The R50 Mini Cooper: 2022 Hagerty Bull Market List Part 4 | Carfection 4K
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- Опубликовано: 8 июн 2024
- How do you remake a British icon for a new millenium? Well, you make a new British icon! Nailing the design of this car was a tall order for BMW and their designer Frank Stephenson but we're pretty confident they delivered with the R50 Mini Cooper. Henry Catchpole gives us an insight into the interesting story behind its development and why he has a soft spot for one.
Read the full Hagerty article on the 2022 Bull Market List here bit.ly/3lYdmxF
The Hagerty UK Bull Market List is a collection of 10 cars that Hagerty thinks are going places over the next year. The Mini Copper could be a car worth the investment in 2022.
Read about the US version of the list here: www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/te...
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Frank Stephenson, the designer mentioned in this video, has his own youtube channel. I encourage all to take a look. His design breakdowns are fascinating.
Thanks for this one Henry !
We love his channel. Learned loads
I've had my 2002 R50 for over 10 years now, still love driving it!
Surprised the midlands r65 transmission hasi blown up yet.
@@LBZDreamer I fitted a W11 engine and Getrag 6 speed after two of those ten years... 😅
@@MartijnGizmo Is there any programming needed in order for the w11 ECM to communicate with the bc1 or ews? Also how much was that swap!
@@LBZDreamer it's been a while, but if I remember correctly most of it was plug&play, apart from the main harness connector. We did have a full donor car at hand from almost the same production date.
@@LBZDreamerI have had my 2003 R50 for over 20 years and it's 5-speed Midland transmission has been no trouble at all. It shifts smoothly and quietly.... .....
2004 Mini One D, going strongish after 339.000 km. BRG and black leather and panoramic roof. Love it to bits! Love the Stephenson design. Such presence.
My wife had an R50 Cooper until it was 13yrs old and it was faultless. Yes it was a bit rattly but it had real character. Our kids were in tears when it was traded in for a new Mini
I really like the original BMW MINI; they got the styling so right in my opinion. It’s a pretty little thing with great proportions which shows the F56 up as rather ugly and bulbous.
They’re not known for their reliability but I still love them. I had all three variants and still have a massive soft spot for my MCS.
To be fair there's not an awful lot to go wrong though one of the most common gripes is trouble with the ABS and traction control. From a reliability standpoint (ie not leaving you stranded on the side of the road) they're exceptionally good. My missus has been running a 2003 R50 Cooper for several years now and it's needed an exhaust, a rear calliper and an O2 sensor. All done DIY and even despite those issues it's never missed a beat.
R50 51 plate was my first car, was a fantastic car to drive and was so reluctant on getting rid of it. Ended up still keeping it after getting another car that was supposed to replace it
Happy holidays Henry. Looking forward to your content in 2022 👍
I got one last summer, very early 2001 Cooper but quite well specced. I bought it primarily for my girlfriend but got so in love with it I’m now jealous whenever she drives it. It’s just fun! Corners well, sticks to the road well, that little 4 cylinder has some character for what it is. Love it, even if it does have some maintenance items that are a PITA.
Dad and I recently got an r53 Cooper S for £1500 and I have to say coming from only having VWs, the mini is the best car I’ve driven yet!
They really are a performance bargain and for little outlay (smaller pulley) you can make them hotter still!
I own this car for almost 20 years. It won't cost much if you know how to DIY. The R50 model is rare in my country nowadays. I'm so glad to see there are still lots of R50 lovers all over the world!
I have the 1.4d 2006 with the Chilli pack, full leather and 6 speed box. Had it remapped to 115bhp ..55mpg 70 on a run ...love it.
I bought a Mini a little over a year ago and had no idea I’d love it this much. They’re so fun!
Honestly! I'm a dyed in the wool 'nothing can replace the classic mini' (and they really are awesome!) But I was shocked at how good the first gen 'new' Minis are. Well equipped, nicely packaged and go well despite modest performance figures. They now feature highly in my rankings alongside the classic!
Love this, reminded me very much of my first MINI, coming up for 20 years ago.
Even up to the 2007-2010 R56, still a great little car. I miss my 2010 just-a Cooper with a 6-speed manual. (RIP: deer attack crushed every single body panel on the driver's side.)
