Quick question about brake pads
 

Will R56 pads fit 2004 R53 Cooper S?

https://item.fril.jp/cf8b83bb4519c7c55f8fabf72899785b

Go to RealOEM.com when you need to find out about parts for any model and year.
As far a the R56 and R53S brake pads being compatible, NO.

I could not help but to notice your screen name suggesting Japan before I read this thread. I'd always enjoy forums with international participants. Japanese bought up a lot of classic minis in the 80s when the country was in the top of the world. What's like to own a modern R53 Mini in Japan? I know there are excellent albeit rather pricy performance parts for Gen 1 modern Minis from the country including my chosen performance springs from Swift, and not to forget to mention all the high performance tires that I have bought were from the land of the rising sun - Nippon, or Nihon.

I know Japan government instituted regulation to junk older cars except those treated as collectable, classic, or special categories. Your Mini must fall under these categories. My neighbor just bought a JDM Kei car. I personally find the mini motorhomes by Toyota fascinating.

my neighbor's JDM K-car - a Nissan Figaro
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...314b4216c2.jpg

I's love one of this, only if it has manual gearbox though :grin::

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...58f4b07ca1.jpg