R53 Cooper S, forever changing

151758 Views 481 Replies 94 Participants Last post by CaseyS., Jun 5, 2017

Mike S

Discussion Starter · Sep 28, 2009 (Edited)

12

Hi guys,

I thought I would post a thread of the story of my car. I purchased the vehicle brand new back in 2003 for fun run around town. It was a dead stock Cooper S.

This is what it looked like back then.

After having the car for 2 odd years, I started to get bored and wanted to change things here and there. So I got me some new OEM wheels.

Had that for a couple weeks and decided to put on the JCW retrofit kit from BMW.

This is what the engine bay looked like before.

The tailpipes.

Here it is at BMW getting the new parts put in.

Also got the JCW BBK.

New exhaust!

Engine bay after.

Just after it had come out of surgeory - here is a shot of it in the sun. Added the OEM spotlights while I was at it.

Car remained as shown in the photo above for about 6 months, the front was getting chipped badly with stones so I decided to get it resprayed. While it was at the paint shop, I had them colour code the black plastic trim.

Here is the end result.

I then proceeded and ordered a HID kit. Here it is online!

The next few months, I got itchy again and bought these clear lights from BMW. I think it updates the look of the rear quite a bit.

Car remained like that for the next 2 years.

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Mike S

Discussion Starter · #2 · Sep 28, 2009 (Edited)

13

I got bored of the JCW power and decided I needed a little more.

Here is my new M7 extreme scoop, M7 strut brace and M7 oil catch can.

The scoop back from the painters.

I then decided to add a boost gauge as I had ordered a pulley and various other parts. While I waited for them to arrive, I took it upon myself to install the gauge.

Here is the car with the new scoop on.

M7 strut brace is in!

Special shipment from Graham!

More parts arrive from the USA.

RMW cylinder head.

RMW header.

Upgrading from the JCW 380 to 440cc injectors.

RMW cam.

Various other parts.
New belt, quaife LSD, 17% pulley, JCW replacement filter, shorty antennae, intercooler boots, iridium plugs one step colder, MSD wires and coil.

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Mike S

Discussion Starter · #3 · Sep 28, 2009 (Edited)

14

Car is in the shop, getting the new parts put in....again!

Stainless steel brake lines were added front and rear. Added custom discs front and rear - all slotted.

Just to brighten up the engine bay a bit.

What a mess!

Had a custom made aluminum expansion tank from a local fabricator.

Decided to get the OEM Aero front bumper and grills. Here it is back from the paint shop.

Also ordered some angel eye headlights and parking lights.

She is blind!

Time for the aero bumper with M7 ultimate lower grill to go on.

Ordered the ALTA inlet hose as well. Here she is again.

Installed the M7 air plate diverter. (Car has full 3M film on front)

Another shot. Also had Texas Speedwerks rear lower control arms and springs installed on the car.

[Need to put up new pics here]

Ordered and installed the JCW dashboard.

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Mike S

Discussion Starter · #4 · Sep 28, 2009 (Edited)

4

Installed the rear strut brace from Outmotoring. Don't think it does much, but it looks nice

Added powerflex mounts and bushes to the entire car.

Installed JCW gear shifter and handbrake lever on the interior.

Oil cooler. M7 82C thermo is in the car. As well as my new Forge tanks.

My new RMW race cam is in the packaging in the background.

ATI Super Damper, Devil's Own water/meth and BC Racing coilovers are going in next week.

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antihero3000

· #5 · Sep 28, 2009

Love that colour, coils will make a world of difference.

Are you keeping the rims?

frickinben

· #6 · Sep 28, 2009

Blimey... that's some serious money spent there!

Looking great. Look forward to some power figures.

Ale

· #7 · Sep 28, 2009

thats an impressive list of mods.. and it looks so good when you put it all in at once.. the red of the JCW gasket or whatever you call it looks pure SEX!!!

nicee oneee

Lammy

· #8 · Sep 28, 2009

Wow awesome car

Mike S

Discussion Starter · #9 · Sep 28, 2009

antihero3000 said:
Love that colour, coils will make a world of difference.

Are you keeping the rims?

Thanks anti! I'm looking to change the wheels - I love the way the wheels I have on look now, but they are too small for the car IMO. Different strokes for different folks.