Mine had the 16" wheel package, which was a great compromise of ride and performance (and tall enough sidewalls to deal with northeast pot holes). I picked it up used with many premium interior features that I would have forgone in a new car and was leery of being broken. They actually held up well through two previous owners. The placement of the essential switchgear just made sense too.
While it doesn't help with performance, the panoramic sunroof was so well executed that I was very glad to have it. That roof makes these much nicer cars than without. A college friend had a 2002 with no sunroof and mine had one. Really made driving feel like an occasion even in the slush and slop of winter.
Excellent and practical little car with its own unique character, inside and out.
Bought my R53 Cooper S a month ago what a joy iet is to Drive!
drives like a car should drive, but reliable as a politician....
I have a R50 that was extremely reliable. The manuals are in a league of their own above the automatic tho. I took mine off the road after 200k+ miles. I'm slowly restoring it now. I also have a 2010. It's a little more refined and it takes away from the go-kart feeling a bit. I really miss driving the R50
ruclips.net/video/Pcsppnq07YI/видео.html
Tai
I believe the r53 is more reliable and is also a lot faster. I really don't know why anyone would buy am r50.
@@justryan5697 you've got that backwards. The R50 is more reliable than R53. Boost pretty much always has it's own issues.
I have a 2005 R52 ONE Convertible. A car I will never sell. It's not really fast, but it offers so much joy and pleasure. A true "coffee racer".
Recently picked up an '06 'Justa' Cooper. Not real big on straightline speed or acceleration, but I can throw that car into any turn, and it handles it with grace and precision. A fantastic, lovely little car!
Definitely keeping my R53 JCW
My R53 died a couple months ago and I found a younger one that I bought without hesitation. I ‘’merged’’ the two and I can’t be more happy now.
I had real trouble liking the original R50 in the early 2000’s as I was a die hard mini classic lover having had several of them… fast forward 18 years or so, I got my partner a 03 R50 as her first car, she loved it, I loved it, it was a dream. I sold it 3 months ago begrudgingly and only lost £500 on it in 4 years. I also gave up my nearly new 4 series BMW and I’m currently driving a 2009 R55 clubman JCW.. I love it, fully converted to new(ish) mini’s.
i own a 2005 jcw soundkit cooper and had it from new. only just ticked over 9k miles. always puts a smile on my face in the summer months.
Reminds me of my old 2002 Cooper in liquid yellow. That was a fine car!
Paid £250 for my R53 in January. MOT just passed again!! Complete bargain and it’s so much fun. Cost me nothing so far apart from a new tyre
I'm getting one in a couple of days.... I needed to see a video which just mentioned the good side!!
Love the series!
I have the R53 Mini Cooper S 6 speed manual, and it is the most enjoyable car I have ever driven. It's so different from most modern cars today, and so much fun to drive, I love everything about it (except for driving over holes in the ground, it doesn't take them too well). I hope to keep it forever.
Great episode!
Thank you,
Mārtiņš!
I love it. I had one too (my first car), and kept it for 10 years.
Always liked these, remember the oldies complaining its not a mini, compared to what they're making now id say it definitely is 👌
Quite surprised none of the GDB Imprezas made the list, given the steep climb they've been on over the past year!
I have an 02 and a 10. It's crazy how similar yet so different to drive they are. The 2010 is a tad fatter too. Great daily driver though. I get 45mpg average.
I just got my 21 year old R50 (exactly the same as this one) through the MoT yesterday evening after being off the road for three years. Still going well. Still fun.
I’ve had 5 minis and this was my first and it handled better than my newer jcw’s I’ve owned , ACE little cars 👍
Glad they are going up . I have a r50 with a 6 speed swap and love it
I’m holding onto my 2013 50k mile JCW Mini, last year of production for the R56’s
Almost bought back my R56 recently too! So many good memories in that thing (until I had to fix it).
Nicee :D. This looks a lot cuter/smaller than the current model (I like the current one, but it looks like it has a moustache at the front xD). Great content as always :)
Thank you!
@@Carfection np :)
The rear has gotten fatter too
I'd always baulked at the Beemer Mini's for cashing in on its heritage but finally, after 20yrs, these R50's are starting to grow on me. Unlike the bottom-feeder styled Mini's that followed. Heard there were reliability problems, so at least they authenticated that...
