On separate occasions, I've had our '02 and '06 R53s at a local alignment shop, and they've told me different things about the rear toe adjustment on the two cars. I was told that the rear toe on the '02 isn't adjustable at all, while on the '06 it can be but only if they have a special tool for it. My Bentley manual references BMW tool 32 4 200 (available here http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/83300494002/ES199399/) for setting the rear toe, but doesn't make any distinction as to what years it's applicable to. I see that the rear trailing arm mounts are a little different between them:
'02: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...81&hg=33&fg=30
'06: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...86&hg=33&fg=30

Does anyone know if that same tool will be usable on both of our MINIs? The rear toe on one side of the '02 is pretty far off, and I'd like to get it taken care of. Thanks!

 

The tool is helpful, but not necessary for adjusting rear toe. Without it, you
loosen the 3 bolts that hold the trailing arm, move it in the desired direction,
and re-tighten them in a somewhat hit-or-miss method. The tool is basically
an eccentric socket that lets you move the arm in a more controlled manner.
The later model 1st gen MINIs have an eccentric bolt on the control arms
that allows for a little camber adjustment, that isn't possible on the earlier models.

 

Thanks. Do you know if the tool works on both early and late 1st gen models, or just the later ones?

 

I assume it works on all gen 1 models, since they have the same trailing arms
(except the aluminum ones that the GP models borrowed from the gen 2 MINIs).
I'll bet someone can chime in and confirm that.

 

I'll chime back in. My Bentley manual for 2002-2004 MINI references the 32 4 200 tool.

 

The trailing arm part number has changed over the years so there could be a difference. There were many suspension changes made around the March 2002 build time so it is conceivable that your 02 trailing arm does not have slotted holes to allow for toe adjustment but I do not know for sure.

 

Thanks!

Also, it's a late '02 build (August or September) and I know it has the later-style front struts, but I haven't done any work on the rear suspension.