Hey everyone,

I’m currently having the in-tank fuel pump assembly worked on for my 2005 MINI Cooper S (R53), and the shop is telling me something that doesn't seem right.

They are claiming that the 90-degree black elbow fitting with the yellow sliding lock (Photo 1) is actually for an R56, not an R53.
Instead, they showed me a straight quick-disconnect connector attached to a rigid metal guide rod (Photo 2) and tried to tell me that’s what an R50/R53 uses.

From my understanding:
1. The 90° elbow with the yellow slider lock is the factory Gen 1 (R50/R52/R53) siphon line fitting that clicks directly into the fuel filter housing inside the saddle tank.
2. The straight connector with the metal support stay is from a Gen 2 (R56).

Can anyone verify this? Is the 90° elbow with the yellow clip 100% correct for a 2005 R53 fuel pump setup?

She’s done. 95% at least. Couple of small things to button up. In the end though, I don’t know quite how to feel about this project. Happy it’s done. Proud of the work I’ve put into it. Grateful for the things I’ve learned. Partly disappointed it didn’t turn out exactly how I saw it in my head. Being a glutton for punishment, and someone who doesn’t accept defeat easily, I almost want to get another headliner and try the exact same thing all over again. This time with straight seems and no wrinkles. The key word being ‘almost’. I love the two tone trim accessories and the black pillar covers. No matter what time of day I can’t seem to get a good pic mostly due to no shade on my property. Did the best I could there. Next project is building wheel cribs to work on the power steering and building a Mini bug-out tool bag for quick emergencies. Don’t worry… Wheel cribs will be taller. I’m not that skinny. 12” overall height to the bottom of the wheels.

Hi everyone! My brother recently changed the exhaust tip to a Remus one, and after around 100 km of driving, this noise started coming from the car.

Does anyone have an idea what could be causing it? Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Installed the DDMWorks cold air intake I picked up from Way Motor Works. The sound is incredible and made my R53 even more fun to drive.

My furbaby Cora was having a rough time with rides in the mini because of the slanted rear leather seat so I made a rear seat delete with some plywood and a old blanket we had that i noticed was the same as the carpet in the mini i used cardboard to make a outline and just refined it down till I got a snug fit I think it sitting flat looked weird so I used a leftover wood to make a lip and keep stuff from rolling off i also have a 12 im going to put back here once I get my adapter I also used cut in half 2x4 to support under the plywood just in case for support (dont hate to hard on 20 and im on mobile)

Hello All!

I recently just installed a new head gasket in a project mini cooper I picked up a couple months ago. Is this the way this thing should sound? Or am I in it to fix something else?

Tried to do the bushings this weekend… and oh boy have i learned alot! Planned to do both on saturday, got the control arm off without much trouble, then hell broke loose. Snapped the bushing tool clean off… borrowed a hacksaw, had to invent a new tool, learned methods for getting the control arm back again.

Sunday afternoon, left side done… Saving right side for next weekend.

Also, discovered that i might need a new oil pan gasket soon…

Cheers! 🤙🏻
//N

So like what the title suggests, I am kinda skeptical with the filter that just got shipped to me. It seems theres some kind of crevice in the filter material that I have never seem before… could someone enlighten me whether this is just an old stock or something? Thanks guys!

Alright kids! Today’s themes are glory and horror. Got the headliner glued down. It was one of those things that was absolutely worth doing but I never want to do it again. Not even to find another headliner and try to perfect it. The material was difficult to work with as expected. I ended up with a good amount of wrinkles, to put it mildly. Thankfully, most are at the rear. I did have to slash the material in two spots to get it to lay right. Shouldn’t be too hard to find in the pics. Most of the blems are in spots that will be covered by trim. I absolutely love the look of this and still think it could be amazing done professionally. The real star of the show was the little guy in the last pic. He was great at smoothing out and spreading material. He comes in face massaging kit you can find in store at Walmart. Completely metal and nice and heavy. I give myself an overall grade of 3 stars out of 5. One more part to the story coming. Final and completed install.

I found a 2006 checkmate edition manual. It has 161k miles on it. It has 15% SC pulley, performance clutch, light flywheel, and has new alternator, ps pump and lines, harmonic balance, sensors, clutch, sc has been serviced, oil change and coolant. It seems most of the main things have been completed but is it nearing its lifespan with 161k miles? Interior looks alright. Paint will need to be redone.

