...totally captured my heart today. I drove a 2006 MCS today (first time in an R53), and when I heard the supercharger kick in for the first time, OMG!

This was my test drive, and it goes in for a PPI on Monday or Tuesday. I'm keeping my fingers crossed the PPI goes swimmingly well. If I can get the i's dotted & t's crossed on financing, I could have a BRG/W 2006 MCS in my driveway one week from today.

Wish me luck!

 

Good luck with the PPI, I have driven almost every Mini out there, and the R53 is my fav, its not the fastest, and they can rattle a bit and maybe not even as refined as the newer ones, but in my opinion, nothing sounds as good as the Supercharger spooling up, even better with a pulley.

 

Yup, after the R53, everything else became a "consumer's" car. Have fun with the R53!!!

 

It's true the R53 is bit less refined than the R56, but in noway does it make it less fun or reliable. After meeting countless R53 owners over the years, I truely think we are driving an automotive legend.

Hopefully your MCS checks out .

 

Thanx for the replies all. Granted, I haven't spent much time in an R56 - and by no means am I knocking them ( the are MINIs after all) - but I did like the way the R53 drove all in all, much moreso than the R56. Today will be a telling day, and hopefully a great one!

 

Well one more FL MINI wouldn't be a bad thing. Good luck.

 

Good luck and hopfully you will be showing us some pictures very soon

 

BRG/W.

That's a beautiful color combo.

 

At this point it looks like pics will be coming sometime on Saturday I feel like Christmas is coming in Sept. for me LOL. Funny that this Saturday is the 25th after making the Xmas reference...

As I see more than a few have added smaller pulleys, I wanted to ask what kinda effect this has on performance, i.e. more oomph when the SC kicks in, or does it kick in sooner? And does it significantly shorten the life of the supercharger?

Thanx again everyone. Saturday can't get here soon enough for me!

 

Wowee!! I'm driving a legend!!


I've had mine almost 4 months; I didn't know it was !! Awesome!

 

There are alot of opinions on the pulley size you should get, most of it depends on what kind of driving you do. Most seem to go with the 15 or the 17 %, I have seen a few with 19%. The car for sure pulls better down low, as for the shorter life span, that is debaitable, again some have had some short life spans, others have hit 100K. As for me, I have a 15% that i am happy with, and I am turning 84 K on my 04 MCS, no issues so far. But I have a extra Supercharger I purchased and had rebuilt, so when that time comes I am ready.

 

I took my ex-wife for a ride in my new-to-me 2005 R53. She goes, "There's something wrong with the engine! It's WHINING!"

 

Better to hear the Engine Whining then to hear the Ex Wife Whining. 1 way to silence her, is A get a bigger Pulley, B Get a different exhaust C give her more alimony each month.
A + B is probability = to C LOL

 

An After-Market Cold Air Intake amplifies that sweet supercharger whine. I have not driven an r56 but I too love my r53!