- Thread Starter
- #26
I told you, you would regret it
It would definitely be hard to find one as good as your old one
This One’s A Keeper - 2006 R53 Mini Cooper S JCW
- Thread starter Lauren_E
- Start date
It would definitely be hard to find one as good as your old oneALN
RMS Regular
Have my eye on another hot hatch but doubt it will give me that silly supercharger grin lol.I told you, you would regret it
That is a stunning example!!
The R53 is so much fun to drive. I’d love to pick up a JCW model at some stage but prices are just going up and up for good original cars.
I can’t wait to see yours when you’ve completed your changes.
The R53 is so much fun to drive. I’d love to pick up a JCW model at some stage but prices are just going up and up for good original cars.
I can’t wait to see yours when you’ve completed your changes.
- Thread Starter
- #30
Thanks Chris. You should get a thread up on your R53 as there has been some amount of work put into it!
- Thread Starter
- #32
As it’s almost time to get this out again I thought it was about time to pull the finger out and get some jobs ticked off the list
First up was get the underside of the car a good wash and see what was what. I’m very pleased to say it is fantastic underneath, I was genuinely over the moon at the condition
Next up was fit a set of genuine JCW red spring sports suspension. This drops the car ever so slightly (about 12mm) but in my opinion makes all the difference and still allows me to get over the ramps around town
Before
After
Next was to replace the old expansion tank, it had stated to weep around the seam (common fault) so fitted a Canton tank with Stant high pressure cap
An ITG foam filter was put into the JCW airbox and the stock air intake hose replaced with an Alta silicone hose
Last but not least the GP bigger Intercooler was fitted
Engine bay before
Engine bay after
I’ve still to fit the shift light and additional auxiliary gauges to finish off the interior.
I’ve a set of red Brembo 4 pot JCW callipers set aside to fit in order to get rid of the yellow callipers
It’s going on Wednesday to get a few bits painted to tidy things up then I will get new bonnet stripes fitted
And lastly I picked up a new set of OZ wheels which I can’t wait to get on as it will be something different from the norm
First up was get the underside of the car a good wash and see what was what. I’m very pleased to say it is fantastic underneath, I was genuinely over the moon at the condition
Next up was fit a set of genuine JCW red spring sports suspension. This drops the car ever so slightly (about 12mm) but in my opinion makes all the difference and still allows me to get over the ramps around town
Before
After
Next was to replace the old expansion tank, it had stated to weep around the seam (common fault) so fitted a Canton tank with Stant high pressure cap
An ITG foam filter was put into the JCW airbox and the stock air intake hose replaced with an Alta silicone hose
Last but not least the GP bigger Intercooler was fitted
Engine bay before
Engine bay after
I’ve still to fit the shift light and additional auxiliary gauges to finish off the interior.
I’ve a set of red Brembo 4 pot JCW callipers set aside to fit in order to get rid of the yellow callipers
It’s going on Wednesday to get a few bits painted to tidy things up then I will get new bonnet stripes fitted
And lastly I picked up a new set of OZ wheels which I can’t wait to get on as it will be something different from the norm
Blackie
RMS Regular
I love the eye stickers!! Must get a pair for mine!As it’s almost time to get this out again I thought it was about time to pull the finger out and get some jobs ticked off the list
First up was get the underside of the car a good wash and see what was what. I’m very pleased to say it is fantastic underneath, I was genuinely over the moon at the condition
View attachment 350353
Next up was fit a set of genuine JCW red spring sports suspension. This drops the car ever so slightly (about 12mm) but in my opinion makes all the difference and still allows me to get over the ramps around town
View attachment 350344
Before
View attachment 350345
After
View attachment 350346
Next was to replace the old expansion tank, it had stated to weep around the seam (common fault) so fitted a Canton tank with Stant high pressure cap
An ITG foam filter was put into the JCW airbox and the stock air intake hose replaced with an Alta silicone hose
Last but not least the GP bigger Intercooler was fitted
Engine bay before
View attachment 350348
Engine bay after
View attachment 350350
View attachment 350355
I’ve still to fit the shift light and additional auxiliary gauges to finish off the interior.
I’ve a set of red Brembo 4 pot JCW callipers set aside to fit in order to get rid of the yellow callipers
It’s going on Wednesday to get a few bits painted to tidy things up then I will get new bonnet stripes fitted
And lastly I picked up a new set of OZ wheels which I can’t wait to get on as it will be something different from the norm
.. Good to see you're tidying it up and making it your own though. I'm sure its brilliant fun
Blackie
RMS Regular
I’m going through the thread again for a bit of direction for my lowly little Cooper and wondered if you’ve noticed any drop in signal after fitting the stubby aerial?
