I found a dealer that is willing to trade my 09 MCS for an 06 MCS. I really like my current car (JCW aero kit and all) but I know that I can get way more power out of an r53, and there are way more parts out there for r53s. Has anyone owned both? If so, is there any light you can shed to help me make a final decision?
BTW my car has 40k miles, the car Im looking at has 52k miles.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

I haven't owned both, but i have an r53, and the 3 top mechanics (including the head mechanic) at my mini dealership have r53's, say they'll never own an r56 (no offense, their words not mine)

 

I'm a tech at a mini dealer and I own a r53 and my wife owns a r50. It was a no brainer for me.

 

I rest my case :D

 

Ive decided to get an r53. Ill lose some money, but Ive heard the driving experience is way better in an r53.

 

Wait a second - you're trading a newer car, current style car, for an older, old style car with more miles???? They should be giving you money!

And don't tell me you would have to pay taxes on the cost of the 2006....

You're probably better off selling the 2009 MCS and buying the 06. You can use the difference you make up on mods.

ALSO - you can get more power more easily with the R56, since it is turbo. I would do more research before making the plunge. There are plenty of low-mileage R53s around.

 

I own an 02 R53 . Absolutely love it. Went to the dealer to look at and test an R56. Was not impressed by the handling nor the ride height compared to my R53.

I don't plan on ever selling my 02 . Way too awesome !

 

I have 2 R53's and an R56. To ME the R53's are hands down more fun to drive. We are teaching my son how to drive on the wife's R56 because it's an auto. I took him out in HIS R53 over the weekend and he even prefers it to the R56.

 

I feel like you can "do"more to an r53. I mean, what other car can you get 20 hp for a $100 (pulley)?!! To me, and I guess I'm biased, but the r56s seem more computer controlled, so your stuck getting an access port, sold at one high price, from only 1 vendor.... And then you still have to buy physical hardware on top of that!

 

If the plan is to mod for power, there should be no question in your mind... The R53 takes it. Newer dosent mean better, look at the durrability of both. I see way more R56's with some major problems even when left stock, than I see R53's built to 250+ HP that are broken.

The turbo= Easy power rule dosent apply to MINI's, Nothing about making power relyably on a R56 is easy. I havn't seen or heard of anybody with a 56 making even 300 honest HP and been able to back it up. Meanwhile there are 3,4, even 500 HP R53's out there, and soon to be one I know of with about 1000 HP! Sorry cant talk about that car, the owner was banned from this site like all the other true power makers.

 

Is 1k hp even physically possible in a 1.6 liter engine?! I mean, how much boost are we talking here? It must take every mod you can't think of to do that!

 

Possible... Yes, Probable... NO. Who says it's still a 1.6? All I know and can tell you is, its still a R53 TriTec and one BIG turbo, and I sold him the block.

 

What's a tri-tec?
Is it still really a "mini" engine if it's not a 1.6? IMO, no, but like aholes, everyone's got one
(and some ppl i know, have 2! Lol)

 

The TriTec is the stock R53 MINI engine. Its a sleeved cast iron block and aluminum head, designed by Chrysler and built in Brazil. You can Google all the details.

Yes it is still a MINI, the classics had engines ranging from 998cc all the way up to 1275cc in stock form, and people still bored and stroked them out bigger. Why BMW didnt make a 1.8L for the JCW models is still beond me.

 

............

 

I sure hope that this trade is getting you a certified R53 with a dealership warranty and money back in your pocket.

If not, sell the R56 yourself, then find a lower mileage R53 equiped how you want it.

Sounds like the dealership thinks you are wearing a paper hat that says dunce on it.

 

I went the other direction, from an R53 to R56. The R56 is much more fuel efficient, faster more civilised and easier to drive. On the other hand the R53 is rawer, and you migth find it more fun. Its a matter of personal taste.

 

Hey I have one of each. I drive the r53, my kid drives the r55.

The old car is easy upgrade the stereo, the new one is difficult to impossible.

Both are quick at autocross.

The turbo gags on the pcv vomit and we just spent 700 bucks to clean that out. I need to find a good catch can. It also eats oil which is apparently normal.

The new one rides nicer.

I love the sound of the roots blower. Turbo is so ordinary. But the computer does overboost at low rpms.

The service guy at my dealer prefers the r53. He says it will last longer.

Mods are not hard for either, but swapping a pulley is much easier than a bigger turbo. Apparently the old engine can make more reliable big hp numbers.

Choices.

 

It's a tough choice. The R56 is certainly much easier to live with than the R53 in terms of comfort, but the R53 is much more fun to drive in my opinion. I feel like you get more feedback from the gearbox of an R53 than the R56 and i much prefer the supercharger to the turbo. Also, a lot of the things that make an R56 more comfortable to drive makes the R53 more durable and easier to mod.

If i had the choice, I'd have an R56 for daily driving and cruising and an R53 for tracking, but since i can only afford one car right now, i went with the R53

 

Do it... I have driven both and it will be a cold day in hell before I give up my 06. The turbo my boast more power at stock but it is easy to bypass them and the handling is so much better on the 06. Not trying to be a Debbie Downer on the 2nd Gen, but MINI tried to make it a bit more refined for a wider audience.

 

This may be true stock, but my car, post RMW tune, achieves 28-30 avg mpg and 40 to 42 mpg pure hwy.

 

True the 1st gens are easier to mod, but from what i've seen in the sigs of certain people here, the numbers they are putting down aren't much higher than stock R56 numbers. I was pretty amazed by that tbh.

 

Your choice but don't do a straight trade; get money back !!!!!!

 

I went and bought the vehicle on Friday. On my way home (10 hour drive across Texas), I hit a raccoon that destroyed the plastic molding and smashed my radiator. I couldnt continue driving, so I had to have a buddy bail me out. On top of that a rock put a good sized chip in my front windshield on my way through rush hour traffic in Austin. Not the best way to to start but Im trying to find a new/used (possibly performance) radiator if anyone has any suggestions.

 

****,
Just so you know the stock block is not sleeved.