R50/53 Total miles your MINI has right now
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,228
Likes: 28
From: Bishop, Ca
You guys are an inspiration! I was having a spot of troubles and we replaced the radiator (2nd time :() found a leak somewhere else, notice technical term as I'm not the mechanic) and replaced a few hoses. no problems since. I am having an idle problem but nothing I can't live with at least till it's warmer to have the hubby look at it. i should roll over the 200,000 mark in a week or two! it did stumble and felt and sounded like it was only running on 3 cylinders last week at highway speed. I pulled over and turned it off then back on again and he was fine.
Nik
2nd Gear
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From: Arlington Hts Il
Do you know a place to get them that's affordable?
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,228
Likes: 28
From: Bishop, Ca
Nik
2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From: Boulder,CO USA
over 175,000miles 03 MCS
Just replaced for first time: clutch, supercharger, water pump, control arm bushings, lots of sells and gaskets. I have had a 15% puller, milltek exhaust Unichip and alta intake and sway bar since 20k. Lots of brakes and tires due to canyons and over 40 track days. Daily driver and ski car.
1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Kyle, TX
New crank pulley, spark plugs, wires, control arm bushings, belt, tensioner, idle pulley, wheel bearing, new shocks/springs. It's been a good car. Got a little oil drip that I'll look at this weekend, but I still hit the track even at 140k 
Neutral
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
'03 R53 with 112K. In my garage all torn apart. Doing major repair/replacement as follows:
1. Service supercharger
2. 15% pulley
3. Replacing oil pan gasket
4. Replacing crank position sensor gasket
5. Replacing upper/lower radiator hoses
6. Replacing air intake snorkel (tore in half when wiggling out of way)
7. Replacing A/C compressor
8. New serpentine belt
9. Replacing timing chain guides and tensioner
10. Replacing timing chain gasket, oil pump in/out gasket, crank seal
11. Replacing valve cover gasket
12. Replacing coil with MSD
13. Replacing crank vibration damper
14. Replacing lower engine damper
15. Replacing passenger side engine damper
16. Replacing thermostat and housing
17. Replacing water pump
1. Service supercharger
2. 15% pulley
3. Replacing oil pan gasket
4. Replacing crank position sensor gasket
5. Replacing upper/lower radiator hoses
6. Replacing air intake snorkel (tore in half when wiggling out of way)
7. Replacing A/C compressor
8. New serpentine belt
9. Replacing timing chain guides and tensioner
10. Replacing timing chain gasket, oil pump in/out gasket, crank seal
11. Replacing valve cover gasket
12. Replacing coil with MSD
13. Replacing crank vibration damper
14. Replacing lower engine damper
15. Replacing passenger side engine damper
16. Replacing thermostat and housing
17. Replacing water pump
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
'03 R53 with 112K. In my garage all torn apart. Doing major repair/replacement as follows:
1. Service supercharger --Done, was full of oil but replaced anyways
2. 15% pulley -- done, must have tools to remove stock pulley
3. Replacing oil pan gasket -- need to do
4. Replacing crank position sensor gasket-- need to do
5. Replacing upper/lower radiator hoses --nothing wrong with mine
6. Replacing air intake snorkel (tore in half when wiggling out of way)
7. Replacing A/C compressor--nothing wrong with mine
8. New serpentine belt -done with pulley
9. Replacing timing chain guides and tensioner --need to do
10. Replacing timing chain gasket, oil pump in/out gasket, crank seal --need to do
11. Replacing valve cover gasket --need to do
12. Replacing coil with MSD --need to do
13. Replacing crank vibration damper --need to do
14. Replacing lower engine damper --need to do
15. Replacing passenger side engine damper --need to do
16. Replacing thermostat and housing --nothing wrong with mine
17. Replacing water pump--nothing wrong with mine//yet
1. Service supercharger --Done, was full of oil but replaced anyways
2. 15% pulley -- done, must have tools to remove stock pulley
3. Replacing oil pan gasket -- need to do
4. Replacing crank position sensor gasket-- need to do
5. Replacing upper/lower radiator hoses --nothing wrong with mine
6. Replacing air intake snorkel (tore in half when wiggling out of way)
7. Replacing A/C compressor--nothing wrong with mine
8. New serpentine belt -done with pulley
9. Replacing timing chain guides and tensioner --need to do
10. Replacing timing chain gasket, oil pump in/out gasket, crank seal --need to do
11. Replacing valve cover gasket --need to do
12. Replacing coil with MSD --need to do
13. Replacing crank vibration damper --need to do
14. Replacing lower engine damper --need to do
15. Replacing passenger side engine damper --need to do
16. Replacing thermostat and housing --nothing wrong with mine
17. Replacing water pump--nothing wrong with mine//yet
Also, if DIY'ing, how much would that cost minus pulley and sc service?
