Mini Cooper S (R53)

Daniel S

I'm currently driving a 2006 1.6 Focus which is 100bhp. It's very slow.

Thought of the Cooper S, found one on DD and rang my insurance company. It's €200 per year more to insure, yet more than doubles the power (210bhp)!

Has anyone had one of these? I'd love to hear from an owner as I don't know anyone with a supercharged one.

Even if you're not an owner, have you any recommendations or suggestions?

Thanks,

Dan

TBi

Cooper S is about 170bhp unless it's a cooper works edition. I hear the supercharger whine is addictive.

I have the R56 version and love it. There is a mini club of Ireland if you want to talk to owners. Website should be easy to find

Oafley Jones

Daniel S wrote: »

I'm currently driving a 2006 1.6 Focus which is 100bhp. It's very slow.

Thought of the Cooper S, found one on DD and rang my insurance company. It's €200 per year more to insure, yet more than doubles the power (210bhp)!

Has anyone had one of these? I'd love to hear from an owner as I don't know anyone with a supercharged one.

Even if you're not an owner, have you any recommendations or suggestions?

Thanks,

Dan

Must be fairly modded? R53 MCS is around 160bhp.

166man

The supercharged Mini Cooper is still to this day one of the most fun cars I have driven.

I thought it was an absolute blast. Great handling, great noise, excelletn brakes also.

Daniel S

Oafley Jones wrote: »

Must be fairly modded? R53 MCS is around 160bhp.

John Cooper Works version.

Neilw

Daniel S wrote: »

John Cooper Works version.

I had one for a year or so. Any link to the one you're buying?

I thought the handling was great, JCW brakes on mine were excellent but 18" wheels with runflat tyres were horrible, cats eyes felt like landmines.
The supercharger whibe is addictive, especially on the JCW as it has a flap on the airbox that opens at higher RPM.

They are not without their problems, mine had an ongoing issue with the heater matrix blocking and header tanks cracking. Front wishbone bushings don't last long either.

I thought it felt a bit fragile overall.

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly

They are great craic to hoon around in.

They feel as if they'll fail catastrophically at any moment though; lots of rattles, buzzes, squeaks , cheap plastics etc.

Daniel S

Neilw wrote: »

I had one for a year or so. Any link to the one you're buying?

I thought the handling was great, JCW brakes on mine were excellent but 18" wheels with runflat tyres were horrible, cats eyes felt like landmines.
The supercharger whibe is addictive, especially on the JCW as it has a flap on the airbox that opens at higher RPM.

They are not without their problems, mine had an ongoing issue with the heater matrix blocking and header tanks cracking. Front wishbone bushings don't last long either.

I thought it felt a bit fragile overall.

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly wrote: »

They are great craic to hoon around in.

They feel as if they'll fail catastrophically at any moment though; lots of rattles, buzzes, squeaks , cheap plastics etc.

Is that why you got rid of it?

Neilw

Daniel S wrote: »

Is that why you got rid of it?

Not in my case, I changed it because I wanted something different.

Have you a link to the car, there's not many JCW models here...could be my old one

Daniel S

No car in particular, just looking at all of them! Even Focus STs and other cars. Something faster really. :P

Neilw

Daniel S wrote: »

No car in particular, just looking at all of them! Even Focus STs and other cars. Something faster really. :P

Mk5 golf gti would be a good choice in that type of car, provided you could find a good one. There are lots of rough ones about.

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly

Daniel S wrote: »

Is that why you got rid of it?

I've still got it :eek:

Daniel S

Neilw wrote: »

Mk5 golf gti would be a good choice in that type of car, provided you could find a good one. There are lots of rough ones about.

I've been looking at them. The cars I've been looking at are:

Mini Cooper S
Mk5 GTI
Octavia VRS (though MIGHT consider a Fabia)
Astra OPC
Auris SR180

Apart from the Mini, all of those will result in massive tax and insurance increases.

Mk5 GTI probably won't happen from an insurance point of view.

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly wrote: »

I've still got it :eek:

Great to hear!

166man

An Auris SR180 isn't in the same league as the above cars imo.

