I’m an original owner of a 2006 R50 I bought new.

Just curious about how many of us are still here and driving our cars on a daily basis?

Let me know you’re still out there.

Cheers.

PC

 

Paging @deepgrey, paging deepgrey...

 

Me too- 2006 R53 with 184k miles. Still a daily driver, but I don't drive as much as I used to.

 

Almost: '06 R52S bought used with about 20K on the clock in '07. Daily driver with near 150K now from several major road trips on the roads less traveled by. Also, hard core topless motoring.

 

2005 R53 / new in March 2005 - now 178k. It’s my daughter’s daily.

Never letting it go.

 

I am the original owner of my 2003 R53 (almost 180k miles now) and I still daily drive it and it spends a few days every year on the track as well. It is on its second engine because of one of those stupid plastic tees in the cooling system broke on the freeway a few years ago. As things wore out, I upgraded, so overall, I am still very happy with this car and I LOVE driving it, except when I'm not feeling well.

 

Original owner here.
Purchased my '04 pre-facelift R53 brand new back in November 2003 with 3mi on the OD. I've since upgraded and mildly modded quite a bit on this car. I've been pretty OCD with regards to mechanically maintaining and it's appearance.
For a 21y/o daily driver with 113k on the clock...I'm proud to say; it certainly doesn't look a day over 4 years old.
I'll be making arrangements to be buried in my Mini.

BTW: It' a pleasure to "meet" you and other kindred 1st gen Mini owners

 

I bought one of the first MINIs offered for sale in the US back in May of 2002. It was a very cute Justa in Indigo Blue with lots of bling. Then I was infected with the track bug, so I bought a

Sunset + Electric Blue = Dramatic Colors!

Perfect match with the sky!

2002 R53 and modded it to 230 hp. Then I bought an 87 Classic Mini to tool around the back roads on in the nice weather. I even took that car onto the track once at Lime Rock just to see how much fun it would be. Then I bought a 2014 Paceman for use over the winter and the in the rain. So on any given day when I'm driving, I'm in a MINI or Mini, though none are what you would typically call a daily driver. Unfortunately, going forward, I don't see myself continuing with the trend as none of the current generation MINIs appeal to me in the least. The only MINI I may be interested in buying is the Aceman, but it is questionable whether it will ever be available in this country...☹️

PS. The Paceman, being the ugly duckling of the family, is camera shy.

 

Haha. I’m here!

My ‘06 is still my technically my daily even though I don’t drive much these days. I think I’m at around 91k miles at the moment. I ordered it and had to wait for it to be built and shipped across from the UK.

 

Great to hear from you all.

I was actually confining my question to R50 but happy to hear that plenty of R53s are still on the prowl.

My 2006 is at 236,000, original engine, trans, clutch, radiator.

Great car.


The Mini still likes the SoCal rain.

 

I'm still here. Custom ordered from the factory in 2003 - only options are H/K, fog lights, cruise control and JCW tune. Was a DD for 4-5 years and is now a garage queen.

 

That's quite the shine you have there, Mr. Bean!

 

2004 MCS R53. Bought new in June 2004 and still loving it to date, 2025. Planning to keep it forever pairing with my 2016 Porsche Cayman 981.
Always been a summer car only.
Mod over the years:
Last mod was way back in year 2013 as I have already achieved my "FUN" goals.
Powertrain:
15% Alta SC Pulley
JCW 380cc injectors
Mynes 4:1 Headers (200 cell cat)
Ultrik/Alta Perrin Cold Air Intake
RMW Dyno Tune
Ireland Engineering Cat-back exhaust
MSD Superconductor ignition wires
NGK BKR7EIX spark plugs
Suspension:
Enkei PF01 Alloy Wheels 17x7 @ 15.6 lbs each
Hankook Véntus V12 summer tires
TSW Lowering Springs
TSW Urethane engine mount
H&R 19mm rear anti-sway bar
VIP Custom Engine Stabilizer
OMP Lower brace
M7 Strut Tower plate
BSH Lower engine mount
Audio:
Alpine KTP445U amplifier
MB Quarts speakers
MTX RPT8 Powered Tube subwoofer


2004 MCS R53

 

Original owner of 2006 Pepper White R53 with 72K miles. Lightly modded with JCW CAI, 15% SC pulley, 22mm RSB and ATI crank dampener. It is my first MINI and will be my last MINI.

 

06 R52. Though I'm the 2nd owner, I did get it in 07 with 4.5k on the clock. Does that count?

Some dad had purchased it for his teen daughter. She couldn't deal with the manual gearbox in the LA traffic, so daddy got her something else.

I can remember having to hit 3 Wells Fargo branches to get a measly $12,000 in cash. I was in West Hollywood, this wasn't Compton. One could give me 6K another 5 and 1 more to get the last of it.

I can remember it like it was yesterday, being told they didn't have that kind of cash in the vault. What? Seriously? That giant *** vault I'm staring into, doesn't have 12K in it? Nope.

She's got 122K on here now, many of those miles were some of best times of my life.

I'm 60 now, owned more vehicles than I can count, my Mini is my favorite.

Thanks for starting this thread, wish each of you safe travels.

 

not the original owner but i have been running it as a daily for years now