Now that I got your attention I am considering another MINI as my second car. I own a R56 S and love it. I need another car and I love MINI so much I figured on a R53, thats the model before right? I have heard about build quality issues with the older ones, stuff like the controls feeling inferior and I want to know first hand IS the R53 a SOLID and reliable car. Anything you dislike about it? Be truthful please. If I do get an older MINI she would spend time at BBR-GTi Ltd. The car will be a daily driver BUT the devoted track Car.

 

After driving a baker dozen or so R56's I would never get one. Sorry.

I will keep my R53

 

Way to positively contribute. Seriously, I'd love to know why you chose to type this out and hit the Submit Reply button.

 

Well I got one, read my post please,
Do you have anything worth typing like why your car is good? That was the question I asked. Im being serious here....Is this how R53 owners behave?

 

Not all of us. I'm no expert but it's my understanding that some early R53s were plagued with the problems you mentioned but '04-'06s were better sorted. I have not experienced any problems with my '04 with the exception of the dreaded 'service engine' light/gas cap thing. I love it and find it to be stout and utterly trouble free. Not to mention an all-out blast.

 

Great, this is the type of post Im Lookin for, whats the deal w/ the gas cap....Truely must Be a real NW MINI Motorer

 

From what I've read, I'd stick to an '05 or '06. I have one of each and neither one has had any major issues. The '05 MCSa has 28K miles on it and has had:
1.The steering wheel emblem curl up three times (replaced twice which requires the whole air bag assembly being replaced)
2. The passenger side motor mount replaced (very common '05 and '06 issue).
3. Thermostat housing leaked which they fixed (another somewhat common issue).
4. The clock replaced due to constant gaining time (a common issue for some '05s).

My '06 MCS has had two issues:
1. The passenger side motor mount replaced
2. LSD groan fixed by different transmission fluid.

From what I've read, the '07 MCS has had it's share of teething problems so I don't think the above is anything unusual. FYI, some R56 owners can be just as touchy as some R53 owners. I think you somewhat set a negative tone with your comment about the controls feeling inferior as that is really a subjective thing. Many will argue that if you mean steering feel that the R53 is superior. Some folks just don't like the looks of the R56 central stack, some love it. To each their own. Contrary to some folks' opinions, neither generation is perfect and faults can be found with both. End of sermon.

 

I'd look for something built in Jan 05 or later. If you go older you'll still have a great MINI, just a few "details" BMW/MINI started doing in Jan 05 built MINI's that I wish I had. Like the rear camber adjustment and so on.

 

Point noted, the "inferior buttons" was what was published and I read, I have no idea and no opinion about the older model it was jsut something I read in car and driver, hence the post. I have had a windsheild issue with my R56, wrong seal, and an occasional click clack from the engine on cold days so I agree its just machinery after all. The post is not ment to anger or disrupt anyones life. I am only hoping to gain some good useful information, after all we all at the end of the day we all drive a MINI.

 

My wife and I both have '06 'S' convertibles, and with about 35k miles on each one (including autocross events on both cars), the only problem we've had is that the gas gauge on her car will sometimes drop to "empty" for a few minutes for no reason. It usually happens once every few months.

Also, her car did have a little bit of mushrooming on the passenger-side shock tower in the first 5,000 miles, but I hammered it flat again, and M7 reinforcement plates have kept the problem from coming back.

The only car I've ever owned with fewer problems was a '95 Honda Civic that needed *nothing* except routine maintenance until I sold it with about 170,000 miles.

 

I'm quoting that b/c I feel the same. I've driven more R56's than R53's and if I had to replace mine, it would be with another '05 or '06 R53. If I wanted a competitor to the current Civic, I'd go buy the Honda. I wanted a successor to my '91 CRX Si....something raw, something fun, something hardcore.

This is not to say the R56 isn't a good car...it is. It's more mainstream than I would spend my money on, that's all.

 

Ah, the 'service engine soon' light. Pay close attention as this is a difficult concept: make SURE you turn your fuel filler cap until you hear a 'click' otherwise, your service light may come on. However, it may come on even though you heard (and felt) this click. And, in fact it will. An intermittent yet ongoing annoyance.

Perhaps we've been fortunate with our '04 or it was among a later build date but I will say it's had no faults thus far beyond this service light ridiculousness. A brilliant car in all respects.

 

My original '02 MCS has 126k miles on it. I test drove a couple of new R56 MCS's and a Clubman and decided against buying one - for now. When I can actually test drive a JCW Stage II, I might change my mind. So I bought SpiderX's 2002 MCS with 80K miles and it is a great car!! Maybe I'll get an older MC for Auto-X next!!

 

I am really sorry. I was trying convey that I love my R53 and would buy another over a new R56.

I have worked on close to a couple of hundred R53 and never really saw any serious problems that were not covered under the warranty or easily remedied. And as a total number of the R53 made they hold a great record. For a second MINI you could not go wrong. There is thousands of threads and posts on virtuely anything you can conceivably think of that went wrong or can be done to improve on. And there is still new stuff coming out.

The R56 is still new and the unseen quircks may still be in the future?

And the best place for troubled stuff is to get a record of a given year R53 and read the TSB's (Technical Service Bullitin)from MINI.

 

I have an 02 S that I bought new, off the lot. Since the warranty expired, and I do not have any extended warranty, my 'other than regular maintenance' costs have been around $3000.

A/C compressor (dealer replaced)
cooling fan controller (required entire fan assembly replacement; dealer twice)
front lower control arm bushing (indep' mechanic) a while back, right after the warranty expired (another story....the dealer found this right AFTER the warranty expired )

Is that bad for a 6 year old car? Do the math. Your call. Most routine maintenance I do myself, brake pads and rotors twice, a few filters, 3 sets of tires, oil. The car is pushing 80,000 miles. 99% stock, road driven...no racing/autocross.

