Ride along and review of the CHEAPEST Mini Cooper S in the USA

The Mini Cooper project is complete! Here is a quick video and ride along of the car. Be sure to check out the rest of my videos on this car on my channel and stay tuned for more projects. Please subscribe!

[@TaylorSmithAutomotiveChannel]

Here is the link to the complete playlist for this Mini Cooper from start to finish. kzbin.info/aero/PLXESHawm04cOiRBud2I_E4ZTKvU_KuiPB

[@fredkemp6036]

I have a 2003 electric blue/black top. Bought it new in 2003 and still have it.

[@MMAFan20]

Good condition?

[@thespector8587]

How has maintenance been?

[@Ben-jq5oo]

Really enjoyable review :) The colour on this Mini is great too. Lucky fella to have a Dad who works with cars and you both share the joy.

[@DuckSherminator]

Subscribed, great video! No BS, straight to the point. Just got a 2004 (facelift) Cooper S, interior in the facelift models is a little less rattly, and general build quality really went up a notch. Gotta love the exhaust pops and the SC whine!

[@frankydaisukegiron9168]

I see them here in Japan aswell, they are loved by many .

[@monsieurdiecasts3393]

R53 owner here, great purchase. I would recommend to anybody considering the last 2 years of that generation 05-06 if you can, avoid earlier years like this one unless really cheap like this example . Also avoid the R56 S with the N14 turbo engine (07 to 11) at all cost!

[@MMAFan20]

Just got that engine what's the deal?

[@monsieurdiecasts3393]

A B A B Please read the threads on NAM (North American Motoring.com). I’ve never met an R56 owner without issues unfortunately. Granted the R53 has its own issues (Power steering fan, coolant expansion reservoir, valve cover gasket, front lower bushings, cheaply made oil dipstick) but all relatively minor compared to the oil starvation/carbon buildup issues often found with the N14 Peugeot Prince engine. Again, don’t take my word for it, please do yourself a favour and go on NAM and read the extensive owners write ups on that issue.

[@huetrojas1587]

@@monsieurdiecasts3393 my R55 was a nightmare, sadly I was already into the car for 10k buying it when I thought I got a deal at 60K miles and clean car fax history, that engine took a 5k dump on me Leaking turbo, leaking injectors, bad cat from all the fuel and oil dumping into the system. I am still thinking i might have a small leak in my head gasket but I am not seeing the signs of it, from a pressure test and coolant test. so now into the R55 n14 for 15k, 6k more then the value of the car currently.

[@nav3sux]

Fallen in love with mini after your honest review 🙏🏼

[@EnerGys-REAL-TALK]

This is a beautiful little car... And that dubstep music is great!

[@mohammadkamran5862]

Omg. I just love hearing the whine on my R53. I miss it so much since it’s parked for winter. 😓

[@M440iUK]

I am thinking about buying one just for fun, going to watch your videos and get an idea of what I'm going to get into.

[@BMCWorkshop]

Superb cars and love the colour. Loads of them here in the UK :)

[@bokijerebokan7838]

photos.app.goo.gl/Jp8EvKqkgUz8rzQU9

[@RedFlashFusion]

Definitely with regards to the R56 and F56, but I’d say the R53 isn’t so common nowadays

[@debbiepeter112]

@@RedFlashFusion Still plenty about

[@peskachina]

Beautiful mini! I love the sound

[@RanGer-498]

I purchased a turbo model used but wish would have purchased a supercharged one like I originally wanted ..I just love the wine noise.

[@mohammadkamran5862]

RanGer498 I fell in love with the whine too. So I only looked for the R53. Didn’t even wanna look at the 2nd gen.

[@calebhopkins7354]

I have a turbo charged one aswell and have a bov spacer on it so I'm happy with the turbo noise that comes with it

[@RanGer-498]

Caleb Hopkins I put a bov on mine as well ...but still wish I had the super charge wine.. well I do like my interior much more thow.

[@calebhopkins7354]

@@RanGer-498 fair enough

[@MMAFan20]

Ive had a supercharged SL55 previously. Came over to a turbo r56 and not sure if they got a blowoff valve on there or what but I LOVE the turbo noise more than my supercharged SL whine

[@EvendimataE]

i want to buy one because i find the body style very beautiful

[@MortifiedU]

Tricks.. 1. Hold down the open button on the keyfob, windows go down and sunroof opens to cool the car down in hot weather before you get in. 2. Hold the lock button and the windows and sunroof close 3. Glove box is air conditioned, acts like a fridge for drinks 4. Zero torque steer - if it is then something is wrong. 5. At 220km an hour (136 MPH) it sucks the ground and drives like you are doing 80km..

