Originally Posted by Laura & Gary

I would replace the items that need to be replaced first and do all the maintenance stuff that likely hasn't been done (I am in this boat with mine).

Air filter, bushings (Motor mounts, sway bars, control arms, trailing arm), ball joints/cv joints, brake/coolant/trans flush, fuel filter, belts, Clutch, plugs/wires, check shock towers for mushrooming, check radiator overflow for leaking... this all really adds up price wise, even if you do the work yourself...

Get to know the car and where you feel the downfalls are... (are you used to more horsepower, better handling, oversteer, etc) and figure out what direction you want to go (track car, daily driver, autocrosser, show car)

Happy for you! I love my '06!

Originally Posted by rtk90

I recently purchased a r53 after years of looking, trading cars, purchasing, etc... I have owned a couple GTI's, two Focus SVT's, as Impreza WRX wagon, a Legacy GT, I could go on but I think you get the picture. I really have enjoyed every car I've owned for what it is, but I do regret not purchasing a Mini earlier on (I never could get past that "girly car" stigma and sadly never gave it a chance even though I loved the look). I test drove one this year on a whim and having been searching for the perfect r53 ever since. Like a said about 2 weeks ago I pulled the trigger on exactly what I've been looking for. I've always loved upgrading, modding, and tinkering with my cars and so it had to be stock and it's exactly that a stock 2003 Mini S with 55k miles. Anyways I promise this all has a point and I promise I'm getting there. I quickly got to purchasing parts and components for my upgrades I have installed so far...

1: Brembos (technically JCW's)/rotors
2: Konig Forward 17" wheels with Pirelli p zero's
3: Koni Yellow's with Tein's

I've done some various appearance things as well: legal tint, blackout the trim and such but mechanically those are the aspects I've altered. The more I read and the more I think about it.... I think I went the wrong way first, with all the other cars I've owned handling of utmost importance to me, and the same is true of the mini.... but it's handling is already so damn good I should probably gone ahead and swapped the pulley, and gone that route. don't get me wrong my mini turns and stops on a dime I absolutely don't regret doing things in the order I did at all but I think you have to take the car into account and I may have missed that on this one.

Anyways sorry for the long first post but thought I'd share. I do love this car, definitely my favorite to date!

Originally Posted by ExclusiveWorkshops

It depends how much you want to change the look, or even sound of your car.


If you don't want to do either that much, just fit a 15% pulley, a JCW airbox (without any butchering internally) and get a BytetroniK tune specifically for it. The car will be significantly quicker, discreet, and save a lot of fuel. Then ditch the runflats in favour of some very sticky road legal tyres, non runflat, I used 215/45R17 Federal RSR595's but use whatever, big difference.


I used 17% pulley, but am tempted to go down, but that's my car.


You need not worry about changing the exhaust, or making the car stiffer if your prime concern at the moment is a bit more performance. The air kits which are open change the look under the bonnet a lot, and I feel make more noise than gains. Like I said, it depends what your after. Next I'd do is some bigger brakes, as stickier tyres will maybe highlight their weaknesses.


Only my 2p