A MINI (R53 Cooper S) Adventure
Discussion
TLDR; I bought an old(ish) car blind and will be making an 8 hour round trip to bring it home on Wednesday
The long version:
Back when the new MINI was still new, I had one of the first generation Cooper S. I loved that car and nigh on 20 years later I still look back fondly:
In recent years I’ve tried various hot/sporty/fast cars, none of which have stuck and have been moved on in fairly short order. Currently we own nothing of interest and I daily a Skoda!
In the last few months I’ve really started to look at the R53 as a bit of a classic in the making. They’re definitely past the bottom of the depreciation curve and prices for really good ones are strong. I’m not daft enough to believe these are an investment opportunity but for a few bags I reckon there’s fun to be had and some youthful memories to be relived!
I’ve been scouring Facebook and eBay for a few weeks with a wish list;
- either Chilli Red or Hyper Blue,
- contrasting roof (no sunroof),
- facelift with LSD
- no rust
An interesting one did turn up but was nearly 200 miles away! Having initially messaged the seller I decided buying a car notorious for paint and bodywork issues and almost certainly in need of mechanical sympathy without inspection was madness, so I left it. I subsequently viewed a couple of dogs and missed out on some nice cars which sold before I could view them - the search criteria meant pickings were slim within an easy drive of home so I went back to the far away car. It was still for sale and open to offers so a deal was struck for a 2006 Chilli red Cooper S with contrasting white roof, no (visible) rust and the LSD ‘box:
Now there were a couple of known issues baked in to the haggle and I’ve got a bit aside for the inevitable unknown. I figured any R53 in the price bracket will need a few bits doing near-term and more if it stays longer term. Luckily it’s not needed as a daily and can live in pieces in the garage, if required. Oh, and 1320mini aren’t far where it’ll be going for a once over as soon as it can.
Everything is in place to collect on Wednesday, just the 3 trains/4 hours to get there and a 4 hour drive home (I have already arranged breakdown cover!).
The long version:
Back when the new MINI was still new, I had one of the first generation Cooper S. I loved that car and nigh on 20 years later I still look back fondly:
In recent years I’ve tried various hot/sporty/fast cars, none of which have stuck and have been moved on in fairly short order. Currently we own nothing of interest and I daily a Skoda!
In the last few months I’ve really started to look at the R53 as a bit of a classic in the making. They’re definitely past the bottom of the depreciation curve and prices for really good ones are strong. I’m not daft enough to believe these are an investment opportunity but for a few bags I reckon there’s fun to be had and some youthful memories to be relived!
I’ve been scouring Facebook and eBay for a few weeks with a wish list;
- either Chilli Red or Hyper Blue,
- contrasting roof (no sunroof),
- facelift with LSD
- no rust
An interesting one did turn up but was nearly 200 miles away! Having initially messaged the seller I decided buying a car notorious for paint and bodywork issues and almost certainly in need of mechanical sympathy without inspection was madness, so I left it. I subsequently viewed a couple of dogs and missed out on some nice cars which sold before I could view them - the search criteria meant pickings were slim within an easy drive of home so I went back to the far away car. It was still for sale and open to offers so a deal was struck for a 2006 Chilli red Cooper S with contrasting white roof, no (visible) rust and the LSD ‘box:
Now there were a couple of known issues baked in to the haggle and I’ve got a bit aside for the inevitable unknown. I figured any R53 in the price bracket will need a few bits doing near-term and more if it stays longer term. Luckily it’s not needed as a daily and can live in pieces in the garage, if required. Oh, and 1320mini aren’t far where it’ll be going for a once over as soon as it can.
Everything is in place to collect on Wednesday, just the 3 trains/4 hours to get there and a 4 hour drive home (I have already arranged breakdown cover!).
Welcome back to the club!
There’s quite a few R53s on here and we seem to have built up a nice little community. Been really interesting to see which direction people take with their cars from track monsters to standard.
Obviously lots of other Mini specific forums but they seem to be mostly obsessed with lowering and de-chroming (especially Facebook) at the minute.
Yours looks a nice find so looking forward to reading your experiences. 20 year old cars now so plenty to keep you busy.
There’s quite a few R53s on here and we seem to have built up a nice little community. Been really interesting to see which direction people take with their cars from track monsters to standard.
Obviously lots of other Mini specific forums but they seem to be mostly obsessed with lowering and de-chroming (especially Facebook) at the minute.
Yours looks a nice find so looking forward to reading your experiences. 20 year old cars now so plenty to keep you busy.
I love these.
I had an Indi Blue metallic S with a white roof, black leather, heated seats and screen, six disc changer. I loved that car but I was glad of them AUC warranty. Despite being a low mileage car, it had a few issues resolved under warranty; new clutch, steering rack, track rod ends and immobiliser. It was an absolute hoot on a good B road. It liked a drink too.
