Who drives a Cooper S?

[shiftbmw]

Does anyone here drive or have experience with a Mini Cooper S? Curious to know about your experiences with owning one. I would be going for the supercharged version, preferably 2004+.

I am considering making the switch from my E39 540i/6 because my commute is going to increase dramatically and I don't want to spend gas money to quench the thirst of the V8. My commute will also involve some twisties as well as freeway driving.

[Pantless Spency]

calling danny

[cale]

I can't get over the foot wide speedo in the middle of the dash.

[shiftbmw]

I can't get over the foot wide speedo in the middle of the dash.

I think it can be relocated to the column via the sport package.

[Mr. Tasty]

my dad had an 04 Cooper S with with the JCW swapped in. It was an absolute blast to drive.

[Ryan...]

My gf has a 2002 Mini Cooper S, 6 speed, same color as the one above.

Overall I really like the car. The transmission shifts really nicely, super easy to drive, very responsive.

Going from an e39 to the Mini you're going to notice a lot more bumps/road imperfections, more road noise, etc.. Its also going to feel pretty slow compared to the 540i (I owned a 540i/6 for a year). A $200 supercharger pulley would make it feel quite a bit quicker and a lot of Mini owners around here have them.

[Danny]

I have one. I love it. What are you concerned about?

[325ix]

I can't get over the foot wide speedo in the middle of the dash.

Ha, it's one of my favorite features.

[shiftbmw]

I have one. I love it. What are you concerned about?

Just general stuff like how much maintenance, ease to work on, how they withstand the test of time, etc. I suppose I'm looking for some thoughts to help talk myself into or out of one.

[shiftbmw]

Other possibilities are an 06 GTI, Audi TT, 330i/ci or similar.

[Danny]

Just general stuff like how much maintenance, ease to work on, how they withstand the test of time, etc. I suppose I'm looking for some thoughts to help talk myself into or out of one.

Okay I actually got off my phone and onto the computer to type this out. So pay attention.

I have an 04 Cooper S (R53) with 118k miles and a 15% reduction pulley, JCW tune and JCW wheels. I have owned it since 108k miles so I have some experience with it. I purchased it from RyanG on here for 10k. I may have overpaid a bit but it was worth it, here's why.

Ryan replaced the clutch (1500 dollar job), super charger (1000 dollar job), ball joints (400 dollar job), oil pan gasket (400 dollar job) before I purchased the car and overall this car was in immaculate condition.

Clutches go out every 60k or so, ball joints every 50k or so Superchargers every 100k or so. Other things will need to be addressed as well, as any used car would. My MINI gets around 26-28 mpg with my 25% city and 75% freeway driving, with me driving like a total jerk. I have achieved 31 mpgs using cruise control and driving more conservatively. You're smart to search for an 04-06 because they are supercharged PT Cruiser engines (iron block, aluminum head, standard fuel injection) they are quite robust vs the newer turbocharged Peugeot engines in the R56-R61 (all aluminum, direct injection). These newer cars have to be "walnut blasted" every 30k-50k depending on how you drive due to the direct injection not cleaning off the intake valves. The "walnut blast" clears any built up carbon in the intake tract but is a pricey job that some independents won't touch, meaning you must go to the dealer.

My car has been tracked, and I've never had an issue with it but, because I am coming up on 120k miles I plan to due some basic maintenance, plugs, wires, filters etc. Maybe I will do a rehose.

All in all it is a great car. The ride is a bit rough for anyone that doesn't have something hanging between their legs but it's fine for me. It's easy to park, easy to drive, easy to go fast in, just an enjoyable car.

[glnr13]

try to find the 05-06.
here are the advantages:
better gearing
some of them have the optional LSD
JCW teflon coated supercharger
3 spoke steering wheel
less squeaky dash
i personally like the lights better in the facelift model

get a 17% pulley
JCW intake is the coldest by far
watch the coil pack, they tend to corrode in <30,000 miles
control arm bushings blow really quick if you do a lot of autox/canyons/track

i bought a brand new 05 and had it for 75,000 over 6 years and it treated me very well with scheduled maintenance. really fun car to drive when you get over the FWD factor, which will happen within 15 seconds of driving the car.

stay away from same gen coopers, they have crappy transmissions.

[mikeedler]

R53 is absolute crap quality, the R56 is a much better car. sorry guys, I work on these things evey day.
DO NOT buy an R53 they are slow and crappy quality! transmissions are AWESOME on MINIS!

[kway]

^ Haven't seen an r56 lunch the timing chain yet? I have. At 65k. Good news is a brand new longblock is "relatively" cheap-ish. IMHO, they're both crap, but they took the cost cutting to another level with the r56.

[Eric]

I had one. I loved it.