Hello I recently bought my first mini a 2002 Mini Copper S on 10-06-15. Started restoring the previous owner was a smoker and used most the car as an ash tray. I 90% sure it was never washed.

I started with a full external detail. Wash, wax, and repeat. Then I stripped the interior; and pulled the headliner.

Stripped and recovered the headliner. Bought a set of seats two tone leather. When it stopped raining I installed the the recovered headliner and cleaned all the trim before putting it back in.

Trouble shot the non working tach (no lights, nothing). Started with fuses found a short to ground in the Red/Grey wire. The trace had me stripping the dash apart and eventually the driver side carpet was pulled up. Found the short at a connection point that was corroded. Cleaned up the connection rewired a couple things; then future proofed it by using some non electricity conducting grease around the connection.

I dried the carpets out and did a full interior detail; after leather treating the seats I bought they were reinstalled.

Pulled the battery I killed chasing electrical and did a deep cell recharge.

I have a few thing left to do and a bit of parts on order. Pictures are below.

 

After the first was still dirty

 

Exterior Detail after buff and wax

 

Seats cant see the damage in the picture but they were fall apart when touched.

 

In the process of stripping the interior and chasing electrical.

 

After the headliner was removed wish I would have gotten a picture of it before I refinished it.

 

Refinished Headliner. Hard to get an angle for the picture.

 

Looks like your well on your way mate.
It's good to see someone taking such pride in their MINI
I'm sure it's very happy

 

Interior after the seats are installed; a full carpet clean and detail is done.

 

Thanks Spencer,

Its on its way.

 

Oh my! That must have been a scent to smell. Looks like you're doing pretty well so far! The interior looks great. If you need help with anything else be sure to check out our tech articles here. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask!

 

It looks like a MINI found a good home. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

 

Good to hear your saving an r53, reminds me of one MINI I looked at buying, awesome 06 Royal gray with all options but it wasn't taken care of at all and the interior looked and smelled like an ashtray. Sad to walk away from that buy.

 

Over the last week I repainted the wheels.

 

Did a small tune up waiting on the giant socket so I can change the oil. Its amazing how much of a difference basic maintenance makes. Changed spark plugs, wires, cleaned the air filter, and cleaned up the coil pack terminals.

Had the windshield replaced today.

Waiting on parts more parts.

 

Very nice job on the wheels! Definitely look great.

 

Been adding some extras over the last few days.
-New Stubby Antenna
-Grom Audio Auxiliary input
-New Mirror Caps
-Upgraded the speaker system
-Set of Leather covers for the shift and parking brake boot
-Bavarian Aluminium Shift ****

Full Fluid Change including the transmission.

Pictures to follow.

 

Luke,

Thanks for sharing your story of resurrecting a neglected Generation 1 MINI. You must feel a lot of pride as she continues to improve in appearance and performance.

Love the seats. Where did you find them? My searches for used parts finds that dismantlers in this state don't know MINIs.

Keep us informed of what you learn as you rehab your car. And, keep sharing the photos.

 

This!!!!!!!!

 

Nice Cooper dude, I'm a newbie as well...Welcome...

 

Nice work. Very nice.

 

Old Speakers: One had holes; the other hard as concrete

New JVCs "much louder"

 

Leather Boot Covers from England

Aluminium Bavarian Shift ****

Leather Pull Covers

 

I have found the same thing. Salvage yards just don't know what parts can be reused or are valuable to mini owners (generally). I find most of my parts on Craigslist or Ebay. The "you pull it" junk yards are more reliable as you don't have to explain what you need to people that don't understand what part your looking for. I bought the seats from a car shop that parts out some of their buys.

 

Gave the mini its first real test drove from New York to Chicago 13 hours straight through. No major problems brake lights stopped working. Chased electrical for a while found the "diode" by BC1 thanks to NAM (problem solved).