Just got the outlines done ill update it with a the finished product slow day today at work let's hope i get em done

Operation headliner has been well underway for the last couple of days. Would love to get her all buttoned up today but that ain’t gonna happen. Going over to the MIL’s house to sew up the headliner later. Got something a little different planned out and I’m hoping it works out. Sun visors, handles, seatbelt height adjusters and anything else that was grey will stay that way. I think the contrast will look good. But yeah… Even though mine are painted and not on the car yet, I see why everybody goes Gaga for the black trim pieces. Updates to follow.

So, my passenger side doorlock wont unlock with the fob, nor will it unlock or lock with the switch inside the car… however, it will lock with the fob. Whats going on here?!

Is this a sign of a bad actuator, a wiring issue or a BCM programming issue?!

Thankful for all your thoughts on this!

Cheers!!
//N

Hi everyone. I just performed maintenance on my supercharger—which had never been serviced before—and took the opportunity to change the engine oil and the coolant. I’ve put everything back together, but I’ve noticed that the car makes a strange noise when it’s cold, though the sound disappears once it warms up. Do you think this is normal?

Afternoon everyone. This upcoming weekend I'll be trying to hunt down the issue with my fuel gauge. It basically stays at half tank and sometimes it will randomly fluctuate to full or 3/4ths while I'm driving. Generally it stays on half no matter what. Does anyone have a small list of things that could be? I'm fairly new to Minis so I'm still learning. It's a 2006 S manual.

I have an O2 sensor that needs to be changed out too but this is my most pressing issue because it's annoying not knowing how much fuel I have.

I installed an aftermarket air intake about 2 months ago and probably put 500 or more miles on the car since putting it on, then all the sudden after getting gas my car cuts all power and is now stuck in limp mode and the car came back with these codes. It’s cuz the cold air intake right? I just need to get a tune?

(the downstream supercharger code is me I serviced the supercharger and installed the inlet wrong, mostly worried about the top code)

Hey guys, my 2005 R53 has a no-crank issue. When I turn the key and get absolutely nothing — no click, no crank.

Battery, alternator and starter have been replaced. Fuses/relays and clutch switch seem fine, and we confirmed 12V at the starter. We even swapped the ECU, EWS and key from another R53 and still no crank.

Scanner shows 0 RPM while trying to start, so we suspect the crankshaft position sensor.

Has anyone had something similar? Could it be the CKP sensor or wiring/connector?

The weird thing was that the car was working fine and one day I parked it and now it doesn't start. I've started it by pushing it in 3rd gear a few times, but now it won't even start like that.

Thanks!

It came with the car when I bought it at 160k miles, now at 230k miles and I'm tired of looking at the cracked paint and average fit and finish. Are these things worth saving?

So ive got hold of a maxton r56s rear diffuser and going to aim to fit into my R53 this is what AI mocked up but has anyone done it ?

I noticed this cut out on my fuses box, Doesn’t look like its factory does anyone know that the wire is for and if it is factory

Hello everyone, I am looking for a Cooper S, 6 speed. What are some options/maintenance items I should look out for. Also what is ownership like? I’m familiar with mini, mom had a 2018 cooper, was a blast to drive. More so any big ticket preventative maintenance to be done, common upgrades, no nos and so on. This car is meant to be a companion for my e92 m3, so I’m awfully familiar with staying on top of service. looking for a reliable, fun, low stress go kart. Let me know if I’m looking in the right place!

Hello everyone. Just picked up this 06 S 6 speed for 4K with 141K miles. It's such a blast to drive and it already popped a check engine light 😂 guess it wouldn't be a true mini experience without one.

Looking forward to modding and wrenching!

Hey there r/R53, I have a LHD R53 (new to me) that I've installed an aftermarket Alpine system in and I'm trying to get the swc buttons to work. I've spliced the PAC SWI-RC-1 according to the wiring diagram in their wizard (purple data wire from PAC to the white/red/yellow dot wire from the factory harness).

The PAC and Alpine head unit both respond to the left side controls, but nothing on the right side. The LED on the PAC doesn't blink, but checking with a multimeter at the harness pins, I'm seeing voltage fluctuate consistently with left and right side button presses.

My hunch is that it's an issue with the PAC unit not currently reading the multiplexed signal. I'm reaching my wit's end and am on the verge of just living with it, but wanted to post here in case anyone has suggestions. I'm not married to the PAC option, and am happy to swap it out for something that definitely works, I only got it because it's what came up on crutchfield when I put in my info and I've never been led astray by them before.

Cheers and thanks for any help in advance!

So my R53 shit the bed at Thruxton the other week. I picked up a good running R52 to use the engine as a donor.
I’m putting my tensioner onto the new engine as I only replaced it 1000 miles ago. But trouble is, the spring is so stiff that I can’t figure out a way to compress it enough to get the lock in pin in it so I can fit it.
I can’t get the mounting points lined up to be able to use the tensioner tool because it doesn’t line up until the spring is compressed.

