agreed a price and I booked a single train ticket... 5 trains and 6 hours it took me to get there!
For me to go through all that effort, it was obviously a cut above most others on the market...
It's a '56 reg, 62k with some great options like the heated Recaro seats, anthracite headlining, cockpit chrono pack, cruise control, climate, heated front screen.
But it was the seller that really made me want to make the journey. An engineer at Lotus, he bought the car last January to do a month long 4000 mile road trip around Europe with 3 of his friends all in MINIs. After buying the car he pretty much totally refurbished it mechanically so it wouldn't fail on said journey. While it was being refurbished he also added a 17% pulley, colder plugs, Scorpion exhaust, 1320 optimised bypass valve, a K&N cone filter in the existing airbox and some non-run flats. Of interest is the rear crankshaft oil seal was done - that's a gearbox drop job and 8 hours labour for a £20 part - how very BMW. The receipts from the last year tot up to approx £2k.
Coming back from Norfolk was a joy, I went cross country to really get to know the car - 200 miles and 4 hours. What a blast! Those Recaro's are well worth it.
There's a few things I want to do in the short term - the rear wiper motor needs replacing, the non-OEM front screen means the auto wipers are erratic. It smells a bit manly. It has some black decals down the sills and door I want to remove at some point. I need some way of playing media from the 21st century. On the performance side I think I may upgrade the brakes and intercooler.
Plus PH smiley arrived too
First mod Edited by court on Sunday 19th March 23:37
court said:
The seller reckoned on 200ish, seems about right on my drive home last night. Usefully more power than standard.
The supercharger whine is addictive, and combined with the comedy overrun pops and bangs through the exhaust I don't think I need to get a media player!
Please stop.... i am already on the classifieds!The supercharger whine is addictive, and combined with the comedy overrun pops and bangs through the exhaust I don't think I need to get a media player!
That seems like a nice car. Always good to hear people are pleased with the new toy ha,
I'd always wanted one, but the prices remained high, as I had other cars, and bikes, I never bothered. I didn't even like the new Mini that much, but that was just because I have the old one haha. Mrs got one for a company car, and as a diesel it pulled like a train and was quite a surprise. I got a Mini One, and altered a couple of things to make it go, and that was a hoot, looking plain, and annoying some much quicker cars. Then into work came a px S. May 05, driven by an older woman from Anglesey who'd swapped it for a One convertible. 27k on it and a similar spec to the OP. Mine has the chrome round the dials, and some other bits now.
That purchase was four years ago, it now has 46k, and having been down the slippery slope of making it work better at painful cost, even going most things myself, it ended up as follows. Currently finishing off the brakes up front, and with 230whp at the moment.
17% reduced supercharger pulley, intercooler from the GP1, a Kent development cam, light alloy flywheel, front brakes from an R56S, then all brakes from a GP2 still finishing as mentioned, rear suspension trailing arms from an R56 just done, coilovers that don't use standard top mounts, 25.5mm rear adjustable ARB, wider non runflat tyres Federal RSR595's, bigger injectors 550cc ford motorsport, and ecu loaded with new software to allow a tailored map, different cylinder head, JCW exhaust, different header with wideband fitted. Mocal oil cooler in lieu of standard laminova type heat exchanger to finish. All made/will make a significant difference, the wide band just lets me see if anything is awry at higher revs. Oh, all the engine/gearbox mounts are Vibratechnics now, and the front suspension poly bushed, the rear will be rose jointed soon, still looking normal if poss.
Still have a few more things to do, Quaife ATB diff in lieu of factory LSD, and lower final drive, plus ARP top and bottom with some internal strengthening before exploring further up the rpm scale, nothing is obvious as I like discreet changes, and only what works. I did fit R112'S too.
Slippery slope haha, car still looks pretty much standard, a few mm lower, and phoenix yellow brakes will be a bit visible when finished I suppose.
Then I'll sell it haha, ....................... in fact I can't because nobody will pay haha!
Link to a friends vid from Ty Croes in Feb, I think it in view three or four times,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ79jGkIlJc
Hey OP, will be selling my R56S brakes very soon, which were new calipers and carriers from TRW last Feb, new BMW hoses were used, they did a track day at Oulton back then which is why they were fitted, then Anglesey this Feb, plus up to 1,000 road miles, Brembo discs, and Genuine BMW pads now as the Brembo didn't last long.