Loved this! I have an '05 Black Eye Purple R50 Cooper at 101k and unfortunately its becoming a lot of money to keep it on the road now so Im selling soon but its one of my favourite cars i've owned (bar my first car; '83 Austin Mini Mayfair!) and feels so sporty with the R53 wheels on it.
Its definitely held its value since I bought it 4 years ago though, the purple colour is deffo one of the nicest and rarest too.
saw this exact mini parked on the side of the road this week whole I was working! mad!
I had a 2002 S Cooper which I bought damaged to sell. It had so many electronic/electrical issues that no one could fix and it would not sell so I decided to respray it Porsche Miami blue. It became an overnight sensation everyone loved it and it made for an easy sale after that.
That white Gauge looks so charming to me
My first car was a new blue 1977 Mini, I recently bought a 2006 Mini Cooper S Rally besides the passenger airbag sensor needing replacement for $2,000 its a fun ride and there is a module available to override the sensor and arms the airbag for $35., it was great value for $6,500 Canadian with just over 100,000km in as new condition having been well loved.
Ive got a British Racing Green R53 as a toy. It doesn't come out much, when I drive the thing I always have an absolute laugh..I literally laugh out loud when thrashing the thing around the country lanes. Ive had some seriously fast cars diwn the years but the R53 is one of the most fun cars ive ever owned...and Ive had over 40
Love my R56 Cooper S and will do anything to keep her humming along
Best looking of all new Minis, never did like bonnet scoop on R53, this looks much smoother.
Also, good luck with that midlands gearbox, my car is on it's third one ( as far as I know ) in 160k km, but at least now I know how to rebuild them and get short final drive in for cheap :D
Scoop = supercharger so I'm not mad at it 🤷🏻♂️
@@law5223 Well not that I mind, just commenting on the looks 😊
I guess I got the luck of the draw? I blast through the gears. Over 200k miles on my 2002 and no transmission issues. Just a clutch replacement
The Midland tranny is complete crap. Mine is making the horrible noises again. Where can we get that short final drive for cheap?
@@carlosjuarez9527 over 200k miles on my original. 🤷
Word of advice: make sure you double check the passenger airbag seat sensor.
Double check everything daily
@@Colby_0-3_IRL_and_title_fights Agreed. I get up in the morning before I have even gone to bed to start the daily checks. I often also stop mid-commute to check for rust and keep a dozen oil filters in the boot just so I'm never caught out! Haven't got the knack of checking tyre tread depth while driving down the motorway but I did once change the brake fluid on a downhill stretch of the M25.
Yep - the first failure on mine, but was a quick cheap fix, luckily.
I totally love my R50 and I'm happy to see it on the Bull List!
But to be fair, a 2005-2006 is a better buy due to several mechanical upgrades that BMW adressed to improve reliability. The Getrag 5-speed is also much more solid than the Midlands, but just as fun to operate. I have had no issues on my Cooper which I only drive during summer months.
Bought an 06 specifically for the gearbox. Guess what bearing noise started a few months later...
Yep bearing went on the getrag in mine as well, about a year into ownership- they are much more expensive to get a hold of than the midland - having been burned by an 05 plate sinking around 4k in just over a year into repairs, then selling it for 400quid, I’d say be handy with a spanner and buy a pre facelift as parts are just easier to come by, and if you don’t DIY you won’t have a wallet for long
@@KM-nr3brThe Midland 5-speed on my 2003 R50 shifts smoothly and quietly and has been no problem at all...
@@robertstancliffsr9575 I don’t doubt that at all. The getrag in mine was great as well - until it very suddenly wasn’t lol - I’d get a midland car if I were to try the mini again, just because they are much cheaper to repair/replace
I just bought a soft top Cooper lovely little car.
Not even a Cooper S R53, an enthusiast special. Interesting.
Also, is that a slipping clutch or something 4:42? It happens all the time in my Getrag 'box 316i E36. Can't work out if I'm doing something wrong or if this is just how they shift sometimes.
He said the 'box in the car he's driving in the video is the "R65" Rover gearbox. Later cars had the Getrag.
