Tell me your thoughts about the R53 (2002-2006) supercharged Mini Cooper S, bad idea?

"StudyStudyStudy" (jesterjin) 01/24/2019 at 12:05 • Filed to: None

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So my lease is going in a little under 2 months. I was looking at bmw 335xi’s and fiat 500 abarth, but I haven’t been awesome about saving and I started school so both of those have hit my budget quite a lot. I was hoping for about double what my current budget is . I’m now pretty comfortably out of the BMW E90 territory, but the early Mini Cooper S has caught my eye. Looks like they trade around the 4-7k range, and that leaves me quite a hefty savings for any unexpected repairs plus a healthy revenue stream from the lack of a month payment.

A bit about me, I drive myself mostly, once in a while some friends or family. I prefer small cars as I work in the city which means city garages which means tiny parking spaces. I can turn a pretty mean wrench. I also have a fun car, so this would be for a daily driver.

Thoughts?

Pros to the situation is I get to experience a supercharger which I have always loved, I get to try the daily manual transmission life, smaller than my current car which means easier mobility.

Cons, the newest one would be from 2006 so 13 years old. Milage will be high for the most part unless some unicorns are present (first time my daily won’t be starting from 0 on the odometer) . Parts will be expensive comparatively . Reliability may not be there (definitely will be retaining my AAA).

Spanfeller is a twat > StudyStudyStudy 01/24/2019 at 12:07

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My grandfather had one.

He hated the living shit out of it for being so unreliable, but I don’t know anythin g more

getFuckedHerb > StudyStudyStudy 01/24/2019 at 12:19

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Had a 2005 S. Piled 30k on top of the 60k that was on it before I sold it, great little car. SUPER easy to work on (lots of room in the engine bay). Rebuilt the blower ($$$) and did a smaller pulley and some suspension parts, was a really fun little car. Parts didn’t seem super out of line to me, but YMMV.

Blowers seem to go out somewhere between 75 and 125k miles. Not super cheap to rebuild but not a terrible item to have go vs something like chains on an audi.

Kim Jong - Healthy > StudyStudyStudy 01/24/2019 at 12:21

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I work with a kid, 20 maybe 21, with an ‘03 JCW Cooper S. He’s pretty handy as he works in our maintenance department, but still talks about all the work it constantly needs.

His exact words were, “it’s fun to drive, but at any giving time i’m chasing 2-3 sounds throughout the engine bay.”

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > StudyStudyStudy 01/24/2019 at 12:22

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The non-S models are more reliable. Though the supercharged S models of that generation are far more reliable than the newer turbo S models.

That gen S has the Getrag 6MT shared with the SVT Focus. I owned an SVT Focus for 10 years and that transmission was just fine during my time with that car. I am not sure it handles much extra power well though.

Pretty sure you’d be stuck with premium gas as well.

I’d look for the non-S model with a 5MT (if you’re looking for a manual) and just add some mods for handling or interior upgrades as you see fit.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > StudyStudyStudy 01/24/2019 at 12:42

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05+ cars are the most reliable

Common issues include the cooling system, oil leaks and rust. Uncommon issues include mushroomed shock towers and a-pillar water leaks (largely resolved on later cars).

One of my good friends from middle school has had an 06 Cooper S in his family for 7 years now and it’s been pretty good to them.

CompactLuxuryFan > StudyStudyStudy 01/24/2019 at 12:51

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These seem great for the price if you don’t mind the size and go-kart ride. Come to think of it I don’t think you can get anything quicker for the price, except maybe a Mustang or something? They don’t even fetch that big of prices on Bring a Trailer for very nice ones.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2006-mini-cooper-s-john-cooper-works-2/

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2003-mini-cooper-s-14/

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2005-mini-cooper-s-9/

Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner > StudyStudyStudy 01/24/2019 at 12:51

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R53 S is great idea. Pretty reliable (R56es are the ones that made everyone think Minis are unreliable.) Extremely easy to park bc its a mini. Pretty zippy too (muh gokart handling) and a full tank of gas even with premium shouldnt be over $40. The R53 generation is considered to be the best generation of the new minis. 6MT is super smooth too. and 163hp is enough to get you into a little but of trouble but not too much. Even though the top speed is 145mph.

Eury - AFRICA TWIN!!!!!!! > StudyStudyStudy 01/24/2019 at 13:42

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I had an ‘06 S for about a year. LOVED LOVED LOVED driving it. Comfortable even for a tall fat guy, plenty of space for my wife, 3yr old son and I. Ended up selling it because it was a 3rd car in a place where I only had 2 parking spaces, and riding in it made my wife car sick. Still miss the supercharger whine to this day, and my son still talks about that being one of the coolest sounding cars he’s ever been in. Sometimes he’ll make the whining noise when we accelerate in other cars even though it’s been 5 years since I sold it.

I did a bit of maintenance to it, it wasn’t particularly difficult to work on, however, I found the engine bay very tight to work in. The other poster who says there is lots of room and I couldn’t be farther apart on that.

I’d definitely buy another one. Without hesitation.