I'd always wanted one, but the prices remained high, as I had other cars, and bikes, I never bothered. I didn't even like the new Mini that much, but that was just because I have the old one haha. Mrs got one for a company car, and as a diesel it pulled like a train and was quite a surprise. I got a Mini One, and altered a couple of things to make it go, and that was a hoot, looking plain, and annoying some much quicker cars. Then into work came a px S. May 05, driven by an older woman from Anglesey who'd swapped it for a One convertible. 27k on it and a similar spec to the OP. Mine has the chrome round the dials, and some other bits now.
That purchase was four years ago, it now has 46k, and having been down the slippery slope of making it work better at painful cost, even going most things myself, it ended up as follows. Currently finishing off the brakes up front, and with 230whp at the moment.
17% reduced supercharger pulley, intercooler from the GP1, a Kent development cam, light alloy flywheel, front brakes from an R56S, then all brakes from a GP2 still finishing as mentioned, rear suspension trailing arms from an R56 just done, coilovers that don't use standard top mounts, 25.5mm rear adjustable ARB, wider non runflat tyres Federal RSR595's, bigger injectors 550cc ford motorsport, and ecu loaded with new software to allow a tailored map, different cylinder head, JCW exhaust, different header with wideband fitted. Mocal oil cooler in lieu of standard laminova type heat exchanger to finish. All made/will make a significant difference, the wide band just lets me see if anything is awry at higher revs. Oh, all the engine/gearbox mounts are Vibratechnics now, and the front suspension poly bushed, the rear will be rose jointed soon, still looking normal if poss.
Still have a few more things to do, Quaife ATB diff in lieu of factory LSD, and lower final drive, plus ARP top and bottom with some internal strengthening before exploring further up the rpm scale, nothing is obvious as I like discreet changes, and only what works. I did fit R112'S too.
Slippery slope haha, car still looks pretty much standard, a few mm lower, and phoenix yellow brakes will be a bit visible when finished I suppose.
Then I'll sell it haha, ....................... in fact I can't because nobody will pay haha!
Link to a friends vid from Ty Croes in Feb, I think it in view three or four times,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ79jGkIlJc
Hey OP, will be selling my R56S brakes very soon, which were new calipers and carriers from TRW last Feb, new BMW hoses were used, they did a track day at Oulton back then which is why they were fitted, then Anglesey this Feb, plus up to 1,000 road miles, Brembo discs, and Genuine BMW pads now as the Brembo didn't last long.
Wow that sounds like a monster - I've never really got into modifying my cars before, but the R53 seems to respond so well to it I think it'd be rude not to.
I've found the R53, like so many BMWs have installation guides all over the internet. That, coupled with realoem.com seem to make upgrading a breeze.
I'd be very interested to hear from you when the brakes are for sale, the R56 brakes seem to be an easy and popular swap in.
I've found the R53, like so many BMWs have installation guides all over the internet. That, coupled with realoem.com seem to make upgrading a breeze.
I'd be very interested to hear from you when the brakes are for sale, the R56 brakes seem to be an easy and popular swap in.
Thanks for the kind words, it really is a cracking car. BMW/Rover really got the 1st gen right in my book.
PH Smiley fitted.
Just been to get an AC bomb and a new charcoal cabin filter to help freshen up the interior. I'm a big advocate of cabin filter changes, but I find it's first thing people drop once out of main dealer servicing.
PH Smiley fitted.
House86 said:
Think it would look great on a different set of wheels, pic of my 05 plate
My last R56 had the R98 web-spoke split rims on it and I really liked them.. In fact I missed out on a cracking fJCW last week with them on from new below.Just been to get an AC bomb and a new charcoal cabin filter to help freshen up the interior. I'm a big advocate of cabin filter changes, but I find it's first thing people drop once out of main dealer servicing.
Edited by court on Monday 10th April 13:38
CarsOrBikes said:
Hey OP, will be selling my R56S brakes very soon, which were new calipers and carriers from TRW last Feb, new BMW hoses were used, they did a track day at Oulton back then which is why they were fitted, then Anglesey this Feb, plus up to 1,000 road miles, Brembo discs, and Genuine BMW pads now as the Brembo didn't last long.
Hey don't mean to thread hijack, but if the OP isn't interested in buying these... I could be 
let me know.It is a slippery slope with these cars as mentioned, but they do react to mods so well. I've almost got mine where I want it to be now I'm just after a few cosmetic things to finish it off now such as aero skirts and a GP wing.
Ok, they will be off soon, currently only on to hold the fluid in the system, they will be cleaned and up for grabs. Most available used are old and corroded or cleaned up and painted which these aren't.
