Mini R53 Mods Worth Considering !

Рет қаралды 26,292

10 ай бұрын

#ModifiedMini #ModifiedR3
Join me in this video as we take a closer look at what makes the 1st generation Mini R53 truly special among its Mini counterparts.
In this video, we provide an in-depth tour of my modified Mini R53, highlighting the key performance, handling, and styling modifications. We'll discuss the impact of upgrades like the different supercharger pulley, sport exhaust system, ECU remap, and coilover suspension on the car's overall performance.
One of the standout features we'll explore is the distinctive sound of the supercharger and the Scorpion exhaust system, giving the Mini R53 its own unique personality on the road.
Our goal is to share valuable information in a fun and factual manner, so whether you're a fellow Mini enthusiast or simply curious about automotive customization, this video has something for you.
If you find our Mini R53 journey intriguing, please consider hitting that "Subscribe" button, giving us a thumbs up, and sharing your thoughts in the comments. Stay tuned for more content as we continue to explore the fascinating world of cars! 🚀🔊 #MiniR53 #CarModifications #autoenthusiasts
Full spec
UK BUILD N.o 2541
17% Pulley
JCW OE Intake
Green Cotton Air Filter
1320 BPV
Catcam 461 Cam
Custom Map
Mr Retro Leads 8.5mm
Airtec Intercooler
440cc Porsche Cayenne injectors
Super Pro Wishbone Bushes
Vibratechnics Mid engine mount
Vibratechnics Lower engine mount
Power flex Top engine mount
Power flex Gearbox bush
GTT Front Strut Brace
Tein Street Advance Coil overs
Adjustable top mounts
Atomspeed Scoop
Canton header tank
Canton PS tank
Ultra gauge
Brembo Megane RS 3 Front Calipers
330mm GP2 front discs
Hel braided Front brake lines
Scorpion Non Res Exhaust
Scorpion Manifold
Scorpion sports cat
G-Wing Spoiler
Aero Side Skirts
GP rear trim
Aero Grills
Custom ‘TCR’ dials
Full blue LED Dash/console
Tactico Racing Atelier Steering wheel
Aem Failsafe Afr/Boost gauge
Coolerworx Gear Shifter
Alcantara Handbrake Gaitor
Ali MPE.LTD Handbrake
Ali MPE.LTD Oil Filler Cap
Powerful Uk Led rear lights
Joey’d FL Headlights
Painted Engine/Gearbox mounts
Powder-coated and Smoothed SC Horns
Stud Conversion
M7 Carbon Fuel cover
Killallchrome Door handle covers
Rear Wiper Removed
Tiago TCR side scuttles
RPM splitter
RPM Radiator Air Diverter
Silicone Hoses
Fifteen52 Turbomacs 8j Et30
Flocked Dash
JC Scuttle Scoops
Sony Xav-AX3005db Double Din
0% ATI Crank Pulley
Whiteline Rear ARB
SC Porting Ported Inlet Manifold
URO Metal thermostat housing
Painted/RKDE transfers Wiper/ind Stalks
Full HEL Braided All Brake line kit
Stainless Petrol Tank Straps (Mini F/L)
Powder-coated R56 Ali Trailing Arms
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Пікірлер: 100

@DamoDrives 10 ай бұрын

What mods would you do next ?

@geoffbishop6952 10 ай бұрын

Crank pulley

@darrenlucas2768 10 ай бұрын

Go for a 63 mm throttle body....and a larger rear Anti roll bar

@DamoDrives 10 ай бұрын

I did not mention every mode / forgot lol but I have 0% ATI Crank Pulley. I will add the full spec in the description

@Camelhooof 10 ай бұрын

I would go for BC Racing Coilovers as they come with adjustable top mounts

@Jonathan-qz9kd 10 ай бұрын

You want some decent suspension kw or st v2 I prefer stock top mounts much better for the uk roads! Bigger rear arb if you haven’t got one and r56 rear arm upgrade!

@ghostwrench2292 4 ай бұрын

I am the original owner of a 2003 R53. I’ve spent more time & money on this car than I want to think about. I do all my own work. It has over 170k miles on it, I’m on my second engine, second clutch, full poly suspension bushings, Bilstein B14 coilovers, Hotchkis rear sway bar, WMW front strut tower brace, 17% pulley, 380cc injectors, CAI, Milltek cat back exhaust, ATI super damper and R53 trailing arms. A few more mods and tune on the way. The mods and repairs never stop but when I was giving fits to 2018 Ford Focus RS on the track and he gave me the point by and I started walking away from him it makes it all worth it!!

