Hi folks,

I just want to share the indisputable fact that R50-R53 Mini's have the best styling and are the most fun. We're on that perfect cusp of easy-to-maintain mechanical connectedness and analog feel, along with the best features of an emerging digital era that has now largely ruined the driving experience. Moreover, a supercharger sounds awesome, our cars look less bloated, and I understand the reliability of a Gen 2 S is atrocious. I further believe we're at that perfect time and place to find one for a deal, and enthusiasts ten years from now will be kicking themselves for not grabbing one when they could. Every time I see mine, I reflect on how much I lucked out.

That is all.

 

I am the only owner of a 2006 R53. It is the first and only MINI I plan to own.

 

Agree 100%.
Yeah and get 'em while you can.
In addition; If you spot any 1st gens hitting the salvage yards - you're lucky (in some parts of the country, that is) I suggest you score as many decent parts (interior, body and don't forget nuts and bolts!) as you can.
These lovable little cars have been far and few between making it to the junk yards compared to 5-10 years ago. It's time is now for the R55 & R56 making their way to the graveyards. In which there are quite a few these days.
I feel this may become a recurring scenario as to what caused me to give up my (much loved) 914 Porsche powered (VW) classic air-cools. Parts became increasingly hard to find or just priced beyond sustainably for the average car nut.

These 1st gens need to be cared for and preserved. Those of us who have one should feel so lucky...regardless of the cost.

 

Agreed as well,
The only reason I would own a 2nd gen would be to have a Clubbie, and that's the only gen of those I would want.
I'd also love to have a classic, (any model, Clubbie, Pick-up, Countryman, Coupe......)
But honestly, only if it was in addition to my 1st gen., not instead of.

 

I too have long sought a 2011-2013 R55 (Clubman), myself. I love to travel. But in my Mini I've always had to travel "light" = a second set of clothes, my dog, a few prone to fail parts and tools.
The only thing that dissuades me from the 2nd gens (R55), are simply the negative things I hear about the "N" series engines.
My dream is to combine the front clip of an R53, engine/drivetrane, dash and 1st gen electronics with the back end of an R55 upon a custom built frame.
What I would affectionately dub an R54.

 

To the OP, an old Southern expression applies here: "You are preachin' t0 the choir."

 

The first MINI I test drove in Germany (active military at the time) was an R53 Cooper S; I loved it, but when we went to purchase the '06 production line had already switched over to the R56; so, we picked up a 2007 R56 "Justa." The wife didn't want a turbo.

I've owned four R56 Cooper base models and 1 R53; two of the R56s were flippers. The biggest problem with the N series engines are the valves and the valve seats. These engines love to burn holes in the exhaust valves, and the valve seats tend to drop out at the slightest bump. Next would be the timing chain guides; they tend to break apart and get caught in the oil pump inlet. At 130K miles, the oil pump on our fist MINI grenaded, it's easy to change, but boy is it expensive! On the three R56s I've restored, I made the cylinder heads bullet proof by sending them to Allied Cylinder head in Atlanta, GA to get the deeper valve seats installed. I've not had a problem with those engines after that modification. My local Indy shop guy says "MINIs aren't made by a car company; they are made by a tool company." True, due to all the special tools required to work on them.

I think when the Germans put the N series engines together Hans said to his buddy; can we add any more parts to the cylinder head? Here are all the parts you have to remove from the head before you send it to the shop for repair. The razor blade is so you can slit your wrists when you can't remember how to put it back together.



I recently found a Hyper Blue Metalic R53, 125K miles, with all service records that was sitting in a yard for 2 years. The harmonic balancer had come apart, and the owner had no idea (and no money) how to fix it. So I picked it up for $1,400.00. After dropping about $7000.00 into the little blue bullet; she's back to showroom condition, and she's a lot faster too; the water/methanol injection was the latest upgrade.

I love the R53, and I'll never let go of that car; I'll continue to flip R56s as they become available because now I have all the special tools.


'09 Justa, automatic; complete restoration 2013 Justa, automatic, for my sister-in-law '06 R53, S; complete restoration with lost of
go faster bits.

Oh! I found the picture of the upgraded valve seats for the R56; the middle seat is the factory version. You can understand why they tend to drop out.

