1st Gen R53 Cooper S My 2005 R53 Daily Driver build thread

I have one, maybe I should take a look in there... duh.

 

First time out of the neighborhood for the year - July 4 at Road America, shooting some photos of my son's R53 shredding it's new Michelin SuperSports during a 3 day track day adventure. Virtually alone, which will be different next weekend with the Indycars allowing spectators into the facility.



and his Mini in the Carousel, stuck behind a Porsche for an entire session (they don't show blue flags to Porsche drivers, apparently). Note his brake ducts where the fog lights used to be. He spent a pretty penny on those at sneedspeed before the weekend, bit no brake issues. Racing pads and new rotors leaving a black mess on those white wheels.

 

Hit a racoon a few weeks ago. Lower front left corner. $500 for a rough fix (all the way down to a new radiator core support, because that thing is completely shattered). Would be nice to work on it, but FCPEuro as usual overpromised on shipping dates. I was supposed to have everything yesterday, but they are still waiting for BMW to send crap to them.

Long term, when I actually have time to work on this car, I will get the Aero bumper from ECSTuning and figure out how to install it. The driver side edge clips that hold the little spoiler with the side marker is messed up that it won't really hold well on the stock bumper cover, and you really can't buy any of those any longer. Used cost is above aero bumper at ECS.

Anyway, a dinky raccoon destroyed everything between front edge of bumper and the driver side wheel. New fender liner, fog light, core support, etc

I drive that car 200 miles a year maybe. Meh. No space to work on it because I am selling a house and the new house needs a garage built. It never comes at a convenient time.

 

yeah - and I had a good laugh at their prices. $200 premium on the radiator core support? And that's not even knowing the shipping (RockAuto had the best price but wants $280 for FedEx ground, so I got it for 160 or so from Amazon, 2 days free). Front bumper covers are hard to find. Right now they have one for 300 bucks that needs a different paint, or the OEM for over 450. If I have to pay someone to paint my bumper cover, I'll go aero kit style and deal with the tricky install. For now, the cover is fine, it's just going to be tricky to keep that black little spoiler edge connected.

 

I did not order a cover. I wanted to wait and see how I can hack this with the existing cover. There are tabs missing so that may not work out.

Regarding the available take-offs - the British Racing Green R53 one is what would replace my current cover. I am only 90 minutes from Chicago, so if they have that one, I may be interested should my plan to re-use the damaged unit not work out. FCPEuro stuff to do the job gets here tomorrow, just 7 days after promised delivery date...

 

it isn't the BMW OEM part, but with a little DIY it will work

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-assembled-by-ecs-parts/aero-front-bumper-apron-trim-paint-kit/51110021989kt/

 

price is great, but like I mentioned in my PM - the real cost is painting it electric blue. At that point, the extra <$300 for an aero bumper isn't really that much, and I always liked those better. For now, the car is mothballed for the winter and I am in no hurry to get it back on the road.