Description:

For sale is my 76600 mile 2003 R53 Cooper S.  Car is stock other than shock tower plates I added after I noticed some mushrooming (I reformed the shock towers, added the plates and had an alignment done), a Vibratechnic motor mount to replace the original hydraulic mount that was collapsed, and an aftermarket oil dipstick.  I'm selling it because I’m ready to move onto a different sports car and I'm really hoping I can pass it on to someone who is passionate about these cars.

I bought it at roughly 40000 miles from the original owner in 2016 who maintained it through their local Mini dealer.  They used it primarily as their nice weather car.  I drove it through a couple of winters as my daily, but since have been able to store it in a climate-controlled garage during the cold months.  I now only drive it on nice days.  I have service records from the original owner as well as some records and receipts from my own service/work.

It is currently on Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 tires with good tread left.  

Exterior: Paint presents nicely when well cleaned and polished, but does show some swirling in direct light/up-close.  Some chips on the front.  A couple of wheels have some slight curb rash (from original owner) and have a couple of small places where the paint is off.  There is a small hole in the driver's side muffler, but I haven't replaced/repaired it because it doesn't sound that bad.

Interior: All stock blue and black leather interior.  Some wear on driver's side bolster, but nothing too bad.  Rubber floor mats front and rear.

Mechanicals:  I've replaced some things myself (Pads and rotors, O2 sensors, spark plugs, muffler hanger, valve cover gasket, hydraulic motor mount, drivers side headlight assembly, a/c compressor clutch), but otherwise the car has been serviced through the local Mini dealer (Dreyer Reinbold Mini).  The car cold starts and runs fine with no smoking.  The dealer told me that these supercharged engines use some oil, but I've never seen the level decrease in between oil changes. Car does have an extremely slow drip (1 drop a month or less) of what I think is oil.  The Mini dealer tracked it to somewhere around the power steering pump, but they were unable to confirm the exact location.

While the car drives well, it has a recent issue where the fuel pump shuts down intermittently (i.e. maybe once every few days driven or less).  I haven't been able to fully replicate it, but I suspect its electrical in nature.  So far, I've been able to get it going again by unscrewing the coolant reservoir cap and releasing pressure.  If that doesn't work, disconnecting the battery and reconnecting also works.

At the last visit, the dealer recommended control arm bushings and the lower steering shaft be replaced.

Please let me know if I can answer any questions.

Included with the car: 
One correctly sized spare tire (not a Firehawk and no rim for it).
Bag of new wheel well liner clips
Serpentine belt tool
Two car covers
Stick on shades for the front and rear sunroof
Front windshield sun deflector
Spare non-functioning drivers side headlight with a new Bosch igniter.
New Rear wiper blade
Original oil dipstick
Polyurethane inserts for lower motor mount and transmission mount
New shifter bushings
2 keys
Owner's manual/booklets
Bentley Manual