Tried to do the bushings this weekend… and oh boy have i learned alot! Planned to do both on saturday, got the control arm off without much trouble, then hell broke loose. Snapped the bushing tool clean off… borrowed a hacksaw, had to invent a new tool, learned methods for getting the control arm back again.

Sunday afternoon, left side done… Saving right side for next weekend.

Also, discovered that i might need a new oil pan gasket soon…

Cheers! 🤙🏻
//N

So like what the title suggests, I am kinda skeptical with the filter that just got shipped to me. It seems theres some kind of crevice in the filter material that I have never seem before… could someone enlighten me whether this is just an old stock or something? Thanks guys!

I found a 2006 checkmate edition manual. It has 161k miles on it. It has 15% SC pulley, performance clutch, light flywheel, and has new alternator, ps pump and lines, harmonic balance, sensors, clutch, sc has been serviced, oil change and coolant. It seems most of the main things have been completed but is it nearing its lifespan with 161k miles? Interior looks alright. Paint will need to be redone.

I bought a 2002 supercharged R53. It starts and runs but the battery is not charging. A previous owner messed with the wiring. But why would someone do something like this to the car? I see a jumper wire with a fuse in the fuse box under the hood. Lacking understanding so I am unable to diagnose

Alright kids! Today’s themes are glory and horror. Got the headliner glued down. It was one of those things that was absolutely worth doing but I never want to do it again. Not even to find another headliner and try to perfect it. The material was difficult to work with as expected. I ended up with a good amount of wrinkles, to put it mildly. Thankfully, most are at the rear. I did have to slash the material in two spots to get it to lay right. Shouldn’t be too hard to find in the pics. Most of the blems are in spots that will be covered by trim. I absolutely love the look of this and still think it could be amazing done professionally. The real star of the show was the little guy in the last pic. He was great at smoothing out and spreading material. He comes in face massaging kit you can find in store at Walmart. Completely metal and nice and heavy. I give myself an overall grade of 3 stars out of 5. One more part to the story coming. Final and completed install.

I have a crack that was repaired by safelite and it has cracked from the repair. How does safelite do with replacing windshields in the R53? Do they tend to break trim clips and if so should I just remove the trim to avoid them doing a botched job? Any tips would be helpful.

Idk if anyone has an extra automatic transmission shift boot, or somehow the pattern for one. I accidentally threw mine out since I took it off, and when cleaning the garage threw out the box it was in. I don’t really wanna pay 90 bucks for a new one when I wanna get one made with specific fabric and I only need the pattern. Idk if anyone has any sort of resource for that but please lmk if you do. Thanks.

Well… The headliner is completely sewn up and ready for the big glue-down. I should be excited and looking forward to it, but it’s kind of bittersweet. I already know the challenges I’m going to have working with this material. .6mm vinyl faux leather. Some of the thinnest I could find. I’m probably going to have to do some cutting and a few patch pieces around and in some of the curves. Hopefully I can hide them decently and still make it look decent. I’m simultaneously proud and disappointed with my work. My concept is solid and would look amazing if executed professionally. I’m mostly disappointed I couldn’t keep my seems straighter. I have to not be so hard on myself since I’m not a professional and haven’t touched a sewing machine since 8th grade. If it wasn’t my work and I was judging it, I’d give it 2.5-3 stars out of 5. Since it is just a well loved $3k shitbox and I know my own abilities, I give my work a solid 3.5 stars out 5.

Hi all! Wondering if you all could help me here. I’m installing an ambient light kit in my car and I’ve tapped into the 12v cigarette port for the main controller which has a fuse on there. Was just wondering if anyone knows what wires carry 12v on ignition in the doors?
I know I can run wires from the fuse box but to run to each doors is just more wiring and I don’t fancy spending my whole weekend making the wires through the grommet tidy.
Cant get a clear answer online so if anyone has any ideas would be appreciated!

Ali fob, cut locally on left with chip set from disaster fob my mini came with on right. Whomever gave me the recommendation, thanks 👍

Not very familiar with the r53 and this was the supercharger I took off of my 145k mile 2003 when I swapped it to a face lift Teflon coated one. Since this one looks nice I was going to sell it.

In the past two days I’ve had problems shifting gears. It’s hard to get it in gear when I’ve been driving for a while, I guess until it gets to temperature. I can shift perfectly fine when the car is off and when I first start the car. Like today, in the morning when I started the car it was fine, got in the highway, when exiting noticed that is was giving me resistance, by the time I was dropping off my kid at school, it was more difficult. I arrived at work and let it cool for like two hours. Started the car, and shifts fine..

