Our Electric Blue R53

Herbert Austin · 3rd April 2009, 02:08 AM

As our 1998 Mini Cooper Sports Le had turned 105,000 miles we thought it was time to put it on a classic car insurance policy and seek out another everyday car.

We toyed with the idea of a new R56 MINI Cooper S, but when we test drove one of the last R53 supercharged Cooper S MINIs we were hooked on the supercharger whine

Edwina wanted 'Electric Blue' and I wanted an Aerokit, we both wanted as young a MINI as possible with low mileage.

We found this MINI Cooper S in the Country Garage in Ballymena, it is Electric Blue, had low miles and already had the Aerokit fitted, so was exactly what we were looking for.

As soon as we collected the MINI the personalising started, before it had even left the show room! (I've got a touch carried away as its only been 1 year since we bought it )

I have try to restrict any changes to genuine MINI parts, or parts that have that OEM look as I want the MINI to look as though it could have left the factory this way.

We have taken our 1998 Mini Cooper Sports Le to various shows and locations across Ireland, Scotland, England, France and Switzerland.

We have attended local Irish shows in this Cooper S and the MINI factory at Cowley, the Great Mini Meet at the Haynes Motor Museum and took it to Jersey for a holiday

Herbert Austin · 3rd April 2009, 02:09 AM

The day we collected it

Dechromed waistline

Mini Pirate rear decals

JCW spoiler and dechomed taillights

Herbert Austin · 3rd April 2009, 02:09 AM

Mini & MINI in the snow

Under the bonnet

MINI plant Oxford

At Corbiere light house in Jersey

Herbert Austin · 3rd April 2009, 02:10 AM

Made another change

I'm pleased for a first effort, I might have another go with the emblems I removed.

Herbert Austin · 3rd April 2009, 02:10 AM

Eibac springs fitted

I was surprised how many folks I had a chat with at shows didn't know that the Cooper Ss were supercharged.
So I thought I would advertise the fact

Herbert Austin · 3rd April 2009, 02:11 AM

I had the MINI on a rolling road after my changes.

I have JCW airbox (de-flapped) with an ITG air filter, forge intercooler, milltek cat back, denso plugs, and a 15% pulley.

I was chuffed with the result yesterday as back in May with just the airbox & exhaust I was only getting around the 167/168 mark.

Herbert Austin- Andy
MINI Cooper S
209.1 bhp @ 6686 rpm
181.9 lbft @ 3810 rpm

Herbert Austin · 3rd April 2009, 02:12 AM

I spotted a bargain that was advertised very close to me and not on eBay for a change

Since my Mk2 Golf days I have always loved BBS rims and when I spotted Uncle Albert's Cooper S running on a set of BBS RCs I knew that was the style I wanted.

Herbert Austin · 3rd April 2009, 02:12 AM

Here are my most recent additions:

Some lovely road dirty

I decided to remove this recent addition and go for a mat black number plate recess.

Herbert Austin · 3rd April 2009, 02:13 AM

I added some more bracing under the bonnet, along with an M7 MINI air diverter

And the fiddly bit was changing the standard silver dials & orange needles for some custom black ones with white needles.

