1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: I NEED HELP!!

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  1. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    #4 ScottinBend, Aug 12, 2013
    $1K.......I'd jump on it and then get it to a MINI repair shop and get it fixed.
     
  2. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    #5 MCS02, Aug 12, 2013
    Yea what they said! Nathan is spot on.
    And welcome to MA
     
  3. agranger

    agranger MINI of the Month June 2009
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    #6 agranger, Aug 12, 2013
    If it is just the SERPENTINE belt that broke, that's a fairly easy fix... here is a How-to article: Replacing the Serpentine Belt on an R53 MCS - Library

    It is possible that the belt got old/worn/cracked with age and just died, but it is more likely that something else caused the belt to break... probably the crank pulley failing (harmonic balancer). There is a how-to on that as well: Replacing the Crank Pulley - Library

    I'm pretty sure that the R53 has a timing chain. If that went, then you are going to have several thousand in repairs, but even $3k of repairs + $1k for the purchase = $4k which is a STEAL for a 2006 MCS 'vert. Buy that car and run! It would sell for $8-14k if it were running and in good shape. Hell... if you don't want to buy it, send me his phone number. I'll take it as a project! I sold my R53 about a year ago and miss it dearly. :D
     
  4. willdoe

    willdoe New Member

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    #7 willdoe, Aug 12, 2013
    well all that being said. i will jump on it! im going to get it tonight and start tearing it apart. dont worry about the pictures ill take a ton. ill show off when its in my drive way later haha.
     
  5. Norm03s

    Norm03s New Member

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    #8 Norm03s, Aug 12, 2013
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2013
    Welcome to MA.
    I think this is an invitation to get a MINI, what an opportunity.
    I'd would jump on this, quick.
     
  6. Norm03s

    Norm03s New Member

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    #9 Norm03s, Aug 12, 2013
    Op's, I was a bit late, by the way the R53 has a chain drive Cam, they are very reliable and have not proved to be problematic as in later models, i.e., R56.:biggrin5:
     
  7. rum4

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    #10 rum4, Aug 12, 2013
    welcome to m/a
     
  8. 10Nathan10

    10Nathan10 Member

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    #11 10Nathan10, Aug 12, 2013
    For a thousand bucks worst case if you can't fix it you could part it out and make a profit.
     
  9. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    #15 MCS02, Aug 14, 2013
    You lucky Dog!
     
  10. RallyMini370

    RallyMini370 Well-Known Member

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    #16 RallyMini370, Aug 14, 2013
    I need a bargain like that. $1000 to buy , $2000+ to fix, $1000 to ship to CR
     
  11. eMINIparts

    eMINIparts Well-Known Member
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    #17 eMINIparts, Aug 14, 2013
    I am very very jealous....Hope it turns out to just be a drive belt and a tensioner..:D
     
  12. willdoe

    willdoe New Member

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    #18 willdoe, Aug 14, 2013
    so when you go to crank it , it just sounds like the starter is clicking like its bad. i dont think there is any motor problem to be honest. i think there is an electrical problem. but im not sure yet. when we plug the OBD scanner in it doesnt turn on like it supposed to. so i cant actually test the trouble codes. pictures to come later.
     
  13. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #19 Nathan, Aug 14, 2013
    Sounds like the first thing you need a known good battery.
     
  14. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    #21 ScottinBend, Aug 14, 2013
    Stick a quality battery charger on it and see what happens.
     
  15. agranger

    agranger MINI of the Month June 2009
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    #22 agranger, Aug 15, 2013
    By the way... all sorts of strange electrical things happen when the battery on an R50/53 is low on juice. I had always planned to replace mine every 4 years proactively, but they never lasted that long in the Texas heat.

    Looking forward to hearing the rest of the story!
     
  16. willdoe

    willdoe New Member

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    #23 willdoe, Aug 15, 2013
    BOMB SHELL!!! its not locked up!!!! we rocked it in gear and the pulleys all spun. no strange noises. we changed the oil and there was no metal shaveings it just looked like it was never changed.it was real dark though. no water or nothing. so im looking at the ignition system.
     
  17. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    #24 MCS02, Aug 15, 2013
    Now your just toying with us. :biggrin5: Get a new battery. R53's like good clean power.
    I hope it cranks up with out much work.
    Good luck :Thumbsup:
     
  18. willdoe

    willdoe New Member

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    #27 willdoe, Aug 16, 2013
    thanks guys!! so heres another update. so got a newer battery in it from my friends WRX and it had a stronger click. so my thought it the starter could be locked up.... of course mini put the starter in the worst place. this is probably the hardest car ive ever worked on haha. i tried the hit it with a hammer trick and i couldnt swing it.

    im gonna try to pull the manifolds out and i guess pull the starter out.
     
  19. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    #28 MCS02, Aug 16, 2013
    Hard to work on? What? There's all sorts of room under the bonnet.

    You may want to get a Bentley manual. I put it off for a long time, now that I have one I wish I had got it sooner.
     
  20. McFly

    McFly New Member

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    #29 McFly, Aug 16, 2013
    No need to pull the manifolds.
    Remove the heat shields and remove it from the block and it will come out from the top using some creative twisting

    I know this because that is what I did when I bought my MINI that had a seized alternator and dead starter for....3k
     
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