I’d love another as a toy if I had the space.
I had an Indi Blue metallic S with a white roof, black leather, heated seats and screen, six disc changer. I loved that car but I was glad of them AUC warranty. Despite being a low mileage car, it had a few issues resolved under warranty; new clutch, steering rack, track rod ends and immobiliser. It was an absolute hoot on a good B road. It liked a drink too.
I’d love another as a toy if I had the space.
ballans said:
Welcome back to the club!
There’s quite a few R53s on here and we seem to have built up a nice little community. Been really interesting to see which direction people take with their cars from track monsters to standard.
Obviously lots of other Mini specific forums but they seem to be mostly obsessed with lowering and de-chroming (especially Facebook) at the minute.
Yours looks a nice find so looking forward to reading your experiences. 20 year old cars now so plenty to keep you busy.
Cheers, finding one that hadn't been modified was also a must. Having not actually seen this one there could be some hidden tweeks but anything non-OEM will be getting binned. I actually managed to find the for-sale advert for this from 2 owners back. It was listed as original then and the current seller hasn't tinkered so fingers crossed!There’s quite a few R53s on here and we seem to have built up a nice little community. Been really interesting to see which direction people take with their cars from track monsters to standard.
Obviously lots of other Mini specific forums but they seem to be mostly obsessed with lowering and de-chroming (especially Facebook) at the minute.
Yours looks a nice find so looking forward to reading your experiences. 20 year old cars now so plenty to keep you busy.
I like the chrome, it's staying. Cosmetically I'm looking to add white bonnet stripes (deeply uncool with the Facebook groups) and possibly driving lamps (chrome, natch). I don't particularly like the style R91 'bullet' alloys but assuming they're true and the tyres hold air they'll be way down the list of jobs.
Court_S said:
I love these.
I had an Indi Blue metallic S with a white roof, black leather, heated seats and screen, six disc changer. I loved that car but I was glad of them AUC warranty. Despite being a low mileage car, it had a few issues resolved under warranty; new clutch, steering rack, track rod ends and immobiliser. It was an absolute hoot on a good B road. It liked a drink too.
I’d love another as a toy if I had the space.
My original one made good use of its warranty. Twice MINI had to recover it from my home to fix electrical faults which killed the battery. If (when) this one breaks it just has to sit on the naughty step until it can be fixed. Just hoping it doesn't strand me anywhere! I had an Indi Blue metallic S with a white roof, black leather, heated seats and screen, six disc changer. I loved that car but I was glad of them AUC warranty. Despite being a low mileage car, it had a few issues resolved under warranty; new clutch, steering rack, track rod ends and immobiliser. It was an absolute hoot on a good B road. It liked a drink too.
I’d love another as a toy if I had the space.
By now you're probably looking at wear & tear more than anything else. Clutches, suspension bits, oil consumption are all common issues. Like any old shed really. The good news is they don't really rust., other than round the tailgate handle & bottom of the rear lights which is a water trap. IMO, nothing much that can't be fixed on them relatively easily & they're still cheap for parts.
My one failed the mot last week on a worn track rod end. Not terrible for a 19 year old car.
My one failed the mot last week on a worn track rod end. Not terrible for a 19 year old car.
Dave. said:
I've never understood the drastic low mpg figures that get banded about for these.
My current one the worst I've gotten is 26.4, best 35.4, average of 31, over 36k miles, commuting and hooning. (Nerdsheet numbers, not trip comp).
/Awaits "you're not driving it hard enough"
I’m averaging approx 25mpg. Gets better on motorways but I don’t really use it for those sort of journeys. It’s mostly used for fun stuff which I think contributes to the the poor mpg. My current one the worst I've gotten is 26.4, best 35.4, average of 31, over 36k miles, commuting and hooning. (Nerdsheet numbers, not trip comp).
/Awaits "you're not driving it hard enough"
Mrs B almost bought a Jag F Pace SVR a couple of weeks ago. That was slightly better on fuel and ULEZ!
tallpaul26 said:
ballans said:
Welcome back to the club!
There’s quite a few R53s on here and we seem to have built up a nice little community. Been really interesting to see which direction people take with their cars from track monsters to standard.
Obviously lots of other Mini specific forums but they seem to be mostly obsessed with lowering and de-chroming (especially Facebook) at the minute.
Yours looks a nice find so looking forward to reading your experiences. 20 year old cars now so plenty to keep you busy.
Cheers, finding one that hadn't been modified was also a must. Having not actually seen this one there could be some hidden tweeks but anything non-OEM will be getting binned. I actually managed to find the for-sale advert for this from 2 owners back. It was listed as original then and the current seller hasn't tinkered so fingers crossed!There’s quite a few R53s on here and we seem to have built up a nice little community. Been really interesting to see which direction people take with their cars from track monsters to standard.