 

Gotta hate when simplicity goes out the window without reliability taking it's place - good Lord that's a lot of parts compared to the R53 head.

What a steal on your R53! I bought my '06 in hyper blue for two grand thinking I got the deal, and put a ton into it. IMO it's better than new, and the most fun I've had both behind the wheel and with a car project. Do you have a build thread? And love those white factory wheels - mine were silver I wasn't aware it was an option.

p.s. - add stripes and your three minis would look straight out of Italian Job

 

Feb 05 R53 - had it since new - 174k. Not going to let go.

 

Amen to that, car of the decade 2000-2010! Some solid engineering went into the Gen 1's, especially after they got the defect parts resolved. The MINI became such a success that BMW went rushing back to the drawing board, unfortunately making something "new" is not the same as making it "better". Maybe if they would have slowed down a bit on the R&D, the Gen 2's could have been a better follow up. Did they really have to switch to turbos? Oh well, I think about what I'm going to buy next for a daily driver and nothing really gets me motivated to shop around, other than the idea of getting another Gen 1 R53.

 

Interesting conversation! I completely agree with all of the above. I remember when the Mini was brand new in the US. It was interesting but never on my radar. Fast forward many, many years and I was tasked by my mother to find her something cheap and sporty. I looked at a few cars to include a Miata- but it was so low that I passed on it for fear it would be hard for her to get in and out of. I eventually found an 04 MCS- gotta have more power available! And mom was always a lead foot.
We purchased the (we is the wife and I- as we wrench together). Pulled the engine and trans as it's just easier and resealed everything; swapped the clutch- (because I try to avoid automatic transmissions if at all possible); serviced the s/c; upgraded the crank pulley; and basically addressed all of the possible maintenance issues and then drove 1000 miles to deliver the car to mom. She loved it!!! Chili Red and peppy got her all sorts of compliments.

After that, I was telling some co-workers about the build and one of them "commissioned" me to build her one. She was fine with a n/a car so I sourced a 2005 Justa for her and did all of the maintenance, gave it a good cleaning and delivered it to her. That was sometime in 2017, IIRC and she is still raving about her little car. (preferring it over her Lexus for local jaunts)

Shortly thereafter, we decided that these Minis were fun and, oddly, a pleasure to work on. So I sold the E39 we had finished a few years earlier (I still miss the heated steering wheel) and found a 2006 MCS slick top (because I hate holes in the roof). That one stayed stockish - save for the pulleys- until recently when I pulled the engine and trans to find an oil leak and ended up doing much more... so.much.more.

In the interim, mom decided that she wasn't going to be driving much and they had neglected some of the maintenance as it was harder for dad to do much on the car so she asked me to take it home. So I checked a few things to make sure it was good to go and drove 1000 miles back home with no issues. Once home we did all of the regular maintenance and it's now a regular in the fleet rotation. While not as modded or fast as the slicktop (yet) it is still a favorite -- even with the fading paint and the big ding in the rear quarter that neither parent fessed up to (someone backed into something).

All of these cars cost less than $4k to purchase (slightly more to do all of the delayed maintenance and mods) - just ask outlandishnessdue, lol. All of them have over 150k on the clock and are still plugging along. I had plans to sell one or both to fund other projects but we like them to darned much. They are the preferred cars in town because they are super peppy and easy to park ANYWHERE! As of this writing, I find myself looking at yet another one. Why? I have no idea. I just love these little cars.

 

My feelings resonate exactly with everyone else on this thread. The biggest mistake of my life I made in 2006 by being four years old instead of purchasing my perfect spec R53. I think I got pretty close with the one I own now, and it will NEVER leave my garage. And the best part of these cars is that they can stay that way. Practical enough and cheap enough to own and operate, maybe maintain, and I'd have to be pretty hard pressed for it to be worth selling. The chrono pack, turn of century BMW analog feel, and incredible styling and excitement make this the undisputed best modern MINI. Don't get me wrong, I have a soft spot for these cars and have loved every single one I've driven, but R52/R53 have to be the very best. Here is mine, Moose, enjoying the rain in the PNW, just like it will as long as I'm alive and able to replace power steering pumps.