Hey all,

Recently bought a car that my younger brother owned 5-6 years ago. He bought it partially prepped from another member on this board @sprp85 and then sold it to another guy in VA who tracked it a good bit. I bought it back on a whim as I am taking a break from motorcycle track days and wanted to do some track days with a car again as it's been a while.

My goal for the car is to track it and maybe do some auto-x but also make it slightly more drivable on the street if I want to drive it around town.

The car is a 2005 MCS factory slicktop with the following:

Engine: Ported M45, 17% UD / 2% OD pulleys, AC delete with OEM delete pulley, PS delete, aluminum radiator, race header, borla race exhaust, JCW intake etc.
Wheels/Suspension/Brakes: Buddyclub P1/Advan RG1 wheels 16", bushings replaced, rear control arms, MeisterR coils and camber plates(new), DSS axles, wheel stud kit, R56 front brakes
Body: Welded half cage, partially stripped interior, rear wiper delete, OMP/NRG race seats with 5-pt harnesses, alcantara steering wheel, JCW shifter

I'm probably missing some stuff but that's the gist of it. It's a really fun car but needs some love. Items currently needing to be addressed :

- Speedo is intermittent at best but basically doesn't give a speed reading often. Not sure if it's the abs sensors, speed sensor unit, etc.
- Idles badly and dies coming to a stoplight at idle often - need to figure this out ASAP. Not sure if it's a vacuum leak yet, throttle body issue, fuel delivery issue, etc. I've read about the idle issues but lately it's been dying 8/10 times when I come to a stop.
- Needs a new exhaust, one of the borla mufflers detached internally I think and rattles really badly
- Electric fan low speed doesn't work so it's currently wired to a switch for high speed only. Want to get this fixed and back to being controlled by the ECU like OEM instead of a switch

I'm looking forward to the project and getting going on it!

Some pics:

 

Nice looking Mini! Have to ask tho - what's this?

 

it’s from one of the previous owners. Plastic clips holding the trim broke and they hold it on with “zip tie stitches”

 

^^^ When I spotted those "stitches" yesterday, figured an attempt for a cheap repair - likely caused by inadequate ground clearance due to lowered suspension. If that bugs you as it would me, new OEM replacements are still available for not much $$. I replaced mine earlier this year (as well as cracked air diverter, shown in post # 395 of my sig topic). These many years later, such parts are likely getting scarce with BMW no longer obligated to produce more when inventory is depleted. P/N on the center spoiler is: 51117130315 at ~ $70 and the diverter P/N 51111504252 at ~ $40. The L&R spoiler end pieces were still available too but not needed nor damaged on my own R53.

 

If it wasn't going to be a track car it'd probably bother me more but I don't mind them now. Gives it character.

 

Nice, still has the ECS strut tower plates

 

yes sir! I just placed another couple big orders with y’all to try and get her back in fighting shape.

 

The idle drop and stall is quite frustrating and the biggest thing holding me back from driving the car. I ordered some new intercooler boots just as a preventative measure but also in case there are any leaks there. I have a Schwaben code reader on order which I'll use to pull codes to see if it gives me any hints on possible causes.

 

just curious if maybe the injectors were swapped out at some point for something different from OEM, without a corresponding adjustment in the tuned pulse, if that might affect idle (?)

also, maybe a fuel pressure regulator issue (?)

 

I’ll have to dig into it and maybe pull one to check as I’m not sure. Good suggestion though.

I definitely want to get the car tuned. Firstly because of all of the mods on it and new header since I’m not sure if it’s been tuned but also because it pops and bangs a lot more than I’d like.

 

Mine shared similar engine mods as yours when I purchased at 4k total miles, however had some cold starting issues. A set of OEM JCW 380cc injectors (pale blue body) and remote tune by Adrian in Romania cured all that. With several prior owners plus its tracking history, larger than even 380cc injectors seems might have been installed at some point and then not compensated with tuning. Most here tend to agree 380cc injectors alone don't need a tune but do in combo with pulleys and exhaust. You should be able to view and determine injector body color but if oversized, might well be fitment for a different engine application in combo with an adapter harness. For visual reference, here were the new 380cc JCW injectors just before and after installation.

 

thanks for the info. This is a new platform for me so lots to learn and read up on.

I’ll pull the injectors this week to take a peek at them. Need to check out tuners too who can do custom tunes as well.

 

@MCS4FUN and @Daftlad the injectors are plain black. With all the mods on the car, I'd assume they were swapped for larger ones at some point but I'm reading that the stock ones were black so maybe they are stock injectors??

Given the ported supercharger, race header, race cat, pulleys, and exhaust, should I be looking at a 380cc JCW injector or something larger like the bosch 550cc? The car will get tuned regardless. Still researching the best option for me on that front.