- Thread Starter
- #37
Not if you fit a genuine Mini one. I’ve tried a few different stubby ones over the years and they all had some sort of signal issues apart from the Mini ones
- Thread Starter
- #38
Car come back from getting a few bits painted so now it’s all nice and fresh again. With being Chilli Red, for some reason they are prone to lacquer peel and even though this one has been babied for the most part of its life it was no different, the rear quarter panel started to peel shortly after Christmas. Along with it, I also got the front bumper painted to fix the fog light surrounds from where the horrible grills were fitted
Now it just needs a good paint correction so I’m hoping to get it up to @big_pete soon to let him work his magic
At long last the yellow callipers were removed, if I’m honest they were growing on me but nothing beats red.
Genuine R56 JCW Brembo 4 pots along with the 316mm discs fitted to the front and just a set of standard red rears for the minute
BBS RC323’s also fitted as the R95s no longer clear the front callipers without a considerable spacer
Excuse the need for the arches to be trimmed, I’m hoping to get that done sometime this week with Gtechniq C4
I’m also just waiting for my carbon mirror caps to come back from getting relaquered, they’ll be fitted back on to keep the exterior carbon pack
Shift Light and Auxiliary Gauges were fitted so that’s pretty much the interior complete
Fitting shift light requires a hole to be drilled in the dash so it was stripped and hole drilled, then it just taps into the OBD wiring
The auxiliary gauges were slightly more complicated, they needed wired into the cigarette lighter, radio iso plug and through the bulkhead and down to the temperature sensor in the sump bung
The centre console also had to come out to get the gauge pod mounted
And for good measure a carbon tray base
Interior complete
(Unless a leather dash comes up for sale)
Now it just needs a good paint correction so I’m hoping to get it up to @big_pete soon to let him work his magic
At long last the yellow callipers were removed, if I’m honest they were growing on me but nothing beats red.
Genuine R56 JCW Brembo 4 pots along with the 316mm discs fitted to the front and just a set of standard red rears for the minute
BBS RC323’s also fitted as the R95s no longer clear the front callipers without a considerable spacer
Excuse the need for the arches to be trimmed, I’m hoping to get that done sometime this week with Gtechniq C4
I’m also just waiting for my carbon mirror caps to come back from getting relaquered, they’ll be fitted back on to keep the exterior carbon pack
Shift Light and Auxiliary Gauges were fitted so that’s pretty much the interior complete
Fitting shift light requires a hole to be drilled in the dash so it was stripped and hole drilled, then it just taps into the OBD wiring
The auxiliary gauges were slightly more complicated, they needed wired into the cigarette lighter, radio iso plug and through the bulkhead and down to the temperature sensor in the sump bung
The centre console also had to come out to get the gauge pod mounted
And for good measure a carbon tray base
Interior complete
(Unless a leather dash comes up for sale)big_pete
RMS Regular
Love the shift lights! That is mega cool 
Herbert Austin
RMS Regular
Looks great Lauren 
- Thread Starter
- #42
Dad got it years ago so honestly couldn’t tell you where it was from
Blackie
RMS Regular
Magnificent!!!
DreamTheater
RMS Regular
Those new wheels really set the car off.
- Thread Starter
- #45
Thank you
Although they are only temporary until I get the Oz Leggendas refurbed in white. The BBS will go back onto the R56
- Thread Starter
- #47
Finally got a few spare evenings to get this finished.
I was never a big fan of the carbon scoop as I didn't think it worked with the red and white, however as it was spec'd with the exterior carbon pack I didn't want to lose it. I happened to come across a Mini brochure from 2006 which was the same as mine only it had stripes
Here’s the brochure
I think it looked great so put the stripes on mine which really finish it off.
Also picked up the carbon mirrors from getting refurbished, they weren’t bad to start off with just a few light marks/chips, but I wanted them perfect for the car.
It really needs a proper paint correction but for the time being a hand polish topped with Anachem's Hybrid along with all the plastics coated in Gtechniq C4
So here it is, I’d say pretty much complete how I want it, now just to drive it and enjoy
I was never a big fan of the carbon scoop as I didn't think it worked with the red and white, however as it was spec'd with the exterior carbon pack I didn't want to lose it. I happened to come across a Mini brochure from 2006 which was the same as mine only it had stripes
Here’s the brochure
I think it looked great so put the stripes on mine which really finish it off.
Also picked up the carbon mirrors from getting refurbished, they weren’t bad to start off with just a few light marks/chips, but I wanted them perfect for the car.
It really needs a proper paint correction but for the time being a hand polish topped with Anachem's Hybrid along with all the plastics coated in Gtechniq C4
So here it is, I’d say pretty much complete how I want it, now just to drive it and enjoy
Blackie
RMS Regular
As I said on Facebook earlier this is stunning!!
martybelfastsri
RMS Regular
tidy!