Spotting higher power R53

[Neal500griff]

Hi, considering a R53 cooper S. I know the early ones were 161 bhp but later ones were 168 bhp and had better torque. I think they changed to the higher power around 2004, but is there a simple way to spot the difference, is it as simple as it being a face life model were the reverse lights became part of the rear light clusters rather than a single central low level one? Ideally want an easy way to distinguish in ad’s as not sure all owners would know the difference! And some ad’s for later 2005 or 06 cars list the lower power in the spec on the ad’s. Thanks

[E-bmw]

The only 100% effective way is to either see the v5 or to put the last 7 digits of the VIN into one of the free online vin checkers.

You are looking for the 125kw engine.

You are right to mistrust sellers as most have no idea what they are selling, but it can work in your favour.

I bought a late chili with LSD etc for well under price a few years ago as they had no idea what the spec was.

[Neal500griff]

Thanks, that’s useful to know. one with a LSD would be great, very rare though I guess! … begs the question though, how do you know if it’s got a LSD, will vin reveal that too?

[okv3]

You're quite right, power was increased when they were facelifted.

The easiest things to identify a pre or post facelift are;

• Different headlights, tailights and reverse light (however these can easily be upgraded on pre-FL cars, so isn't a dead cert)
• 3 piece dashboard instead of 5 piece
• Some colours were only offered pre or post facelift, e.g. Indi Blue was pre-FL only, but Black Eye Purple, Hyper Blue were post-FL only.
• Clock moved from a standalone unit in the headlining to integrated into the speedo

Finding out whether it has an LSD or not qill require the last 7 digits of the VIN, you can then check the build sheet on one of the many online VIN decoders.

[Neal500griff]

Great, thanks for your help

[E-bmw]

Neal500griff said:

Thanks, that’s useful to know. one with a LSD would be great, very rare though I guess! … begs the question though, how do you know if it’s got a LSD, will vin reveal that too?

Not that rare actually after 2005.

Before that most buyers didn't spec it as they didn't know what it was.

BINI however ordered a certain number from the manufacturers expecting better take up.

Thus the very vast majority of late 05/06 chili (top) pack specified Cooper S's were fitted with one by default.

As above the only 100% check is to decode the vin.

[esuuv]

From memory all the cars on a 54 plate onwards are the face lift, there were a few 04 facelift cars that were registered in the August but by the time 54 came around in the September they were all the newer model.

My second car was a shiny new 54 plate Cooper (insurance was insane on an S) - had a factory minidisc head unit!!