First let me say that i love the mini. I havent been here for a while ( i usually drop off mini enthusia during the winter since i dont really drive it ) but spring/summer is on the way and i have a few concerns. In the past I have tried to help people here with what i know about R53s but I have alot of questions as well. I know theres some great people here and i would really appreciate your insights.

#1- I have a Alta V1 cold air intake, a 15% pulley, Invidia Catback exhaust now. Thats about it for now. I have a RMW camshaft still sitting from last summer. I want to put it in but im afraid to. I have heard that i cant run just a new cam. I heard that i need atleast JCW 380 injectors and in order not to hurt the engine. BUT if i get the JCW 380s i believe i need a tune in order not to run too richly. Jan from RMW however doesnt seem to be coming to Cincinnati area any time soon and i cant find 10 people interested...so..in order to put the cam in i need new injectors and a tune? or can i just put the cam in worry free?

#2-My 03 R53 has 60,000 on it now. id say about 2000 miles ago i started to notice a loose feeling ( like a ball joint or such ) mostly feels like on the right front. I have replaced both ball joints, both tie rods, both lower control arm bushings ( i figure do them in pairs ). this feeling is still there. I suspect it may be a 1/2 shaft but normally from my experience 1/2 shafts usually make a clicking noise around turns but mine doesnt do that. If i back up it will make 1 louder thunk/pop type noise but only once. Ive checked my strut mounts and they seem fine. I asked my buddy whos a mini tech and he says he doesnt feel anything and of course the day i showed him it wouldn't make the popping sound. he said that it my car however so i may be more sensitive to it than him. I DO beat the hell out the car but i also try and spoil it as well. any suggestions here?

#3- My mini is starting to get old. I have 60,000 on it and it is an 03. I have whooped on it an aweful lot. Its by far my favorite car ive ever owned but im afraid its getting to be the time when i have to start dumping money into it to keep it running in tip-top form. shall i mabe look into a new car or keep my buddy? by the way I personally am not a fan or R56 ( there great and all, and anyone that owns them im sure love them ) but im old school R53 luvr.

well thats it for now. thanks to all that put in advise here.

 

For your cam question, I'd get in touch with RMW directly. I have read where you don't need to upgrade injectors with their cam, but you'd be better off getting touch with them.

As far as the loose feeling is concerned, sounds like it could be the ps pump. I say this, bacause another member here posted a thread on how he changed his pump out, and it was like a new car again. for the popping, I'd try maybe to lube the universal joints in the steering column. Just food for thought.

 

You should be fine without the 380cc injectors. Talk to RMW though.

Sounds like a strut problem to me with the popping sound. Did you replace all 4 ball joints? Hope your PS is not going.

Jeremy

 

jhud, lot's of my customers are getting back to basics and really caring for their minis, they love them and want to give back and make them last longer. We have had a lot of requests for our Dimple super drain plugs because they do just that. Make the car last longer and they dont cost a fortune. Just the peace of mind. The first person to purchase my 18mm drain and fill plugs for the 6speed gertrag is from Australia. This new plug has the new H for HUGE magnet that will keep it running like new. E-mail me for a picture or other info rjodoin@carolina.rr.com Thanks.

 

thanks fatherdeth and jhiggs.
as far as advertising mrdimple...shame on you

 

JHud,
The cam will not require larger injectors, but will require the tune. However, with a 15% pulley, you are running at the limits of the stock injectors and should move to the .380s for that alone. The tune alone will make you more horses than the cam (or the injectors). Even if you weren't planning to upgrade the cam or the injectors, you should get the tune to ensure that you are not running lean (a real engine killer) with the higher boost.

 

and to put it bluntly, my car is beat. One thing you haven't said you've checked is the spring perches (upper and lower) as they aren't great parts.

Other things that go thunk in the front:

End links.
Sway bar bushings.
Rack bushings.
Steering rack.

The PS pump motor isn't great. wear dust builds up and leads to increased friction that ends with pump motor failure. You can take this apart to clean to get better lifetimes, but I've never done it.

But I know exactly where you're at, cause I'm right there with you, only worse!

