I just picked up a 2003 mini cooper S, I am pretty stoked. It has 35,000 miles, single owner car, garaged, very well maintained. It has had some things replaced under warranty. It is dark silver with leather interior. The owner had all the service records and a lot of documentation. This is my first foray into Mini land. I am really stoked. I feel like I got a good deal. Reading these forums the past few weeks while I was shopping got me nervous about buying a 1st generation mini, but after inspecting the car and taking it for a pretty long and thorough drive I feel more comfotable now! Keep your fingers crossed.

 

congrats and good luck

 

It may look like every early build MINI has issues. But remeber, people come to forums with thier problems/issues. So there are alot more MINIs with no issues than the ones with issues you see in the "stock problems/issues" section.

 

Aloha and welcome to NAM.

Got a bicycle rack yet?

What options do you have? Which wheels and tires?

Any upgrades aftermarket? Any plans to do your own upgrades?

What are you planning to use your MINI for? Any performance driving?

 

Yes, I realize that forums are the place people come looking for answers... so with that in mind I got a good one .

I have not gotten a rack yet but will need one! Currently our other car ( a volvo s40) has a rack with 4 trays. I do travel a lot for bicycle racing and the mini will not be the best... I sometimes have more than 1 bike. But I will probably put a thule rack on top.

The car has the sport package and the premium package - I think it has 17" wheels, with pirelli run flats (new) the spoked wheels, roof and mirrors are white and the car is dark silver with leather. the car was built in I think in 06/2003. What is the line make? it says 04-mini.

I do not plan on any mods right now, but I can obsessed with things and if I start it might get ugly

Maybe some track time, I have some experience with track stuff - we own a 74 porsche 914 and have done some DE and autocross.

I attached pic...

 

OK on your MINI.

Sounds good. Many mods can be for your comfort.

Possibles-
Get better brake pads- Hawk HPS if you like more aggressive, Ceramics if you like not to clean the wheels all the time.

Drop in Air filter: Green filter, it's a little thinner than K&N and allows for better airflow (slightly).

Shift ****- See Whalen shift machine, do a custom engraving.

Use up the runflats and get some really good tires- makes a huge difference just like bike tires for different terrains.

17" S-lytes are 25 pounds each. Light 17" rims are about 14 lbs each or less but do cost more. A compromise is 16x7" wheels and 205/50-16 tires.
Use the 17" S-lytes for winter or sell them with the new runflats.

Cat back exhaust is good- some are loud others are minimally so. Some owners do one ball mod- cut out muffler on the passenger side and reroute the midpipe to go to one side only. JCW exhaust is nice. Milltek is popular. One sided exhausts like Alta, Quicksilver, etc drop the most weight.

Suspension can also make a big difference- Koni FSD with stock springs is popular. Comfortable for street use yet better handling when you need it.

Rear adjustable swaybar- usually 22mm with three holes. Softest setting is good and easy to install. Helps to reduce understeer.

 

you are going to scare away your new friend minihune!

 

Not sure about scare away!

But as a cyclist I am sure he's done his share of modding equiptment for purpose built riding. Everything is so specialized these days.

MINI modding is no different.

In any case just drive around and get used to the MINI as is. Gain a feel for what it can do in stock mode, you have enough options with the car it's likely to be fine.

If you really want to resist the modding bug then stay away from too many nice MINI club events. People might have the transmitable disease of mini mod mania that they will gladly give to you if you're not careful.

I think it IS possible to resist. My other three cars (all Hondas) are completely stock.

 

no scare away... I spent the better part of last evening look up mini mods, searching these forums and generally reading about stuff. i have already thought about a new shift ****, the shifter seems sort of tall. Run flats seem like a pain in the **** and also $$$ I think one of the records I got with the car listed the new tires at $300+ a piece. I sort like the look of the current wheels. What type of tire would be better than the runflats? I live in Philly and the roads are less than good.

 

The 17" S-lytes are classic MINI it's true. Darn that they weigh that much.
Keeping them and using non runflat tires is a good option. An MCS has the power to move those wheels. You can use up the runflats in about 20,000 miles. Rotating the wheels will help them to last a bit longer

Using stock 205/45-17 non runflat tires you could consider-

In Max Performance Summer tires:
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx $128 each 240 treadwear
Bridgestone Potenza RE050A $152 each 140 treadwear (not RE050A Pole Position)
Toyo Proxes T1R $116 each 280 treadwear (edgeracing.com)

In Ultra High Performance Summer tires:
Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 $124 each 240 treadwear
BF Goodrich g-Force T/A KDW2 $120 each 300 treadwear (good handling/but noisy)
Kumho Ecsta SPT $99 each 320 treadwear (closeout)
Kumho Ecsta SPT XRP runflat $134 each 340 treadwear *** good runflat
BF Goodrich g-Force Sport $109 each 340 treadwear

In Ultra High Performance All Season tires:
Avon Tech M550 A/S $99 each 360 treadwear
Goodyear Eagle F1 All Season $122 each 420 treadwear
Falken Ziex Ze-912 $82 each 360 treadwear (edgeracing.com) (comfortable street tire with good value)

More tires available in other sizes that will still work like-
215/45-17
Check all of the above categories. Lots of choices.

 

there are options if you want to keep the S-lite look, lots of options there as well

 

Cool, SOunds good. I will wait out the life of the new run flats and then see where it takes me... What are some options for wheels that look like the S-lite? I do like the look.

 

minihune, you always have such detailed information, I would find it hard to memorize and type out all the time. Do you keep word documents with all that tire stuff on it ready to copy and paste?

As far as s-lite look alikes, i haven't a clue. I prefer the look of steel wheels.

 

I don't memorize the information. I look it up fresh each time.

No word documents on wheels or tires.

S-lytes are fairly distinctive for the MINI. Some OEM MINI wheels have a similar look over the years but few aftermarket wheels are similar.

These O.Z. rims are 8 or 7 spoked-

O.Z. Michelangelo 8 in 17x7 25.8 lbs $239 each or in 16x7 $179 each 23.8 lbs


O.Z. Titan in 18x7 $159 closeout 24 lbs


Sport Edition E3 17x7 $106 each 21.6 lbs

I like the S-lyte design (it's a bit solid/heavier looking).