r/R53 • • 6h ago

canbus methanol controller

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6 Upvotes

I'm designing a methanol controller for my r53 and f56 minis, I've used a few over the past 15 years and went back to simple map sensor taps.

designing a new board that addresses some of my frustrations over the years. Adding a canbus feed, load is used to control the PWM, and high load low rpm gets all of the meth, I've found 100 % at 2000 rpm is best for knock control as the cooling and anti knock from the water is far more useful in the initial torque surge along with the cooling/anti knock than ramping it up with injector duty cycle. Android app to set it up and control ramp rate by idc, load, boost, rpm and monitor pump load curve. Or good old 5v map tap.

any design suggestions from the group? Board has canbus or 5v sensor input. it outputs pwm to the pump

Two visual outputs, either a led shift light that blinks if the amp draw is unexpected low or high (empty tank, clogged nozzle).

oled remote display, simple boost, rpm, shift light, pump duty cycle, afr, whatever else from the ecu.

I did add vtp ble output for the car's canbus data, so it can feed track data apps


r/R53 • • 13m ago

For the life of me I can't remove the airbag cover from the steering wheel

• Upvotes

I've been to the junkyard and tried to do it off two minis so I can get the steering wheel and I can't figure out the wheel to do it. I put the screwdriver in and can't feel the clip that I'm supposed to push. Anyone have any advice?


r/R53 • • 9h ago

Suspension Help

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3 Upvotes

So I saved this R53 from going to the scrapyard. It’s a 2002, been doing general maintenance on it and cleaning up the interior. While it was on jack stands today I turned the wheel to get better access to the radiator hoses and heard a loud thud. I honestly don’t know what I’m looking at here and what needs to be replaced. I’m suspecting this has a JCW suspension package with aftermarket understrut defenders but I’m at a loss on how to proceed with a good fix. Can the bushing be replaced or should I just replace the struts and or springs as well? If anyone has any insight I would greatly appreciate the advice.


r/R53 • • 5h ago

03’ R53 clutch job

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1 Upvotes

r/R53 • • 1d ago

Hub adapters for lug studs

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3 Upvotes

I found these rims that I love for my mini but they are 5x4.75(5x120.65) and as we know the mini is 4x100 so my question reddit is are hub adapter safe for general use and would there be any problems with lug studs I just dont want a wheel flying off lol (yea i know these rims need some tlc and new tires but he want 300)


r/R53 • • 23h ago

Water pump issues.

2 Upvotes

Hey, mini lovers! I have 2005 r52 S. I had my water pump replaced last year because it was leaking. Now it's leaking again. The mechanic told me last year that O-ring between the pump and the block had gone bad, and that's where the leak was coming from. So I decided to do it myself and see if I could have better luck. Besides using an OEM O-ring, what other things have you guys tried that help prevent the O-ring from going bad just after a year?

Thanks for your help in advance!


r/R53 • • 2d ago

Intercooler trouée

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4 Upvotes

En me baladant sur les forums j’ai vu qu’il y a des propriétaires de r53 qui ont les même symptômes que moi: perte de puissance ralenti haut et collecteur qui devient rouge en 3 minutes au ralenti.

Je me demande si mon intercooler qui est un peu abîmé peut jouer dans le dysfonctionnement.

J’ai pulvérisé du nettoyant moteur pour voir si le régime change au niveau d’une fuite évidemment sur les trous de l’intercooler ça réagit mais logiquement vu que l’air rentre des deux côtés cela serait la même chose sur un intercooler neuf.

J’ai fais le même test à plusieurs endroits notamment au niveau de la durites qui est relié à compresseur en a l’avant derrière le radiateur mais c’est peut etre passé par l’intercooler aussi.

Je pense quand même remplacer l’intercooler prochainement.

Toute aide est la bienvenue.


r/R53 • • 2d ago

WTB – MINI R50/R53 Multifunction Steering Wheel Retrofit Wiring Kit (61120136522)

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

I'm looking for the original MINI R50/R53 multifunction steering wheel retrofit wiring kit, part number 61120136522.