@robertriley4105 13 күн бұрын

I have the 2003 r53, w 161 hp, I'm not a mechanic, I keep the fluids topped off, and new tires on it. I've been up to 105 mph, and it hugs the road like no other.

@DamoDrives 10 күн бұрын

They are great little cars (although the build quality vs the latter models is a bit questionable lol) mine is 201whp and certainly progresses. Best on twisty roads

@stainuponmypreme2001 10 ай бұрын

great videography in this vid - loving the car, i can remember seeing it posted around the owners club over the past few years, keep the content coming!

@elvino9395 10 ай бұрын

Can't get enough of your build and the smile it brings you 😊

@DamoDrives 10 ай бұрын

Thank you , appreciate your kind words 😊.

@darrencottrell5541 10 ай бұрын

Great video mate. Love these catch ups on your prized MINI R53. Great energy and enthusiasm and rightly so. Video quality is also on point and you are so much more comfortable in front of the camera than ever, great to see. Take care buddy.

@DamoDrives 10 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed this video and hopefully covered most of the upgrades along with a bit of history thrown in for good measure 😊

@amalmoore4119 9 ай бұрын

Hey…. Thanks a lot for the video Great video i enjoy watching your content keep up the great work and enjoy your mini💯🙂👍🏾 👍🏾👍🏾 #🇧🇧Barbados

@DamoDrives 9 ай бұрын

Very much appreciated and glad you enjoy the content🤜

@Camelhooof 10 ай бұрын

Awesome car mate and awesome video, cant wait to get another one again. Yours sounds like my old one 😁

@DamoDrives 10 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed the video, I agree it is a good fun car

@fourdrracer 7 ай бұрын

Great video! Especially, thanks for the history overview. I have had many R53s and knew mostly bits & pieces about the Tritec choice. I also have a Classic Rover Mini and should not what a K series is, but my memory is failing me there. Lol. A 1275 maybe? I currently have (among others) a 2006 JCW street car with RMW head,cam, exhaust, 17% pulley, methanol injection, and TVS 900 supercharger. The car is wicked fast, at least to me. I also have a 2002 Cooper S track car with the same mods except no meth and stock supercharger. It dynoed at 242 wheel hp. It too, is quick. Thinking about swapping TVS supercharger and meth injection over to track car if I can find some help with tune. I’m in the US, in Mississippi, and nowhere close to a tuner! GidSpeed!

@fourdrracer 7 ай бұрын

(Blushing). That should have read GODSpeed!

@sprintlifecamp 9 ай бұрын

Just for an r53 2003 a few weeks ago.. Joined R53OC and this is one of my favourites so far

@DamoDrives 9 ай бұрын

Welcome to mini ownership 🤜. Glad you like the car , quite a few videos on the car to catch up on

@equaliser2265 9 ай бұрын

Its ULEZ exempt.

@flippingcars101 10 ай бұрын

Great looking car 🚙 Iv got one sat at my mum’s I think 🤔 I need to get a build on very soon after seeing yours ❤

@DamoDrives 10 ай бұрын

Go for it , will cause pain , money but you will love it once it’s done. What model have you got ?

@flippingcars101 10 ай бұрын

Iv got a r53 s just like yours

@500bht 10 ай бұрын

I'm liking those fifteen 52 wheels a lot ❤❤. Are they 7 1/2 or 8j with 30 offset? Been looking for ages to find a set for my r53. Thanks for putting the time in to make these videos

@DamoDrives 10 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoy the videos , they are an 8J but not sure of the offset. Might be difficult getting a set of these wheels as they don’t make this size anymore

@equaliser2265 3 ай бұрын

Becoming collectable now,

@DamoDrives 3 ай бұрын

It does seem a lot of them (certainly modified) are being sold for parts as people can get more for them.

@AaronV_PNW 10 ай бұрын

Hey Damo! Great video. Been following your build for a while now. On the same R53 journey as you, but on the other side of the world! Do you get much tire rubbing with those wide wheels? I put spacers on my stock 17s to get a stance similar to you, but had to pull them due to rear tire rubbing on lowered springs. Would coilovers solve that?

@DamoDrives 10 ай бұрын

Im pleased too enjoyed the video , was not sure how popular a bit of history would be at the start ! If you get large dips in the road they will scrap slightly but no where near as bad as when I got the car. Previous owner had it more as a stance car so as low as possible and would continuously rub and even worse with 2 people. Really depends on what you are going for , if it’s driving then 7-7.5j. It fits better and less unsprung mass.