OP your car is very similar to mine, and the pic with the web spokes almost identical. I just took my web spoke OE wheels off when I bought the genuine R112's as they wouldn't go over the R56S JCW Brembo brakes I had to go on, then changed my mind and used the rears from the same kit I already had kicking about for the last couple of years, and am now converting the front.
Some pics, see alloy R56/GP trailing arms, some time ago I altered the exhaust as in the last pic, too loud without a catalyst, correct trim though.
OP your car is very similar to mine, and the pic with the web spokes almost identical. I just took my web spoke OE wheels off when I bought the genuine R112's as they wouldn't go over the R56S JCW Brembo brakes I had to go on, then changed my mind and used the rears from the same kit I already had kicking about for the last couple of years, and am now converting the front.
Some pics, see alloy R56/GP trailing arms, some time ago I altered the exhaust as in the last pic, too loud without a catalyst, correct trim though.
OP that looks like a really good example you found. My old Cooper S popped the oil seal you mentioned, it had a new clutch and flywheel under warranty (bought as an approved used car) and the seal went about 30 miles later, dropping a ton of oil all over my office car park and necessitating the box to come off again. I'm glad I didn't have to pick up those bills at main dealer labour rates!
I really miss the car, will have another one soon I hope.
I really miss the car, will have another one soon I hope.
Lovely examples people have up thread!
I've decided to swap the interior out to get it how I want. Most people on MINI forums hate the sight of chrome, but I bally love it on the right car.
The first car I'd set my heart on that I missed out on had the anthracite interior with chrome kit but standard dials, gravity leather and beige headliner. My one has the standard 'alloy patina' interior (that I don't really like) but chrono pack, recaros and black headliner. Seems I'm quids in as it easier and cheaper to change the colour than the dials, seats and headlining.
Most of these prices are from breakers on ebay - the door cards are £25 each, the main dash £35, centre console tubes £30 and each of the chrome bits are about £10.
First things first, I've got to change those wheels...
I've decided to swap the interior out to get it how I want. Most people on MINI forums hate the sight of chrome, but I bally love it on the right car.
The first car I'd set my heart on that I missed out on had the anthracite interior with chrome kit but standard dials, gravity leather and beige headliner. My one has the standard 'alloy patina' interior (that I don't really like) but chrono pack, recaros and black headliner. Seems I'm quids in as it easier and cheaper to change the colour than the dials, seats and headlining.
Most of these prices are from breakers on ebay - the door cards are £25 each, the main dash £35, centre console tubes £30 and each of the chrome bits are about £10.
First things first, I've got to change those wheels...
Edited by court on Monday 10th April 13:36
Quick update.
I had to change the stereo. I'm normally a fan of keeping things as OEM as possible in my cars, and try to buy add ons to make it work in the 21st century. But as the crappy OEM BMW Business CD doesn't interface with any other part of the car I thought I'd swap it out.
A replacement needed to have amber illumination, bluetooth, DAB and BT streaming. Seems the stereo manufacturers now sell 'mechless' stereos that don't have CD players in them. Perfect as I haven't used a CD in at least 5 years.
This one ticked all my boxes http://www.pioneer-car.eu/eur/products/mvh-x580dab for £109 at Halfords it was a bargain! Paid £10 for a stick on DAB antenna and £50 for a loom that works with my MFSW, fascia adaptor and FM aerial adaptor from newministuff.com.
Dead easy to fit - I put the microphone on the rear of the steering column and the DAB antenna on the left of the windscreen. I was worried the heated screen elements would block it, but there is a big enough gap where the tax disc used to be that the element doesn't cover.
The stereo itself is a revelation - it sounds so much clearer and bassier. I get no dropouts on the DAB, I've got a tiny 64gb USB Cruzer Fit for the front load USB and it connects to my phone using BT Audio, Spotify or anything I send to it like Amazon Music.
I even think the amber illumination works. An excellent match, even if I do say so myself.
I had to change the stereo. I'm normally a fan of keeping things as OEM as possible in my cars, and try to buy add ons to make it work in the 21st century. But as the crappy OEM BMW Business CD doesn't interface with any other part of the car I thought I'd swap it out.
A replacement needed to have amber illumination, bluetooth, DAB and BT streaming. Seems the stereo manufacturers now sell 'mechless' stereos that don't have CD players in them. Perfect as I haven't used a CD in at least 5 years.
This one ticked all my boxes http://www.pioneer-car.eu/eur/products/mvh-x580dab for £109 at Halfords it was a bargain! Paid £10 for a stick on DAB antenna and £50 for a loom that works with my MFSW, fascia adaptor and FM aerial adaptor from newministuff.com.