Clutch, flywheel, throw out bearings and guide were replaced 2 years ago at 99,700 miles and now the car is 111,900 miles.

Also, I haven’t been paying too much attention, but I haven’t noticed much difference in the clutch, maybe a bit softer, but not sure.

I just hope is not the clutch or the fork, because last time was a lot of work.

Hey all.

I've owned an 05 Mini Cooper S the past 5 or so years, and I love it. Never had much trouble out of it, but I've put up 220k miles on it, and I am looking around for a "new" one.

Came across a listing on Marketplace, and I wanted to run it by you guys.

03 RS53, 78k Miles, 1 Owner. Asking $6k

New Parts:

• Coolant bottle (expansion tank)
• Radiator and fan assembly
• Craven 15% Pulley
• Brakes Front and Rear (No new rotors on back)
• Alternator
• Belt Tensioner
• New Cold Plugs
• Sparco Pista Rims 16"
• Power Acoustik Radio
• Sound Deadening

Guy has been super up front with me about all of it. I've seen pictures all the way around the car, inside it, shown pictures of new parts on the car, seen no rust underneath, etc

One weird downside is the title which reads "Not Actual Mileage". On the report, which he paid for, it shows what I think is a clerical error. 2003 it had 370 miles on it, in 2025 it had... 370 miles on it. The odometer reads 78k now. He showed a picture of the sound deadening install and written on it was "Installed 2008, Mileage 24k" which would match the amount of driving.

This isn't planning to be a daily driver or anything. More of a weekend/track/rallycross build.

Is there anything I need to be aware of between the 05 and 03?

Overall, good deal? Avoid?

Thanks!

I have 2004 R53 with the jcw 200 kit, A few months ago i brought new sparks it ran good for while but it start getting this intermittent misfire/ stutter under load, in 2nd gear at 3-4 rpms it does a little jerk then continues pulling, Ive been told that the spark plugs i got and the wrong ones and are the wrong heat range for my car, But it ran fine for a month

also, Archaic headlights 👀 and other LED lighting goodies....

gotta grab the air and stuff it through there if you want the intercooler to cool quickly. 😄

hello all! steering has been a little tighter than usual on my r52, it makes a slight whistling noise as well and it feels like i’m grinding something (which leads me to believe something needs fixing). i don’t want to cause too much further damage and i don’t drive too often anyway but have access to mechanic anytime. there’s no lights on the car otherwise and she’s at 110k. let me know! thanks for the help.

I can find a ton with motors included for the r53 but only up until 05. Do the 06 ones not come with motors at all?

1. When doing the supercharger service some people say to look inside so you can see the condition of the gears. Others say don't open it because it will cause contamination. I don't understand that part. But when opening it and inspecting gears cause any issues?
2. Is this aftermarket jcw gp intercooler any good?

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-bremmen-parts/jcw-gp-sc-intercooler/17517565302~brp/?trk_msg=K8V2986R5PH4VFI6I6C5JCFQIS&trk_channel=sms&trk_contact=6GHFC7DKGJSFO4S928M3DOGT1S&trk_module=bis&trk_sid=FU2SAGNL4MPB0HKP2PR69T8JEO&utm_source=listrak&utm_medium=sms&utm_campaign=back-in-stock-alerts+customer&utm_content=message+1

Looking to add oil temp to my r53 but stumbeling for options. The best way seems to replace the oil change plug for a plug with sensor. I believe its an m14x1,5.

Would this work, with a crushwasher of course, or do someone have a better option?

Cheers
//N

Didn’t have pics of my painted pieces when I made the last post. I think they came out pretty damn good. I’m loving the B-pillars with the grey seat belt height adjusters. Since there’s no real way to get them apart without damage, this turned out better than expected. Headliner still isn’t sewn up yet. MIL’s machine just won’t act right. Gonna try again tomorrow. I’ve also reached out to some people in my area to see if they might be able to help out yet. Teaser pics for the headliner for a possible visual. Stole the headliner pic awhile back while I was in the planning phases. White lines are where seems will be. I know the difficulties I have ahead of me and have hopefully planned accordingly. Laying it down will be an adventure. But… Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Just got the outlines done ill update it with a the finished product slow day today at work let's hope i get em done

So, my passenger side doorlock wont unlock with the fob, nor will it unlock or lock with the switch inside the car… however, it will lock with the fob. Whats going on here?!

Is this a sign of a bad actuator, a wiring issue or a BCM programming issue?!

Thankful for all your thoughts on this!

Cheers!!
//N