@chris_cogan 10 ай бұрын

Hope you got home from 1320 safely yesterday 😃

@DamoDrives 10 ай бұрын

Was good thanks, the map has made a real difference to the way it drives , in a strange way is more relaxing

@simonangood306 9 күн бұрын

Great video Damo! I've recently fitted the Tein coilovers to my 2005 R53 too...what dampening setting have you set yours to? Fully 'to the left' is too soft and a little wallowy for me...too far over to the right and my fillings are shaken from my head! Any recommendations? Cheers, Simon

@Henno_editz. 9 ай бұрын

Damo what clocks and speedo are in the mini I want the black with blue led looks mint

@TheM3smg 3 ай бұрын

Where did you get the rear g wing from looks good

@joaogoncalves6078 5 ай бұрын

Congratulations on the project, what is the brand of the rims and model? I'm a follower of Portugal👍🇵🇹

@joebuczkowski8605 10 ай бұрын

I'm going to get myself a MINI Cooper!

@DamoDrives 10 ай бұрын

Which generation ?

@joebuczkowski8605 10 ай бұрын

@@DamoDrives I'd like to put those 52 wheels on it also.

@joebuczkowski8605 4 ай бұрын

@@DamoDrives 2006

@HarielA44 6 ай бұрын

What mount was used for the double din stereo head unit?

@joebuczkowski8605 10 ай бұрын

I'd like to build my own MINI just like this.💥💥💥💥💨💨💨💨🦾🦾🔩🔩🔩🔩

@DamoDrives 10 ай бұрын

It’s a bit addictive as you finish 1 thing and start thinking what else can I spend my money on 😂

@equaliser2265 3 ай бұрын

Sir, Bergen 15kg , 7km per day. Crack on. Nice Cooper S by the way, 59000 on mine 2003.

@joebuczkowski8605 4 ай бұрын

I want to test drive a 2006 MINI S. It has around 74,000 miles on the odometer. I'd like to learn how to modify it's engine to increase HP and Torque. I also like your 52 wheels.⭐

@equaliser2265 3 ай бұрын

Just check its service history, if someone loved it they will have all the history and documentation, if it hasnt got any, leave it. Get the R53, the 56 engine isnt very reliable at all.

@mertcapkin7263 10 ай бұрын

Which version of the atomspeed scoop is fitted? Number 1?

@DamoDrives 10 ай бұрын

Was fitted on the car when I got it so guessing it’s at least 2 years old but expect more like 3-4. Just had it stripped back and been painted by a local body shop who did an amazing job and under £100 (video on the channel if you want to watch paint dry; in all honesty it is quite interesting)

@johnhall8564 6 ай бұрын

Great video I’m thinking of buying one of these old supercharged Minis….. the one I’m looking at has 126k on the clock and is highly modified would you recommend buying one with this kind of mileage ? How much mileage is one of these engines good for do you know ? If you can let me know your opinion that would be great thanks.

@DamoDrives 6 ай бұрын

More than anything it’s more about how the car has been looked after rather than mileage. Regular services, where the modifications were Done , quality of parts etc. my car has been into a couple of performance specialists and have found and fixed modifications that were not quite done right originally. I would really recommend joining a few mini groups on Facebook and asking around. I’m no mechanic and my 1st Mini so you need people who are a lot more Experienced. They are great fun cars and love the supercharger but do have a budget to fix things as they are older cars (mine is 22 years old) hope this advice helps

@johnhall8564 6 ай бұрын

@@DamoDrives thanks very much for your quick advice….. I don’t know much about the car only that it originally came from the Isle of Man. the garage don’t know what mods that have been done they just say it’s insanely fast it’s had a recent racing clutch fitted at 1900 quid and the lad there says it will spin wheels in 3rd gear in the dry lol…. Yeah I’ve got a weekend Lotus Elise but I want everyday fun without worrying to much I am in a group on Facebook but your the first person I’ve seeked advice from.

@loomspace 5 ай бұрын

@@johnhall8564I would never buy an extensively modded r53 with no history unless you're going into it being completely comfortable and equipped to do fairly involved retrograde maintenance/repair (or pay someone to do it) while also doing detective work on what's already been done to the car. Well worth it in my opinion.

@johnhall8564 5 ай бұрын

@@loomspace Thanks for the reply, I’ve decided to go for a very low mileage one (24k) unmodified wasn’t cheap but worth it in my eyes….. I may get the mods done in the summer but the car feels pretty quick as standard tbh with the engine being so tight it looks and drives like a brand new car.

@BurmaJ 5 ай бұрын

@@johnhall8564Good call, I didn’t want to be too negative on the modded one but I’ve had a few and I now keep them close to stock and well maintained. I do like a 15% pulley and light wheels setup. Congratulations on the purchase and enjoy, they’re special cars to be sure.

@clydexoxoxo 8 ай бұрын

Would love to know how you managed to fit a double din stereo in there, desperately want one.