Matt

 

At 70k and still pushing hard. Nothing going bump in the night yet, but definitely loosening up more than I'd like. Time to start locating suppliers of replacement bushings, mounts, joints, etc. Lot's of performance vendors out there, not many replacement part vendors on NAM.

 

i have messaged Jan and awaiting his response about the cam situation. I know my end links and sway bar bushings are good, but ill be sure to check my rack bushings. As far as spring perches...im not sure what to look for exactly. they appear seated.
I would imagine the power steering pump is ok. i have no other symptoms that might point in that direction, also it was replaced at 40k.
Still all very valid insight and its giving me things to check. i really do thank you guys

 

I had a popping sound when I turned the steering wheel. It was the steering column which had to be replaced.

Don't get rid of your buddy!

 

i should have mentioned before but it makes the noise with the wheel straight or turned. picture pulling into a parking spot and then backing up to the spot behind you...thunk/pop! just once then once in a grate while it happens when i go back forwards too but not as often

 

I HIGHLY recommend fitting Powerflex Poly bushings in your MINI. The rubber OEM crap usually lasts 50K miles and this is why the car feels loose. Poly bushings improve dramatically steering feedback, handling,braking stability and alignment (Helps reduce tire wear).

I got a set for the front control arms, one bushing insert for the engine/gearbox mount and a new lower engine control arm plus poly insert.

Better than new!

I got my Powerflex kits from www.waymotorworks.com a NAM sponsor.

 

Keeping your 2003 and "dumping" money into maintenance is way, way, way cheaper than buying a new car. At 60K miles, you still have a car with PLENTY of life left in it.

Doing a few maintenance things here and there will bring the car back to life.

 

Try www.waymotorworks.com Way is a NAM sponsor, ex-MINI tech of 7 years and very knowledgeable guy. Very happy with his service and prices.

I got my Powerflex bushing kist from him and then had them installed locally at my independent MINI shop.

 

Yeah, I would definitely not give up on the car. I would just do a few upgrades like the bushings that Clubman S suggested. I would also check out the front suspension and make sure everything is seated right. It probably wouldn't hurt to lube the joints in the column. This may or may not be the problem for the popping. I know my '03 justa cooper popped and when i took it in for warranty work, the strut mounts were cracked. Sometimes you can see the cracks while everything is still on the car, but I couldn't see it until they were off the car. The symptoms you describe are right on par with either cracked strut mounts or a bad column.

 

I agree with clubmanS, he makes sense.
And jhud, I am not ashamed to be a PAYING VENDOR on this site, actually I am proud to have helped so many nam members.

 

i was just stating that your advertisement had nothing to do with the thread. a drain plug will help with my cam install? mabe it will make my suspension noise cease? no? then dont throw useless advertisements at me. If it was somehow relevant in the problem i was having i probably wouldnt even have mentioned it.
Imnot trying to criticize you or your business, im just stating to watch what crap you peddle and when because some of us dont like meaningless advertisements in a forum thread for people that have problems.

 

I agree.....I thought it was wrong to be advertizing in a thread or maybe just start your own

 

Jan is developing a remote tune so in the future you should be able to get a tune even if you dont get a group together for a tune. Also I thought you were supposed to have the 380 injectors in the car to safely run the car in the upper rpms. I might be wrong but I thought Jan had told me this...

 

bro seriously, dont install the cam and injectors without that drainplug. it's super important that you don't forget this part because it has absolutely nothing to do with with your cam or injectors!

oh and your car is going to ride a helluva lot better with that plug installed- it really smooths out the ride (feels like 7 series)

 

when is the last time you broke in a cam?
I just did the first oil change on my new STI and the car came with a magnetic drain plug which had a nice coating of greyish muck on it. I dont know the drain plug guy but he is a vendor and i am sure he is putting out money to be on the site, If he found a place to promote his product why give the guy a hard time? And again please let us all know when the last time you broke in a new cam was. I am sure you know that this process can create lots of material wear during break in period.

 

get that plug

 

What?

 

He's just being sarcastic !! Silly people !!

 

Too early in the morning for sarcasm.