Obviously lots of other Mini specific forums but they seem to be mostly obsessed with lowering and de-chroming (especially Facebook) at the minute.
Yours looks a nice find so looking forward to reading your experiences. 20 year old cars now so plenty to keep you busy.
I like the chrome, it's staying. Cosmetically I'm looking to add white bonnet stripes (deeply uncool with the Facebook groups) and possibly driving lamps (chrome, natch). I don't particularly like the style R91 'bullet' alloys but assuming they're true and the tyres hold air they'll be way down the list of jobs.
I think a lot of minis are being returned to OEM. With so many being scraped/broken for parts numbers are drastically starting to thin which has stabilised prices for good standard cars.
Mine is a bit sheddy so will get fiddled with a bit. I’ve already changed the wheels to 16” (big improvement) and changed the stereo to double DIN. Also got a Miltek exhaust to go on and I may get round to a 15” pulley.
Good to see another R53. Miss mine, it’s been gone 3 years now. The replacement R58 is better in every measurable way on paper, but I’d still rather have the R53 on the drive.
Checked the MOT history and my old one is now doing 10K a year. That’s gotta hurt with current fuel prices…!!
Checked the MOT history and my old one is now doing 10K a year. That’s gotta hurt with current fuel prices…!!
Shappers24 said:
Good to see another R53. Miss mine, it’s been gone 3 years now. The replacement R58 is better in every measurable way on paper, but I’d still rather have the R53 on the drive.
Checked the MOT history and my old one is now doing 10K a year. That’s gotta hurt with current fuel prices…!!
I agree; whilst the R56 is technically a better car, it lost some of the magic of the R53. The noise of the supercharger, noisy hydraulic steering etc. Checked the MOT history and my old one is now doing 10K a year. That’s gotta hurt with current fuel prices…!!
ballans said:
tallpaul26 said:
ballans said:
Welcome back to the club!
There’s quite a few R53s on here and we seem to have built up a nice little community. Been really interesting to see which direction people take with their cars from track monsters to standard.
Obviously lots of other Mini specific forums but they seem to be mostly obsessed with lowering and de-chroming (especially Facebook) at the minute.
Yours looks a nice find so looking forward to reading your experiences. 20 year old cars now so plenty to keep you busy.
Cheers, finding one that hadn't been modified was also a must. Having not actually seen this one there could be some hidden tweeks but anything non-OEM will be getting binned. I actually managed to find the for-sale advert for this from 2 owners back. It was listed as original then and the current seller hasn't tinkered so fingers crossed!There’s quite a few R53s on here and we seem to have built up a nice little community. Been really interesting to see which direction people take with their cars from track monsters to standard.
Obviously lots of other Mini specific forums but they seem to be mostly obsessed with lowering and de-chroming (especially Facebook) at the minute.
Yours looks a nice find so looking forward to reading your experiences. 20 year old cars now so plenty to keep you busy.
I like the chrome, it's staying. Cosmetically I'm looking to add white bonnet stripes (deeply uncool with the Facebook groups) and possibly driving lamps (chrome, natch). I don't particularly like the style R91 'bullet' alloys but assuming they're true and the tyres hold air they'll be way down the list of jobs.
I think a lot of minis are being returned to OEM. With so many being scraped/broken for parts numbers are drastically starting to thin which has stabilised prices for good standard cars.
Mine is a bit sheddy so will get fiddled with a bit. I’ve already changed the wheels to 16” (big improvement) and changed the stereo to double DIN. Also got a Miltek exhaust to go on and I may get round to a 15” pulley.
The F56 does it less well and probably suits the black treatment better.
Well, that’s probably the best MPG I’ll ever see!
Despite a leaking expansion tank (replacement already ordered), it got me home. Already got a snag list but nothing mechanical I’m in any way surprised about. PAS pump is goosed, but I think it’s due to the wrong fluid rather than the typical electrical fault with the pump.
The only thing I’m slightly disappointed with is a couple of bodywork items. However, I’m a bit of an amateur detailer and these are things 99% of people probable wouldn’t ever notice.
Overall, for a 17 year old car at not that much more than shed money, I’m pleased. Lots to tinker with but that was half the point.
Despite a leaking expansion tank (replacement already ordered), it got me home. Already got a snag list but nothing mechanical I’m in any way surprised about. PAS pump is goosed, but I think it’s due to the wrong fluid rather than the typical electrical fault with the pump.
The only thing I’m slightly disappointed with is a couple of bodywork items. However, I’m a bit of an amateur detailer and these are things 99% of people probable wouldn’t ever notice.
Overall, for a 17 year old car at not that much more than shed money, I’m pleased. Lots to tinker with but that was half the point.
That's always on my options list with these. Really lifts the interior imo.Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff