Can I get this Mini drivable by the end of this video?

The todo list on the Mini Cooper S R53 is still massive. In this video I'm going to see how far through the list I can get.
Whole range of tasks, such as: tightening ball joints, replacing steering knuckle, new top mounts, bleed abs, clear lights on the dash etc etc.
🍺 😎 If you're enjoying the content then feel free to buy me a beer (or two). Just use this link:
www.buymeacoff...
Gimme a follow on Instagram:
/ ninorosella

[@MrHead65]

There’s something oddly relaxing about these videos. I know absolutely nothing about car mechanics but somehow just watching any one of them that the algorithm throws up at random transports me to a meditative place. Something to do with watching someone at work, repairing, creating, being productive. Seductive stuff…

[@nickshootsminis]

Looks SO GOOD on those wheels!

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Thanks, Nick. I’m inclined to agree with you. I think those spacers make it just right 👌🏻

[@tomtalk24]

No better feeling that finally getting some of those lights sorted.

[@TheMutley001]

Only just found your channel mate and this story of your work on the Mini has had me hooked and have binged watched it all day today. Like you I have had no past experience and have just bought a classic mini to work on with my son. Your videos have now inspired my to try something more modern - I’ll be looking at a bmw mini soon! Well done and thank you for producing this!

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

That's great to hear! Good luck with the project. Eagerly awaiting the day my son is old enough to start working on cars with me 😁

[@1sapphie]

I gotta say what you have achieved with your car is very impressive 👍🙂

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Thanks bud 👍🏻

[@AnthonyAshcroft]

If you intend to play with older cars in the future, get yourself a big impact wrench (think 1000Nm) they will save you soo much time and effort. Also take a look at at k-can cable and INPA, that gives you way more options than the icarsoft unit. Keep up the good work

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Yeah got one on the list, but I’ve spent so much money on tools just recently that I’m having to prioritise what I buy. Elbow grease will have to suffice for now. Downloaded a copy of INPA, just need to get one of those cables and hope my ancient Windows laptop can cope with it all 👍🏻

[@AnthonyAshcroft]

@@NotEconomicallyViable where abouts are you based? If local I’m happy to help with my laptop/cable.

[@markevns9983]

I use a dewalt 899. 1625 Nm . Never come across a bolt it couldn't remove

[@artfulbodger..2143]

Like a cat who's just got the cream.. The Wheels really do it justice too.. Goes very well with the white roof.. You have picked up so much, you whipped through changing the steering hub and top mount, without any problems.. You're facial expressions though during the process.. Priceless 😄😄

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Haha cheers bud. I’m definitely getting quicker and more confident. Suppose that’s what you get with practice!

[@artfulbodger..2143]

@Nino Rosella sure is mate.. Sad thing is, the work on the mini is almost at an end.. So will there be another different car revival on the cards?.. I do hope so!

[@damienoneill4355]

Huzzah. Chuffed for you fella. Hope the MOT is OK ...you deserve it. What a journey, and I look forward to many more. You have given me confidence to try a few things on my own cars. I mean that in the nicest way possible 😎

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Thanks, Damien 🙏🏻 I’ve said before in a couple of videos that if just one person gets inspired to work on cars then my mission is complete. Makes me happy to know you’re wanting to give it a try!

[@ravenhhca]

Well done from Canada

[@s9enny]

Iv the same impact wrench and find it much better with a 4amp hr battery 👍

[@markevns9983]

Dam,that was a mean cliff hanger!!

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

😬😬😅😅

[@Mistermister56774]

Nino the Boss!

[@leperri352]

you look proper made up that its on the floor again. well done the car looks amazing

[@anthonyhawkins9239]

Well done 👍, looking sweet on those wheels 👍, sounding good also 👍, give yourself a pat on the back 👍

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Cheers bud 👍🏻

[@Thorningdustries]

Good work mate she’s a beauty on those wheels! BEPs are stunners. Fingers crossed for the MOT. The bumper fixings kit, could I ask what the part number for that was? The bumper on my project car was only held on with two screws 😂 that kit would be spot on.

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Thanks for that, David. Part number for the bumper fixings kit is: 51112311958. Quite a few available on eBay for around £30 👍🏻

[@mtfulemming]

Happy for you Nino! Can't wait to see your expressions when you get it on the road. Are you sure you tightened that bolt?

[@smithiestrackmini]

Oh man, every time, no matter what the job I spend the next 200 miles listening for loose stuff lol

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Haha don’t do that to me. I’m only 50% sure that 80% of the bolts are tightened 😅😅

[@GeorgeAusters]

Need to get yourself a decent impact wrench mate, no need for a breaker bar then!