Dru > StudyStudyStudy 01/24/2019 at 13:45

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My dad bought one new in 2002.  Absolute blast to drive.  Reasonably reliable, and my father is a notorious corner cutter when it comes to maintenance.  I am fairly certain it only gets premium gas once in a while.  Weird shit breaks, like the glove box.  It’s supposed to be “willed” to me at some point and I’ve no misgivings about owning it.  Sounds like you have a good bead on what the ownership experience will be like.  I say go for it. 

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > StudyStudyStudy 01/24/2019 at 13:53

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Do it before they’re gone.  I love my R56 but wish I could have owned a well sorted R53 for a while.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > StudyStudyStudy 01/24/2019 at 15:37

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They’re tons of fun. Easy enough to work on. Get the newest one you can afford. Definitely don’t get an 03.

If it hasn’t had one, it will need a supercharger. It might need a head gasket, I’ve seen a few fail. Engine mounts. Strut towers will mushroom, but it’s easily mitigated with a brace, I’ve never seen one actually fail. I’ve never seen an issue with the 6mt, but I’ve replaced a few 5mt’s in R50's. Window regulators and door latches. PS pumps were  pretty common.

Ilike_cougars > StudyStudyStudy 01/24/2019 at 16:26

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Had an R55 Mini Clubman S, loved every bit of it. Dare I say I think I liked it be tter than my Z4M. Drove the car for about 30K miles, in a span of 2 years, drove it all over the Midwest, parts of Denver hitting places like Mt Evans. a wesome a wesome car.

T he only thing I had to change was the Valve Cover gasket, it got warped due to the heat(made of cheap plastic), but a relatively cheap fix, I think it was $125. The one time I drove it long distance and the engine did loose a bit of power due to heat soak. And the most important thing of all,the thing used to burn oil, happens to all of them.

The only car in which I have got a speeding ticket.. Its a fun car but needs regular maintenance to keep working right.   

f86sabre > StudyStudyStudy 01/24/2019 at 18:50

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We’ve had our 05 R53 since new. It’s been a great car. Fun to drive, easy to park and there is a good community around the car. People are obsessed with them. Had a few maintenance issues over the last 14 years, but nothing super crazy. Had to replace the balancer pulley (took some doing) and an engine mount. There was a recall on the power steering pump. Oil leaks around the engine have needed some attention as well. The headliner is also falling apart. Still, 165k miles and it still has the original clutch, so it’s not too bad.

Some get a little corrosion in the boot lid due to poor drainage, but otherwise the bodies are solid.

StudyStudyStudy > Eury - AFRICA TWIN!!!!!!! 01/24/2019 at 18:56

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That sounds a treat, thank you for your input!

StudyStudyStudy > Ilike_cougars 01/24/2019 at 18:58

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Hmm, I hadn’t really considered the later models, but I suppose I should consider it. Thanks!

StudyStudyStudy > CompactLuxuryFan 01/24/2019 at 19:02

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Wow, I wouldn’t have even thought of looking at BaT for them, looks like people aren’t going crazy about them (which is good for me).

Jason > StudyStudyStudy 01/24/2019 at 19:14

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I have a 2004 Cooper S that I’ve owned since new.

The good: When it’s working its really fun to drive. Go-kart like without being too harsh.

The bad: Not all that reliable (though its never left me stranded) and when it breaks it can be hard to fix and parts are expensive . Besides normal maintenance stuff, i n about 100k miles I’ve been through two super charger s, two water pumps, three power steering pumps, an alternator, a brake master cylinder, rear brake calipers, two post cat exhausts, and a set of parking brake cables. I also had the back of the catalytic converter suddenly blow off (making the car noticeably faster and much much louder) but I was able to weld it back together. One of the super chargers, one water pump, and two of the power steering pumps were warranty repairs.

I recently replaced the clutch, and that took me a few days. Nearly 1/3 of the front of the car had to come off, and there are a bunch of bolts in nearly impossible to get at locations.

The body started rusting through around the rear tail light and bottom of the passenger door. It was right before the end of the 12 year rust warranty, but Mini refused to cover it because I hadn’t been bringing the car to them for regular inspections.

And now I’m getting occasional misfires in cylinder #2 at idle, which throws the car into limp home mode. I suspect it’s a bad fuel injector, which should be easy to verify by swapping injectors around, but... someone thought it a good idea to have the air for the intercooler exit on top of injectors, so if you live in a place where they use salt on the roads in the winter the wet salty air gets all over the injectors turning them into rusted blobs fused to the intake manifold. So what should be a half hour diagnostic step is now at least a few hours of work plus a whole new set of fuel injectors.

StudyStudyStudy > Jason 01/24/2019 at 19:29

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Luckily almost no salt around these parts, I imagine that is what made some of the other things go? I’m willing to set aside a few thousand for repairs, I saw a few videos of the clutch and I’m willing to hand that over to a specialist, but things like the brakes, and super charger don’t scare me too much. Appreciate the very thurough insight!

Jason > StudyStudyStudy 01/24/2019 at 19:46

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Replacing the super charger isn’t hard, but it does take a while as a lot of stuff has to come off. It’s also $1300 to $2000 or so in parts. And the super charger drives the water pump, so often when it fails the car isn’t just slower, but undriveable.

