Alright am currently in the market for a mini and I find myself divided between a new r56 or a r53. I am mostly in it for power so i am wondering although the turboed edition is fairly new and parts are still on the rise which would make more power??? (If i did buy the r53 i would go for the twurbo kit)
Thanks in advance.

 

Stock, the R56 MCS has more power. I'm not sure anyone knows what its mod limits are. Power mods are coming slowly. Seems that the ECU may be hard to crack.

 

Well here's what you should consider.... HOW FAR WILL YOU GO?! LOL... either way if you go for 400 HP you will spend certain money and time.... I don't care what car it is... the mods and money are similar... it's just how you get there... if you think you will do "the basics" ... you will make more power bang for the buck with the R56... but when it comes time to go big you will have to do other things you may not have to with the R53... but ultimately... going big will cost X on either platform... so the choice really comes down to which body you like better... etc...

good luck!

 

I face the same dilemma. Have to decide soon as i miss my 06 MCSa already. I prefer the R53 because of the whine and the exhaust burble. And the bulkier front end of the R56 just makes the R53 the sexier choice.

 

There is no turbo kit that I'm aware of for the R53. Go to the Motorfile site and check out what others are saying. For example, the R56 Turbo is faster than any MINI yet produced.

 

IMHO drive both and get the one you prefer. Between driving feel and cosmetics you will probably find you like one more then the other and this basic preference and car characteristics will likely not change with mods.

I would suggest driving it for as long as you can stock so you for sure have a completely intact warranty and can have any issues covered. The Mini is all about being nimble and out of the box has a good balance, I'm not sure that adding lots of power improves or messes with the driving experience with or not and if hp is your main interest it may not be the best car for you - if you go in with that as your objective you might be disappointed.

 

during a recent rally I was keeping up with modded R53's. The biggest problem I had was with the run flats, they were slicker than 2 eels in a bucket of lard. I am going to order some new rubber ASAP

 

The best version of the first generation was the last one. I'm well aware of that having owned an '02 and now an '06. With that in mind I have opted
for the best version of the first gen and look forward to perhaps one day owning the best of the second. For now, I too am unwilling to let go of the sc whine and the exhaust burble no matter what the second gen may do better.....I'm hooked!

 

there have been many... for years....

VIDEO!

I know of 6 just since this video.....

 

Hey folks! My two cents isn't worth much butt..... the R56 is a great evolution of the MINI. It has a lot of subtle but noticable changes for the overall better. The power delivery is better, it has more HP than advertised, and will continue to out power the R53 with bolt ons alike.

However, with that said, there is NOTHING wrong perse with the R53. Just different. There are plenty of ways to make it fast without our TWURBO system.

My point is price. If you can find a late 05 or 06 R53 for less coin than the R56 then do it! If you want the R56 pay the extra couple bucks and get it.

Either way you will still be motoring!