2004 Mini R53 CooperS Shed
Discussion
No one saw this one coming, least of all me!
Everyone seems to love a back story so here you go.
I haven’t been in the market for a shed in a long time but found myself in the position of needing something cheap n’ cheerful, quickly.
I sold my 997 some time ago but still wanted a fun car that could handle the lumps and bumps of my local roads in Somerset/Devon. The Porsche was great but without some serious (and expensive) suspension work it was never going to cope. If anyone is familiar with B roads in the west country you will know exactly what I mean.
I also had my work car which was a very nicely specced BMW 520d. Used to do approx 40k miles a year up and down the M4/M5 which it was perfect for. Since covid my mileage has dropped to virtually nothing and if I need to travel for
Business I typically now use the train. We also have the family bus which is Mrs Bs Freelander which is brilliant (really!) and will probably never be sold.
So, after a lot of procrastinating I decided the perfect car would be an Alfa Romeo Guilia Quadrafoglio. Started searching and eventually found the spec I wanted. Agreed a deal with seller but unfortunately decided not to sell as he couldn’t part with it. No money changed hands so no harm done.
Trouble was I had already put the BMW on the market and against my expectations sold very quickly. Who knew not everyone wants SUVs and there’s still a strong market for diesel estates??
Sorry for the ramble, now to the Mini.
I suddenly found myself without transport and needed something extremely quickly so I started searching. Looked for the usual suspects like the Clio 172/182, Suzuki Swift sport, Civic Type R, etc but couldn’t find anything that didn’t look like a wreck or 100’s of miles away. Minis, however seem to be cheap and plentiful and this one popped up locally. 109k miles, nice colour combo and good spec. Best of all the previous owner bought it as a bit of a lock down project so did all the 100k jobs- supercharger service, belts, discs &pads, shocks, leaks, gaskets. All documented and MOT until July 23. Even has a FSH which is very pleasing at the murkier end market.
Uncertain on plans but I have a mechanic friend who has a passion for these and he is going to give it a once over to see if it’s worth spending money or just rag it to death.
Initially it will need new tyres as it currently has a full set of mismatched run flat ditch finders. It seems fundamentally solid but needs ‘finishing’ with things like alignment.
To drive it is tremendous fun. Even with the ditchfinders it’s great to throw around and the whine of the supercharger is infectious.
My 4 year son absolutely loves it and has already claimed it as his so selling on quickly probably not an option.
The ride is awful but it seems to suit the character. New tyres and possibly smaller wheels can improve things so if it’s a keeper that’s what I’ll do.
So, in conclusion I really like it. Like many people I have been corrupted by speed and power and the real fun can be found at the cheap end of the market. I suppose I always knew that.
I hope it’s a goodun so I can spend a lot more time with it.
Like this, great choice! Quite fancy one myself having briefly owned one before.
I didn’t realise until recently, but the Supercharger was specifically chosen to try and recreate the gearbox whine you use to get on the old original racing Mini’s. I think that’s quite cool.
Look forward to updates.
I didn’t realise until recently, but the Supercharger was specifically chosen to try and recreate the gearbox whine you use to get on the old original racing Mini’s. I think that’s quite cool.
Look forward to updates.
My Mrs wanted a new run around / commuter car, we looked at Mini coopers of this vintage but ended up with the MC S (05 plate)
Its very bumpy and speed bumps are a nightmare due to the front spoiler lip but like you say it kinda suits the car, feels very planted and she likes the power delivery, its pretty urgent and rev's out well.
We have had ours for about 6 months now, yours seems like a good serviced example.
Ours has been fault free at the moment, probably just keep the oil topped up (they all seems to leak oil somewhere, so keep an eye on the level) and normal servicing until it blows up
Its very bumpy and speed bumps are a nightmare due to the front spoiler lip but like you say it kinda suits the car, feels very planted and she likes the power delivery, its pretty urgent and rev's out well.
We have had ours for about 6 months now, yours seems like a good serviced example.
Ours has been fault free at the moment, probably just keep the oil topped up (they all seems to leak oil somewhere, so keep an eye on the level) and normal servicing until it blows up
Kerm1t said:
Like this, great choice! Quite fancy one myself having briefly owned one before.
I didn’t realise until recently, but the Supercharger was specifically chosen to try and recreate the gearbox whine you use to get on the old original racing Mini’s. I think that’s quite cool.
Look forward to updates.
Excellent fact, I didn’t know that. I was wondering why BMW had gone down the supercharger route. I didn’t realise until recently, but the Supercharger was specifically chosen to try and recreate the gearbox whine you use to get on the old original racing Mini’s. I think that’s quite cool.
Look forward to updates.
