gave my mini to my sister for three months, bought a 2011 VW GTI. to sum that up, i was so relieved when i got the mini back, been driving it crazy since. GTI was nice, but there’s nothing that’ll ever compare to the R53, i never want to sell it
Just got my R53 in December 22' and I absolutely love it. If you have the chance to snag one up, do it! Some of the best driving I have ever done is in my Mini.
The prototype r35 was actually built by rover, the body was 90% done and bmw bought it from them, chanced the front a little. And did the drivetrain. Which a lot of is very very good. I’ve got a very late model r53 that I’m building rn but when it was a stock ish suspension wider wheels and tires 17 pulley and exhaust and intake. It was the most fun little car to ever drive. Which is why I’ve saved it and kept mine as a shell for so long. I’m going to be rebuilding the factory suspension bits to all hyme joint and do some reinforced tubular arms front and rear. Clean up everything, add the floor kick plates and finish off the interior and a mix of race gutted and factory car. Rear cage. And I’ve overbuilt the motor to the highest spec possible on rods pistons and bearings. Cp and kings for beatings. Machine shop assembled. Big valve head. And porting the supercharger and having it resealed. And build it into a proper little weekend ripper and make it my forever car.
Don’t be scared of the R53, I bought a cheap one a year ago and I daily it to work. Not had even a warning light. Been great so far 👍 Now the R5 GT Turbo I owned 20 years ago…. That was unreliable!
Wow, you are a braver person than me to buy a cheap one in the first place, so props to you! But, it's great to hear you've had a good experience with yours. Ben hasn't owned this one for long so hopefully he has the same luck as you, and we can all stop being afraid of them! Lol Thank you for watching! - Drew
I think they are fragile if caned in the way an EP3 can be daily. If driven with a little respect and given some stick semi regular they are as strong as the next car. They are over engineered in certain areas - look at the stock clutch for example. The gearboxes are good for 300bhp too 👍
Thats good to know! I’ve been wanting one for years but i get mixed opinions from people, i am mechanically minded so i look after my cars and keeping up the service, on the market for a clean well looked after one now 👍
@@accelerateyoutube Really think it's a reputation from people not maintaining them. I bought an '04 w/138k miles and it was bulletproof until about 200k. Flipped it for a mk7 GTI, which I promptly crashed because it couldn't corner half as well as the Mini. Back in an '06 R53 now, and won't be selling this one.
Thanks for the virtual test drive! I've got an R56 and I just burned a valve. I'm thinking of getting an R53 instead of sinking another $3K into the '07 MCS. The interior feel is so clean. Much more easy on the eye.
Excellent and informative video 👍. I just bought a 2004 Mini Cooper S with 63,000 miles and all stock. The vehicle has no modifications. I've always wanted a mini and finally got one. The first thing I'm gonna do is change the air filter install a K&N air filter and then exhaust 😎.
Im 6ft 1in and ive got a ton of head room-more than any other car ive been in. You definitely have to lower the seat height-its a common thing to go wrong on the car but I reversed the gears so it only does down vs only up. The mini r53 is imo the most fun daily driver out there with its supercharger whining and useable power but is also practical with the seats put down i fit professional sized corn hole boards in the back.
17% pulley definitely lets it breathe into the upper RPM range. Stock pulley would run out of breath at about 6000 RPM. I love my moderately modified R53.
Another great review chaps. Been tempted by the R53 Cooper S myself so many times, but never put my money into one. They’re such a cool and purposeful looking car, and that supercharger whine is the icing on the cake. Sounds fantastic 👌
Thank you mate! 🙏 I have always been intrigued, but I've heard horror stories regarding reliability, and heard general maintenance can be a pain due to the packaging. But there's no denying they are fun little cars, and as you said, that whine is intoxicating! Thank you for watching! - Drew
@@MacLaw3084Im in the same situation that ive been wanting one for a few years but i hear bad opinions so it turns me off, but im looking again now lol, i am mechanically minded and don’t mind working on cars myself. Are they not to bad to work on? Cheers
They are great little cars, they seem to be a bit of a hidden gem. You hear horror stories of maintenance etc but they don't seem as bad as people make them out to be. Thank you for watching! - Drew
This has been mapped by a very well known mapper for these cars called Haywood Warric and with all the mods it has it sounds about right to be about 220 in my opinon and also being up against other cars the same bhp etc.