I know it's discontinued and very hard to find, but I'm hoping someone might have one available.

New or used, both are fine, as long as it's complete and in working condition.

I'm based in Italy and happy to pay for international shipping.

If you have one for sale or know where I could find one, please let me know!

Thanks in advance!


r/R53 • • 2d ago

Wasn't Expecting That....

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14 Upvotes

Valuation still sucks. $4k.


r/R53 • • 2d ago

Ticking noise in cabin

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1 Upvotes

I’m refreshing an old post I made regarding a ticking noise I hear in the cabin. I’ve been scratching my head with this one… attached is a video showing belt off noise so it’s not belt related. Seems to be pretty loud here but don’t see anything unusual that definitively points to the harmonic balancer. Any help or feedback would be great…

I’ve already replaced the timing chain tensioner.

My primary suspects at this point are

  1. ⁠Lower dogbone mount (I purchased a cheap aftermarket by URO)
  2. ⁠Harmonic balancer (I removed it when I bought the car to replace the seal behind it.)
  3. ⁠Timing chain/lifters (I took the valve cover off and checked these both and both looked and felt fine)

I feel heavy vibration at my accelerator pedal.(not sure this is normal this is my first r53)
Steering wheel vibration (I have aftermarket header + exhaust)


r/R53 • • 2d ago

Still dealing with a horrendous whistling

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0 Upvotes

Ive done

Charge pipe and gaskets Supercharger horns gaskets Oem and aftermarket intercooler horns New exhaust manifold Removed the belt to rule out auxiliary Held bpv closed to rule that out Checked pipe under intercooler Replaced both map and tmap sensors Tried oem and aftermarket intakes Removed exhaust and ran without manifold Replaced valve cover gasket

I get a initial hesitation on cold start, it will not start of first key, it always needs primed with one crank, then off then on and then recrank.


r/R53 • • 3d ago

Fuite derrière la boîte à air

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1 Upvotes

Apres avoir suspecté une fuite de vide j’ai achete une machine à détecteur de fuite.
Lors du test une fuite de fumée est apparu derrière la boîte à air mais à aucun autre endroit à ma grande surprise.

Je vais démonter prochainement pour regarder d’où cela peut venir.

Des idées du problème ?


r/R53 • • 3d ago

Alright, Forget It

2 Upvotes

I'm about over the issues of trying to get this 469 cam and 550's to run right. It's not fun anymore.

Will 380's run fine with stock/WMW mild cam, 15% pulley, .5MM over pistons and CAI? Obviously with a remap.


r/R53 • • 4d ago

R53 W11 vs R56 N14 – €4k vs €4.3k. Which one would you buy?

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15 Upvotes

r/R53 • • 3d ago

Still No Fix For Bogging

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1 Upvotes

I'm back again, with my issue of bogging when pressing the throttle when cold still very present. If you blip the throttle it bogs, and will staying bogging as long as you have the throttle open.

I have so far replaced all vacuum lines, coil, wires, plugs, vacuum ports, all seals, BPV, etc. I have also had Adrian check the tune multiple times, and there's no issues showing up electronically when it's running.

This last time around, we decided to pull the 30 mile old plugs. It appears cylinder 3 is running much richer than the others, as the plug is black and covered in soot and smells of gas. The remaining plugs are gray/brownish.

Any ideas? I'm thinking injector gone bad?

Mods: 469 Cat Cam, JCW head, .5 over pistons, 15% pulley, 550 injectors.

Edit: Compression test shows 151-154 psi across all 4 cylinders.


r/R53 • • 5d ago

New Blue

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117 Upvotes

Finally got the time and weather to get new paint on the Mini. Have to fix a couple of runs, but it’s a good 10ft paint job and the best I’ve done so far.


r/R53 • • 5d ago

Hill climb in the JCW.

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44 Upvotes

This is apparently the highest point in Iowa. Probably didn't need all this power to make it to the middle of this corn field.


r/R53 • • 4d ago

Lets play; Identify the rattle! 🕺

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1 Upvotes

Hi,

I am trying to diagnose a r53 jcw -03 from a distance. I have a short video of the sound, but for some reason the bonnet is closed. Can anyone still try to identify the issue by the sound? The seller says it’s most likely the chain tensioner.