Neutral
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
No idea but I bet thousands! My A/C compressor died after about 7 years. Gets hot (by So Cal standards) about 2 weeks per year so I never bothered to fix AC. Since I decided to keep this car I went for the deep dive and decided to fix/replace everything likely to fail in the immediate future. As I fixed things I found other things that needed to be replaced, like motor mounts. I'm about $2500 on parts but hey, the labor is free (well plus beer expenses).
Neutral
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
The clutch feels like it is slipping under load too but I'm going to have that professionally done. I replaced the beautifully engineered power steering pump myself at about 77K miles when it started pulling a few "loss of power steering after starting warm" antics on me. Paid about $450 for a new OEM PSP without having to return a core. Ebay is my friend!
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: WA State
Just hit 110,000 miles! Good or bad, I don't know. I'm thinking I should get a checkup to make sure everything is sound. He's been running fine, but may have a very slight oil leak. Crossing my fingers everything is alright! 
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,228
Likes: 28
From: Bishop, Ca
It's just too fun.
Nik
2nd Gear
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 84
Likes: 4
From: Milwaukee, WI
552,255 Miles Now on My 2002 MC
Isn't It Fun, xsmini, to take off on each new road trip
and never worry about those "infant mortality"
failures? Everything that's still 'in there' at this point
has proven its reliability over and over!
Drive Safely Now!
and never worry about those "infant mortality"
failures? Everything that's still 'in there' at this point
has proven its reliability over and over!
Drive Safely Now!
2nd Gear
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
193 miles.
Breaking it in obviously. I know to keep the RPMs below 4500 and speed moderate. However, as much as I want to vary being in and out of Sport mode, I can't seem to drive it without being in Sport mode. All the popping and banging is such a hoot, even in and around town, at 30 mph.
Is it ok to break it in with the Sport mode on all the time?
Thanks
Breaking it in obviously. I know to keep the RPMs below 4500 and speed moderate. However, as much as I want to vary being in and out of Sport mode, I can't seem to drive it without being in Sport mode. All the popping and banging is such a hoot, even in and around town, at 30 mph.
Is it ok to break it in with the Sport mode on all the time?
Thanks
Last edited by turbofun; Mar 23, 2014 at 07:36 AM.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 80
Likes: 2
From: Duanesburg, NY
Just over 10K now. Seems like a baby compared to some of the "old timers" on here.
I was in sport mode most of the time breaking it in. Should not be an issue. Just don't get on it hard most of the time. Getting on it once in a while though should be OK. Varying speed and acceleration is good for it in my opinion.
I was in sport mode most of the time breaking it in. Should not be an issue. Just don't get on it hard most of the time. Getting on it once in a while though should be OK. Varying speed and acceleration is good for it in my opinion.
1st Gear
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Seattle, WA
I took delivery of my '02 S the first week of September ('02!).
Lots of early warranty work, for warped roof, water-filled tail lights, surge, stumble, etc., but pretty smooth sailing for ten years.
Last Summer, it needed a new clutch, power steering pump, and some steering angle position sensor(?). I've replaced a total of four bulbs.
Just turned 98,400 miles.
I'll be shopping for my fourth set of replacement tires, this Fall.
Lots of early warranty work, for warped roof, water-filled tail lights, surge, stumble, etc., but pretty smooth sailing for ten years.
Last Summer, it needed a new clutch, power steering pump, and some steering angle position sensor(?). I've replaced a total of four bulbs.
Just turned 98,400 miles.
I'll be shopping for my fourth set of replacement tires, this Fall.