Hey, now! Good morning everyone, Mike from Assachusetts, here! I lurked around here for about 6-9 months, gathering intel then traded an '04 Ford Ranger for an '02 R50. The R50 needed a little work to get running 100%, but I figured it would be a good, basically free, start to get my feet wet in the world of Mini. Well, the water felt fine and I'm cannon balling in! On to my question........ I'm looking at an '04 R53 140'000, beautiful shape, obviously taken care of. This particular '04 has the 3 spoke steering wheel and I'm wondering what other differences were made half way through '04, other than the steering wheel? Quality improvements? Just aesthetics? Performance improvements? I've looked around the forum and google and haven't really found the answers I'm looking for. Thanks in advance!

 

What is the build date? My 2004 R53 MCS was built March 04 and has a two-spoke multi-function wheel.

 

I'm not exactly sure. I'm going back Tuesday for a second look, I'll find out then.

 

I think I found what I was looking for.

http://www.minitorque.com/forum/f29/...t-guide-29996/

 

What month and year did the Oxford factory switch over to build "facelift" cars? My car is "pre-facelift" according to the description in the linked thread, with the clock above the mirror and two buttons on the dash, and was built 09.2003 as a 2004 model. I just wonder how close it came to being built as a "facelift" model....

Scott

 

Hello and welcome, Mike! This vin decoder HERE can give you some good info about your vehicle options on your R50. Would love to see some pictures.

 

Yea, that's a good one, Big things were Headlight and taillight change in 05' , Refresh on the front bumper and rear bumper on the Cooper ( non S ).
Transmission change on the Cooper, Cooper S had another part number change on the manual trans.

Interior options, airbag passenger set up on 1.2005+

3 wheel steering wheel 2005+ , which you could convert to on your pre 2004, lost of people did this.

2005+ was the big refresh year so like BMW side it was an LCI kind of.

If you need anything else let me know, like a book of knowledge on the Gen 1 MINI stuff.