I have a 2002 r50 that i want to engine swap for something with more power. I have no clue what engine would fit though.

 

A 2002 R53 motor would be the easiest as far as mechanics. Mini's hold value pretty well, if yours is in good condition it would prolly be cheaper to clean it real good and sell it and buy a cooper S. The difference you might have to pay will no doubt be less than the motor swap will run you.

The electronic side of things is what's going to get you with a motor swap. The vehicles Vin and keys are tied to the computer and gauges, and don't quote me on this but I think the ignition too? You would have to buy a running donor car just about to get all that at a reasonable price. And at that point it would make more financial sense to just buy an R53 in the first place.

 

Keep in mind that the R53's wiring harness is different and the fact that the battery is relocated to the boot...

You'll also need a new hood too for the intercooler

Square peg in a round hole though. As mentioned, better off just buying an R53 and playing with MOARPOWER at that point.

The R53 alone will have upwards of 60-80whp more stock than the R50. 220Whp is not unusual and will make a massive difference in the car.

Failing all that.... just convert it to electric.

 

If you're wanting more power, I agree with Veritas above. It may be worth selling for an R53 in the grand scheme of things. You can also give a few of the MINI indy shops that are vendors on here a call like WMW or DT. They should be able to give you an idea of what the cost would be to do a swap in your R50 or give you input on how to add more power.

 

Ah, I didn't know the harness was different as well. That's a whole new ball game, you would be spending the price of a whole other car just about at that point. Would make no financial sense.

 

Quick question if you guys would be so kind. I'm looking at a 05 mini with a blown motor, and i can source i believe to be an 04, both are R50 and it's an automatic (I know trans. is going to be the death of this car but transmission is fine) is it just an easy swap of motor no electric, ecu, reprograming keys ?? or is it more in tailed thanks.

 

the tranny is an easy swap if your asking


or if your asking if an r50 motor swapped with an r50 motor? should be plug and play

 

If you want a swap...
Find a rear-ended r53...
Swap the engine and tranny, computers, keys, wiring, and CV joints...then the hood...
The result will be a r53...kinda... won't have much resale value, but will have a six speed stick and more hp....

 

Yeah. But that's a ton of extra work. You'd have to just about gut and swap the whole interior put of both. Plus run the battery cables to relocate the battery to the trunk.

From what I've seen currently, the S isn't selling for hardly much more than a base model. Way less headache if you wanted the power to sell the 50 and buy a 53. Now as to the original question. If power is of no concern from 04 to 05 staying r50 as far as I know is plug and play. And would be much cheaper.

 

A few complications ....
They might or might not cause an problem....
The 2004 had a Midlands tranny, the 2005 a getreg on the stick....CVT was all the same...my guess is most low mile motor will be from blown CVT cars, so unlikely to cause an issue, seven if it did, beyond maybe a bracket or other small issue I'd guess...
But I know on the r53 (similar engine, many changers were mirrored on the r50) there was an ecu update/change with the start of 2005 model year production..an extra engine sensor was added...result was a harness change...
So my advise would be to find another of the same or earlier model year all things being equal....less risk.
I'd agree..wth the conversion was more effort than might be worth it...a mini lithium ion battery about the size of TV dinner would fix the battery in the trunk issue, and the interior is the same...just thought I would mention it..since a 6speed conversion is a possible future on a CVT car...so if you knew of a wreck....moving the drivetrain as a unit is an option that some like.

 

I wasn't so much as saying that the interior itself was different, I was commenting on swapping all the gauges and computer and having to run the bat cables to the back if he went with relocating the battery.