Buying guide: R53 MINI Cooper S
[Published in BMWCAR March 2010]
It’s easy to forget that the MINI cooper S is now eight years old, which means they make a cracking secondhand buy, particularly if you want to put a smile on your face.
Launched in 2002, the Cooper S quickly became the pick of the MINI range for anyone seeking performance thrills from BMWs baby. The One and Cooper never really offered the levels of performance the public were expecting and the cooper S quickly addressed this. Powered by the same Tritec engine, the addition of a supercharger resulted in 163hp with a dose of torque available low down the rev range. Complimented by a six-speed gearbox and stiffer suspension, the enhancements endowed the hot MINI with the kind of pace that you wouldn’t expect from such a small car. Covering 0-62mph in 7.4 seconds and going on to 135mph the car quickly gained a following amongst keen drivers.
Visually The Cooper S stood apart from lesser models thanks to some added muscle, featuring a bonnet air intake, deeper front and rear bumper designs and a raft of ‘S’ badges. Inside the car was remarkably similar to lesser models, only standing apart with a brushed alloy dash, unique ‘S’ kick plates and a sweeter engine note. Two unique colours were offered, dark silver and electric blue, and even today these are the ones that mark a Cooper S apart.
Commonly referred to as the R53, the Cooper S received a mild facelift in 2005 keeping it in line with alterations made to the rest of the range. The same front and rear bumpers featured, so look for the updated headlight graphics to tell later models apart. It was around this time that the range received a power increase with 170hp and 163Ib ft of torque.
On the road
Coming from BMW, you’d expect the Cooper S to be up there with the best in terms of handling, and you’d be right. From the word go you can just tell this is a model destined to make you enjoy driving. Using a complex mulit-link rear suspension the car instantly won praise for its involving and playful handling. The steering is incredibly direct with loads of feedback, inspiring confidence in the knowledge that you can hurl the car into sharp corners and come out the other side. The excellent chassis is perfectly mated to the car and although it is front wheel drive, you always feel the car is as involving and exciting as you had wished for. As a result of the car’s handling-orientated setup the harsh ride often comes in for criticism, particularly if fitted with the optional 17-inch wheels.
What to look for
Things to look out for include several early recalls, In 2002 one was issued for the front suspension outer ball joint, which could become detached under extreme conditions of use. Affected vehicles had modified lower arms fitted and if you’re not sure check the service history with a MINI dealer to confirm if the work was carried out. Power steering pumps are a common problem across the MINI range and some owners have experienced complete loss of power steering. A new pump is often needed and noisy power steering is a common characteristic. With a clutch costing upwards of a £1000, check for a heavy left pedal as this may indicate problems. Lastly, The Cooper S was notorious for having problems with the coolant tank failing at the seams. While MINI did update the part, they never quite perfected the design so it’s worth paying attention to the car’s history to see if it’s been replaced.
Buying one
The latest generation R56 MINI Cooper S has been on sale since 2007, so prices of the earlier R53 are keen. Like other models in the range the car was available with the desirable and costly CHILI pack, which added items like half leather sports seats, Xenon headlights and the desirable 17-inch alloy wheels. Most models had this pack, so look out for cars without it and use this as a bargaining tool. We found several early cars without the pack going for as little as £5000 with around 100,000mies on the clock. Later facelift models that use the upgraded engine still command a premium, with immaculate examples fetching £10000 at dealerships. When it comes to colors just pick whatever you like- there’s no hard and fast rule with MINI, which is no doubt part of its appeal. One thing you must check is if the car came with a TLC pack, which covered the cars servicing costs for the first five years of its life. If it’s a later model and still in date it’s transferable and worth a premium, so pay attention or call a MINI dealer to check if it came with the pack.
Conclusion:
The R53 Cooper S offers a cracking ownership experience for relatively little cost. Even with so many on the roads the car still looks the part with its twin tail pipes and bonnet scoop. Pick one that has the CHILI and TLC packs and you are on to a real winner. With its go-kart handling and excellent steering the supercharged unit provides the kind of charm that the newer turbocharged R56 simply can’t match. With prices falling and a wide rang of cars for sale, the R53 Cooper S is quickly becoming the performance bargain within the used hot hatch market. Pick wisely and you will no doubt enjoy the thrills this pocket rocket can give.
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