[@Millicente]

I'm looking to buy a used mini and I wish i had your mechanical know how to be able to judge these cars before purchase....

[@serventboyd1]

Millicente I’d like to buy it!!!! Please

[@josephbell428]

@@serventboyd1 he said he wants to buy one himself bro

[@ImBouttaBust69]

I just bought one for $900 with the 17’ pulley and some other upgrades. Love the way it drives. Didn’t expect it to have as much room as it does.

[@giovanniromulus116]

Where?

[@jzavala340]

Wow i love coopers it make me miss mine even more..!!

[@ivonned32]

Wonderful review. Thanks!

[@Fixingthingz4u]

This is a great review i liked your comment about the redbull mate great job !! from Australia

[@roctive]

These are really one of the best enthusiast cars out there. Good power, feels solid on the road. Worth the money and time in upkeep. More fun than my M3 and M5 around town. Get one.

[@vr6redline1]

That stage 3 clutch will wear out within 6 months to a year but you can use a solid clutch disc it'll smooth out the ride even with your single mass flywheel

[@Oyvind88]

Love that blower sound, want one😁😁👍👍

[@cabbagememes2852]

For a small car that sound of the supercharger is really good

[@simongentry]

sounds beautiful

[@andrewruby8003]

How did your dad get all of the small door dings out, my cooper has tons and have not figured out a good way to do so?

[@NYChemicalRomance]

Looking good.

[@brianbdawg3059]

The 2021 has a pretty good sound system and is pretty quick

[@MrBeerscuits]

Hey man, great video! I just got my driver's license, looking into buying this in Taiwan, what should I look about in terms of pre-purchase "need to know" if the car had this or that done. Also I was looking at some photos from a candidate, I noticed that the silver trim interior bits had those yellow tint stains of old plastic, do you know of these stains are easy to deal with? Thank you. Great video.

[@Jsauce8921]

I picked my 2006 up 2 years ago for 800 from Facebook market place. Nice car though! Love the R53!

[@petermoger8135]

Got myself an R53 for $1600. 90k miles. Needed a new cutch and blower, as well as a headliner and some other bits and bobs. I’m about 3k into in total. But it’s a great clean car now.

[@slyrhythm6471]

Love the car man!!!!

[@JuanTorres-ji6zn]

Great Car!!

[@ruicarson606]

lovely car

[@UTNO]

Just bought myself this car, 187k miles on it so far. Very happy with it. Stick shift R53 is a hidden gem.

[@ChunkyMonkey561]

hows it holding up

[@UTNO]

@@ChunkyMonkey561 208k Miles. Swapped alternator because i fried it with a double amplifier setup. Going to get new suspension soon. Passenger mirror cover knocked loose. Otherwise still a dream.

[@thrishulh9834]

How is it on maintainance

[@JB73691]

YEAH, I also found a CD in my use mini S. And once in an Audi A4 as well.

[@user-ii6lq1hx4q]

thanks for sharing

[@miguelteixeira7589]

Did somebody knows the name of the sound tha he plays on the car? Pleeeeease i cant find it anywhere 😆

[@_M_V_]

The interior flaws you pointed out are due to poor ownership from the previous owner. I have a 2006 model and they work perfectly.

[@Brad5161]

Exactly. I have none of those issues on my 2002 R53 with 177k.

[@caesarmonty1239]

Freaking awesome video thanks

[@brianflournoy7031]

if you need a project truck i got a 96 Nissan 4×4 XE . it runs but i think that i blew a ring or spun a bearing. I am not sure what the problem is and i dont have a place to tear it apart. if your interested I live borderline Long Beach and Compton, California

[@8bert9]

You are spot on about the torque steer. My mother has a 2011 S and the torque steer is bad. It has never been in a wreck, she is 2nd owner, the car is in phenomenal shape with 48,000 miles on it but the torque steer is really bad. Nice job you did on your Mini! Peace

[@justinmertz6408]

What a smoking deal!!!! I'm jelly!

[@CouchMan88]

Great deal for a fun little car. No matter what you buy if it is used you will have to put some money onto the car to get it perfect. That is why used cars with cheap repair parts are the best ones, if you don't mind getting your hands dirty you will save a lot of money. I do hear the Mini is a pain to work on and the parts are not very cheap however but for less that $1500, it's a steal.

[@user-cv8zo8cn8d]

Good Jamz Sir Guy

[@garrietaylor9519]

When does the in depth review start - your offer is 100% cosmetic

[@go7662]

Bought my 03 for 1100 yesterday aftermarket coils Gibson exhaust 17% supercharger pulley racing harness 3 piece wheels

[@dbachris8075]

my dad bought my mini cooper s for 1k from a friend with 300 in registration fees and its an amazing car to drive

[@RidingHumboldtCounty]

I have a 2011 s. I love this car. You’re making a mistake getting rid of it 🤣

[@MMAFan20]

Just got an S I'm LOVING it

[@ianpownall7072]

I live in U.K. The home of the mini. I've got a 2003 cooper, not a s model, just a 1.6 cooper. It's not the fastest car I've owned, but it's so much fun to drive. The chassis is so good. The car is so reliable, there so in expensive its ridiculous. If you want a fun little car? Buy one you'll not be disappointed.

[@alexnasiadka5140]

ian pownall they’re expensive there?? I got an R53 S for 4500 with 80k miles.. time to take a trip to the states!!

[@kitty051299]

@@alexnasiadka5140 inexpensive*

[@alexnasiadka5140]

Mary Elizabeth Bauer didn’t see that till now lol

[@monsieurdiecasts3393]

I guess anything is “reliable” when compared to Range Rovers and Jags 🙃 As far as the R53 being British...German parts with a Brazilian Chrysler engine, not much British about it aside from the name and optional British flag decals 🤣

[@hunterantwine4738]

If you do a 2nd gear pull get up to about 4K and it will pull pretty hard

[@itookyourcookiee]

I have an ‘03 and I put my cup in the back cup holder lol

[@Chriostopherbergs]

Have a 2013 S with the BMW Prince engine. Love it and hate it.

[@monsieurdiecasts3393]

Christopher Bergs the later years like yours are not as problematic as the 2007-2011 models thankfully

[@Kate-ue6ek]

I got my 2003 mini s for 1800 and it had a aftermarket exhaust and intake system and it's a pretty nice car, hasn't broken down yet so lmao

[@prettybaby80]

I love my Mercedes, but this is cute 😍

[@joykaiser8920]

Hi got also 2005 is that normal the klutsh so hard?

[@TaylorSmithAutomotiveChannel]

It is normal for a performance clutch. Nothing to worry about.

[@benjaminwimer5930]

I just bought a 2005 mini cooper s for a whole whopping 1500 bucks. You got me beat, but the front bushings were tore. That's it!

[@TaylorSmithAutomotiveChannel]

That's great! Mine definitely needed some serious work. Have fun with it!

[@benjaminwimer5930]

@@TaylorSmithAutomotiveChannel for sure! If you lived in the PNW. I'd love to meet up and go cruising!

[@TaylorSmithAutomotiveChannel]

@@benjaminwimer5930 I actually do! Up in Coeur d' Alene, ID. Unfortunately I actually sold the mini a few months back. I've still got some other project cars to cruise though.

[@benjaminwimer5930]

@@TaylorSmithAutomotiveChannel awesome! I'm 16 years young and I have 4 cars to myself. 4 are big projects of themselves! I'd love to swap info somehow and see about this summer maybe burn some rubber or anything!

[@benjaminwimer5930]

@@TaylorSmithAutomotiveChannel what is your insta?

[@mrhades6420]

I want one of these because it's tiny and hopefully in the future I'll Vtech swap it.

[@MichaelRenardson]

CD is playing Holy Goof Air 😂

[@pictishwolf7]

I'd like to know if you recouped your outlays on this. Pretty good quality videos. Sad to hear you're selling it because TBH, it's really the only reason I subbed.

[@TaylorSmithAutomotiveChannel]

PictishWolf I ended up selling the car for $3,900, so I made a little bit of money. Thank you for the comment. I will be starting another project shortly but will be more of an American muscle situation.

[@pictishwolf7]

@@TaylorSmithAutomotiveChannel Thanks for the quick response and the info you provided in your previous vids. I wish you well on your future endeavors.

[@turtlefactory]

I bought a running one for $1000. Great buy Taylor!

[@streetlife8244]

Nice I bought one for $1,900

[@5v498]

Very nice pocket rocket , ask dad to colour code the grey plastic dash it will look better

[@jaratt85]

I have to ask, are you in NorCal? Looks a lot like the area around Lincoln/Nicolaus/Pleasant Grove

[@TaylorSmithAutomotiveChannel]

J.A.Ratt85 I am actually in North Idaho. Ironically, I am from Northern California originally.

[@jaratt85]

@@TaylorSmithAutomotiveChannel lol funny how much it looks like here.. at least when everything is dead. I'm planning on getting a mini because good mileage without sounding like a rice burner and I'm 6'10, though thanks to kyphosis and scoliosis I typically stand about 6'6.. with the seat leaned back a little and all the way down I actually fit in these cars pretty well.. And with their gokart like handling, they will be a trip up in the Sierra Nevada foothills.

[@ArmedCivilian556]

Just saw your video curious if you still have the Mini Cooper

[@TaylorSmithAutomotiveChannel]

Kustomconcealment I sold it back in the fall of 2018. I kind of miss it sometimes!

[@exoticvibes8419]

nice video

[@jib3583]

Sofe blue...i love it..#to my wife new car this year(2014)

[@miguelteixeira7589]

Beautiful car bro 😁 for the price its a bargain . In my country the same car (cooper s r53) cost 9-12000 k euros rigthnow .

[@bulldurham2465]

Got my Cooper at the beginning of the year.....It is a Love Hate relationship. My 1996 Nissan 240sx got crushed when it snowed and the garage fell on it and crushed it. So I got this car from a couple that Trump did not let stay in the country. It is fun fun fun to drive. Great Sound system. But driving up mountain road...……...LOL. Keep it on flat land.

[@exoticvibes8419]

So finally is it a good car worth it to give in 2019 5000$ for a mini cooper s 2006 good condition???Is there any possibility to be lucky and avoid easy damages ?or is a pain in the ass?

[@TaylorSmithAutomotiveChannel]

I ended up selling mine for $3,900. If the 2006 you are thinking about is a lower mileage example with a good maintenance history, I would say $5,000 would be fair. Mine had 154,000 miles and was neglected pretty badly, which is why I basically had to bring it back from the dead. All in all, I really liked the car and would recommend one to anybody looking for a small performance car on a budget. I have seen many examples of these R53 Minis going well over 200,000 miles when maintained properly. If you are mechanically inclined, you shouldn't have many costly repair expenses. However, if you don't do your own work, I would anticipate spending quite a bit of money on repairs with a good european mechanic. A local shop quoted me $1,600 to replace the clutch in mine. Needless to say, that is why I did it myself.

[@CarlsGarage1]

how come it sounds like a supercharger?

[@paulwinge4173]

Because it HAS a supercharger.

[@gbeso1]

For the money that you’re into that car specially dialed in at 200 hp and reliable it’s almost insane to sell when it can just sit there and be a perfect little zip around get errands done fun car… loved the video I until the end…

[@toddrobertson1398]

Damn it I miss my Mini Cooper and my cooper s :(

[@kavinadvani7217]

Todd Robertson me too!!!

[@adammeany7807]

The new "Hoovie"

[@SkepticCat-pz1zz]

The 2003 mini brand was owned by BMW, pretty sure the motor and other parts were by Peugeot which is why I bought the 2014 F56 100% BMW the engine is from the 328i 330i series. Either way that was a great buy!

[@debbiepeter112]

2003 mini engine was I collaboration with Chysler. 2nd gen was with Peugeot/Citroen I believe

[@theartofwanderlust]

The factory deck is made by alpine

[@danielblue5089]

$500 for my 2008 R56 Cooper S. Only needed an alt belt. Clean title clean carfax

[@trackar134]

Fun cars, bought my 2003 S for 1000, only 42k miles

[@MMAFan20]

No way! How was the condition

[@trackar134]

Car was super clean, it was my bosses car and they didn’t want to deal with it when it wouldn’t start one day. The cause... dirty battery terminals. Started right up once they were cleaned and have put about 3k miles since then no issues

[@DuggleBogey]

You just made me remember that when I sold my 2006 Mini I left a CD in the player too.

[@christene93]

I want to buy a mini Cooper like this one. It look goods but I'm not handy sadly Is it manual or automatic?

[@TaylorSmithAutomotiveChannel]

christene93 they are very fun cars! Fortunately you can get one that is in excellent condition fairly inexpensively these days.