Bought mine 5 months ago snd replaced most of the suspension since the last owner did not take care of it. Man i wouldnt trade this car for the world. 2005 r53 with 87k miles.
That's one thing I quite like about them 😂 it makes visibility great...but I see what you mean, in Texas I imagine tinted Windows are a must! Thank you for watching! - Drew
Talking about horror stories: I think they are way overblown especially in the later R52/53 models (2005-2006). Especially with a manual transmission not much actually goes nuclear and there are plenty of R53 examples out there with 150-200k+ on the odometer. Obviously with the supercharger there are more ways for it to fail, but a well-maintained later year R53 is generally reliable and what does go bad on it is generally pretty repairable (for example I will likely have to replace my intercooler but I got it for a good price and it's not all that difficult of a job). R56/57 had more issues from my experience with both models now. Of course, I only just picked up my R52 S the other day but so far I think it's a lot for a small price-tag and from what I've read from MINI owners online just keeping up with maintenance and being a little extra meticulous will get you a long way with these later year models. I certainly like it more than my R56 I had before. I'm not sure if they experience the same timing chain issues as the later R56/57 models but even that wasn't all that difficult to find a mechanic and get fixed
Personally I'd rather a even amount of them both. Before I had the Mallion exhaust system that all i could hear was the SC and was just not liking it, so went for more of a louder exhaust to even it out and now I love it even more.
You wouldn’t of had to wring the neck out of it as much with only one of you in the car, small car, over 200bhp, far more fun without that extra 12-15 stone in the car: 😁👍🏻
Completely agree! Plus, I enjoy driving a 200bhp car at the limit, around corners more than a 500bhp car at 8/10 in a straight line. Thank you for watching! - Drew
I have a highly modified 2002 R53 and no other car can make you smile so much for so little
They seem to respond very well to Modifications, and the chassis' seem very good on them in fairness!
- Drew
gave my mini to my sister for three months, bought a 2011 VW GTI. to sum that up, i was so relieved when i got the mini back, been driving it crazy since. GTI was nice, but there’s nothing that’ll ever compare to the R53, i never want to sell it
Just got my R53 in December 22' and I absolutely love it. If you have the chance to snag one up, do it! Some of the best driving I have ever done is in my Mini.
Good choice of car sir!
I think the values of these are going to start creeping up when people realise their potential.
- Drew
The prototype r35 was actually built by rover, the body was 90% done and bmw bought it from them, chanced the front a little. And did the drivetrain. Which a lot of is very very good. I’ve got a very late model r53 that I’m building rn but when it was a stock ish suspension wider wheels and tires 17 pulley and exhaust and intake. It was the most fun little car to ever drive. Which is why I’ve saved it and kept mine as a shell for so long. I’m going to be rebuilding the factory suspension bits to all hyme joint and do some reinforced tubular arms front and rear. Clean up everything, add the floor kick plates and finish off the interior and a mix of race gutted and factory car. Rear cage. And I’ve overbuilt the motor to the highest spec possible on rods pistons and bearings. Cp and kings for beatings. Machine shop assembled. Big valve head. And porting the supercharger and having it resealed. And build it into a proper little weekend ripper and make it my forever car.
Mental to watch this video in my home town as well and I still have my r53 cooper and will never get rid of it great car
Don’t be scared of the R53, I bought a cheap one a year ago and I daily it to work.
Not had even a warning light. Been great so far 👍
Now the R5 GT Turbo I owned 20 years ago…. That was unreliable!
Wow, you are a braver person than me to buy a cheap one in the first place, so props to you!
But, it's great to hear you've had a good experience with yours. Ben hasn't owned this one for long so hopefully he has the same luck as you, and we can all stop being afraid of them! Lol
Thank you for watching!
