Looking at buying bit of help please

[Amouran]

Hi I'm looking at buy a R53 cooper S possibly JCW in the not to distant future but I will have a budget of around £2500 to spend on the car and another £2500 for modifications it is going to be my toy for a B road weapon and maybe a casual track day car. Now with the budget I have the cars have quite high mileage what I want to know is will a higher mileage car take the modification, I'm thinking mainly the supercharger pully reduction. I thought this would be the best place to ask and really appreciate and help

[MrC986]

Amouran said:

Hi I'm looking at buy a R53 cooper S possibly JCW in the not to distant future but I will have a budget of around £2500 to spend on the car and another £2500 for modifications it is going to be my toy for a B road weapon and maybe a casual track day car. Now with the budget I have the cars have quite high mileage what I want to know is will a higher mileage car take the modification, I'm thinking mainly the supercharger pully reduction. I thought this would be the best place to ask and really appreciate and help

If you've a thick skin, get yourself over to the MiniTorque forum - they're very straight talking & the first suggestion will be "coilovers" though you'll even possibly find a few well modded cars for sale on the classifieds for that forum which would save you time & £s.

[Brompty]

With the budget you have, you could get the least molested car you can find and then get the supercharger completely serviced - there are a few places that do it, GTT being one - and then go from there. Or take the car to Lohen that do a health check before adding modifications to cover exactly what you are worried about.

[E-bmw]

I am shortly to start doing precisely this myself.

2 months ago I bought a (slightly tatty) 06/125kw/LSD/Chilli/Sports + equipped R53 for £1700.

I then bought all the parts I want to upgrade I/Cooler/Pulley/Injectors/Throttle body/fuel pump/fuel regulator/injectors/coil/leads/intake/calipers/discs/poly bushes/ etc.

I have had other priorities for the last 2 months, but will be starting in earnest in the next 2 months to get it up & running & the tatty bits sorted.

Major (other) jobs will be S/Charger out & stripped/cleaned/re-oiled etc, possibly at the same time fit a means of checking/refilling it whilst still on the vehicle for future peace of mind. I will also have a thorough check/sort of any under bonnet issues while the front is partially dismantled.

Including extra wheels to allow for winter tyres & track tyres I am at £3500 to date & the only thing I think I may be adding to the list is coilovers, but I would like to try the original set up first as I want to also use it on the road.

Edited by E-bmw on Friday 31st March 08:47

[TheGriffter]

Hi,
Mine will soon be up for sale and might be of interest to you, bit of background, but no problem if not suitable (Manchester based).
2005/55 Hyper Blue Cooper S with JCW kit (bodykit/brace), reduced pulley (17 degree done by 1320 mini a few years ago), ditched the run flat tyres, full leather etc. 102k approx.

Currently SORN since Oct 2016 as the exhaust failed MOT emissions, but been run around private land in the interim and has no issues. I have been debating putting a new SS Milltek on or other performance exhaust before MOTing and then selling - with the pulley already done, might leave you room for decent other mods.

I've owned for 6 years and was a 2nd car, got a full independent service history, needs a bit of bodywork TLC to make it stunning! PM if interested

Cheers, Griff

[R53rider]

MrC986 said:

If you've a thick skin, get yourself over to the MiniTorque forum - they're very straight talking & the first suggestion will be "coilovers" though you'll even possibly find a few well modded cars for sale on the classifieds for that forum which would save you time & £s.

MrC986, that is so funny. He posted the same thread on MINI2 and I said EXACTLY the same about MiniTorque
a) thick skin required, they'll diss you to death if you step outside of their 'tribal' thinking
b) coilovers (oh and if they are not BCs you are a complete numpty).
I added their other obsession as c) "the gap".
But you are right, if you can put up with them there are some car and mods bargains on there. The 'for sale' section is very active.

[R53rider]

E-bmw said:

possibly at the same time fit a means of checking/refilling it whilst still on the vehicle for future peace of mind.

Edited by E-bmw on Friday 31st March 08:47

E-bmw, there may be a solution to this one. A US guy (engineer) has recently posted on MiniTorque (mind the gap!) as he has designed, built and is selling exactly that.
Not sure if PH allows me to post links, but I'll try:
http://www.mbkperformance.com/
The thread on MT is:
http://www.minitorque.com/forum/f24/machined-low-c...
Some of the usual suspects/nay sayers slagging it off on there, but a number are going for it including me. Once you've fitted it, you leave it on there so you can change top up whenever you like. The guy has had it on his R53 for 3 years. It's done I think he said 178,000 miles. He changes the SC oil every 3rd engine oil service.
Have a look. Be interested to see what you think.

[R53rider]

Seems the links are working OK.

[R53rider]

TheGriffter said:

Hi,
I have been debating putting a new SS Milltek on or other performance exhaust before MOTing and then selling.
Cheers, Griff

Sounds a great buy for someone (with taste and knowledge) Griffter.

I've just fitted a Miltek non resonated cat back (along with an Orranje Stealth CAI at the same time). It is lovely. Pops like a good 'un on overrun. With the two on, the throttle response is wicked. Not sure I'd have the non res though if it was my daily. Would probably go for the resonated. It is pretty noisy and drones at steady speed on Mways.
For your car with that level of tune, I'd recommend it though.

My R53 is also my second car. It is my 'hobby' car. Gradually doing bits and pieces.
I ditched the run flats. Amazing difference in ride but I must say it has lost a bit of the turn-in. So getting a Whiteline 20mm 3 way adjustable rear ARB fitted next week. .
That was recommended as a first step in sorting out the handling/suspension by local motorsport shop who maintain a number of race cars, specifically a number of Ginettas as well as Focus STs and historic saloons. They aren't doing Minis at the moment but have done them in the recent past. The owner does historic rallying. Good bloke. I trust him.

See what that does. Should improve the pointyness and turn-in, take out more understeer. Did wonders when I put one on the Mk3 Golf VR6 I had.

[E-bmw]

R53rider said:

E-bmw said:

possibly at the same time fit a means of checking/refilling it whilst still on the vehicle for future peace of mind.

Edited by E-bmw on Friday 31st March 08:47

E-bmw, there may be a solution to this one. A US guy (engineer) has recently posted on MiniTorque (mind the gap!) as he has designed, built and is selling exactly that.
Not sure if PH allows me to post links, but I'll try:
http://www.mbkperformance.com/
The thread on MT is:
http://www.minitorque.com/forum/f24/machined-low-c...
Some of the usual suspects/nay sayers slagging it off on there, but a number are going for it including me. Once you've fitted it, you leave it on there so you can change top up whenever you like. The guy has had it on his R53 for 3 years. It's done I think he said 178,000 miles. He changes the SC oil every 3rd engine oil service.
Have a look. Be interested to see what you think.

Interesting, but I have mine already planned out using begged/borrowed parts from work which were going spare, it will leave me with a combined dipstick/drain/filler to allow fluid level checks/changes at will with no tools except a syringe for measuring purposes.

[Amouran]

Thank everyone for the replies I have had some keyboard warrior moaning at me for not responding quick enough but unfortunately I have become a new father and haven't got the time to be constantly waiting for someone to reply to my question unlike some people. I do appreciate all the help and advice and it will help me greatly when I come to buying the car eventually.