Evening everyone, just bought a new (to me) r53 cooper s; it's an 03 with almost 56k on it. I love the car but have noticed a few quirks I was curious about.
1. Under heavy throttle and just after I smell anti-freeze I think, it doesn't smell like oil at least. Is this the issue with the coolant expansion tank or something else?
2. Also under heavy throttle I hear a loud whooshing sound that is noticeably louder than the supercharger (it has a 15% reduction so I expected that to be the loudest part). Could this be due to the aftermarket CAI or some leak?
3. When I unlock the car with the key fob it makes no noises or lights, it just unlocks the car. However when I lock it the car beeps and the lights flash. Is that a normal feature on these cars or is that something that can be changed?

Thanks for your help and I'm excited to join the mini family

 

Welcome! I am about to make the most useless response, but to show someone is listening:

1. That's weird
2. That's weird.
3. My car doesn't beep at all. When I unlock, it flashes lights twice and the interior lights come on. When I lock, it flashes it's lights once, and interior lights turn off if they were on. But my car is an '05, so that's completely irrelevant. And I know nothing about changing this.

I hope that was enlightening.

 

A video of the woosh would be nice. When you do the full throttle pulls, do you have ac or heat on ?. Or even the blower at all ? Check for residue around the expansion tank, check the level of coolant in it and check the thermostat, a little early for that one... Bit just look for leaks. What brand is the CAI?

 

The things the car does when you hit the lock/unlock button are programmable, but only by a dealer. They will probably charge you to change it, but it will only take them about 10 minutes max, from what others have said.

 

Ill bet your coolant expansion tank is got a bad cap or split

You may have a cat that has gone bad or a header that is split at the collector up top.

And they only beep if you have the alarm kit.
Good luck.

 

Hey I took a video but I'm not sure how to upload to nam from an iPhone, ill load to YouTube this evening. No I was doing the pulls with no ac or fan of any sort. I'm seeing white streaking around the cap of the expansion tank. Should I just replace the cap or the whole unit?

Thanks for the help with the key, I scheduled an appt with my local dealer (otto's mini in Exton if any locals have an opinion on them) for Thursday. Do you know what else can be programmed through the key?

Thanks for your help all!

 

The "dealer programmable" features are a little different depending on the year of the car, but this is supposed to be a list for the '03:

Central Locking
---------------
Automatic locking after starting
Automatic unlocking after engine off
Selective central locking
Selective CL RC
Holding RC open button (comfort opening/luggage compartment opening/no function)

Window Regulator/slide/tilt/sunroof
----------------------------------
Convenient opening lock

Lighting
-------------
External lights
Daytime Driving Light
Home Lights (I think this is the "follow-me-home" feature that keeps your lights on for a minute or so to help you see your way to the house)

Windscreen wipers
------------------
Switch back when stationary

Acoustic Warnings
------------------
Fuel Warning (dings at, what is it, a quarter tank?)

Displays/Language
------------------
Units
Temperature (degrees f/degrees c)