- Drew
😂 Kenny has owned 2 Renault 5 GTs...I believe he agrees with you 😂
- Drew
I think they are fragile if caned in the way an EP3 can be daily. If driven with a little respect and given some stick semi regular they are as strong as the next car.
They are over engineered in certain areas - look at the stock clutch for example. The gearboxes are good for 300bhp too 👍
Thats good to know! I’ve been wanting one for years but i get mixed opinions from people, i am mechanically minded so i look after my cars and keeping up the service, on the market for a clean well looked after one now 👍
@@accelerateyoutube Really think it's a reputation from people not maintaining them. I bought an '04 w/138k miles and it was bulletproof until about 200k. Flipped it for a mk7 GTI, which I promptly crashed because it couldn't corner half as well as the Mini. Back in an '06 R53 now, and won't be selling this one.
Thanks for the virtual test drive! I've got an R56 and I just burned a valve. I'm thinking of getting an R53 instead of sinking another $3K into the '07 MCS. The interior feel is so clean. Much more easy on the eye.
Excellent and informative video 👍. I just bought a 2004 Mini Cooper S with 63,000 miles and all stock. The vehicle has no modifications. I've always wanted a mini and finally got one. The first thing I'm gonna do is change the air filter install a K&N air filter and then exhaust 😎.
Im 6ft 1in and ive got a ton of head room-more than any other car ive been in. You definitely have to lower the seat height-its a common thing to go wrong on the car but I reversed the gears so it only does down vs only up. The mini r53 is imo the most fun daily driver out there with its supercharger whining and useable power but is also practical with the seats put down i fit professional sized corn hole boards in the back.
17% pulley definitely lets it breathe into the upper RPM range. Stock pulley would run out of breath at about 6000 RPM. I love my moderately modified R53.
I have one this car. Same colour. Really good handling and very powerful.
They are very underrated cars, and the sound is intoxicating!
Thank you for watching!
- Drew
@@accelerateyoutube 100% agree with you 👍🙂
Have you had any issues with reliability? Looking into getting one myself.
That sound is awesome. Talking about the laggy throttle, by all accounts a sprint booster makes all the difference - got to try on mine 🤞🏼
Another great review chaps.
Been tempted by the R53 Cooper S myself so many times, but never put my money into one. They’re such a cool and purposeful looking car, and that supercharger whine is the icing on the cake. Sounds fantastic 👌
Thank you mate! 🙏
I have always been intrigued, but I've heard horror stories regarding reliability, and heard general maintenance can be a pain due to the packaging.
But there's no denying they are fun little cars, and as you said, that whine is intoxicating!
Thank you for watching!
- Drew
@@accelerateyoutubei wouldn’t let any of that put you off, man. they’re easy to work on just a bit tedious at times.
@@MacLaw3084Im in the same situation that ive been wanting one for a few years but i hear bad opinions so it turns me off, but im looking again now lol, i am mechanically minded and don’t mind working on cars myself. Are they not to bad to work on? Cheers
I have one, and great to see the R53’s getting all this attention recently! If a fun weekender is what you’re after, it’s a blast to drive and own
They are great little cars, they seem to be a bit of a hidden gem.
You hear horror stories of maintenance etc but they don't seem as bad as people make them out to be.
Thank you for watching!
- Drew
@@accelerateyoutube I think the horror stories are from whining people. These engines are solid, I've owned mine over 7 years.
Without head work I’d be surprised if this is exceeding 205bhp with a vaguely reliable map….looks like an MTC intercooler? I have a JCW220….love it
This has been mapped by a very well known mapper for these cars called Haywood Warric and with all the mods it has it sounds about right to be about 220 in my opinon and also being up against other cars the same bhp etc.
I think I like them a little bit to
They are a pocket Rocket, the supercharger sounds awesome Kenny and Drew 👍🏴 Another awesome edited video Lads thanks john
Thank you John! 🙏
The supercharger whine is 90% of the experience! I wouldn't care if it didn't have wheels, as long as it made that sound! 😂
- Drew
@@accelerateyoutube True😂👍
The windshield is what gives it a cockpit style feel
Nice Exhaust sound ! What is the brand of the Exhaust?
