Hello everyone. A little background. I've been on here for awhile - participating in threads here and there - learning from the threads as I visit. You all have taught me so much about these cars. I have been looking for a Mini for awhile and knew what options I wanted but was ok without those options if the right one came along. I've test driven here and there, looked at tons (online and in person) but haven't found anything I wanted to purchase .. until now.

As of this morning, I am the new owner of a 2006 R53, with most of the options that I wanted .. that odd enough, lived the first few years of his life about 15 minutes down the road from me (Frederick, MD). From there, he went to a new home in the Leesburg, VA area and eventually came back to MD and ended up on the other side of Baltimore.

I found him online about 3 weeks ago and went to visit him to see what kind of shape he was in .. and after a few more visits and some tests, took him home.

Here he is (he doesn't have a name yet).

 

Looks like a good find. I had the chrono pack...liked it, thought it was more useful than a dated GPS system. Car looks "tastefully" modified, with the exhaust and intake.

 

I've heard bad things about the GPS systems - so that was on the 'do not buy' list. I'm loving the exhaust sounds!

 

Looks really nice! I'd put something on those strut towers to protect them from mushrooming if I were you.

 

I agree - I will be investing in a strut tower brace.

 

Your PS fan air duct is missing. They do good job in extending the life of the fan, which is expensive.
Does your car have a reduction pulley?

 

The Duct is not a stock item for his car... it's not "missing".
It was for the R52's and if it can be found, can be used on the R53's as you mentioned

 

Not knowing if the coolant tank is original, you may consider replacing it as a time item with a metal tank and eliminate all worries and future associated expense. I just did. The plastic tank has the reputation for failing at the most inopportune time and places. Nice find!

 

Oh, OK, I thought they all got them in 2005 or 2006. Of course, my fan died anyway but it did survive 10 years in the salt and slush.

 

I thought it was standard starting with the face lift R53's. My FL '05 R53 came with the duct from the factory. In the pics above it does look like the intake venting is missing from the splash shield though. Maybe those aren't all of the original front end parts. The OP does have another thread questioning the hood alignment on his car.

 

It came with automatics only and r52's...
I added it to my 2005 s stick...was about a 5 minute job.

 

Don't know about the air fan duct - but I will pursue putting one on. Is it difficult to put on? Where can I get it from?

There is a reduction pulley - I just don't know what kind or size.

Again, I will pursue getting one - especially if it will help extend the life.

I will certainly consider and pursue - good place to get one? Hard to change out?

What was the cost to replace the fan?

No idea if these are all the original parts or not. In the other post, it has been said that the hood / bonnet alignment is normal. Several other cars look the same as mine.

Where can I get one from?

 

I got an aftermarket fan that was around $200 plus labour. The OEM fan was stupid money.
ECS may have the duct.

 

At one point the duct kit was $80 new..two parts, the tube and a different part that would snap into the plastic splash guard....
Now the few left are stupid $$....
So look at a junkyard....time a r52 getting parted out...most of the plastic parts are usually tossed out as an expense... So should be cheap.

 

I purchased a metal tank using the oem cap since I don't flog the MINI. Prices vary for about $100 on up. Ebay has good pricing. The removal of the plastic tank is on youtube and very easy. Installation of the metal tank is easy. It does require small to average sized hand to screw in the driver's side bolt. Helped a friend install his metal tank and it took about an hour. Well worth the money for the peace of mind.

 

Beautiful MINI! Oh and the brace on the strut mounts are a really good idea; wish i had done the same. Just replaced my mounts last week and sure enough they were slightly mushroomed.

 

Thank you .. and I will be addressing the strut mounts quickly. That was one of my 'check items' when I was searching for a Mini.

 

In case I forgot to mention, he's at 76k on the clock. I will be changing all fluids this week as I don't know the history on them. I will most likely be switching to synthetic as well (regardless of what it had).

 

Synthetic is a factory requirement for oil....
Be sure to change out the coolant...the most often neglected fluid...needs to be done every 4 years..
Check out a few diy's for the locations of the 2 bleed valves...one by the rad, one by the thermostat.

 

I will do Zippy - and thanks, yet again.

 

Out of curiousity, anyone know if I have the N14 engine?

 

2006 S's have the W11 Tritec engine. N14 was not until 2007 on the S coupe, 2009 S convertible, and 2008 S Clubman.

 

Thanks for the info.

 

W11 Tritec aka the "Lump"

 

Dare I ask why it was called 'the lump'?