There is a small chance I may be able to get a nice 04 S cheep. If the car is still in the same shape as when I last saw it will be a very good buy. What I was thinking about doing was getting it and putting all my parts on it, then sale my mini. I should get the same price or a few hundred more. Why do this? Well the 04 has a sun roof I have always wanted one. Also it has lots of options, Leather heated seats, xenon headlights and harman kardon. Also it had a new motor put in it at 35k because of an accident. No the frame was not bent. This means the motor only has about 50k on it. I will be swapping; Struts, springs, camber plates, rear adj. control arms, pulley, CIA, my lovely OBX headers(I know Dave you wish you had OBX too) and exhaust. I almost forgot I have power flex control arm bushings, so either new ones or swap. Am I crazy?
I think the mechanicals are pretty much the same until 2005-2006, when the HP nudged up a bit, from 163 in the MCS to 168.
There were some changes with the facelift, but you already know that since you're asking the question. Aside from the visual external changes, the only thing I'm sure of was the airbox changed.....but the change I'm thinking of was on the Cooper (non-S). So that's not useful to you..... BUT I do have a point. The changes weren't all external, as implied by "facelift". I would visit realoem and call up both your model and the one you're thinking of buying and then compare part numbers of all the things you'd want to swap. You'll need to know the month the '04 was built; the facelift was (I think) Jul '04.
Good suggestion on looking at RealOEM. I thought there were many suspension changes between 2002 and 2003.
There were a bunch of susp changes early in '02. Seems like it was March/April? Then things were stable until July (?) '04.
I think the exhaust hangers changed w/ the facelift. If so, you might need to modify either the new hangers or your current exhaust.
Of course you are crazy Lee. :wink: Sounds like a good project to me, but heck I am crazy too. When I ordered my MINI I specifically did not order a sunroof. Told you I was crazy. :crazy:
Well the original owner just told me she is buying it back. I am glad it is going back to a good home. This will make 3 Minis they own right now. Its probably best this way it will keep me out of trouble. Thanks for the help everyone!!
That's OK Lee, you have been outed. You sire are crazy! :lol: Now to start bolting your MINI back together.