@@vyrnmn Yes but it's still a BMW engine and that exact same noise appears in our car after many many years and I really do wonder if it's the clutch going or something because lol there's something got to be wrong with the driveline.
That can't be the way it sounds normally.
My first car - not a bad start
Henry please do review the other modern classic the BMW Mini Cooper S R56. I would love to hear your views on that car because I ve got one and I just love the little thing.
My first "nice" car was a red/black roof/black leather R50 that I ordered in 2003. It was amazing to drive, nimble, comfortable and fun. Unfortunately, the throwout bearing went bad at 83,250 miles and it would have cost too much to replace, hence I sold the Mini to a dealer. He did the replacement and his wife drove it for an other year.
I did a review of the R50 Cooper on my channel if anyone is interested. Not quite Catchpole level, but getting there 🙂
Thanks for the heart Carfection! Love your films!👍
About 2:11, is it dropping coolant out the passenger side under the motor?...
I'd love another R50 Mini. I accidently bought one on eBay and that's how I got familiar with the platform lol.
Terrific car!
I've a late R52 Cooper Convertible (hood down unless it's raining) - just so much fun at legal speeds. Everything is so meaty and mechanical. and an antidote to new cars. Must confess that it's not been that reliable, but I can't think of anything this side of ££££ exotica I'd rather fling about.
I still have my 06 that I bought in 2007. No longer the daily as the roads in Memphis are horrible, but still the backup to the daily and have had few issues with it. At 99K miles now.
You recommend not mounting the 17 inch alloys?
Great little cars to drive, downside is they've never really gotten "cheap" at least not here in NZ. Sort of bottomed out at about $8k and then started going back up
A great little car. But do yourself a favour and get the supercharged Cooper S (R53). It's so amazingly awesome.
Have a mellow yellow r56 with 36k miles on it and ill drive it till the wheels fall off, absolutely love it.
Got my mini cabriolet from a dealer that was going to scrap it for an electrical fault ..electrics are my game fixed in 20 mins .. I was going to drive it until the MOT ran out . 4 years later loads of bits from sliverlake scrap yard and my mini is looking awesome and drives perfect . Best car I have owned ..I had an Aston Martin 4.7 vantage before the mini . I love the mini more . Weird huh
After 15 years since my first car ( a 2004 R50) I have bought a 2001 R50 project car around 4 months ago but I still have not started it 😂 plus the midlands gearbox is shocking.
The mini is a great car to drive although not fast it handles like it’s on rails, it’s a great daily maintenance wise easy until the bigger issues pop up. Although if you know your way around tools you can fix it quite cheap
I owned a 2002 Cooper S, amazing drive, not too much power but unfortunately had a number of issues from manual gearbox problems to 2 head gaskets and a few bodywork gremlins. Didn’t dampen the experience!
''Brings back all sort of good memories''
😏😏😏
I have an 06 r53 jcw and an 04 r53. I lovem. Lol
As an original Mini owner, when I got into these newer Mini's the interior put me off completely. Lots of big chunky plastic handles, it felt like an uninviting TOMY playset somehow. But I seem to be in the minority for not liking the interior... (and it's not like OG Mini interiors were deluxe in any way)
The interior was massively improved for the R56 generation, which I personally feel is the sweet compromise between the joyous-but-flimsy R50 and the F56, which is too big and too grown up. Shame the Prince engines are a steaming pile in them (ask me how I know…)
Love them, own r56 S, unfortunately n14 one. I really like it but stupid thing is so unreliable I don't know how long I can take it. For those brief moments when it's all working fine it's brilliant it's just that those moments are very rare
I am the original owner of an 2004 R50. I optioned it with the sports package and SS+. After more than 300,000 miles, second engine, third gearbox (new 6 speed Getrag + factory LSD) multiple other upgrades. My wife has instructions to find it a good home upon my demise. If not, I am to be buried in it.
How about Renault Clio Initiale Paris?
The early one's were definitely the best.
4:26 why did people want the smaller wheels?
Best mini besides the original
miss mine too greatly..
