Bought Another Mini
 

After a whopping year with my S8, it's time to move on. After the realization that I spent most of my time driving the S8 alone and not using it much as a second family car (as intended), I decided to get something with better MPG and a stick. Which is not in any way knocking the S8, I would rate it as the most capable overall car that I've ever owned. Beautiful inside and out, incredible build quality, laughs at the snow, seats five in comfort, and effortlessly goes really really fast. The replacement is inferior in many ways, but also lots of fun.

2002 Mini Cooper S, 80k, records since new, very very clean car. DDM tuning cold air intake, 16% supercharger pulley, and 2% underdrive crank pulley are the only mods. It really runs and drives very well, I have a few minor issues to sort out and I'll enjoy it largely as is. I'm hoping to actually autocross this one, though I've said that for several years now and haven't gotten off of top dead center. For what they sell for, these are a pretty good deal for a fun compact used car. The S does a good job of remedying the power deficit that I experienced in my 2004 Cooper, I still wouldn't call it fast but definitely adequate.

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Nice choice!

Good looking car Matt!!! I've looked at those more than a few times to fill the hole the Corrado left in my stable. There's always room for a hot hatch in my heart. Fun cars!

Nice !

Just a note, the warranty for the Power Steering pump has been extended to 13 years and/or 150,000 miles for the 02 to early 05 Coopers.


MotoringFile » Archive » R50/R53 MINI Power Steering Warranty Extension

That's good to know. However, most of the time when the power steering quits working, it is because the cooling fan has stopped. Happened to my wife's first Mini. They put the damn cooling fan right underneath the engine where it tends to pick up debris and get jammed. Hers was jammed by a small rock. Got the rock out and all was well. She has since moved up to a Mini S with the JCW package.

Also, when the fan jams - it sometime blows the PS-Fan fuse.

Check the low speed radiator fan, the reisistor is known to fail but can be by-passed with a new one without replacing the fan assembly.

nice!!

my wife is one of "those" she wants a Prius. i am trying to distract her with the new four door mini.

good get matt. any idea how much you're gonna sell it for? :D

If I was not severely upside down on my Miata I would love to trade it for a Mini...

Get rid of the underdrive crank pulley and put one of these on. ATI - Super Dampers® for Mini Cooper Engines

You need dampening on the crank pulley. I'd also inspect the belt tensioner and put a safety stop on it.

Also, if you're going to track it, change the suspension bushings to polyurethane and reinforce the upper strut mounts.

They respond very nicely when you upgrade the intercooler, do a little smoothing out of the intakes and custom software.

PM me if you have any questions. I know these cars too well. I work on at least 2 a week.

What's your opinion on the later turbo MCS with the direct inject issues? I love my 2010 to death except for one thing,,, The stuttering under accel which is seemingly getting worse again even though I had it in two months ago and had it remapped.

It's really pissing me off that I'm starting to not trust the machine when I have a need for power.


Nice clean looking MCS there Whipped! My SIL has one in the same vintage too and at times I feel it still has better power delivery than mine.

Honestly, they are pretty disappointing. I have heard of people having success cleaning out the engine, but they are built like disposable appliances.

I mean, they have a press fit pulley for the timing chain... :rolleyes: At least the window regulators are easier to change.

The 12,000 mile oil change interval doesn't help either.

BMW should consider using the N20 in the MINI.

Thanks, I think mine is good in that regard. It has had the fan replaced, the power steering pump replaced, the harness recall done, and a fan guard installed.



LOL, I'll let you know. Maybe she wants an S8?:D



It currently has an M7 2% crank pulley. What's the reasoning to get rid of it?

I already ordered an Alta adjustable tensioner, the stock tensioner is chattering at idle. Per the records it has already been replaced at about 40k, so they obviously don't live long lives. Also ordered Alta silicone intercooler couplings as mine have visible cracking in the stock rubber, along with a new serpentine belt.

I was eying the Alta air diverter as the intercooler to hood seals are shot, along with one of the silicone smooth intake hoses from the intake to supercharger as I suspect my original piece is getting crusty. Software was also on my list. It's had at least some of the bushings replaced with OEM so I'll probably leave it alone for the moment. Does exhaust work buy you much? Any other words of wisdom are appreciated.

i'm just gonna set the over/under at 15 months. :D

Wow, you're getting conservative!:cool:


To the Mini guys, what's the best of the multiple Mini forums out there?

There's a reason the stock pulley has rubber on it. It absorbs the torsional vibrations of the crankshaft. It's also the end of the crank that's driving the supercharger, alternator, AC Compressor, etc.. Think about those kinds of sideways loads.. Over time, it can damage the main bearings. I've seen it happen.

The ATI is the best there is. M7 stuff is meh. It's way overpriced for what it is. They seem to be more concerned with a nice looking product over something that is functional.

Exhaust will help with a header. A bigger intercooler will help a lot as well. There's a lot of variables of course.

I wish I had the time and energy to do what Matt does. I think I could break even and always have a new-ish car if I bothered to make the initial investment.

I've come to that realization myself (after thinking long and hard about your S8), which is probably why I drove a couple MCS' over the holiday weekend. Fun cars! Looking forward to seeing how life is with it for you...

Thanks, I'll put it on the list. Anything else that I should be seriously looking at with an 80k car? Most of the common stuff has been done, my current to do list would be fuel filter, pollen filter, one step colder spark plugs, clean air filter, inspect all underhood rubber stuff, SS brake lines and bleed, silicone intake hose, new hood seals or new intercooler diverter, and change out all fluids.


Yup. The S8 is a great car, and I've taken it on quite a few road trips as it is a spectacular highway car. But 95% of the time I just don't need a full sized sedan, and frankly I really missed driving stick. The Mini is big enough to pick up my kids at school if required, but small enough to be tossable and also fit easily into our tight garage.

Not sure if it was mentioned but the front control arm bushings are usually toast after 80,000 miles. If you need to replace them, go for new sway bar bushings while you are in there.

We bought a new '06 S and it was a great car til the thermostat let go, fixed under warranty. Wifey loved it but I never got comfortable in it (6'4"). Bought her a new '12 six months ago....it's already gone!
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