Greetings, all! We just picked up a 2003 Cooper S for my wife, and I've learned so much from other automotive forums for other vehicles over the years, so here I am! I remember driving an R53 Cooper S back when they first came out and loving it, so it's great to own one, finally. It needs some love, but it was silly cheap, and she is driving daily with just over $2100 total investment, so far. It still needs a new bypass valve to enjoy all of it's supercharged goodness, and a fluid change and shifter adjustment in the transmission, but overall she is enjoying it.

A little history, my first cars were classic Saab 900s in the mid '90s. I've owned a couple of Jeeps (currently a 1994 Grand Cherokee with a mild lift and 32" tires), and a slew of water cooled VWs. For the last 5 years I've been driving e46 BMWs, and currently have a 2003 325i Touring in the rather rare 5 speed/rwd configuration. It has sport, premium, and cold weather packages, sits on H&R springs and Koni yellows, and some 18" ASA wheels.

My wife came to the MINI from a 2008 GTI that soured our relationship with when it ate the timing chains. (Not a big surprise, we'd been talking about having them taken care of, but hadn't quite gotten there.) Before that was a 1996 Jetta, a 1987 VW Cabriolet, and 2005 Jetta GLI. We actually met through a mutual VW friend.

That gives you a brief idea of my motoring past and tastes. I'm looking forward to being a part of this community and learning more about these street legal gocarts!

 

Welcome to the forum and the MINI experience. It won't be long before you will be driving one as well. Any pictures to share?

 

Here are some pics. Plastidipped wheels, poorly fitted aftermarket exhaust with broken baffles, peeling tint, and all that goes with a cheap car. Lol! The love has begun, it has found s good home with us.

 

Congrats and Welcome, sounds like you got a pretty good deal.

FYI you prob don't need a bypass valve as they rarely go bad, the internet makes it sound like they do but from someone that has worked on MINIs for the last 17yrs I think I've only ever seen 3 failed bypass valves.

 

Thanks for the reply and input, people around here have good things to say about you! I'm pretty sure it's toast, though. I had it out when I was replacing the coolant bypass hose and it just kinda flopped around, there wasn't really any resistance from the diaphragm. It's also a reasonably inexpensive and easy place to start before I dive into SC replacement.

We'll probably be ordering a set of the black Helix headlights from you guys in the next few days. The xenons are acting up and Mini sure didn't make easy to get to the ignitors in these things! I've swapped bulbs and ballasts side to side and it's still the same side giving us issues. The lenses are all cloudy, and we could care less about having the headlight washers. We just need reliable lighting to get it inspected, and to see at night. Who's idea was it to mount something as sensitive as a xenon headlight in a part that moves and gets slammed all the time? I expect that kind of thing from GM or Chrysler! LOL! I've noticed they changed that in the second gen cars. Besides, the beam pattern from the projector housings will be so much better than the cut lenses and offers the ability to upgrade to an HID or LED for more output. Besides, she likes the look of the all black housings on the yellow, and so do I! My e46 has all smoked lighting and the shadowline trim treatment.

 

How did the Plastidip hold up on the wheels? I Plastidipped red stripes on the hood with the intention of changing them every year or so. Red last year, possibly gray this year. The red has held up great, but I always wondered how it would work on wheels.

 

It's all in the prep and application. Where the PO didn't grind the wheels into the curb it held up well. Lol! Heavy enough application to a smooth, clean surface is key for easy removal. If it's on too thin it doesn't peel off very well. It also becomes better adhered the longer it's on there. If it's applied right, once it starts to peel a pressure washer will take it off, so watch for nicks when washing the car.

 

Hi and welcome to NAM!
Congrats on the wife going for an older car! Gen 1 Mini Coopers are my thing and I daily drive mine.
Make sure to catch up on the service, as your price paid, sounds like it did not get the love it needed. With that said, the small issues with the exterior issues, it looks really good!
Congrats to you both! The little go-karts are a blast to drive and in the twisties, they really shine!

 

Thanks! Before the GTI she daily drive her 1987 VW Cabriolet for a while after her 1996 Jetta got totaled, so older cars aren't foreign to her. Maintenance will definitely come, right now it's sorting issues to get it inspected, which includes new headlights, and new A-pillar trims are on hand to be installed. Today it was leaking some coolant either from the seam on the expansion tank, or the hose to the expansion tank. Too dark to do much, now, and she will just drive my BMW tomorrow.

 

I started a proper thread for Grumpy in the "Builds" forum to keep this what it is, an intro thread. Thanks for the warm welcome!

 

Another member amongst the Amish, welcome.

I have an extra stock bypass valve I took off my car with about 70,000 miles on it. It's been sitting in a box if you're interested.


If you see a red classic mini ripping around your area, it is probably me.