 

^^^ Nope, those aren't OEM S-spec which are tan/black alike this:

 

I confirmed that the injectors on the car currently are 380cc as they have 381 printed on the sides of them.

I plan on reaching @adriancl for a tune/retune and will see if he suggests larger injectors for my current mods. Seems like he’s the go-to tuner for first gens.

 

Nice grage

 

If the only markings are "381", IMO not conclusively 380cc and likely Chinese knockoffs which are popular budget alternatives - maybe actually 550cc. OEM 330cc S-spec and 380cc JCW-spec injection molded with "Siemens Deka" plus corresponding P/Ns. If you haven't done so, check whether S-spec NGK BKR6EQUP or 1-step colder JCW-spec NGK BKR7EQUP (or equivalent iridium) spark plugs currently installed. Adrian will need to be aware of current modifications and your specific objectives. He will provide links for OBD2 adapter cables needed while "driving" your laptop remotely.

 

Thank you for the info. I have not had to play with injector sizes before since the factory injectors on my cars in the past have supported all of my mods no issues so I don't have any experience with sizing injectors. Sounds like I need to keep reading more old threads on here.

There are no other markings I can see on the injectors which makes me think they're a cheap/no name injector. I'll read more to see what is appropriate for my mods and get some brand name ones before I start the tuning process. I'll pull the plugs and see what they are too.

 

Few updates as I get going on this basket case.

Ordered a set of Bridgestone RE-71RS tires in 205/50/16 for the car to replace the no name 100TW tires on there that are shot. They will go on tomorrow and it'll get an alignment. Then I have an appointment Thursday at an exhaust shop to get a new resonator put in to replace the one that exploded at the track with the PO. I'm looking forward to this since the car is really really loud and rapsy which is fine for the track but wouldn't pass any dB restriction at an autox and is loud for around town.

My Schwaben Elite scan tool showed up and I finally pulled codes for the Christmas tree instrument cluster. Pulled P0108, P1109, P0456, P1106 and a host of wheel speed sensor failures. The only wheel speed code that remained after clearing them was the left rear. I ordered a TMAP, MAP sensors and a left rear wheel speed sensor to start addressing those codes.

I also replaced the hatch struts, put a gas cap on since it didn't have one before, and put a battery hold down bracket in as it also didn't have one when I bought it.

Then I crawled under the car today to evaluate the oil leak and saw this...the dust cap was just riding on the axle which is great. Looks like I'll be ordering a new passenger axle seal.

 

New tires installed. 205/50/16 Bridgestone RE-71RS's and an alignment that was badly needed!

First auto-x in this thing is August 6th so I'm slowly getting it together for that. I haven't ever tracked a FWD car before so I plan to do a couple auto-x to get a feel for the car and then I'll start doing some track days.

 

Impulse purchase today. Picked up this 2006 MCS for $600 with a blown motor. I plan on stripping a bunch of parts off of it and then selling/scrapping the rest. I plan on taking ta bunch of stuff to make my car slightly more streetable with some interior bits and then a lot of spare mechanical bits. The car had some kind of exhaust on it and intercooler so I need to figure out what brand they are. More to come.

 

Sounds like a plan! I’ve also read of people laying down / cutting a yoga mat to fit under the rear seat and rear trunk floor as a simple inexpensive sound barrier… plus they don’t weigh much

 

Got some more items checked off the list today. Got my TMAP and MAP sensors replaced which got rid of my engine service light and now the car idles much better! I also cleaned the throttle body and threw a new air filter in the JCW box as well. Next up is putting the new rear speed sensor in to hopefully get rid of some more dash lights.

already stole some parts off the donor car. Map sensor bracket and hardware came in handy.

the donor car had this IC on it but don’t see a brand anywhere. Any ideas???

 

Time has been tight lately with having our first child but got some stuff done on the donor car that I need to get out of my driveway. Stripped the carpet and center console out of it and put it into my car and also painted the seat brackets.








Did an autocross with the car a few weeks ago and it was a learning experience. Never raced a FWD car before but overall it was a lot of fun and went well.



Picked up a spare motor today also along with a big box of some really good parts/extras. Traded the hood off of my parts car for the whole lot which was a smoking deal. Even included the new engine stand.

 

Well lots of new things happening lately. I'll update this thread occasionally but seems most of the R53 activity is on facebook nowadays...

Car has been torn down for a winter rebuild of the motor and turbo conversion. Engine was pulled and is waiting for parts to come in for the rebuild. With the extra motor I picked up I have some extra stuff I'll be getting rid of like most SC related items, exhaust/header, etc when the time comes.

Supertech pistons
K1 rods
King main and rod bearings
ARP hardware throughout
Stock head for now but with new valve guides and seals

I already have purchased a Quaife LSD to go in as well.

Will be doing basically everything else "while I'm in there". Pistons are backordered until January-ish so motor will go together after that.