OY, that poor Coupe... Even though its a JCW, unless the price was $2000, you are probably paying too much. Salvage title, 110k+ miles, and probably beat pretty hard based on the looks...

Do you know what you just said? All 2nd gen cars are basically the same. So, if that Coupe is "too much BMW", then so will be true for all other 2nd gen cars, including the R56.

 

I have had both a gen 2, R55s, and my current gen 1 R53. The gen 2 definitely is more like a BMW, and easier to drive with all the electronics. The hill assist definitely makes driving a clutch easier and the gen 2 clutch definitely is easier on the left leg. I had a n14 so that’s why I had enough with the gen 2 and went after a R53 and not something with a n18. I personally love the way the r53 drives and feels. Turbo vs supercharger noises, I prefer the whine. As much as I’m sure you don’t want to hear this, I wouldn’t let the built r53 go, just the blood sweat and tears alone would be enough to keep it.

 

r56 still retains a slight r53 tendencies while the rest of the brand and owners are whale loving ***** headed yuppies per mini unfiltered

 

And hill assist can be had on a number of 80s Hondas

 

I was wrong , it wasn't a salvage title , it's clean. The cars dents too. Won't cost much to have pdp done and the other panels like front fenders n hood I will be replacing with carbonfiber so it's fine...
lol 2k NO WAYYY ! You can't buy this engine for under 4k and I got it for not much more than that.. so it absolutely imo is a fricken STEAL !!!!!!
LOL it's SLOW compared to even this aero I had but it drive soooooo much nicer and smoother and yet handles better so it definitely has its trade offs.
visibility in this r58 suuuuuucks too..
But I couldn't turn down the price , I couldn't even find a 2010+ S for under 5k that had decent mileage.
this r58 only has 117k so it's not low but definitely not high. It also has 0 tick or valve noise or anything like 90% of other 56's I've heard..
so I plan on doing timing job and then I will get the car looking good with cf panels and dent removal..
don't worry guy I'm not out the r53 game , I still got my Troll.

 

congrats on the new purchase. Sorry about the accident though! Good luck with your new build!

 

Congrats, that wrap looks like some of the MINIs i have seen in the Russia MINI clubs.

 

Hi Adman,
love reading your build thread.
Here is my experience on my three current Minis.
2005 R53 bought new. 80 k when sold, only issue was leaking sunroof drains replaced by Mini for no charge.
2012 R55 bought with 32k on the clock
coil pack
clutch
thermostat
Vanos ( a bit of a pain as you need to drop the sump)
High pressure fuel pump
camshaft sensor
I do think the R55 is a more refined car with the electronics and such, but the R53 is what I like to call, "the last analog car"
The Gen 2 Mini's were a nice design with a bad OEM motor, Too much Peugot for me.
I do really like the clubbie body though, has anyone done a R53 to R55 engine swap?
I just scored a really nice R53 in pepper white that was a garage queen with zero rust and 100k but totally unmolested.
Just always have some good French wine and a baguette in the trunk for when that Puegot leaves you on the side of the road!

 

I'm looking at Aliexpress for the headlight trims. It's hard to tell from the descriptions as to what's a "replacement" type vs cover. Is this like what you purchased? I take it the chrome pops off and the new one is stuck with adhesive?