Henry Ford III

Great fun car. If you boot it it'll be pretty thirsty though.

Daniel S

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Great fun car. If you boot it it'll be pretty thirsty though.

I will. :pac:

Donnelly117

I think if you could stretchy to an R56 money wise you would be a lot better off. Do not buy a cheap one though as they are not without their problems, timing chain stretching and jumping being on of the big ones. That said a well looked after one will run forever!

Build quality wise they are night and day! The R56 makes a far better daily driver and is better on petrol being a turbo engine. Mine (not a JCW) got mid 30 mpg easily enough which inst bad for 184 bhp... Tax and insurance was cheap too, my insurance on the mini is half what I pay on my current car. Id ditch the runflats as as NeilW mentioned even a small bump on the road will shatter your spine!

Heres a pic of mine in its natural habitat to convince you to buy one hahaha Just messing with you, it was a one off and probably revenge for not washing it!
I regretted my decision to sell it immediately and will regret it for a long time to come



As for the other choices on your list, aside from the OPC, they are all super boring compared to the Mini... Those OPCs are lightning fast in a straight line but I think a mini would munch it on a twisty road! That said when you pull the pin on the OPC in a low gear they don't half shift!!

There is a guy in Cork who is the authority on Minis in Ireland, Ger O Leary in Ballincollig. He is a legend and great to deal with, Minis come from the length and breath of the country for him to fix! He is selling an 08 Grey/White Coopers S at the moment which looks mint. I can pass on his number if you would be interested. He fixed the Mini i the above pic btw

Daniel S

I'm looking to spend about €5k max so that's probably out of my budget. I'm considering bringing one in from the UK.

This one in particular:

2004 Mini Cooper S JCW

VRT is €1309 if they see it as a JCW or €608 as a Cooper S.

Or this:

2003 Mini Cooper S - Modified 220bhp

VRT is €421, but then I've to deal with insurance and it being modified. I'm 21.

Donnelly117

Daniel S wrote: »

I'm looking to spend about €5k max so that's probably out of my budget. I'm considering bringing one in from the UK.

This one in particular:

2004 Mini Cooper S JCW

VRT is €1309 if they see it as a JCW or €608 as a Cooper S.

Thats pricey for VRT the bastards :mad: You would have a far bigger selection in the UK alright though. Theres very few around here. Ill be talking to Ger during the week so I can ask him if he knows of any Works R53s if you'd like? You'd be amazed what he can track down, and hes probably worked on most of the ones in the country! Or I can pass your number on if you'd like.

The one in the pic looks good on paper, good mileage for the year, well specced etc. But silver really doesn't do it for me on a Mini, its probably my least favorite colour! Bit too dull for a mini. I love them in Red and black, or British racing green or something!

Daniel S

Donnelly117 wrote: »

Thats pricey for VRT the bastards :mad: You would have a far bigger selection in the UK alright though. Theres very few around here. Ill be talking to Ger during the week so I can ask him if he knows of any Works R53s if you'd like? You'd be amazed what he can track down, and hes probably worked on most of the ones in the country! Or I can pass your number on if you'd like.

The one in the pic looks good on paper, good mileage for the year, well specced etc. But silver really doesn't do it for me on a Mini, its probably my least favorite colour! Bit too dull for a mini. I love them in Red and black, or British racing green or something!

Absolutely agree with you on colour. The other thing I've noticed is Irish JCWs come up as Cooper S' when I go to get an insurance quote. Did people register them as regular Cooper S'?

Please do ask him! I'd really appreciate it. I know I'm expecting a lot to get a R53 Works for €5k.

Donnelly117

Daniel S wrote: »

Or this:

2003 Mini Cooper S - Modified 220bhp

VRT is €421, but then I've to deal with insurance and it being modified. I'm 21.

I like the look of the second one, but its a high miler for a modified engine that wasn't exactly bullet proof to begin with. That said there's definitely merit in sticking a 15/17% pulley on the supercharger of a stick S and I reckon with a remap you would be very close to JCW power with better drivability! So i wouldnt rule out an S.
At your age (sorry, that sounds condescending haha, Im old now ) It may be best to avoid importing something modded as the insurance could veto it on you.

