Hello all!

I am a Toyota/Lexus master hybrid repair tech an AZ and have owned many fun cars and motorcycles over the years. But this new R53 gives me smiles like I'm riding a motorcycle, and I can't get enough. Good things in store for this car

--Recently picked up a R53 after looking at many, finally found one in good enough shape.
-2006 Mini Cooper S 132k, previous owner was an older gentleman that worked for Intel, and it was very clean and well maintained. The car has an intake, and exhaust of unknown origin (dual can, single large exit) but seems nice and is decently quiet, wheels that I don't care for, slotted brakes front/rear.

I'm new to the site, however have been using this as a resource for about a month in my car search. So thanks!

My plans are to use this car as a weekend daytripper gravel/rally/autox setup car. I live in Arizona and do alot of rock climbing where approaches are often on a forest service road with washboards/small rocks/sand/wash crossings but Nothing serious... I have a lifted Lexus Gx470 for long haul trips and camping so don't think I'm trying to turn this car into a beater bomber.

*Plans list (need opinions on suspension and wheels)*

-Engine mounts and inserts (feels sloppy and worn, I don't mind extra vibration)
-Gravel suspension --- HELP with this one I WANT a slight ride height INCREASE. Been looking at Ksport locally AZ. The have the gravel spec for $1200 and tower stiffening plates
-15/16 WHEELS AND TIRES - WANT more tire/sidewall, but not much larger, maybe one size up-Cabrio braces, front steel skid plate, rear shock tower skids, tank slider, mudflaps
I spent about a day and a half cleaning it it up since I got it am so happy with how she cleaned up.


That is about it, just want good springs and tires and some undercarriage protection as volcanic rocks out here are nasty.

Any advice in my venture are much appreciated! Cheers from AZUSA

 

 

 

I'm confused - gravel/rally, but also autocross and not a beater. Those goals seem pretty at odds. I would think you'd want at least what? 3" of lift for forest service roads with wash crossings? Stock, my R50 never even cleared parking bumpers, and I couldn't comfortably make it into any of the trailheads on forest service roads around me with it. Why not just keep the Lexus for that kind of thing and use the R53 on the road?

 

Unsure where specifically you are, however Greetings from Rim Country!

Much like deepgrey, I don't get why you'd seek out an R53 with body panels in nice shape, then modify and subject it to off-pavement use? I do get the off-pavement thing, since I'm an avid dirt recreation guy with Jeep Rubicon and Can-Am Maverick Sport Xrc and many years of technical terrain experience.

In any case, my own R53 will be kept super pristine for fun in the local mountains but never see dirt, unless simply pulling off the pavement onto the shoulder.

 

IMO your goals for the car are too all over the place. Either improve the car for better performance on pave/tarmac or lift it for light off road use.

The car you've bought seems way too nice to be turned into a rallyrcoss / light duty off road vehicle. That`s what beaters are for. You definitely don't have a beater.

 

I LOVE IT

 

You missed out on this
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/20...i-cooper-s-29/

 

I’m also new to the group, but have been doing my research for a while (much from the helpful folks here). Not to be an enabler, but you need two Mini’s for what you want to do. This R53 (which I agree- is just way too nice for an off-roader) for street fun and a Countryman with an M7 lift kit including skid plates and the rest to get you moving through some serious terrain- with all wheel drive! The 2013-15’s are down in price and seem to have most of the earlier maladies sorted of the R60 line.
I too debated what I wanted from my mini before I bought, and ended up getting my wife an F56 and I got the F60 countryman which is on its way to being an overland vehicle for us step-by-step.

 

Did a bunch of work to it recently. Had some tough issues to sort out.

PROBLEM #1 : At 4500rpm the tachometer would trip out along with the speedometer. The gauges would just cut out every time. Secured all grounds and volt dropped a number of circuits and checked/cycled connectors.

SOLUTION #1 : Alternator failure, replaced alternator and issue has not come back. Note: The alternator was noisy and dragging rpms down in excess. Verified by disconnect of plastic connection on alternator back case while running. Instant change and relief of Idle RPM +250 (previous reman)

PROBLEM #2 : P2096 Dreaded lean code.... Smoke tested the intake side to find a split in the bypass valve coupling. EASIEST TO SEE
"Two trip fault detection" meaning : This code will return after TWO KEY CYCLES ± TEST DRIVE CYCLES. Think, 6 miles highway cruise each key cycle after clearing stored CEL codes.

Fixed that... Then found the fuel pressure regulator line was popping off of the manifold under boost... simple dab of glue and a zip tie fixed that.
Nope... then found leakage at the lower intake plenum where the supercharger intake seals to the plastic throttle body mounting. One plastic mount had been broken on the manifold securing bolt from prior service and the other bracket that is bolted near the top of the transmission to support the throttle were left LOOSE. Bad, bad, bad. Fixed all that in hopes the code would not return.
......But lo and behold.... Same code.
Moving on, I smoked it again but on the exhaust side... Found a leak at the manifold just bellow the #1 02Sensor hidden underneath the first precat heatsheild on the top side of the pipe.

SOLUTION #2 Removed manfold and MIG/spool welded the leaking precat area for a cheap repair. FIXED!!! I FOUGHT THIS FOR A WEEK.