BigShow said:
Blimey... that's some serious money spent there!

Looking great. Look forward to some power figures.

Thanks! Don't remind me, I always keep telling myself - that is the last mod :lol:

Ale said:
thats an impressive list of mods.. and it looks so good when you put it all in at once.. the red of the JCW gasket or whatever you call it looks pure SEX!!!

nicee oneee

Thanks Ale, the cam cover did come out far nicer than I expected it always looks clean too!

@Lammy: Thank you very much!

crispyeel

· #10 · Sep 28, 2009

Thats some transformation :thumbup1:

Nice list of mods added :thumbup:

Reactions: 1

RyanK

· #11 · Sep 28, 2009

nice nice!

sharpy30

· #12 · Sep 28, 2009

got some nice mods there.

like the colour.

antihero3000

· #13 · Sep 29, 2009

Mike S said:
Thanks! Don't remind me, I always keep telling myself - that is the last mod :lol:

My last mod for the year was the R56 brakes....my manifold is going on next week :blush:

Have you had it on the dyno yet?

Mike S

Discussion Starter · #14 · Sep 29, 2009

Yes, I've had it on the dyno - I live 4600 feet above sea level, so the figure's aren't mindblowing. Car is doing 221whp and 257nm of torque after I put on the RMW head, cam and header. At sea level it should be around 240-250whp.

Haven't installed the new RMW race cam, ATI crank pulley, water/meth etc. yet.

antihero3000

· #15 · Sep 29, 2009

Mike S said:
Yes, I've had it on the dyno - I live 4600 feet above sea level, so the figure's aren't mindblowing. Car is doing 221whp and 257nm of torque after I put on the RMW head, cam and header. At sea level it should be around 240-250whp.

Haven't installed the new RMW race cam, ATI crank pulley, water/meth etc. yet.

Sounds about right. Always wanted to hear an RMW exhaust in real life, i'm told its proper ASBO loud :thumbup:

Any vids?

Mike S

Discussion Starter · #16 · Sep 29, 2009

antihero3000 said:
Sounds about right. Always wanted to hear an RMW exhaust in real life, i'm told its proper ASBO loud :thumbup:

Any vids?

Mine is the shorty header and it's quite loud! Can't imagine what the race header sounds like :scared:

What is nice about the RMW header and JCW exhaust setup is that it sounds almost stock at idle - most wouldn't be able to tell the difference. It's even stock-ish at 3700rpm, but from 4000 upwards it sounds like a track car!

Here is a video of myself having a run against a stock Focus ST225 - he didn't really stand a chance, had the road been longer the gap would have opened further.

YouTube - Mini Cooper S (modified) vs Ford Focus ST (stock)

antihero3000

· #17 · Sep 29, 2009

Mike S said:
Mine is the shorty header and it's quite loud! Can't imagine what the race header sounds like :scared:

What is nice about the RMW header and JCW exhaust setup is that it sounds almost stock at idle - most wouldn't be able to tell the difference. It's even stock-ish at 3700rpm, but from 4000 upwards it sounds like a track car!

Here is a video of myself having a run against a stock Focus ST225 - he didn't really stand a chance, had the road been longer the gap would have opened further.

YouTube - Mini Cooper S (modified) vs Ford Focus ST (stock)

Good show :thumbup:

Mike S

Discussion Starter · #18 · Oct 1, 2009 (Edited)

3

More parts arrived!

My Devil's Own meth kit, powergrid front and rear adjustable end links and BC coilovers front and rear (I didn't bother taking the other two out the box).

:thumbup:

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Mike S

Discussion Starter · #19 · Oct 8, 2009

2

Made the panel on which I'm mounting my meth controller and the on-off switch. The edges are still a bit rough, but I just wanted to check if everything fits. Best of all torsion of the panel is holding it in place. Didn't need to drill or anything!

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Mike S

Discussion Starter · #20 · Nov 9, 2009 (Edited)

4

My car is on meth!

Did the install myself, what a pain in the ass. The oil cooler I did myself as well.

Pics after the install.

I got my new red silicone radiator hoses, but I'm waiting for my chargecooler to be made before that goes on :thumbup:

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