Its a Mallion exhaust. Is a bit on the asbo side but does burble and pop lovely when warm :)
Bought mine 5 months ago snd replaced most of the suspension since the last owner did not take care of it. Man i wouldnt trade this car for the world. 2005 r53 with 87k miles.
Wow my sports manifold at 4k revs really is something special , Nice car
My only complaint is they are absolute fish bowls but I just got 5% tint all around so much better in the Texas heat
That's one thing I quite like about them 😂 it makes visibility great...but I see what you mean, in Texas I imagine tinted Windows are a must!
Thank you for watching!
- Drew
What size injectors did you put. I also have the 17% pulley. Trying to decide on injectors. Thnku great vid.
It has Focus ST 225 380cc injectors in at the moment looking to change in the future tho
Stock 340’s are usually more than capable from what I’ve seen
Talking about horror stories: I think they are way overblown especially in the later R52/53 models (2005-2006). Especially with a manual transmission not much actually goes nuclear and there are plenty of R53 examples out there with 150-200k+ on the odometer. Obviously with the supercharger there are more ways for it to fail, but a well-maintained later year R53 is generally reliable and what does go bad on it is generally pretty repairable (for example I will likely have to replace my intercooler but I got it for a good price and it's not all that difficult of a job). R56/57 had more issues from my experience with both models now.
Of course, I only just picked up my R52 S the other day but so far I think it's a lot for a small price-tag and from what I've read from MINI owners online just keeping up with maintenance and being a little extra meticulous will get you a long way with these later year models. I certainly like it more than my R56 I had before. I'm not sure if they experience the same timing chain issues as the later R56/57 models but even that wasn't all that difficult to find a mechanic and get fixed
Don't Forget to Credit ROVER not just BMW
Love the rear wing and the braces!!!
Thinking about buying a body damaged one and swapping it in a r56 because they handle better in my opinion
Great car, relatively quiet exhaust. I cant hear my SC over the exhaust in my R53
SC is loud even stock, i got more sound out of the SC with a 15% reduced pulley and a K&N filter
Personally I'd rather a even amount of them both. Before I had the Mallion exhaust system that all i could hear was the SC and was just not liking it, so went for more of a louder exhaust to even it out and now I love it even more.
What exhaust did you put in ? Sounds lovely
it is the Mallion exhaust system :) Thank you it does sound good.
Thank you 🙏🏼
These pedals feel German hahaha best quote of the day. Lol
Full of insightful options me Gav! 😉😂
- Drew
Grate video guys👌
Thanks man!
- Drew
You wouldn’t of had to wring the neck out of it as much with only one of you in the car, small car, over 200bhp, far more fun without that extra 12-15 stone in the car: 😁👍🏻
Totally agree. I'm a little heavier than that lol. Part of the fun though is wringing the neck out of it.
Thanks
Ken
Heavy bums
Belle vidéo 👌 😉. Super cette mini 👌. 🇫🇷 🏴 😉
Thank you! 🙏 🇨🇵🏴
It is a great little car, and the supercharger whine is 👌
- Drew
It’s plenty fast by the looks of it. At a certain point power doesn’t matter. On a windy road not too many cars would keep up.
Completely agree!
Plus, I enjoy driving a 200bhp car at the limit, around corners more than a 500bhp car at 8/10 in a straight line.
Thank you for watching!
- Drew
What wing is that?
Class video 👌🏻
Cheers dad ❤️
Yes
Der hat 220 PS mit Tuning? Mein R53 ist ein Sondermodell Competition mit 210 PS ab Werk.
You would need about 300bhp to pull the big guy's body mass 😅.....i can't believe that he said that it was slow 😅
I had my Evo at the time running 440bhp, the mini felt slow lol.
Thanks
Ken
Wicked cars ❤
they are great when they work... when is the reason its not a Budget track car.
For FWD, yea.. Otherwise, stick to e30, e36, and The Answer
sick car. sunroof delete time
Would never! probs the best part about it especially summer time!
get a tpr2r head and a sprintex sc AND ITS 2X YOUR HP
1 minuto de video y ya te comes anuncios
Good track starter 👌