As an early 02, with 17's the suspension is very tight.....they downtuned the suspension every step of the way. For a stock setup, the earlier the car the stiffer. The difference in ride 'tween the 02 and the 07 is significant.

IMO it is 'reliable' and is holding up well, but it isn't coming close to the 95 Miata I just sold that had 'other than routine' cost of under $1000 in the 12 years I had it....one water pump and a couple of hoses replaced by dealers.

Nothing is falling off, the paint is good, it has leather (Lapis Blue) and looks pretty good for the age I'd say....no splits or cracks. I take pretty good care of my cars. Chips get mended, leather gets cleaned and creamed....

BUT when I first saw & drove an 07 I said I'd never buy one....very very different cars. But then the son needed a daily driver for school so .... I'm in an 07.

Last comment ..... the 02 is A LOT closer to the ride of the 79 which is FUN but can cause loosening of dental work

OK, that's the "go for it" side

Now the "no way" side

Is an R53 a good used car? I doubt I'd buy one unless I knew the history. For the same reason I'd never buy a dealer demo MINI, I'd stay away. Many people 'drive it like they stole it' .. the ones they own as well as during their test drives. {My 02 was still on the truck when I bought it} The more mods the car has, the higher the probability it has been abused....

The guy who bought my Miata got a cherry car .... we still talk regularly and discuss what's gone wrong since (hey it IS a 95) and cost effective repairs. I would have talked my son out of buying an 02 MINI, but feel confident as long as he's in mine.

My 79 is pretty reliable, but I'd not want to use it as my daily driver. IMHO an unknown R53 could be in the same class.

my two cents

 

You guys are making me nervous about the 2003 MCS I just bought, I am hoping for a trouble free car, been lucky with my last 3 cars(2000 Pontiac GTP, 2004 Pontiac GTO, 2006 Jeep Grand Limited w/Hemi). I bought it online, but it seems to be in pristine condition with only 13,600 miles on it. I pick it up sometime this week. Lets hope my luck holds up!

 

They're (R53) delicate cars. My fiance compared them to a show dog. They take a great deal of primping and pruning.

Just keep an eye (and ear) on things, and you should be ok.

 

My '06 needed a new power steering pump at 5K miles. I've read here on NAM that the PS pump is a known (expected) issue and usually fails long before the warranty expires.

As you may have gathered ...some folks think the R56 and R53 are cut from very different cloth ...I count myself among them. They look kinda' similar, but are pretty different. Drive them back-to-back and you'll see.

Best of luck.

 

My '05 MCS gave me NO mechanical problems for 100k of very spirited driving.I can say the same for my '03 R50 after 150k.The jury is still out for me with the R56 but with 32k in 7 months and no problems so far so good.

 

I have an 03 and I love it. Compared to the 07 that MAG lent me while my car was in their loving hands, I feel that my R53 is better. For starters, the seats were terribly uncomfortable for me, and the steering was rubbish unless in sport mode. However, with the car in sport mode, the throttle was much too sensitive for normal driving, and the clutch was rubbish as well. Didn't care too much for the 3 spoke steering wheel either.

In it's defense, I will say that the gearbox is superb, the engine is absolutely wonderful, and the dash and radio controls are something to get used to from the R53, they did grow a bit on me. The styling wasn't as good, but the functionality seem to be more so (at least once I figured the radio controls out. They didn't have a users' manual for it. Little touches like the ambient lighting, the OBC, the windscreen wipers which automatically switch to intermittent when you come to a stop and climate control made it very wonderful.

The R53 isn't perfect either. As mentioned the R53 seem to be plagued with numerous problems, though I've had none from mine with 83K on the mileometer and I've heard other stories of such success as well. Interior room is slightly less and the glove box is trash. The switches feel more plasticy than in the R56 but aren't bad. The battery is in the boot, which could potentially cause some minor annoyances. But with my experiences with my car compared to the R56, both cars seemed to handle the turns equally as well as the other, and while the new turbo charged model is slightly more powerful and has more torques, the old blown MINI still has enough get up and go to put a smile on my face.

Yes there are some major differences in the look and feel of each car but as long as you are expecting these differences and you find an R53 which has been well maintained and properly serviced, you shouldn't have any problems.

 

I would never choose the word delicate for my R53. Perhaps I'm in the minority. It seems built like a small bank vault aside from a rattling speaker grille. And goes like Hell.

More my experience.

 

It all depends on how well it was taken care of. My '03 has 123k miles on it and I've replaced items you'd expect to go at that mileage but it's been a reliable car and I love it!

As gas prices continue to rise I'd expect fuel-effecient vehicles to be more costly to purchase, so buy now before the prices really go sky high.

 

Well I already bought it, it was $17,000 with 13,600 miles on the clock and everything else checks out on it. I was impressed with the photos, you can tell it was well cared for, and I doubt it ever saw winter. I only drive about 11,500 miles a year and I'm **** with vehicles, so it should do well in my hands. And my main reason for buying it was gas mileage, without giving up the fun factor.

 

Thanks to all who posted so far. Kep um coming. As for the year 05-06 being better, what was it they changed?
The on thing I absolutely dislike about my R56 is the speedo. I love the seperate radio system in the R53.
Will the aftermarket parts be as expensive for my older MINI as are my R56? What was the first mod you did, "the biggest BANG for your buck?"

 

Without a doubt it was the pulley. It is inexpensive and the easy to install.

There are so many after market parts manufactures now that many after market parts are actually cheaper now then in the early years 02-05. And there is a considerable amount of good used equipment for sale. Also you have the opportunity to be able to eliminate mistakes ($$) all of us have made on many things and do it right the first time.