It was the same with the R56, a remapped S was a much better drive then the stock JCW as the JCW mapping was dreadful. A mapped S would make 210 easy on stock exhaust and air-box, more if you but the works gear on them! Having said that a mapped JCW will absolutely fly!!

Daniel S

I don't know if modified is an option though.

The insurance is cheap because they're not exactly a boy-racer car.

I'd say if I tried to change the wheels on my current Focus, they'd be asking for my first born. :pac:

Donnelly117

Daniel S wrote: »

Absolutely agree with you on colour. The other thing I've noticed is Irish JCWs come up as Cooper S' when I go to get an insurance quote. Did people register them as regular Cooper S'?

Please do ask him! I'd really appreciate it. I know I'm expecting a lot to get a R53 Works for €5k.

I wouldn't be surprised if the insurance companies were just too lazy to stick in the second option for the JCW. They will know the difference over the phone anyway id reckon, they did when i was getting quotes on my S!

I will, ill be calling into him during the week Ill see what he can come up with. Hes very good for sourcing Minis! I wouldn't think 5k would be unreasonable for a JCW, maybe 6 would be more realistic but its not out of the question! They are 10 years old at this stage and have been face lifted, replaces etc...

Daniel S wrote: »

I don't know if modified is an option though.

The insurance is cheap because they're not exactly a boy-racer car.

I'd say if I tried to change the wheels on my current Focus, they'd be asking for my first born. :pac:

If you're not sure if modified is an option then I wouldn't rule out an S that you can mod yourself down the road. I personally wouldn't buy so,meting someone else modded. Although the one you linked looks very legit.

Is there any for sale in Ireland, I know theres a few R56's advertised

Daniel S

Donnelly117 wrote: »

I wouldn't be surprised if the insurance companies were just too lazy to stick in the second option for the JCW. They will know the difference over the phone anyway id reckon, they did when i was getting quotes on my S!

I will, ill be calling into him during the week Ill see what he can come up with. Hes very good for sourcing Minis! I wouldn't think 5k would be unreasonable for a JCW, maybe 6 would be more realistic but its not out of the question! They are 10 years old at this stage and have been face lifted, replaces etc...


If you're not sure if modified is an option then I wouldn't rule out an S that you can mod yourself down the road. I personally wouldn't buy so,meting someone else modded. Although the one you linked looks very legit.

Is there any for sale in Ireland, I know theres a few R56's advertised

I wouldn't buy a modded car either, but that appears to be done properly, as a kit. Effectively the same as a JCW.

There's a few Cooper S' around, but I've only come across on Works even close to budget and that was only a works engine. The rest of the car was standard.

Donnelly117

http://www.carzone.ie/search/MINI/Hatch/COOPER-S/200714473524185940/advert?channel=CARS on Carzone.ie

Admittedly this is a high miler but it's in budget and appears to be a JCW, it's unfortunately in Cork which isn't great for you

TBi

Donnelly117 wrote: »

http://www.carzone.ie/search/MINI/Hatch/COOPER-S/200714473524185940/advert?channel=CARS on Carzone.ie

Admittedly this is a high miler but it's in budget and appears to be a JCW, it's unfortunately in Cork which isn't great for you

I'm from Cork and i'd be weary of buying from that shower... I mean that establishment.

Donnelly117

TBi wrote: »

I'm from Cork and i'd be weary of buying from that shower... I mean that establishment.

I have bought 2 cars from them in the past.

I know they have a bad reputation but in fairness to them based on my experience of dealing with them they were absolutely on point.
The price was good, the cars were good, got a good trade in value from them and all the paperwork etc was fine. I had trouble free motoring for 7 years with those cars! I couldn't fault them!
I'm well aware of their rep though so I'm guessing others haven't had quite the same experience...

Daniel S

Donnelly117 wrote: »

http://www.carzone.ie/search/MINI/Hatch/COOPER-S/200714473524185940/advert?channel=CARS on Carzone.ie

Admittedly this is a high miler but it's in budget and appears to be a JCW, it's unfortunately in Cork which isn't great for you

I think I'd rather a cleaner Cooper S than a JCW that's that high mileage.