Hi all, so I have new project to play with. A Cat S Mini F56 Cooper S. Super low mileage, 20k on the clock on a 15 plate, 1 owner car from new.



Spec wise it has a few bits:

Smaller Nav

LED headlights

Active cruise control with parking sensors all around

JCW spoiler

Lounge leather seats with matching steering wheel

Black headliner

Panoramic Roof



I wanted something with 4 seats as the children are getting into cars and want to come with me to car events etc.



Check out my new car day video below. I will share more detail and plans once I've had chance to properly look over it, now its been delivered:











Sat next to my R56 it looks like a monster truck:

 

Nice! Curious to see where this one goes...

 

Thanks, can't wait to get it up in the air tomorrow and investigate any damage I have missed.

 

Really excited to follow this build. I have watched a lot of your Youtube videos about your Mini's. I have recently purchased a 2015 Volcanic Orange Cooper S and am trying to decide on a set of aftermarket wheels. I was thinking of going with the NM Eng. RSe11r in Hyper Silver. Do you have a set of wheels in mind for your build or color?

 

Nothing in mind just yet, going to get some part worn tyres for the burst ones, and use stock until I decide. A quick walk around of the car assessing the current spec and what I may have missed:


A big order has also gone into Rybrook Stratford for most of the front end as used prices are the same or more than new which is crazy for most things.

 

While waiting for the parts to arrive I decided to start labelling up all the disconnected cables so I know exactly what goes where. This helped me to spot that someone had disconnected the washer bottle sensor and also that one of the front parking sensors was missing. I also started removing all the broken support pieces for the crash beam, the fans, the crash beam themselves and then the Airtec intercooler arrived so on that went as well:







Video below covers the initial investigation of the damage and what I tend to look out for with a damaged car:






Another delivery of bonnet related parts arrived today as I couldn't find a volcanic orange used bonnet and people want stupid money for used parts, most parts are actually cheap from dealerships like Rybrook Stratford parts department who have looked after me. That bonnet and bumper are going to the bodyshop later today to get them painted.







I also posted on Facebook mini groups asking if anyone wanted to swap my full leather interior for their JCW seats. And a very nice chap offered to do the swap, which we did this Saturday, so out mine came:







We then removed this and fitted my interior to his car:







The I threw the front seats straight in so I can reconnect the battery again, I have left out the rears for now, just in case the dent removal company I have booked need to get to the rear of the panel. Really happy with the JCW seats, what a difference it makes already to the interior







This is the dent in question, they seem confident they can get it out, so interested to see how they get on:

 

So the rebuild begins with lots of new parts arriving from Mini and starting to replace that front end:

 

So they came a checked it out, turns out that the crease in the middle of the dent is too sharp and I would be left with a line after the repair so he advised to get it traditionally fixed and painted.



Also turns out I missed some damage to the suspension, took it for a little test drive on and off the drive and got a stability warning and the wheel wasn't straight. So up in the air it went and I found pink pen on the rear lower control arms, both bent like a banana, the drivers side more than the passenger.







Picked up some replacements cheap on eBay. Next I inspected the fronts and although they look straight and no pink pen from the insurance company, I placed a metal ruler on the manufactured weak point, passenger side is straight, drivers side is bent. Looks like the car took a shunt from the front passenger side which may have forced both wheels on the drivers side to impact a kerb side on, bending both front and rear arms on that side. Again ordered a replacement front wishbone on eBay. Parts should be hear by Thursday and hoping they are a quick swap, rears seem easy enough front I haven't done before but can't be too bad, looks like a hand full of bolts.

 

Time to get the headlight tabs replaced as well as some simple fixes to things like the parking sensor wiring. I didn’t realise replacement headlight tabs was a thing. Saved me buying headlights which are £500+

 

Next up deciding what bodykit to go for, something different up front, already managed to get a set of JCW side skirts but not sure on a wing and rear bumper:

 

Looks good with the LCI2 front bumper

Maybe GP3 rear bumper and diffuser?

