Soldato
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I keep thinking about picking up a Cooper S R53. Budget approx £3-4k as a fun/run about car.
Would this be ill-advised?
Would this be ill-advised?
Mini Owners Thread (Was:Who here owns a Mini?)
- Thread starter ScoobyDoo69
- Start date
It isn't ill advised. If you manage to buy well, parts are common, you can mod to your hearts content if you fancy.
But they are starting to cost more and more the older they get mind, they are now 20 year old cars. If you look at facelifts which is basically 2004 - 2006, BMW seem to have changed something in the build, but they are starting to rust not just around the rear lights/tailgate, but on the rear bulkhead under the rear seats. My battery box has also started to rot out. If you use PH a few readers cars have popped up with rust in the same areas recently.
Prefacelift cars seem a lot more resilient. My Mini chap has a similar mileage car to mine but PFL (Circa 150k miles) and his rear bulkhead is pristine.
But they are starting to cost more and more the older they get mind, they are now 20 year old cars. If you look at facelifts which is basically 2004 - 2006, BMW seem to have changed something in the build, but they are starting to rust not just around the rear lights/tailgate, but on the rear bulkhead under the rear seats. My battery box has also started to rot out. If you use PH a few readers cars have popped up with rust in the same areas recently.
Prefacelift cars seem a lot more resilient. My Mini chap has a similar mileage car to mine but PFL (Circa 150k miles) and his rear bulkhead is pristine.
Soldato
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Thanks for the info! Definitely want to find one that's been looked after etc.It isn't ill advised. If you manage to buy well, parts are common, you can mod to your hearts content if you fancy.
But they are starting to cost more and more the older they get mind, they are now 20 year old cars. If you look at facelifts which is basically 2004 - 2006, BMW seem to have changed something in the build, but they are starting to rust not just around the rear lights/tailgate, but on the rear bulkhead under the rear seats. My battery box has also started to rot out. If you use PH a few readers cars have popped up with rust in the same areas recently.
Prefacelift cars seem a lot more resilient. My Mini chap has a similar mileage car to mine but PFL (Circa 150k miles) and his rear bulkhead is pristine.
This one's popped up locally but not sure on the colour or the 53 decals :| otherwise seems a good example
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509296710142?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android-app
I actually think that's expensive, although it is low mileage and looks in very good nick. Check the headlining is not beginning to sag! And I agree with you on colour and decals.
I'd expect JCW for that kind of money as they look so much better (in my opinion).
All that said, if you're buying a 20 year old Mini you should buy on condition more than anything else, and it'll be really fun to drive no matter the spec.
Soldato
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Yeah I'm not too keen on this one. What's a fair price for a good one these days?
Got home late, late last night, so didn’t do much in the way of photos, will update soon.
Car drives great , the double edge sword though is I like it doesn’t have heads up display, the silly centre armrest and a panoramic roof. This is because it’s essentially a base spec cooper s works. The only few things I wish it has was the leather (not just the alcantara finish on the seats), and the Harman kardon sound package, the speakers are good, but not crazy good or anything.
Will update soon.
Car drives great , the double edge sword though is I like it doesn’t have heads up display, the silly centre armrest and a panoramic roof. This is because it’s essentially a base spec cooper s works. The only few things I wish it has was the leather (not just the alcantara finish on the seats), and the Harman kardon sound package, the speakers are good, but not crazy good or anything.
Will update soon.
This is great, thanks! I'll take a look for the 1.5 petrol, although tbh I'm almost tempted to try to find an R53 for £3k or so, similar to @kinger8938 .2014 is the F56 Model, and generally yes they are more reliable, however they are also more complicated (as generally have a bit more tech etc)
I drive the older R56 Cooper, but also own a F60 Countryman Cooper S. Honestly I find the Cooper more fun overall as it's got enough power to be fun, but not so much that you're constantly thinking about losing your license.