[@okbc1864]

He says it needed a clutch so manual transmission

[@perryreasch1499]

he put a clutch in it

[@mohammadkamran5862]

Unfortunately you do need to be handy to own one. Otherwise you’ll pay a lot to mechanics to fix small problems

[@monsieurdiecasts3393]

Mohammad Kamran I agree with you, preventive maintenance is key as it is with any BMW product. This is not like my ‘95 Accord where you could skip an oil change or two and it wouldn’t matter

[@estergrant6713]

yo wtf that car looks brand spankin new

[@hollandbelyea6022]

I just bought a 2007 Mini Cooper s in mint condition and all it needs is a timing chain for 500$ ca

[@Budget-Cars-And-Bikes]

These have become the poor Mans little racer now, I picked up a 2002 for around $1500 but it needed no work and had amazing spec including factory GPS (check my video's) that supercharger whine is not a stock sound BTW, and yours may have had a mid-box delete on the exhaust, as mine didn't sound that good. Interior rattles drove me insane too! as did the steering wheel controls (they put them behind the wheel so you can't see them - it's all by touch) the amount of "Common Faults" is not good on these either, but they are that cheap now, if you know your way around cars, these little cars are a whole heap of fun on a budget :)

[@monsieurdiecasts3393]

Budget Bucket List Cars And Bikes it’s my “cheap 911” as I like to call it 🙃

[@jackbenson4966]

Wow took me till 9:00 minutes before I was like holy crap this is in post falls haha I thought earlier in the video it was but at 9 minutes I was 100% sure

[@928Porscheman]

You realize that the BMW MINI is actually made in Oxford England just as it has always been for the past 60 years. The only difference is that BMW invested 900million in making the factory almost fully robotic. The MINI brand is very different from the BMW brand and until recently did not use BMW german made engines.(the F series uses BMW made engines)

[@realMaverickBuckley]

The Tritec was also built by Rover with BMW consultancy. Rover suggested using an updated and supercharged version of the legendary K series engine which made more power than the tritec/Triton engine and was a twin cam. But BMW wanted an 'all new' engine. Kind of a shame but the engine us pretty bloody bomb proof. Bang a 20% pulley in there, cat cam, airtec stage 3 intercooler, water injection and a remap and you've got 240+ BHP and many torques for not alot.

[@paulwinge4173]

The Mini started production in 1959 in Longbridge, not Oxford.

[@toadwiiremotewithwiimotion7892]

The Mini Cooper are reliable cars??

[@ourtime-downhere6931]

Ymir Build walls mine has been impossibly reliable, 204,000 miles with one power steering pump replaced, other than regular breaks and oil changes that's been it. Most reliable car I've ever owned.

[@dwayneblenkinsopp1095]

well my mini is a gem

[@holyroller4u]

ha ha im watching this video and I notice your on Hayden avenue bro. I live out at Hauser lake and am lookin to buy a mini. Whats the odds I see this lol

[@TaylorSmithAutomotiveChannel]

Small world haha! I sold my Mini not long after I made this video, but it was a cool car for such a low price!

[@kimisdaman]

The stock intake/filter just about completely masks the intake noise from the interior. Removing the box that encloses the intake and installing a cone filter makes the intake noises very audible.

[@Migginator28]

I heard every mini cooper comes with that cd

[@jariol]

According to KBB my working fine 2002 Electric Blue Cooper S has a value of $375. So maybe yours isn't the cheapest. But I did just spend $1500 on a bunch of service

[@channyproduction4879]

You know what’s crazy I bought mine with a house music Cd 💿 🤣

[@antprice8826]

Quite a few blow head gaskets after 50 odd thousand miles so I’ve seen, the aluminium heads are cheap and nasty along with many other parts, I do like the old minis though, had a couple.

[@rolandvasquez1351]

Just bought one for 1280 , clutch needed as well. Lol

[@crispy-steven2076]

Lol for the ceedeeznuts disc

[@scottreid2417]

Paid 1500 for my 2003, got me by 50 bucks pal. You win.

[@anonymousyt9520]

Mine was 1300 mini cooper s 2004

[@guvnor035]

Did he call it a bmw

[@SUMMIT556]

Haha you were driving down Hayden ave

[@carkid3025]

I just bought the cheapest Mini Cooper S supercharged model last night for $1,000

[@nickdarnell39]

car kid302 hey me too! Lol

[@theartofwanderlust]

car kid302 I bought mine new, payed way more than that lol. Gives you lots of room to upgrade the car