Mini Cooper s Convertible
Discussion
I have been looking for a hard top on which there was a face lift in late 2004. The collected wisdom seems to be that a face lift is the way to go and can be identified by moving from a 5 piece dash to 3 piece dash but I dont know whether the convertible got the same treatment.
In terms of making it go faster, it seems a reduced pully is the best bang for your buck. If the budget allows you can go for a better exhaust system, free flow airbox, bigger injectors, cooler running spark plugs, a better intercooler, re worked head and camshaft and remapping. The engine is very tuneable and there are a few forums that are specifically for Mini such as Mini Torque.
In terms of making it go faster, it seems a reduced pully is the best bang for your buck. If the budget allows you can go for a better exhaust system, free flow airbox, bigger injectors, cooler running spark plugs, a better intercooler, re worked head and camshaft and remapping. The engine is very tuneable and there are a few forums that are specifically for Mini such as Mini Torque.
Facelift also had the fog light in the centre of the rear bumper and reverse lights in the lamps. Convertibles are popular but no visibility through the back imo.
Watch for roof cables around that age, not pulling the front of the top open is common, also the rear sides of the hood by the 1/4 panel plastic retainers breaking, you can put a hand in the car, and a fair bit of water.
I have a hardtop/coupe with 37k on, '05 and although I don't use it a lot, it's great now, not far from how I want it, much better power and economy, looking standard though too.
I can understand the temptation to have one, took me ages to find, so many are neglected, people with no maintenance budget or skills run them into the ground I found, and they need so much sometimes, some are tuned on the cheap I feel, and not maintained, so the end result is fewer nice original cars, just smoky, lowered too far, rough cars, was all I was finding. Then unexpectedly I find I'm paying over the odds perhaps for the nicest one in two years.
The model year is on the outer o/s chassis leg, and from late '04 is a facelift I think.
There is a kit to repair the side panels I mentioned, so not the end of the world, but otherwise it's a hood! If the cables are bad, the frame can twist.
Watch for roof cables around that age, not pulling the front of the top open is common, also the rear sides of the hood by the 1/4 panel plastic retainers breaking, you can put a hand in the car, and a fair bit of water.
I have a hardtop/coupe with 37k on, '05 and although I don't use it a lot, it's great now, not far from how I want it, much better power and economy, looking standard though too.
I can understand the temptation to have one, took me ages to find, so many are neglected, people with no maintenance budget or skills run them into the ground I found, and they need so much sometimes, some are tuned on the cheap I feel, and not maintained, so the end result is fewer nice original cars, just smoky, lowered too far, rough cars, was all I was finding. Then unexpectedly I find I'm paying over the odds perhaps for the nicest one in two years.
The model year is on the outer o/s chassis leg, and from late '04 is a facelift I think.
There is a kit to repair the side panels I mentioned, so not the end of the world, but otherwise it's a hood! If the cables are bad, the frame can twist.
You can't chip them, well you can but there's no point (3bhp gain) they are supercharged so as said a reduced pulley will give you more power.
All convertibles are facelift cars as they were introduced in late 2004. They revised the roof design from early 2006 (I think that's the right date) which locked it in the open position. Before this they could bounce slightly which caused more fabric wear.
I had a 2005 car when it was 2 years old, it was great and I loved it but I had no end of issues with it. The roof was also replaced just before I bought it at 2 years old as it was worn quite badly on both sides of the rear quarter lights. Engine mounts have oil in them and can leak, power steering pumps fail and the dual mass fly wheels are also quite sensitive and can cause issues.
I sold mine after less than a year but I still miss it now. I did return and buy a hard top one a few years later which was a lot less problematic.
[img]http://www.mini2.com/galleries/data/500/DSC01366.JPG[img]
If you fancy a bit of a read then I posted on mini 2 just after I'd sold it about my ownership experience.
http://www.mini2.com/forum/general-discussion/1516...
My mates still wind me up for being gay but when it was all working, the sun was out and the supercharger was on full song it was fantastic.
All convertibles are facelift cars as they were introduced in late 2004. They revised the roof design from early 2006 (I think that's the right date) which locked it in the open position. Before this they could bounce slightly which caused more fabric wear.
I had a 2005 car when it was 2 years old, it was great and I loved it but I had no end of issues with it. The roof was also replaced just before I bought it at 2 years old as it was worn quite badly on both sides of the rear quarter lights. Engine mounts have oil in them and can leak, power steering pumps fail and the dual mass fly wheels are also quite sensitive and can cause issues.
I sold mine after less than a year but I still miss it now. I did return and buy a hard top one a few years later which was a lot less problematic.
[img]http://www.mini2.com/galleries/data/500/DSC01366.JPG[img]
If you fancy a bit of a read then I posted on mini 2 just after I'd sold it about my ownership experience.
http://www.mini2.com/forum/general-discussion/1516...
My mates still wind me up for being gay but when it was all working, the sun was out and the supercharger was on full song it was fantastic.
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