Hi All:

Just purely out of curiosity (and motoring boredom with the winter weather here in the Northeast). How many of you MINI owners also have an E30 BMW?? (1984 - 1991 BMW 3 series (and up to 1992 for the convertible)

 

I counted nine hands raised. I have an E36 M3, so didn't raise my hand.

 

Sorry Jim_Michaels. I should have included the E36!

After owning an E30 for many years and modifying the suspension, brakes, exhaust, etc., I was surprised at how satisfyingly similar my Cooper S was, right off the lot - without the mods! Made me wonder if there were other BMW owners who experienced this too!

 

I traded my 1991 318is in for my MCS. My E30 was 18 years old at the time with only 45,000 miles. I was somewhat sad to see it go , until I stepped on the pedal on my MINI

 

I guess that makes 3 of us......

 

I have a 2003 R53 and a 1986 325es. Both black on black. And I love both although the Mini handles way WAY better, the 325 is easier on long trips.

///Rich

 

Hi all, have an 07 MCS but I just parted with my beloved 88 325iX "garage queen" with 105K miles after receiving an offer I couldn't refuse... Guy came down from Juneau and it headed north on a barge the next day.
Had to go buy snow tires for the MINI...
At least it went to a good home where it will be in it's element,
Mark

 

WOW , an IX..... Was it a 2 door or 4 door?? I LOVED that car for that BBS-looking aero kit, BBS wheels and the elipsoid headlamps!

 

hello all, new guy here & i started out with an e36 then move up to an e38 then back down to an e39 then down sized again to an e46. looking to go even smaller with a mini r53. i still have the e39,e46.
help me get my first mini please!

 

I no longer own an E30 but I did. It was my first car actually. Dad bought it for me when I was 16. It was a black 1985 318i.s. 5speed.
Great car. I want to pick up another one in the next year or so. However, I'll probably go with a 325is or something. But, I would gladly take another 318is

 

HI ROC,

In my humble opinion, you'll love the R53 MINI. I did lots of research and picked the 2002 - 2006 Cooper S for the same things that I loved so much about the late E30 BMW:

-Well-balanced power for the chassis
-Very good braking
-Excellent handling (for the E30, after suspension mods)
-Decent fuel economy (mine was a mild 2.5L I-6)
-historical longevity

I did my looking first at MINI dealers looking for a MINI-Next (certified pre-owned) examples hoping to avoid total lemons, beaters and neglected pieces of crap that sometimes are found at some off-brand used car lots. Also, since I really didn't know much about MINIs or their maintenance issues, I decided to spend the extra money (with the new car dealers) rather than buy cheap and end up with a nightmare. Again, this was my personal preference. Haven purchased fix on daily used cars before, I preferred not to go down that road again!


Anyway, I'm not sure what kind of help you would like, but you've definitely joined the right site. NAM is an awesome resource for finding out anything about MINIs! The member of this forum are an awesome group, so I'm sure the assistance you're looking for is HERE. By the way, JPMM might be selling an R53 with John Cooper Works mods. Here are the details....

2003 IB/W MCS JCW W/Viper stripes,full Aero package,three combos, JWC injectors with JCW ECU, GP IC ,15% pulley,Sprint BOOster,TSW damper, a bunch of suspension mods,blue eyes,HID ,rear fogs, CD changer,NAV,NavTV, yellow Lamix driving lights wired to parks ,tinted rear windows,LightnSight, 15"Pirelli Winter Carving snows (great in snow not so on dry but cheap) on holies in the winter,17" 5ZIGEN FN01C in bronze

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...7126-jpmm.html


Welcome! and Best of Luck!!

 

Hi R53 Speed!

I know what you mean. I have a 325i coupe (not an IS) with Racing Dynamics Springs, Bilstein Struts / shocks, header, catback exhaust, 17" wheels, etc, etc.... It's a lot of fun to drive and carve the twisty roads with. I've even autoX'd it a couple of times for pure fun. But its not something I wanted to subject to daily driving.. I don't even drive it once the snow, salt and sand are on the road - she sleeps under a car cover (except for this year, the cover tore and blew off during the day-after-Christmas blizzard in 2010).

Anyway, I was totally curious how many BMW owners/drivers out there also have an affection for the MINI!

 

Hi, Thanks for the link, however its a real British John Cooper Works car w/papers signed by Mike Cooper ,son of the John Cooper, with updates/mods We have a 318IS, a 328XI ....had a 1150GS & 330XI

 

Thanks 03mini. That's the color I want too something dark or white not sure why. But I don't care if the car is allittle beat up or well taking care of. I like learning about my cars & if there in perfect condition I can't learn much. Meaning I love to fix & modify my cars. Mini's are just like BMW but smaller.

 

Wow that's nice. Super clean jpmm
Nav too, perfect

 

The JCW kit brings an R53 up to 200HP....

 

a little more (its updated to 06 GP specs)

 

03M1N1, all 88iX's were fully loaded 2doors only and I guess I'm still dealing with some degree of sellers remorse... After ~40 years of BMW's (2002's-M3's) the MCS now has to carry a lot of "baggage...!"

Cheers!,
Mark

 

JRussellT, I really, reallly liked the look of the 2dr E30 325ix cars. When I was looking, they were always priced way-high. At the time (about 12 years ago), I found most were priced with the E30 M3's. My favorite colors for ix's were red, white and dark gray. I wouldn't mind picking up on today, but I don't have any room for a motorpool!

 

Just bought my R53 but I have been a loyal BMW owner for the last 20 years. I have had numerous E30's and currently still have an 89 325is that has been undergoing a transformation for the last 4 or 5 years. Motor and interior are about all thats left to do. Currently, the motor is out on the stand and getting a TCD S2 turbo kit installed.

And considering this is my first post, I think I'll throw up a picture.

 

I had 2 e30s. I had a 4door 325es and a 325is. I sold my second one so i could buy my mini. I might have cried a little..... But i have a mini now that i love dearly

 

Very Nice! Love the proper offset on your wheels!!!

Btw, ever notice how many E30's are missing the lip spoiler up front? I see yours is present!

 

I couldn't part with my '90 i coupe, so I have both.. I actually swapped wheels back and forth between the two, when I first brought home the MINI..... 215/40-17's look mean on the MINI with 7.5" wide wheels..

 

We have an Z3 Roadster and an '03 MCS I was on the fence post on weather to get a M Roadster or the MCS. Since I'm not a convertable fan and don't fit the copupe, The MCS was the only other choice!!!
Next to the MCS, my highly modified Saab Sonnet was close to the most enjoyable car owned and I've had a-lot of different cars....

 

I still miss my '90 325iX 4d manual. She was sooo much fun in the snow and a wicked good time at the track as well (despite modest power/weight). I have seller's remorse over 10 years later. What a cool car.

That said, I am having a hoot with the MCS; it's even got me thinking of going to the track again.....

JV