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

It’s on the list mate. Spent so much money on tools that I have to prioritise specialist tools over ones which save burning a few calories

[@smithiestrackmini]

Not all minis need the ABS bleed routine done... Power bleeder will suffice in this instance I think. Did for mine anyways.... 👍

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Good to know. The pedal feels decent. Will have to take it for a spin and see what it’s like 👍🏻

[@andrewmansbridge1491]

Nico, the slave cylinders on R53’s are terrible so don’t lose faith. However you must use the technic of pressing it, then pressurising the hydraulic line, then releasing the compression. Ensure the bleed nipple if right at the top. It’s a crap design and I remember getting really annoyed but the only way i got it to bleed was as described above. Don’t forget, Mod Mini had a video on it

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Yeah they’re awful. Feeling confident I can sort these slave cylinders now though 👍🏻

[@londoncentral]

If it was Snowing and the roads were icy!!!! You could lock the wheels up , forcing the ABS pump to bleed Nino 😉🤣🤣 Great video again fella.

[@GoWstingray]

Well done mate! Someone's already mentions INPA, to be honest your better off with your old laptop with that as i think it you will have a nightmare if not using i think windows 7 or even XP, ISTA/D is the newer replacement. You may not have to bleed the ABS pump unless you let the fluid drain... Ask me how i know! It took a lot of messing with VCDS to get it to complete on my old A3, if you want less messing perhaps Carly could do it but i haven't looked into it. Just one thing i noticed but you may of done it, did you lock the drive shaft nut using a drift and a hammer, i know there is a nylon locking version but think you have the normal type? Cheers

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Thanks mate. Yeah that laptop of mine is still on Windows 7, so think I’m gonna get one of those interface cables off eBay and just use INPA. I used a hammer and drift to lock the wheel nuts 👍🏻

[@shaneahern795]

Why did you not do the front discs at the same time so you do not have to take everything off again that looks like you have done the process was other parts about three times or more👍😂

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Haha the reason is money! Having to prioritise where I spend cash (as I’ve spent so much on this car 😬)

[@paulmarsh5856]

If you can't remember where certain things go back (cable routing/s etc), take lots of photos before dismantling !!! Common sense eh ???

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

He who never made a mistake never made anything

[@ianrimmer1968]

Love your perseverance mate. We all make mistakes but the trick is to learn from them, and you have. Great to see the car back together again. 👍😀

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Yeah couldn’t agree more mate - making mistakes is all part of the process!

[@Badger66]

Decided I need a bigger hammer! :) Nice one....

[@agnosticevolutionist3567]

Why,

[@ekbseries]

Over the moon to see it back in the ground, I’m enjoying watching this series so much, you’re doing so well mate. Can’t wait to see it go through an mot. You’ve clearly picked up a lot of skills throughout too, as you flew through that list.

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Cheers bud 🙏🏻 Yeah, I’m definitely picking up some skills. The more work I do the more confident I’m getting. That’s practise for you I suppose!

[@neilstanghanstanghan4980]

Really, really well done! I am so enjoying this series. Its inspiring.

[@joeg8186]

Well hopefully it's done ,now on to the next one ,😄

[@EssexSilvering]

Great video, ... Been watching a few of yours now because I am about to do the dreaded clutch slave cylinder myself on my girlfriends car. She only has the Cooper and not the Cooper S like mine and yours so it's the same cylinder but located under the battery under the bonnet. This will be interesting to see how I deal with this, fingers crossed lol .... The other comment I was going to say was when I was watching you with that tiny hacksaw, I felt like grabbing hold of my angle grinder and passing to you through the screen and saying ''Look mate, try this, it's bloody easier'' lol ..... Well done though, I'm enjoying your videos, keep up the good work ;-)

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Haha you're not the first person to comment about getting a grinder...or a better torque wrench etc. I'm just having to prioritise which tools I buy at the minute due to money. Saving the cash for specialist tools rather than ones that just save me a bit of effort

[@geraldinejeffersonjefferso6351]

Great Job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@joshmerrick4716]

Those wheels look mint

[@vspencer9764]

I’ve found the best code reader for BMW minis on the cheap is the creator c110 or the c310 .. I’ve the C310 and the only real difference is the cover and these can be had for around £40. I’ve used mine to diagnose many a fault on R50’s but look on the bright side at least the tyre pressure monitor didn’t show up a flat lol. Some of those cheap Chinese code readers aren’t bad as I’ve a clone VAG one that cost £10 on eBay and it’s saved me fortune.

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Ahh that’s good to know. Will take a look at those readers 👍🏻

[@londoncentral]

Where did you get all your Torque settings from Nino? Got a similar work schedule soon on my R52 👍😎

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Someone on one of the Mini forums compiled them into a list from the Bentley manual. I've uploaded it here for you bud: we.tl/t-L4GwMXZdI9

[@paulburgess1455]

When you started hammering the abs sensor I was like "Just drill it out" and then you got the drill out, nice to see it back on the ground

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Haha most of that is laziness. My shed is so far away from where the car is I just use what I have to hand first 😅

[@charlietraquair6866]

Jeez Nino, I was welling up there pal, so chuffed for you

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Cheers bud

[@jonb8241]

14:12 ... Need to work on your 'spacial awareness' ... not the first time lol ;-) ... great work and Video.

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

I’ll add it to the list of things I need to work on 😂

[@nickshootsminis]

It's a baldy thing. We don't have our proximity sensors anymore. I bash my head loads because I can't feel how close I am to stuff

[@londoncentral]

Another great video again 👍👍👍

[@NotEconomicallyViable]

Cheers Paul