NO MORE CODES

 

Cheers from Arizona! Love the places this car has brought me so far, smiles the whole way. Despite the CEL.... 😅

 

The roads must be a lot better in the US than Australia for people to be worried about going off road.
I have just driven from Perth to Kalgoorlie (590 km) in my 2006 r53 JCW and hit potholes along the way that made me think I'd see my wheel flying into the bush.
My car is covered in dead bugs red dust and mud from stopping on the parking bays along the way as they are almost all gravel tracks.

 

Looks really good... and nice to see you doing what you want with your ride.... it takes all kinds and I like what you've done.

Lowered cars for the most part, on real roads that most of drive on, actually perform worse than stock.

What model and size tire did you go with? (Cross Climate2's??)

Did you run the aftermarket coilers....
Looking at the S-Asphalt rally shocks... it's not clear on the website what kind of lift they provide.... and more importantly, travel.


I have been considering the Flat-out setup as well which claims about 2" increase in travel & lift.

 

Thanks for the words of encouragement, I know what I'm doing is blasphemy...
But I've had so many low street cars, and wide bodied this and that. I've always dreamed of sort a project since I saw a mini run at Prescott rally years ago. The low, rough ride is my least favorite part of the car. The smallest potholes feel like it's going to send the wheel and shock through the hood! And mine has new mounts and struts.... I was gonna go cheap and get the spacer kit but again, these shocks feel awefull.

​​​​​​It currently sits on STOCK suspension with no rub. Coils have been ordered and are weeks away.

​​​​​​I Spoke with K sport about the gravel/rally coils, and they said height MAX is 30mm over stock... So not much, and the spring rates are much more stiff so didn't go that route.

I ended up ordering flat out suspension for the small lift and moreso the down travel ("budget" set)
As for the tires, they are Michelin X radial competition gravel tires in hard compound 😜 195/65r15. It's AZ and you can just about register a cardboard box with lights. We'll see how they go. My friend used to run a WRX pro car team and these were nearly free.



Test fit some flares, universal rally armor stuff.

Cars running great now without CEL... I ADVISE ANYONE WITH A P2096 LEAN CODE. Check your exhaust system very closely, I missed said leak a few times until I taped the tail pipe off and used alot of soapy water. Muffler shop fixed the repair for 20$!!!

 

Hope you can take a moment to share your research here...

With the FlatOut shocks/struts .... are there different levels/grades of their lifted/longer travel shocks??
For example.... spring rates, adjustable or non-adjustable, compression only or rebound/bypass-only, different installed-height and/or travel etc?

Following tis thread closely... Though I'll be running a smaller road tire.... the Michelin Cross Climate2 or the Vredestien QuaTrac in the 205/55R16 or the 195/55R16.
Gotta have the clearance... tired of replacing chin spoilers on my 53 !!!

 

Being an old Saabdude I can totally relate to the love of rally and had my '86 900t on loose surfaces quite often because it was so damn much fun.

My R53 is tarmac-only though.

Perhaps you could try and contact Todd Crooks over in the UK as he's set up an R53 to be competitive in rallycross, going through a good bit of trial-and-error along the way, probably has some good tips & pointers if you can get a hold of him.

http://www.tcmotorsport.co.uk/

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Love it!!!

 

Looks great, like the rally set up.

 

Sincere question.... With those tires .... how is clearance or rubbing on the front fenderwells when turning and compressed?
Have you "bounced it around" while turning??



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I have to agree that looks great .

I had a Proton Satria GTI that I used to drive along 4x4 tracks (In summer as in winter I would have had to abandon it in the mud). This was with rock hard coilovers and not once did I get stuck, though I did bottom out a few times and the stereo mounting facia and brackets would fall out when driving fast along corrugated gravel tracks. I had guys in full on modded 4x4 ask me how I got there when they rocked up to where I had been chilling out. Lots of fun.

I spent over a week driving along dusty gravel and limestone roads recently in my 2006 JCW R53 and it never missed a beat though I do think I battered some of the bushings to death.

I pulled up to a Petrol station in Merredin east of Perth and the guy behind the counter said his brother had built a 4 wheel drive R53 using Suzuki Sierra running gear and gearbox and nothing could stop it off road. I've never been able to find out any more about it but it sounded like fun.

There are random posts where people have though about doing something similar to what you've done. I think Bring a trailer had an R53 offroader that sold recently that may give you some ideas. I also found a you tube video of some guys that built an r53 offroader for a charity event (the cheap shockies they used broke) but they had so much fun with it they were going to keep it ... found it:


This one looks great:

 

I'm mainly commenting to subscribe but I freaking love the way your car looks! I took mine down a gravel road by accident a few weeks ago. I was coming over a knoll in 3rd between 65 and 70 mph on a back road in NC. It was a mild left hand curve and the pavement ended at the top of the hill. No warning. No signs. Just no more asphalt! I was shocked how composed the car was. The sound of the gravel hitting the side of the car was enough to make me cringe but it handled awesome. I have a super weak R50 and while it'll handle the corners on pavement at excessive speeds, I couldn't help but contemplate a rally build. Anyway, cool car. Keep this thread alive!

 

ttt

 

Delete duplicate

 

Hows this little beast holding up??

Eager to hear more


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how is clearance or rubbing on the front fenderwells when turning and compressed?





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