Sold m3 and bought a Mini Cooper S

[graveshaker]

After many days of research and test drives of both coopers supercharged and turbo, I decided on the s53 supercharged model. The supercharged one feels more go-cart like. The power comes way sooner compared to the turbo version. The shorter length in my opinion looks better. It's hard to compare it to an e36 m3 but surprisingly with the 15% reduction pulley and CIA it's pretty peppy. I was able to pocket $3,100 after selling the m3 and buying the cooper. The cooper is a 2003 and has a modest 111,000 miles. Upgrades includes 15% reduction pulley, plugs, coil pack, poly bushing everywhere including motor mounts, and suspension, belt tensioner and strap, strut tower reinforcement plates, and a cool Garmin that reads all my engine stuff. The owner was meticulous on repairs and sent all work to a garage. Everything is current and up to date.

The reduction pulley boost pressure to 14lbs from 9lbs. The cooper will share some track time with the miata.

[AwakenNoMore]

Congrats! looks pretty sweet. So much blue.

[ST1G]

I hate to say it, but that e36 m3 was a much better looking car. But I can't blame you. I've driven a turbo mini and it was a bast!

[bikerbill2021]

digging the miata, and I hate miatas

[graveshaker]

I hate to say it, but that e36 m3 was a much better looking car. But I can't blame you. I've driven a turbo mini and it was a bast!

I agree, but it free'd up $3100. No complaints.

[Stanley Rockafella]

oh boy, I'm a minority on this one, but I really dig that color. Nice front plate too

My gf and I had a 97 Escort Sport in the same color. Easy to keep clean, bright and not too

As for the reliability, well, I hope you enjoy taking the front end off to do repairs, because it's something you'll be doing often given the design of the front end (and lack of reliability). It'll make you wish you were working on an e30!

[TroyShark]

I don't know if I would want two gokarts but they both look fun and have their differences/advantages

[Nesset]

Mini Coopers are my guilty pleasure..

Looks noice'!

[varg]

I drove a friend of mine's modded JCW Mini once and it was a blast. Very stiff and responsive handling. Was never a fan of the older supercharged ones. Looks clean though and I'm sure it's fun to drive.

[e30onBBSs]

welcome to the cooper life! I daily a 2009 clubman s and am jealous of your shorter wheel base, and the supercharger. I've never driven one but my boss has one and I see my car and am like shit my mom got the wrong mini!

Another great thing about them is that they are subtlety fast and sleepy in a way. "chick car?" nope actually a manual supercharged beast

[FunfGan]

Hopefully this goes better than when I had mine... Great car, but I was over $12,00 deep into it after a few months, just to keep it drivable.

I'll definitely own another though.

[ColdAccord]

Was there a motivation to the move besides needing to free up some cash?

I've only driven fi mini's limitedly, but after owning some e36m3's it seems like a strange move. What were the factors influencing the move?

[graveshaker]

Was there a motivation to the move besides needing to free up some cash?

I've only driven fi mini's limitedly, but after owning some e36m3's it seems like a strange move. What were the factors influencing the move?

I don't keep cars very long at all, I get bored fairly easily. The m3 was my fourth e36 and it didn't take long for the boredom to start. The mini has always been a car I wanted to own. I buy all my cars cash and never and will ever buy a new car. The depreciation is pointless. Mini coopers has finally come down enough for me to own. No real motivation other than the fact that I can finally own and enjoy one for a minute.

[Cephas]

Hopefully this goes better than when I had mine... Great car, but I was over $12,00 deep into it after a few months, just to keep it drivable.

I'll definitely own another though.

This all day. Had a 2009 cooper s. What a shitshow. The warranty company paid out close to 8k in repairs over the 2 years i owned it.

Not to mention that when I replaced the pads I was shocked to find that the front right upper caliper bolt was literally non-existant. 25k miles on the car, brakes never touched and the bolt had backed out and went MIA. Pair that with the rear tail light bulbs that literally melted themselves into the housings...oh and the oil dipstick...WTF. Even the service techs at the dealer said they have a hard time getting an accurate oil reading.

What else, oh yes, timing chain guides failing on an intereference engine is sweet...oil return line for the turbo blowing out was a nice one too.

Sorry to shit on your thread OP. I liked mine when it wasn't getting warranty work done or a new $300 run flat put on (they call them run flats because they only run flat).

[graveshaker]

This all day. Had a 2009 cooper s. What a shitshow. The warranty company paid out close to 8k in repairs over the 2 years i owned it.

Not to mention that when I replaced the pads I was shocked to find that the front right upper caliper bolt was literally non-existant. 25k miles on the car, brakes never touched and the bolt had backed out and went MIA. Pair that with the rear tail light bulbs that literally melted themselves into the housings...oh and the oil dipstick...WTF. Even the service techs at the dealer said they have a hard time getting an accurate oil reading.

What else, oh yes, timing chain guides failing on an intereference engine is sweet...oil return line for the turbo blowing out was a nice one too.

Sorry to shit on your thread OP. I liked mine when it wasn't getting warranty work done or a new $300 run flat put on (they call them run flats because they only run flat).

And this is why I chose the more reliable supercharged model over the turbo model. The turbo model has only a 5hp increase in power over the supercharged model. The newly designed turbo motors are notorious for issues. I am not surprised by anything that happened to your 2009 mini cooper. My $100 reduction pulley by far surpass the mere 5hp difference and the power is instantaneous. Some people hear "turbo" and "new model" and automatically assume better without taking any other circumstance into consideration. (I'm not saying this about you by the way)
The turbo model and supercharged models are entirely different vehicles, nothing is shared. The supercharged one is more raw and go-kart like, the turbo model is more refined and lost most of the kart like appeal. I drove both and the older model won hands down.