Long story short, I always get good deals on red cars haha. Not a big hater, but not the biggest fan of the red. I don't mind it, but it looks too much like a girl car (all sorts of women tell me how cute it is).
I'm looking for other pictires of chili red r53, preferably with a white roof, that are looking mean, aggressive, manly, not-girly haha. Here's a picture of mine the day I bought it. Please help!
Also, not new at all to customizing cars, just looking for input and ideas. Thanks!

 

1. Aero grill mod
2. Lose the white stripes and go custom matte black stripes.
3. Aftermarket wheels.
4. Suspension drop.
5. Matte black roof and mirrors.

 

I have been planning a grill, and have made a few grills of my own, so I may tackle this myself. I have already removed the stripes as they were faded, but there is fading of the red so I want to put something back on. I have a cool idea for modified stripes. I really like the factory s-lite 17's perhaps with a small spacer to make them sit more flush (not stanced or any of that bs). Planning to lower it, just springs though, no coilover need. I want to tint it, and will more than likely plastidip all the chrome.

 

I'm a fan of the oem 17s that came in my s with a 20mm spacer in the rear. Gave the car a nice stance for stock wheels. Also, if you ask me...anything white, make it black. It'll look much more manly.

20mm spacer made the tire rub inside the flares on hard bumps and cornering...but, some of us live life on the wild side

 

Here are some pictures of my chili red with some modifications.

Painted black stripes on.




Powder coated satin black S lites.




Powder coated stock summer wheels.

 

I question the wisdom of altering something that appears, from your description, to be a chick magnet. Kinda like walking a puppy in the park?

 

Ha,
We have the same red and white setup. My wife asked me to make it "meaner" for her.

Challenge accepted!

I wish i could make it satin black easily and cheaply. I just don't trust Plasti-dip on an entire car..

What did you do BTK?

 

Black out the chrome, change the grills, maybe change the whole bumper (mine is from a gp), shorter antenna, aftermarket rims, window tint, lower it. Just suggestions, i havent lowered mine yet.

I think rims, grill, and antenna made the most difference to me, the factory antenna looks like a remote control car antenna.

 

Oh and a rear wiper delete. I was on the fence about that one till my wife said it looked like a puppy dog wagging its tail,.......welp time for that to go!

 

Your wheels and suspension will make the biggest difference. Focus on those areas first. Just keep everything super clean.

 

Might want to check out - https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...0-r52-r53.html

 

Just add an E46 antennae mod and it's super slick!
Damn, I love black and yellow!

Edit: Missed the "Red" part in the title. My bad, still some eye candy.

 

I don't know how "mean or aggressive" it is, but here's mine:

 

 

Might i inquire where you got that intercooler?

 

...and intercooler horns. Are those polished? They look awesome!

 

The intercooler is no longer made and the horns are black chromed along with the intake, engine mounts, strut braces and cold air intake.

 

Yeah but things can be found and bought used, whats the vrand?

 

 

I got the intercooler from Mini Mania 12 years ago.

 

I want to black out the door handles and has cap then it will look complete.

 

Just my two cents, but any red mini pushing over 230 WHP is no "cute" mini but per a recent newbie thread, "a rat on acid." Get one pushing over 260 let along 300, just crazy.

I don't think the guy was equating that to mean the rat was docile.

 

That looks pretty sweet. I'm running the same wheels. I still have stock radio antenna. What antenna is that? It also looks like you are lowered, have the aero kit and a modified scoop.

 

Thanks! I the look of my R53 a lot. I actually bought it 90% like that so I am not sure about most of the exterior mods. What wheels are they? I was told the scoop is most likely a Palo Uber scoop. I have Tein springs, and again was told an aero kit. Not sure about the antenna.

 

The wheels are Motegi Racing MR116

http://www.motegiracing.com/wheel/4427/mr116