norm75
Part of things
Posts: 658
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Just sold our r52 cooper s convertible. Had it up for 3750 and the Mrs dropped it to 2750 no offers. First to see it bought it. There was another local to me up for the same price, same age, same mileage but it had no mot!
It was a good little car (picture of it in the what did you buy and sell in 22 thread)
Prince engine in the r56 not so good. Post 2011 are better but personally I would always go for the supercharged r53 (or r52 if it’s a convertible)
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I recently purchased a Gen1 Mini Cooper S (R53) as a replacement daily driver when I changed jobs and handed back my company car. Great little car and really characterful! After mid 2004 and before mid 2006 is probably the sweet spot for the R53. Mid 2004 they had a face lift (you can spot it in the xenon headlights and 3 piece dash). With the face lift came a 6 speed gear box with closer ratios, a 'better' engine map, a bit more power, a teflon-coated supercharger and a few other bits. Mine is a June or July 2006, so right at the crossover to the R56 (with the turbocharged Peugeot engine). They do have some common issues including, but not limited to: Oil leaks Power stearing pump failures Exhaust manifold/cat failures Rad fan speed control resistor failures Sticky gear linkage cables Heavy clutches (when getting a bit worn) Supercharger needs servicing at (or before) 100k miles which is a bit of a pig to get to So far mine has been pretty good (although has cost me a few quid). It had a new clutch and flywheel and a new PAS pump just before I purchased it in October 2022. Since owning it I have had to lube the gear linkage cables as the gear shift was difficult, replace the exhaust manifold and cat as it cracked at the pre-cat manifold joint (super common) and change the oil filter housing gasket as it was curse word oil out (5ltrs in 1k miles!!!). A pain, but all cheap parts and lots of guides on youtube to help. A picture of my new toy... (its a 2006 R53 with the JCW aero body kit, 18" JCW wheels and a LSD) edited to add - If you are unsure about whether a car has an LSD, the gearboxes have stickers on the end which you can see if you look through the nearside wheel (get down on the floor and have a look with a torch throught the wheel). If the box code ends BKL then it had an LSD from the factory.
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Last Edit: Jan 7, 2023 20:59:38 GMT by lewist123
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norm75
Part of things
Posts: 658
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Couple of common weak points to add to the above post. Drivers side driveshaft has a support bearing half way along it that are prone to wear, and the hubs/cv joints are a bit weak and don’t like to be dropped off curbs or ran through pot holes. Door handles can also play up but that’s usually just a cable that becomes dislodged, and the airbag sensors under the seats are fragile and can cause the airbag light to come on, caused by sliding the seats a bit too erratically but rough roads have been known to cause this as well.
The r52 has always had a 6 speed getrag box, but as said post 2004 cars had different ratios. The facelift increased power from 163 to 170bhp. Later cars also got limited slip diff as an option (ours had it). All other r50’s (one and cooper) got a 5 speed getrag box instead of the midland rover gearbox, that were prone to breaking, post 2004. The r52 convertibles carried on until 2009 I believe (wife’s business partner had a 58 plate r52) while the hard top was replaced by the r56 a couple of years earlier.
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Stiff
Posted a lot
'kin 'ell
Posts: 3,007
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This thread just reminded me of one I was working on a few months back. I've done work for him before and he usually has some unusual stuff from time to time (hence the limo in the background). The Rotiforms were pretty pitted so he wanted them in gloss black. I thought I was gonna struggle getting a jack under but luckily it was on air! These don't usully do that much for me but I kinda liked this one. Think I would have gone silver but his car, his choice. The next time I popped down he'd gone a bit crazy with some little black triangles although I think they may have been taken off soon after as I saw it for sale on the internet without them on. It was a tad loud too. Would have driven me crazy after a few miles. Think I'm getting old, lol.
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Mar 24, 2023 13:15:06 GMT
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I was asked by truckdoctor if I had any more pictures of this - a Photoshop I did way-back-when of an R50 Mini 'Clubman' - 70s BL flat front end achieved by leveraging the Bedford CF-esque front end of the Phase-II Nissan Cube, as the legendary fellow is only thinking of building one in the flesh! I didn't have more pix, but thought it ripe to create a couple of new ones, strictly for mojo-building purposes. I still think it would be good - so much more businesslike than the whimsical cartoony retro front it usually has. As said before by others, a last-model Jimny front clip might also work - though perhaps a little narrow? Or a Toyota BB. Because of the clamshell nature of the R50 bonnet / lack of actual wings in front of the wheels, I don't think you'd be doing anything structural so... bit of metalwork, bit of fibre-glass, bit of filler and badda-bing. W h a t a c o o l l i t t l e N u g g e t ! (10/10 would drive) (these were done quite quickly so apologies for the messiness in the details)
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Mar 24, 2023 13:23:29 GMT
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If you squint a little, well maybe a lot you might just be able to see the Honda e in there or it could just be my imagination running a little wild !
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Jul 11, 2023 18:44:43 GMT
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I was asked by truckdoctor if I had any more pictures of this - a Photoshop I did way-back-when of an R50 Mini 'Clubman' - 70s BL flat front end achieved by leveraging the Bedford CF-esque front end of the Phase-II Nissan Cube, as the legendary fellow is only thinking of building one in the flesh! I didn't have more pix, but thought it ripe to create a couple of new ones, strictly for mojo-building purposes. I still think it would be good - so much more businesslike than the whimsical cartoony retro front it usually has. As said before by others, a last-model Jimny front clip might also work - though perhaps a little narrow? Or a Toyota BB. Because of the clamshell nature of the R50 bonnet / lack of actual wings in front of the wheels, I don't think you'd be doing anything structural so... bit of metalwork, bit of fibre-glass, bit of filler and badda-bing. W h a t a c o o l l i t t l e N u g g e t ! (10/10 would drive) (these were done quite quickly so apologies for the messiness in the details) Missed your reply. Liking the green.
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Jul 13, 2023 12:34:13 GMT
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Have posted a question in the question section because it is illegal to post in more than one place…..
A Mini that seems a decent option to buy for spares and repairs.
Advice and opinions appreciated.
Thanks.
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fredje8v
Part of things
96 Daihatsu Atrai
Posts: 186
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Jul 13, 2023 16:44:07 GMT
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Anybody posted this one already?? link
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Oh my days.......this!
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Oct 19, 2023 17:25:01 GMT
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