Hey all. After having to ditch my 5spd 330ci in favor of a "family friendly" ride, I'm happily in the market now for a '05 or '06 R53. Cannot wait to be back in a car with a manual transmission.
Below is what I've found as far as "things to look out for" in these cars. If you have any leads on R53s for sale in southern CA, please let me know! And, if you have any other suggestions, I'm all ears

-radiator expansion tanks (on all R53s)
-crank seal & oil pan gasket (leaks)
-mushrooming shock towers (may want better-performing struts and/or run a 16" or smaller wheel with a non-runflat tire)
-For '05 & '06: failure of the engine mounts, and also test carefully to see if you get clutch chatter when coming off the line
-Rust in door sills and under the hood

 

Welcome to NAM. Hopefully you find your MINI.

As you are located in CA, IMO only cars that lived close to the ocean will have rust issues. Next, how good are you at turning a wrench? The cars you are looking for are all pushing 11 years old and therefore a buyer should be aware how that age and the weather the car was in impacts the rubber in the crank pulley/harmonic damper and the bushings in the various suspension parts.

The crank sensor o-ring is a notorious oil leak area. It is a $5 part but you have to take the front end of the car off to access it. The water pump is run off the back of the supercharger and with any mileage close to 70k could be a concern. Supercharger rule of thumb thought is that at 100k it has seen better days. The two power steering hoses that attach to the reservoir are also leak items.

What is your budget?

 

Thanks for the welcome and info.

I'm not looking to spend a ton, given what I'll be using the car for--short commute to work and some short trips around town. Something around $7K.

For a higher mileage R53, would you also suggest finding one that's had the clutch replaced?

 

You should be able to find a nice lower mileage Gen1 for your budget.

 

Some that are local:

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/la...190457311.html

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/an...252050579.html

https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/...197718889.html

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/...238844840.html

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/ws...212123380.html

 

The first one on your list is a 2nd Gen R56.

The last one has a JCW Tuning Kit and has the least mileage of the bunch.

 

Would you stay away from 2nd gen? About the last one, assuming the pre-purchase inspection looks good, any glaring concerns about its age?

 

I'd stay away from any 2nd Gen with the N14 engine (2007 - 2010 MCS and 2009 - 2012 JCW).

I wouldn't buy a used MINI without having it checked by an independent MINI specialist.

 

The problem with the hardtops from 2007 to 2010 are the N14 Prince engine. There are those here that have the engine with no problems while there are others that will you tell you run from a N14 engine as they are known to have a "death rattle" (timing chain tensioner goes and the engine is toast).

On the r53, the "facelift" that involved some interior/exteriro upgrades/tweaks, a little better supercharger and different gear ratios are the 2005 and 2006 models.

 

thank you. Exactly the type of info I was looking for. So would this one give you pause due to its age?
https://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/cto/d/2003-mini-cooper-john-works/6212123380.html

 

thankyou. Exactly the type of info I was looking for. Would this one give you pause due to its age?
https://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/cto/d/2003-mini-cooper-john-works/6212123380.html

 

It only has 73K on the clock. Also because it has the JCW Tuning Kit it will have the 5th Gen Eaton supercharger used in facelift models.

According to the Ad the car is in Culver City. Google shows two MINI repair shops in the area, where you might be able to have the car checked out.