Gabe37 > StudyStudyStudy 01/24/2019 at 19:54

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So, I don’t know much about you or your needs for a daily. I’m going to assume you are a fairly young guy. If you don’t have children or animals to haul around—I hate to be a cliche..but get a M iata. My best friend had a M iata in his early twenties and it was a fantastic daily. Fun to drive, g ood fuel economy, easy to work on and maintain, and a fantastic conversation starter with people. Plus you simply can’t beat open air driving. I linked a cream puff below with like 43k miles for less than 7K.  

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/757305501/overview/

Clown Shoe Pilot > StudyStudyStudy 01/24/2019 at 21:22

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I had an ‘05 S that I drove for 2 years before selling it in order to purchase the Clown Shoe.

I really really liked the Mini. I like the Shoe better, but it’s definitely a really fun car to drive, and they’re not super tough to work on if you’re so inclined.

Papa Scabs > StudyStudyStudy 01/24/2019 at 23:06

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I have an R56 and love my MINI, they can be a little temperamental (what old sports car isn’t ) ... F ind a MINI S in the best condition you can. Also get familiar with a BMW VIN code reader (check the VIN before you buy) , it will tell you all the features that came from the factory. 

StudyStudyStudy > Gabe37 01/25/2019 at 02:34

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Not quite young, starting to groan getting up and out of chairs haha.

That was a bit of a consideration. My friend has one, and they are a hoot to drive, but not sure about a convertible in one of the rainiest cities. Not to mention I do haul my tool kit on occasion which includes a welder and a miata would struggle to hold all that.

StudyStudyStudy > Jason 01/25/2019 at 02:39

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Oh no, I was just dreading an eventual clutch, that seems like quite the sink as well. Still worth it to you?

NojustNo > StudyStudyStudy 01/25/2019 at 15:00

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I test drove a really nice 2007 5 cylinder manual GTI that would probably be in your price range... about 5 Grand. decent zip and a great clutch. Oppos have opinions on this gen vw and the 5 cylinder?

StudyStudyStudy > getFuckedHerb 01/28/2019 at 04:59

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Thanks for your response,  was there ever a blower oil service done? I’ve been reading some horror stories about it and it concerns me a bit, but I’ve also heard topping the oil off in the supercharger will extend the life drastically. Did you notice a noise or other tell tale sign?

StudyStudyStudy > Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner 01/28/2019 at 05:00

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That is kind of what I am hoping for, just enough fun for zipping around, but not anything like the Z which is seconds away from felony status with the right foot at any time.

StudyStudyStudy > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 01/28/2019 at 05:03

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Noooooo, you and killing my dreams!

They make a remote fill kit for the supercharger I plan on installing, apparently the lack of an oil service on the supercharger is what causes them to go so often? I expect engine mounts and other bushings to be on their way out realistically and the y don’t seem too terrible to exchange . They have some extended warranty on the PS pumps, and this one didn’t show any open recalls so hopefully that has been taken care of. 

StudyStudyStudy > f86sabre 01/28/2019 at 05:04

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That is most excellent to hear. The one thing I am kind of dreading is a clutch replacement as that seems to be quite involved. 

StudyStudyStudy > NojustNo 01/28/2019 at 05:08

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Interestingly enough, my friend also suggested a GTI after looking at a Mini. We drove a 2013 Mk7  and it was quite nice. Really comfortable seats, transmission and clutch were super tight even with quite a few miles. Interior was surprisingly decent. I’m not sure I would consider ones earlier given how many miles people love to put on them. That was quite a bit more than I was hoping to spend though and I’ve never been in love with VW for some reason.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > StudyStudyStudy 01/28/2019 at 10:05

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That’s what I’m here for! 

Was not aware of the remote fill kit! That makes  life easy. But how do you know how much fluid is in there?

StudyStudyStudy > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 01/28/2019 at 15:03

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I believe it has two fittings at different heights on the plug, so you fill with the fill fitting a specified amount and the rest drips out the drain . http://www.mbkperformance.com if you are interested.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > StudyStudyStudy 01/28/2019 at 15:22

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As long as they have that worked out it's a great idea. But I don't have time to look into it myself. I'll take your word for it.

getFuckedHerb > StudyStudyStudy 01/29/2019 at 16:22

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She was making bearing noises when I bought it, I did the oil and bought me another 5k miles. I was not shy about absolutely beating on it at the road course. I agree properly maintained by someone watching it should last a lot longer than that. One thing I wouldn’t  do again is the solid motor mounts, thing shook like a damn train car after that when not on the track.

StudyStudyStudy > getFuckedHerb 02/04/2019 at 23:33

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Gotcha, I’m ever hopeful I won’t have toe deal with that for at least a little while. I am contemplating acquiring a spare one to have rebuilt in case I ever need it. I learned my lesson with my last daily driver with poly mounts . Shook like nobodies business. The mounts on my Z are pretty solid, but inline 6's are inherently much better balanced and mounted so no troubles there.