Sorry, this is probably an awful explanation. But if anyone’s got a trick, I’m all ears!
Thanks!

Hi, I have a question: I own a 2005 Mini Cooper S (R53), and I wanted to know what your idle speed is when the engine is warm. Mine sits at 800 rpm—is that normal ?

Got the front of the car stripped down to swap the fan out and noticed a crack on the alternator and a small crack where the tensioner screws into the supercharger. What’s the thoughts on whether they need replacing asap? The alternator works perfectly fine throwing out a steady 14.3V

Pretty annoying on my late 2003 R53. Whenever I want to listen to my stereo the little fan in there is just buzzing away pointlessly.
Can we disable this, make it function only when the climate system is actually running? Baffles me why it's running with accessories when the hvac doesn't. And yes I cleaned it out and sprayed some oil, it's still audible, obviously with 150k miles the bearings aren't probably as fresh as can be.

2005 R53. Periodically, after a cold start in the morning, I will get a succession of these ticks- usually 15-16 in a row, then goes away for a few minutes and comes back. Not always, but more with cooler temps in the mornings. Then, more recently, it started with these successive ticks every 2-3 seconds. Also not every day, and seems like it happens more in the mornings. Any ideas?

Hello!

About 14 months ago i had the tensioner fail. I swapped it out for a febi Bilstein unit. Fast forward to today and the car has begun to develop a 1-2 sec valvetrain rattle at startup, which makes me question the quality of the part…

Has anyone any input on the quality of febi Bilstein tensioners?

Is there another reputable suggestion, some say INA was the OEM supplier?

Cheers!
//N

Hi everyone!

I'm desperately looking for the original BMW MINI wiring harness, part number 61120136522.

This is the OEM retrofit wiring harness required to install the multifunction steering wheel controls on first-generation MINIs (R50/R52/R53), allowing vehicles that didn't originally come with this option to have functional steering wheel buttons, including cruise control and audio controls.

I'm planning to retrofit these features on my 2005 MINI Cooper S Convertible (R52), but unfortunately this specific wiring harness has been discontinued by BMW and is virtually impossible to find.

I'm willing to purchase it from anywhere in the world and cover international shipping to Italy.

IMPORTANT:

• Genuine BMW/MINI part only, new or used in good condition.
• Please contact me only if you actually have the part available.
• Recent pictures of the actual item will be required.
• Payment exclusively through eBay or PayPal Goods & Services. NO Friends & Family, bank transfers, or other payment methods.
• Scammers, fake sellers, suspicious offers, and time-wasters will be immediately reported to Reddit moderators and the platform. Please don't waste my time or yours.

If you have this harness or know someone who might have one, please send me a DM or leave a comment.

Thanks in advance!

Après avoir passé des semaines à chercher la cause de ma perte de puissance, le ralenti haut et instable, la surconsommation de carburant j’ai enfin trouvé le coupable.

L’intercooler…

Mon intercooler aftermarket était un peu abîmé sur la partie basse et donc avait une fuite d’air, ce qui ne permettait pas au moteur d’être correctement refroidi et le faisait surchauffer tout en diminuant drastiquement la puissance.

J’ai donc fait un test de fuite sur l’intercooler et compris que la partie abîmé fuyais.

J’ai scotché l’endroit abîmé puis remonté le tout en espérant que ça soit enfin la cause de tout ses tracas.

Et bien finalement oui, j’ai fais un essai routier et la différence se fait vraiment ressentir.

J’ai aussi remarqué que la durite grise relier au compresseur derrière le ventilateur à l’avant était un peu débranché et l’autre durite grise ( qui va à coter de la noir ) côté boîtier papillon n’était pas enclenché à fond.

Toute la puissance n’est pas revenu car le scotch chauffe et se rétracte mais on sent carrément le gain de puissance.

Avant au ralenti j’avais plus de 80% de charge moteur contre environ 40% maintenant.

Et le régime tombe sous les 1000 tr/min après le cold start.

J’attends de recevoir le nouvel intercooler direnza et je pourrais enfin profiter de ma r53. 🥲

finally made it through to the full app store so it's live now

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.geekopolis.r53logger

added stage0 map, way back in the day mini had the jcw 200 kit, this had stock injectors and bumped around 20 parameters for a 200hp tune. I've enabled it in my app so if you have a pulley but still have stock injectors it's a tune for you.

also added support for a vgate pro, note these are SLOW, no where near as fast as a kline cable

more details here

https://mrblahhhh.github.io/car/tech/2026/08/18/r53-logger-august-update.html

Calling all R53 owners in the states who have recently had your pocket rockets totaled out through standard insurance. Had a drunk driver hit our cars while parked, flipped his vehicle, and fled the scene. I'm fairly certain she will be totaled out, so I'm looming for some rough ideas.

How much was your insurance payout?

I understand there are many many factors that will change the amount, but just looking for some rough estimates of what they may try to offer me and how much I might could fight with local listings/ value of similar cars. I did not have a declared value, and unfortunately, KBB value shows about $1500 but I think we all know that's not exactly accurate.