Martin_Hx said:
My Mrs wanted a new run around / commuter car, we looked at Mini coopers of this vintage but ended up with the MC S (05 plate)
Its very bumpy and speed bumps are a nightmare due to the front spoiler lip but like you say it kinda suits the car, feels very planted and she likes the power delivery, its pretty urgent and rev's out well.
We have had ours for about 6 months now, yours seems like a good serviced example.
Ours has been fault free at the moment, probably just keep the oil topped up (they all seems to leak oil somewhere, so keep an eye on the level) and normal servicing until it blows up
Yes, the ride is terrible but with wheels pushed out to each corner and lightish weight it’s liveable. Not many speed bumps where I live but the roads to appear to be disintegrating. Its very bumpy and speed bumps are a nightmare due to the front spoiler lip but like you say it kinda suits the car, feels very planted and she likes the power delivery, its pretty urgent and rev's out well.
We have had ours for about 6 months now, yours seems like a good serviced example.
Ours has been fault free at the moment, probably just keep the oil topped up (they all seems to leak oil somewhere, so keep an eye on the level) and normal servicing until it blows up
15/16” wheels and quality non run flat tyres apparently make a big improvement.
TT Tim said:
They really are a great little car, and IMHO the best shape of the 'new' minis, they're all a bit flabby and bloated now.
Mine is a Works 210 and is a real hoot to throw around the A roads.
Cheap and easy to work on.
Ive got a mystery grinding/knock under deceleration so will be getting the spanners out over the weekend.
The ride is terrible on 17inch wheels and runflat tyres. I have put Mini One 15inch steel wheels with normal tyres on mine and it has transformed the ride comfort and made it nicer to drive. Despite a refurb the wheels don't look great but each one is about 7kg lighter than the original alloys.
bbob said:
The ride is terrible on 17inch wheels and runflat tyres. I have put Mini One 15inch steel wheels with normal tyres on mine and it has transformed the ride comfort and made it nicer to drive. Despite a refurb the wheels don't look great but each one is about 7kg lighter than the original alloys.
Agreed on the 17’s, I ditched the run flats and put some regular rubber on them.16s are a good compromise to go down to and handle the bumps well.
Matt Cup said:
Had one for several years and only sold it earlier on this year. Great little car with an addictive supercharger whine.
Come to think of it I have some parts, tools and wheels knocking about that I need to get rid of.
Let me know what you have as I will probably be interested. Based on this thread, if you have smaller wheels I’ll definitely have those! Come to think of it I have some parts, tools and wheels knocking about that I need to get rid of.
I had one for a while with smaller pulley and few bits done was a laugh to drive and always made me giggle with that whine.
downside is the fuel tank is tiny and they like a drink of fuel.
A pain in the neck to work on but once you’ve had it in service mode a couple of times it’s easy and takes about 20 mins if handy with a spanner.
Wheeler dealers had one on ages ago and they did the big 100k service on it.
It’s a good one to watch and learn from.
The best of the new shape mini.
downside is the fuel tank is tiny and they like a drink of fuel.
A pain in the neck to work on but once you’ve had it in service mode a couple of times it’s easy and takes about 20 mins if handy with a spanner.
Wheeler dealers had one on ages ago and they did the big 100k service on it.
It’s a good one to watch and learn from.
The best of the new shape mini.
Portofino said:
Great little cars if a little stiff for our crappy roads, on the flip side mine was superb around Brands Hatch!
My dad has a diesel version of one of these which I borrowed recently. I was actually quite surprised how stiff it felt and how I winced every time I hit a speed bump compared to my Renault Megane.I couldn't live with it on a day to day basis.
That looks great OP.
I loved my old R53. Mine was a pre-facelift car in Indi Blue Metallic with black leather and the fake wooden dash (which I actually liked). It had a few other nice options like heated seats, heated windscreen, cruise, xenon’s and what as cool at the time, a six disc changer on the boot. I didn’t have it long due to changing jobs but did come close to buying it back.
It was a hoot on a B road but as said above, it liked a drink and the tank was dinky.
I think these are the best looking BMW MINI’s by some distance. If I had the space, I’d love another as a fast road toy.
I loved my old R53. Mine was a pre-facelift car in Indi Blue Metallic with black leather and the fake wooden dash (which I actually liked). It had a few other nice options like heated seats, heated windscreen, cruise, xenon’s and what as cool at the time, a six disc changer on the boot. I didn’t have it long due to changing jobs but did come close to buying it back.
It was a hoot on a B road but as said above, it liked a drink and the tank was dinky.
I think these are the best looking BMW MINI’s by some distance. If I had the space, I’d love another as a fast road toy.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff