Cooper S & Modify or JCW

[VEX]

Looks like I am going to be doing something fun (car related, no ph smut please) in June '18 and need a mini for it.

It is going to have a fair chunk of miles put on it in one go and a local dealer has suggested a late R53 rather than an early R56 as the Peugeot Engine and its Turbo isnt brilliantly reliable.

So I have narrowed it down to either a cheaper Cooper S and then a minor layer of mods to bring it up to JCW power (GTT 220 kit looks an option) and maybe bigger brakes or a full JCW car ideally with a limited slip diff and the bucket seats (Hens Teeth?).

Ideally I would then like to keep the car and use it at weekends and for track days, but will have to wait and see about that.

Obviously with not needing it till June 18, I can bide my time to find something special, but ideally would want it in place April / May time for any mods to be carried out.

What suggestions / observations or ideas are out there?

V.

[VEX]

Thanks.

My budget does limit me a little to late R53s or Early R56's so can't really go past 08/09 plates hence the dealer comment.

I have seen Minitourque site and I actually had a Cooper S on order 1year before launch. But cancelled it (just before it got built) when I drove the demo on the beautiful 17" wheels but the horrid run flats it came with. Actually ended up with a Vx220 so silver lining and all that.

Will have a poke around there tomorrow and maybe is it's few mod'ers in the new year for a chat.

Many thanks.

V.

[VEX]

Opps!

This appeared on the Pistonhead for sale and without much thought, I went to see it, and now own it!! A few month early, but I think it is a stonking buy.

2004 MINI Cooper S
Electric Blue – White Roof
One Lady Owner from new
68,000 miles – MOT to March 2018 - Full Service History
Chilli Pack
15% Reduced Supercharger Pulley
GRS Intercooler
Dave F hybrid Performance air box
Magnecor Ignition Leads
Eibach lowering springs – Koni FSD Dampers
Goodridge Braided Brake Hoses - Drilled / Grooved Brake Discs
GTT Top Front Strut Brace - OMP Lower Front Strut Brace
Miltek Cat-Back Exhaust
Remap – 226 BHP
JCW Rear Spoiler
M7 Carbon Fibre Radiator Diffusor
JCW Leather Sparco Front Seats
Spot Lights - White “Y” Spoke Alloys
Body Coloured side skirts – Black Belt Line – Stubby Aerial - Carbon fibre wrapped door mirror covers
Sun Protection Glass
Excellent Condition – Well Cared For – Many Smiles Per Mile
Original standard white bullet wheels, front seats, rear spoiler & intercooler included.

Wife is slowly coming round to the idea!

[VEX]

Just found a how to on the timing chain tensioner, looks very simple to do that myself.

How unreliable are they? Is it a mileage / wear thing?

V

[VEX]

Thanks for that.

I need to check what it's cost would be, if it's £50 or so when fluids are being done it's worth it when there's a spanner under the car.

[VEX]

So all sorted and ready to collect on Thursday evening.

Have to give a big thumbs up to Brentacre for insurance, excellent pricing with all the mods on.

Photos once she is with us.

V.

[VEX]

Here she is, and she is a temptress, could not get enough of her over the weekend! lol.

[VEX]

Deffo fluids and specifically oil, mine was running really low and they are known for drinking upto 1l every 2 / 3K.

But it isnt a worry (apparently) if they dont level little deposits on the floor.

The gaskets also weep, again not an issue (apparently) even new ones do after a year or so.

If it rattles then it could be the timing chain tensioner, which is not as easier fix as I thought in the R53 engineer, the head needs to come off to re-prime it once a new one has been fitted.

HTH

V.

[VEX]

Found the rattle!

The pulley dampener was hanging on a single bolt bouncing around on one of the pullies.

Got it booked in to a local performance garage next week for some fettling with Lohen parts and upgrades.