I sold my r50 cooper a year ago 🥲 I miss it
I had the 17’’ rims but apart from looks 15/16’s are better
Unfortunately they’re unreliable which is bad enough but it’s the price of parts and service that are more on par cost wise with a BMW 5 series. My sister-in-law had a JCW Works convertible which was an amazing car to drive but maintenance (required often) was very expensive.
It's not fast or fierce, it's just so fun to drive
2004 Suzuki Jimny especially in blue will be worth loads I’m hoping 😂
I had this as my first car! The good almost outweighed the bad… almost, because it was unreliable beyond my wildest expectations.
Auto or manual?
@@tarajoe07 manual
I bought a '05 Cooper R50 seven months ago. I love the exterior/interior design and It's very fun to drive, especially the steer for me is just perfect. Mine has 110k miles, and I noticed a high oil consumption (but no smoke at the exhaust, even on cold starts). My advice is to buy one with low mileage and one-owner if possible. The maintenance can be expensive if you buy a mistreated one of these..
😎👍🏽
My ECU is playing up 😭
Not sure this is the one. Fun cars for sure, but a similar formula done better in everyway is the NA Miata... which is a better car in every way other than interior space. And prices are skyrocketing!
We need to look for a good excuse to review a NA MX-5
@@Carfection with the revised ND3 coming out shortly I'm sure that's as good a reason as any to get the best of each generation out for a good flogging!
Me and my son got r50 mini his is a cooper mine is a one
fun cars just need a big bank account
My mini is 21 years old and drives faultless....115000 miles
I mean, the car built to market towards nostalgia is now considered nostalgic, or might ne soon as they’re currently slept on now
To be honest..
I didn’t really like these as a kid when they were new. I preferred something like a honda jazz. But that’s changed a bit and this has grown on me, especially as an early 2000s time capsule
Also, Frank Stevensons’ other universely thinking is how everyone should be thinking when building or designing a car
Midlands gearbox "sweet" but also made out of soft cheese.... 👀
Gotta be the S bro
I’m gonna say no, it won’t appreciate that much. It comes from the dark ages of BMW and while amazing to drive and look at. So many have been mechanically totaled, that the only redemption is to engine swap with something that works or EV swap it to keep those cars going into the future.
The dark ages? The generation that spawned the e46, e39, e38 and the Z8? Now bmw just sells bloated technology crap instead of the ultimate driving machines. We are now in the dark ages of bmw.
Let's good
The BMW take on the real mini has never floated my boat. Too obviously a played it safe tribute and ‘boutique’ from the start, lacking innovation compared to the original, and poorly made (I am an ex owner) I am sure many will wish to value them highly, but I don’t see it personally. I realise some will disagree but that is my honest view.
The r53 is the only bmw mini I like. The r50s are slow and the newer ones are just ugly and aside from the newest ones were less reliable. I love the r53. Can't wait to get back into one.
It may look boutique and I nearly never considered one due to the over-designed nature (interior especially), but driving one cured me of that.
The r56 will be even more desirable. More reliable, more comfortable, but still very analogue and a timeless, screen-free interior. I am HODLing on to mine forever. I knew I can’t sell it bc then I’ll be one of the thousands of people who buy their car back for more than they sold it.
The R56 is universally known to be the least reliable of the BMW MINI’s. It’s the only shape I’d never own again.
@@abath3493 I think that was the pre 2011 with the timing chain tension issues? Correct me if I am wrong.
@@farzadizaddoustdar4259 yes you’re correct, the earlier cars especially with the N14 are the worst. Unfortunately, whilst the introduction of the N18 in the later cars did improve things, it was kind of like polishing a turd. You were just less likely to encounter the issues.
@@abath3493 this is not true. Especially not with the post LCI N16/18. I’m sorry to hear you had issues with yours I know that can be very discouraging
I'm finding it hard to believe this isn't sarcasm.... Pretty much everything you said is wrong, apart from it being more comfortable I suppose.
Beer or Coca Cola ?
Take your pick. they both do the same job 😂
@@Carfection They definitely don't!
Only car I've thought about buying which I never managed to get a decent example so ended up never owning one. All felt cheap, plasticy, rattley and just didn't give you any confidence.
Stupid to drive that on a track - you should have tried it on a little UK B road
Not sure an R50 can be considered a young timer. Nothing really special with them
third
Congratulations