I bought a 2002 supercharged R53. It starts and runs but the battery is not charging. A previous owner messed with the wiring. But why would someone do something like this to the car? I see a jumper wire with a fuse in the fuse box under the hood. Lacking understanding so I am unable to diagnose

Well… The headliner is completely sewn up and ready for the big glue-down. I should be excited and looking forward to it, but it’s kind of bittersweet. I already know the challenges I’m going to have working with this material. .6mm vinyl faux leather. Some of the thinnest I could find. I’m probably going to have to do some cutting and a few patch pieces around and in some of the curves. Hopefully I can hide them decently and still make it look decent. I’m simultaneously proud and disappointed with my work. My concept is solid and would look amazing if executed professionally. I’m mostly disappointed I couldn’t keep my seems straighter. I have to not be so hard on myself since I’m not a professional and haven’t touched a sewing machine since 8th grade. If it wasn’t my work and I was judging it, I’d give it 2.5-3 stars out of 5. Since it is just a well loved $3k shitbox and I know my own abilities, I give my work a solid 3.5 stars out 5.

I have a crack that was repaired by safelite and it has cracked from the repair. How does safelite do with replacing windshields in the R53? Do they tend to break trim clips and if so should I just remove the trim to avoid them doing a botched job? Any tips would be helpful.

Idk if anyone has an extra automatic transmission shift boot, or somehow the pattern for one. I accidentally threw mine out since I took it off, and when cleaning the garage threw out the box it was in. I don’t really wanna pay 90 bucks for a new one when I wanna get one made with specific fabric and I only need the pattern. Idk if anyone has any sort of resource for that but please lmk if you do. Thanks.

Hi all! Wondering if you all could help me here. I’m installing an ambient light kit in my car and I’ve tapped into the 12v cigarette port for the main controller which has a fuse on there. Was just wondering if anyone knows what wires carry 12v on ignition in the doors?
I know I can run wires from the fuse box but to run to each doors is just more wiring and I don’t fancy spending my whole weekend making the wires through the grommet tidy.
Cant get a clear answer online so if anyone has any ideas would be appreciated!

Ali fob, cut locally on left with chip set from disaster fob my mini came with on right. Whomever gave me the recommendation, thanks 👍

Not very familiar with the r53 and this was the supercharger I took off of my 145k mile 2003 when I swapped it to a face lift Teflon coated one. Since this one looks nice I was going to sell it.

also, Archaic headlights 👀 and other LED lighting goodies....

gotta grab the air and stuff it through there if you want the intercooler to cool quickly. 😄

Hey all.

I've owned an 05 Mini Cooper S the past 5 or so years, and I love it. Never had much trouble out of it, but I've put up 220k miles on it, and I am looking around for a "new" one.

Came across a listing on Marketplace, and I wanted to run it by you guys.

03 RS53, 78k Miles, 1 Owner. Asking $6k

New Parts:

• Coolant bottle (expansion tank)
• Radiator and fan assembly
• Craven 15% Pulley
• Brakes Front and Rear (No new rotors on back)
• Alternator
• Belt Tensioner
• New Cold Plugs
• Sparco Pista Rims 16"
• Power Acoustik Radio
• Sound Deadening

Guy has been super up front with me about all of it. I've seen pictures all the way around the car, inside it, shown pictures of new parts on the car, seen no rust underneath, etc

One weird downside is the title which reads "Not Actual Mileage". On the report, which he paid for, it shows what I think is a clerical error. 2003 it had 370 miles on it, in 2025 it had... 370 miles on it. The odometer reads 78k now. He showed a picture of the sound deadening install and written on it was "Installed 2008, Mileage 24k" which would match the amount of driving.

This isn't planning to be a daily driver or anything. More of a weekend/track/rallycross build.

Is there anything I need to be aware of between the 05 and 03?

Overall, good deal? Avoid?

Thanks!

In the past two days I’ve had problems shifting gears. It’s hard to get it in gear when I’ve been driving for a while, I guess until it gets to temperature. I can shift perfectly fine when the car is off and when I first start the car. Like today, in the morning when I started the car it was fine, got in the highway, when exiting noticed that is was giving me resistance, by the time I was dropping off my kid at school, it was more difficult. I arrived at work and let it cool for like two hours. Started the car, and shifts fine..

Clutch, flywheel, throw out bearings and guide were replaced 2 years ago at 99,700 miles and now the car is 111,900 miles.

Also, I haven’t been paying too much attention, but I haven’t noticed much difference in the clutch, maybe a bit softer, but not sure.

I just hope is not the clutch or the fork, because last time was a lot of work.

I have 2004 R53 with the jcw 200 kit, A few months ago i brought new sparks it ran good for while but it start getting this intermittent misfire/ stutter under load, in 2nd gear at 3-4 rpms it does a little jerk then continues pulling, Ive been told that the spark plugs i got and the wrong ones and are the wrong heat range for my car, But it ran fine for a month

hello all! steering has been a little tighter than usual on my r52, it makes a slight whistling noise as well and it feels like i’m grinding something (which leads me to believe something needs fixing). i don’t want to cause too much further damage and i don’t drive too often anyway but have access to mechanic anytime. there’s no lights on the car otherwise and she’s at 110k. let me know! thanks for the help.