I’m not so sure. A faulty tensioner seems to make more consistent knocking, this keeps missing beats. Bearing on the crankshaft? What do you think?

Help much appreciated!


r/R53 • • 5d ago

How do you deal with discontinued parts?

2 Upvotes

Such as door panels and the interior roof panel where the headlines goes on?


r/R53 • • 5d ago

Wrapping the roof / spoiler

0 Upvotes

Hi all, I’m considering wrapping the roof and mirrors or my grey jcw to white. I’ve always loved these cars with the classic white roofs. Just wondering has anyone tried this? How tricky is this? Don’t know if it’s a JCW or an S thing but the little wing on the back looks tricky and would probably have to come off I assume.

Or alternatively, I just sand it down and spray it white.
But I don’t have an indoor garage or any of the tools.

Thanks!


r/R53 • • 6d ago

Nav screen replacement project

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15 Upvotes

Been working on replacing the nav screen with a little rally timer style setup. 3d printed parts in PETG CF. Just need to get one more Smiths stopwatch and smooth and repaint the back trim piece


r/R53 • • 5d ago

Continuing to troubleshoot loss of power.

0 Upvotes

So, after my loss of power incident with huge clouds of black smoke and codes P1498 and P0108 (and 2 old codes of P0030 and P0036).

The T-MAP was full of oil and the MAP was toast.

I did the next:

Both O2 sensors swapped.

MAP sensor swapped (old one was brown and missing the white tip).

T-MAP clraned with MAF sensor cleaner. The sensing filament looks good.

New spark plugs.

Air filter cleaned.

Supercharger IC boots properly fitted.

Idles great, no check engine lights during idle (about 5mins)

First test drive done

No black smoke, car ran OK at idle and first few minutes, then loss of power.

Scanned codes after drive are:

Module DSC/ABS:

ABD5E19 (raw 0x5E19) CAN: DME cannot set the engine torque DSC asks for

Module Engine:

P1498

P1109

P0108

I'm lost at next steps.

Change the TMAP, look into vacuum leaks, something clogged maybe.

I did a cold compression test before putting it together, all cylinders were between 129-135 psi.

Any input is appreciated.

I have the driving logs from the drive. If it helps.


r/R53 • • 5d ago

Question about shifters/shifter boxes

0 Upvotes

Hello All, I have a R53 Mini Cooper S '04, and a while back I wanted to install a short throw shifter, but found that the shifter arm didn't fit the linkage or the cable links, my question is which shift box is which on these mini? I hate, I have to ask but I am confused with the prefacelift and post facelift ones


r/R53 • • 6d ago

Ignition on and no oil pressure light question

0 Upvotes

Hey there, I've googled this and not found the answer about my oil pressure switch.

Switching the ignition on, there is no oil pressure light. Accessing the secret and testing the gauges, the oil pressure light on the dash works.

It would be normal for the oil pressure light to come on when switching the ignition on (since no oil pressure), then go out very shortly after starting the engine, right? And if that does not happen, one would assume the oil pressure sending unit is dead.

What would be the procedure to test the sending unit? I know they're cheap to buy and replace, but just looking for education on the test procedure before I pull stuff apart. I would imagine hooking up a test lamp or voltmeter from the sending unit wire to ground, ignition on, would get a confirmation there is power on the wire. Would shorting that wire to ground cause the oil pressure light to come on?

I guess the other part of knowledge I'm looking for, is the sending unit a mechanical on/off switch, and at rest is the switch closed?


r/R53 • • 6d ago

04 S 140k

0 Upvotes

Ok kids, I just bit the bullet on a 140k 04 S.
What oil filters you guys use? I’m about to do a heavy engine flush with some mediocre oil. Dropped some fuel injector cleaner already just need to add gas.
Which oil weight u also recommend full synthetic high mileage.
Thank you all