Sportspack Mark · 3rd April 2009, 08:22 AM

cracking wagon Andy, just beaut

love the speedo and rev counter

3rd April 2009, 02:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
Herbert Austin Sheriff Si's Deputy Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Norn Iron ............... so I am Posts: 3,864 Thanks: 470 Thanked 500 Times in 390 Posts	Our Electric Blue R53's As our 1998 Mini Cooper Sports Le had turned 105,000 miles we thought it was time to put it on a classic car insurance policy and seek out another everyday car. We toyed with the idea of a new R56 MINI Cooper S, but when we test drove one of the last R53 supercharged Cooper S MINIs we were hooked on the supercharger whine Edwina wanted 'Electric Blue' and I wanted an Aerokit, we both wanted as young a MINI as possible with low mileage. We found this MINI Cooper S in the Country Garage in Ballymena, it is Electric Blue, had low miles and already had the Aerokit fitted, so was exactly what we were looking for. As soon as we collected the MINI the personalising started, before it had even left the show room! (I've got a touch carried away as its only been 1 year since we bought it ) I have try to restrict any changes to genuine MINI parts, or parts that have that OEM look as I want the MINI to look as though it could have left the factory this way. We have taken our 1998 Mini Cooper Sports Le to various shows and locations across Ireland, Scotland, England, France and Switzerland. We have attended local Irish shows in this Cooper S and the MINI factory at Cowley, the Great Mini Meet at the Haynes Motor Museum and took it to Jersey for a holiday Last edited by Herbert Austin; 13th September 2009 at 04:54 PM.

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3rd April 2009, 02:09 AM	#2 (permalink)
Herbert Austin Sheriff Si's Deputy Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Norn Iron ............... so I am Posts: 3,864 Thanks: 470 Thanked 500 Times in 390 Posts	The day we collected it Dechromed waistline Mini Pirate rear decals JCW spoiler and dechomed taillights

3rd April 2009, 02:09 AM	#3 (permalink)
Herbert Austin Sheriff Si's Deputy Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Norn Iron ............... so I am Posts: 3,864 Thanks: 470 Thanked 500 Times in 390 Posts	Mini & MINI in the snow Under the bonnet MINI plant Oxford At Corbiere light house in Jersey

3rd April 2009, 02:10 AM	#4 (permalink)
Herbert Austin Sheriff Si's Deputy Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Norn Iron ............... so I am Posts: 3,864 Thanks: 470 Thanked 500 Times in 390 Posts	Made another change I'm pleased for a first effort, I might have another go with the emblems I removed.

3rd April 2009, 02:10 AM	#5 (permalink)
Herbert Austin Sheriff Si's Deputy Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Norn Iron ............... so I am Posts: 3,864 Thanks: 470 Thanked 500 Times in 390 Posts	Eibac springs fitted I was surprised how many folks I had a chat with at shows didn't know that the Cooper Ss were supercharged. So I thought I would advertise the fact

3rd April 2009, 02:11 AM	#6 (permalink)
Herbert Austin Sheriff Si's Deputy Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Norn Iron ............... so I am Posts: 3,864 Thanks: 470 Thanked 500 Times in 390 Posts	I had the MINI on a rolling road after my changes. I have JCW airbox (de-flapped) with an ITG air filter, forge intercooler, milltek cat back, denso plugs, and a 15% pulley. I was chuffed with the result yesterday as back in May with just the airbox & exhaust I was only getting around the 167/168 mark. Herbert Austin- Andy MINI Cooper S 209.1 bhp @ 6686 rpm 181.9 lbft @ 3810 rpm

3rd April 2009, 02:12 AM	#7 (permalink)
Herbert Austin Sheriff Si's Deputy Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Norn Iron ............... so I am Posts: 3,864 Thanks: 470 Thanked 500 Times in 390 Posts	I spotted a bargain that was advertised very close to me and not on eBay for a change Since my Mk2 Golf days I have always loved BBS rims and when I spotted Uncle Albert's Cooper S running on a set of BBS RCs I knew that was the style I wanted.

3rd April 2009, 02:12 AM	#8 (permalink)
Herbert Austin Sheriff Si's Deputy Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Norn Iron ............... so I am Posts: 3,864 Thanks: 470 Thanked 500 Times in 390 Posts	Here are my most recent additions: Some lovely road dirty I decided to remove this recent addition and go for a mat black number plate recess.

3rd April 2009, 02:13 AM	#9 (permalink)
Herbert Austin Sheriff Si's Deputy Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Norn Iron ............... so I am Posts: 3,864 Thanks: 470 Thanked 500 Times in 390 Posts	I added some more bracing under the bonnet, along with an M7 MINI air diverter And the fiddly bit was changing the standard silver dials & orange needles for some custom black ones with white needles.