 

Thanks, its certainly an option to look at

 

I was so close to getting the car MOT'd when I found this damage, luckily next day parts on eBay solved the issue, more info here:

 

So the F56 got to its MOT and passed with flying colours. So it's time to start modifying it ready for MITP. I also got the aircon regassed as that all leaked out in the accident, now its icy which means I can now start using the car as its all fully road legal now:






This week I will be finishing the dechrome with OEM black belt line, black door handles and black side scuttles. I also have some LCI 2 front and read badges in black to fit.



I also started on the interior, I've gone with an LCI2 new look JCW steering wheel, which turns out is also heated so I need to work out how to retrofit the heating switch to make that work, but all the buttons etc work so its a straight swap and feels much nicer in hand







You can see I have also fitted a P3 gauge fitted in the air vent which is nice to monitor temps etc. I have also fitted CarPlay which I will cover in its own video.

I have fitting videos for all these bits coming soon.

Loving the front end on this, time to start working on the rest of the car including the rear end and some suspension:

 

Congrats on the MOT! That steering wheel looks great. Reminds me of the R56 GP2 steering wheel, but actually looks a bit thicker.

 

Thanks yeah it feels really nice in hand

 

Finally another update, this time suspension. I re-used the airlift performance management from the R56 and bought new F56 Airrex struts. I am really impressed with the air setup on the BRZ and R56 so seemed a reasonable choice to go for it on the F56. Super easy to install and all hidden under the boot floor so I don't lose my boot.














It all needs adjusting with the front drivers side to be dropped a little more on the strut itself but really pleased

 

Its been a while since I updated this thread, theres been a few niggles I need to sort and parts are piling up. I have front and rear JCW brakes to fit to this however they wont fit under the current stock wheels. So friday night I decided to start wheel shopping and came across a set of Autec Wizzard 17x7.5 et47 for sale with 215 40 17 tyres. They require 10mm spacers to clear JCW brakes but I already have some fitted. From the same seller I also picked up a part of Forge rear adjustable control arms, OEM black door handles and a stud conversion. But for now the wheels are on, I did a 7 hour return journey, I swapped the wheels in the dark on his drive so they didnt get damaged in the back of the car last night getting back at 1.30am but it was worth it. I wasn't sure of the colour at first but seeing it in the day light today, I love it.














Plenty of space for JCW brake behind those spokes:







Next up I need to get some new number plates made, Remus exhaust to fit, it needs to go to Millsys to get the brakes fitted and digital dash/new battery coded in and I also have the LCI2 rear bumper to get painted and fitted

 

So I've finally fitted my LCI2 rear bumper, the first I've seen in Volcanic Orange. It was a bit of a trek to get hold of it, long story and had it sat there for months.



Had to drop it off at the bodyshop:







Collected last week, looks spot on:







Fitted, just need to sort the rear fog light wiring. Its not a straight swap as you have to change the brackets on the car but not too much work compared to the front end:







And if you want to know how to do it, check this out:

 

Nice! I like that rear bumper with the much more defined 'diffusor' trim. The car looks great, nice work!

 

Very nice! Like it also.

 

Time to fit a Remus Valvetronic exhaust as well as plenty of other parts coming this week ahead of the Mini Fair show at Bingley Hall this Sunday:

 

I took the camera along for the day at the British Mini Club Mini Fair 2023. It was a big learning curve recording inside and in public, hopefully I get better with coverage of future shows, but give it a watch and let me know what you think.

 

I decided to go for the plastic version of the Eventuri intake on my F56 this time. I’ve had the carbon one before however unless you open the bonnet all the time you never see the difference as the scoop is still carbon. As far as I can tel there is no negative for going plastic other than the lack of carbon bling, so great news if you want a functional scoop but don’t want to shell out £1600+ for the full carbon version

Mini F56 How to fit the plastic Eventuri Intake what I think of it? Is it as good as the carbon one

 

Nice intake!