The Cooper S (both my Countryman, an F56 courtesy car, and my previous R56 Cooper S) constantly urge you to drive faster, and it's too tempting - especially the F56 they are a lot more refined, so easy to hit license losing speeds without realising. The majority of fun in a Mini comes in the twisty bits (and roundabouts) anyway - anyone can drive fast in a straight line!
The Cooper should be no different on a Motorway (in fact might actually be a bit more comfortable if it has smaller wheels) etc, but I will say the F56 is a lot smoother and more relaxing on long drives than the earlier R56.
Shouldn't be much difference. The 1.5 Petrol is essentially very similar engine to the 2.0 just with a cylinder less (as it was designed as a modular engine - which also includes the 6 cylinder in BMWs)
Aside from the black wheels, same colour scheme as my R56 Cooper - I wasn't sure on the colour when I got mine, but it's absolutely grown on me - looks much better in person than photos.
Random
Is there some magical way of changing the ambient lighting colour I dont know about?
Just picked up a 2017 cooper yesterday and all the lighting is a pink/purple and honestly looked in the menu for 5 mins but couldnt find anything obvious.
Is there some magical way of changing the ambient lighting colour I dont know about?
Just picked up a 2017 cooper yesterday and all the lighting is a pink/purple and honestly looked in the menu for 5 mins but couldnt find anything obvious.
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Surely of all people on this forum you're capable of changing that, VinceRandom
Is there some magical way of changing the ambient lighting colour I dont know about?
Surely of all people on this forum you're capable of changing that, Vince
Yea I havent RTFM, only picked up the car yesterday morning and had a quick look through the computer thing
guess I will have to read the manual.
Yea I havent RTFM, only picked up the car yesterday morning and had a quick look through the computer thing
One of the switches near the rearview mirror will change the colour.
Near the rear view mirror? Really, what a stupid place to put it...
Here is the car. Has chili pack, rear sensor all the keyless stuff, auto lights, Bluetooth stuff etc. pretty well optioned car... Decent little upgrade to our run around. Drives really quite nice as well.
Just got the plate on the Clio back onto retention so once the logbook is here should just be able to throw that on the mini.
Just got the plate on the Clio back onto retention so once the logbook is here should just be able to throw that on the mini.
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Soldato
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Press the toggle on roof console to cycle through colours. Hold it until it flashes if you want disco mode where it cycles and the toggle the other way is for brightness.Random
Is there some magical way of changing the ambient lighting colour I dont know about?
Edit: R56 and R60 anyway. Not sure about your F56
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Nice one surprisingly I didnt consider that it might be on the roof console
Im sticking by that being a stupid place!
Soldato
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Maybe there’s a toggle to turn up your brightness? 
Maybe there’s a toggle to turn up your brightness?
Nah there is nothing you can do for me anymore, head is full of junk nobody needs to know and as a result there is no room for anything else. For everything I learn I forget something else. Not feeling dumb at all, not even slightly
I did run out and have a look... And yep it's one of them buttons up there but brightness appears to be done via the screen... I'll have a proper play when picking up the Mrs. Thanks lads! We are no longer pink/purple.
One of my favourite things about the car is the message "go-Kart" Experience pops up when you stick it in sport mode... love that.
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Do you mind me asking what it set you back, and its mileage? Very tempted by something similar!Here is the car. Has chili pack, rear sensor all the keyless stuff, auto lights, Bluetooth stuff etc. pretty well optioned car... Decent little upgrade to our run around. Drives really quite nice as well.
Just got the plate on the Clio back onto retention so once the logbook is here should just be able to throw that on the mini.
Yea of course. It cost a few quid shy of 5k, has 85k miles but also only 1 owner before me and a full main dealer service history. It's had stupid stuff that it probably didn't need done like a new timing chain, guides etc at about 80k, as well as some suspension work at the same time.
It felt tighter and more together than some I drove so yea the millage although higher than I wanted wasn't a concern. My thoughts after a few days are that it's a lot of car for the money.
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