Dead easy to fit - I put the microphone on the rear of the steering column and the DAB antenna on the left of the windscreen. I was worried the heated screen elements would block it, but there is a big enough gap where the tax disc used to be that the element doesn't cover.
The stereo itself is a revelation - it sounds so much clearer and bassier. I get no dropouts on the DAB, I've got a tiny 64gb USB Cruzer Fit for the front load USB and it connects to my phone using BT Audio, Spotify or anything I send to it like Amazon Music.
I even think the amber illumination works. An excellent match, even if I do say so myself.
Lovely car OP - you've bagged a cracker! I'm a huge fan of the R53. My first was a Cooper S back in 2012 and now I run a GP daily.
I probably shouldn't tell you this but I've just taken that exact stereo (minus the DAB) out of mine and was going to list it on Ebay this week.
I've replaced it with an Alpine ILX-700 for CarPlay.
I've tidied the area between the down-tubes and head-unit with some black felt since this picture was taken
court said:
This one ticked all my boxes http://www.pioneer-car.eu/eur/products/mvh-x580dab for £109 at Halfords it was a bargain! Paid £10 for a stick on DAB antenna and £50 for a loom that works with my MFSW, fascia adaptor and FM aerial adaptor from newministuff.com.
I probably shouldn't tell you this but I've just taken that exact stereo (minus the DAB) out of mine and was going to list it on Ebay this week.I've replaced it with an Alpine ILX-700 for CarPlay.
I've tidied the area between the down-tubes and head-unit with some black felt since this picture was taken
Had a couple of weeks getting to know the car a bit and replacing the odd thing.
I splashed out on genuine non-flat wipers as the ones on the front screen were crap, made a huge difference. Got a new rear wiper motor for £55 delivered - The Valeo part is the same as the BMW branded part, and new Stabilus tailgate struts as the old ones were lazy.
The "re-chroming" is coming along. I now have genuine mirror caps, twin dials, centre dials and vents. New rear badge as old one was faded. Also have a few anthracite trim bits in. I'm sure 99% of people hate chrome and want it off their car asap, and can image the belt line keeps people up at night as it's not easily removed!
A big purchase last month was a set of the R98 web-spokes - these came with Pzero RFTs with 6 and 7mm tread for a bargain £285. They are in better condition than the S-lites, and as an added bonus I get the crazy setup of Falken 452s off the front and Wanli S1063 RFTs off the rear. Will get the old wheels/tyres on ebay as 2 lots.
I had the wheels swapped at a place that does full alignment as I have a small pull to the left on throttle that I thought it would dial it out - after checking, the rear toe was out on both sides so I had it done - this did nothing to improve the pull. Before going back to the garage I started reading, and it seems the likely culprit is the front trailing arm rear bushes. Funnily enough an advisory on the last MOT.
Seems people say to replace them with a SuperPro kit but that's got me stumped as you can buy a kit that's a standard replacement, or one that has an increased castor to offset the left hand pull. As the bushes are obviously failing shirley replacing with standard would cure the pull anyway?
I splashed out on genuine non-flat wipers as the ones on the front screen were crap, made a huge difference. Got a new rear wiper motor for £55 delivered - The Valeo part is the same as the BMW branded part, and new Stabilus tailgate struts as the old ones were lazy.
The "re-chroming" is coming along. I now have genuine mirror caps, twin dials, centre dials and vents. New rear badge as old one was faded. Also have a few anthracite trim bits in. I'm sure 99% of people hate chrome and want it off their car asap, and can image the belt line keeps people up at night as it's not easily removed!
A big purchase last month was a set of the R98 web-spokes - these came with Pzero RFTs with 6 and 7mm tread for a bargain £285. They are in better condition than the S-lites, and as an added bonus I get the crazy setup of Falken 452s off the front and Wanli S1063 RFTs off the rear. Will get the old wheels/tyres on ebay as 2 lots.
I had the wheels swapped at a place that does full alignment as I have a small pull to the left on throttle that I thought it would dial it out - after checking, the rear toe was out on both sides so I had it done - this did nothing to improve the pull. Before going back to the garage I started reading, and it seems the likely culprit is the front trailing arm rear bushes. Funnily enough an advisory on the last MOT.
Seems people say to replace them with a SuperPro kit but that's got me stumped as you can buy a kit that's a standard replacement, or one that has an increased castor to offset the left hand pull. As the bushes are obviously failing shirley replacing with standard would cure the pull anyway?
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