@DamoDrives 8 ай бұрын

The previous owner fitted it so I don’t know I’m afraid

@sionsk887 7 ай бұрын

to be honest you dont really know any thing haha @@DamoDrives

@DamoDrives 7 ай бұрын

Thank you for the comment but would rather have some positivity rather than being rude @sionsk887

@kurbeco 2 ай бұрын

The Rover K Series engine wasn't used as the body lines were defined before the drivetrain was, and the K series was too tall to fit under the bonnet lines that had been drawn.

@darrenlucas2768 10 ай бұрын

Under the engine?? Don't you mean under the bonnet?😂. .nice car dude ...good taste

@DamoDrives 10 ай бұрын

I certainly did mean the bonnet unless I was talking about the ummmm floor 😂 and did not realise until I was editing but I’m sure everyone understands 🫣.

@darrenlucas2768 10 ай бұрын

@@DamoDrives sorry buddy....I wasn't being fair....just made me laugh. Have the same car.....similar tune

@DamoDrives 10 ай бұрын

Being 100% fair , I was editing it and thought what on earth did I say 😱 and wondered if I had come up with a new saying. Getting it re-re mapped next week and trying to get a bit more power on a rolling road map rather than a standard map , while it’s ok never going to be as good with 1320 being able to tweak on the fly

@darrenlucas2768 10 ай бұрын

@@DamoDrives that's on my list......1320 too. I'm looking for 250 ponnies when I'm finished

@DamoDrives 10 ай бұрын

@darrenlucas2768 think I would need a significant investment to get to that number , bigger injectors , different cam, big head not sure if it would need to be forged ??. Certainly no expert but will ask them when I am there next week (doing a video with them as well on modified car question and answers)

@Bombastic_Spastic 9 ай бұрын

I get 35mpg out of my r53, idk what everyone else is doing with them. If i reset the clock and floor it for the entire drive i do 20.5 but i average 35.4 (says the clock)

@DamoDrives 9 ай бұрын

I don’t have a mpg on mine (not sure if that’s due to it being a very early model) need to fill up and then drive it and fill back up again but rough calculation are certainly less. Is yours stock ?

@Bombastic_Spastic 9 ай бұрын

Mines a more or less stock 52 plate. 15% pulley and a larger intercooler is about it performance wise with a catback. If theres a button on the top of the indicator stalk it should have the display. If not its probably becasue someones changed the centre clock (Kombi) and not coded it to the car.

@DamoDrives 9 ай бұрын

@Bombastic_Spastic different stalks on the car and no button, guessing the original car did not have that option. There is an option on the ultra gauge for MPG but does not seem to do anything. Might have to do some googling

@dannymelyea 2 ай бұрын

Hey what offset of those Wheels if you know thank you

@DamoDrives 2 ай бұрын

8J but not sure of the offset ,

@SofaKingTouge 3 ай бұрын

Go to make more power but then put the heaviest wheels known to man on it to lose all that extra power. Stock r53 with light 15s would run circles around you. In other words get some proper wheels.

@DamoDrives 3 ай бұрын

Really like the look of my wheels and while saving 20kg of weight would be beneficial (I did look at some TD 1.2 pro race wheels) there is no way a 161 bhp (at the crank) stock cooper S is going to be faster than 201bhp (crank so approx 220bhp) and all of the other mods will be quicker. It’s not a track car either. So you are right lighter and slightly narrow wheels (7j ideally rather than 8j) would improve it it’s not worth doing.

@The_BenboBaggins 8 ай бұрын

As I understand it, the K-series was dropped for packaging and reputation reasons - by comparison, the K is taller than the Tritec. Also, the K-series has a poor reputation for reliability, even though they were sorted for head gasket failures by the 00s.

@equaliser2265 9 ай бұрын

N14 engine turbo, shite. Supercharger vey nice.

@DamoDrives 9 ай бұрын

The N14 certainly had its reliability issues and considering they moved away from the supercharged engine as BMW did not think it was a good engine was almost funny. N18 on the other hand was so much better

@WH04NAZ 6 ай бұрын

Wasn't this Tim Woodfords car?

@DamoDrives 6 ай бұрын

It was

@WH04NAZ 6 ай бұрын

Yeah thought I recognised it that car was a inspiration to my mods and my twist..

@alexmarin882000 5 ай бұрын

under the engine?:))

@user-oh2uf6bs5s 8 ай бұрын

One mod missing is the mod that all european cars need. Change the headlining to black what is it with all the euro's having that awful grey/ creme headling colour?

@kathleenmacdonald2843 5 ай бұрын

Id rather a light airy cream colour rather than a black one

@nuvix9216 3 ай бұрын

I can back this, black looks so much better