Shaggy's R53

[Rated_R]

Ya did good kid. Ya did good.

[shaggy11]

Nathan, you may be buying the whole car then! haha they go too well with this car to separate!

Thanks Rated_R! When are we going to do front control arm bushings?!

[shaggy11]

Wow, I didn't realize that I haven't posted in over a year. School and work have take priority and leave very little time for the car.

Since the wheels went on I have dont several other mods and have a few more to go on.

Mods include:
Facelift halogen headlights
WMW Race Gearbox Bushing inserts
Completed Bytetronic Tune
Alta PSRS

Mods to go on:
Bilstein Pss9 coilovers with camber plates
Hotchkis Rear Camber links

Currently the car is getting some rust fixed through the dealership. There was rust forming in the pinch welds at the bottom of both doors. The car has been gone for almost three months due to trouble with the body shop. I am hoping to have it back soon and to get these coilovers on.

Here are a couple pictures from the dragon last year:




Man, has it come a long way in a year...


And one from a photoshoot I did with a friend.

[Chase]

Glad to see some updates buddy!

[shaggy11]

Thanks, I can't wait until I can find some time to actually sit down and work on it. It needs some love. I also really want to get these coilovers installed. They just keep staring at me.

[shaggy11]

I need to try to keep this more up to date. Since my last post, I have installed my pss9s, switched them to hypercoil springs, and changed a few small things here and there. This is what she looks like currently, minus the side skirts, as I have those off to do some repairs that have been there since I got the car. I finally have enough confidence in body work to attempt it myself.






Some relatively big parts should be here this week to be installed.
Valeo clutch
ACT Prolite flywheel
Quaife lsd
All seals and bushings that go along with a clutch job

Also since my last update I have done a couple autocrosses and I look forward to seeing how this lsd will help me there.



-Hayden

[werD]

Looks good, keep it going!

And the shop photo is great (enjoyed the video too).

[shaggy11]

Thanks, the car sure has come along way.

Here is a picture from the dealer when we shot the video for Mini of Nashville.



Finally got my lsd in. I'm getting anxious to get all of this installed and going.

-Hayden

[werD]

Somebody say "LSD"?

[LowCountry S]

the LSD is a great upgrade--did mine last year before the Dragon and absolutely loved it up there...
car is looking good man..

[shaggy11]

Thank you! I look forward to seeing what the lsd will do for those spirited drives, dragon runs, and autocross. With the new job, I finally have a little bit of money and time to put into it.

On the way are:
Hawk hp+ pads
Dba rear rotors to match the front
r56 rear trailing arm conversion
Finally getting to fix some of the paint work

-Hayden

[LowCountry S]

Originally Posted by shaggy11

r56 rear trailing arm conversion

I FINALLY managed to score some r56 trailing arms from the local LKQ---$145 with calipers and rotors (didn't bother to take them off, it was hot as shit!) now just got to get around to installing them

I've been looking at the cars coming in for over a year to finally get the right year MINI --since I wasn't in a hurry and would rather not pay the $400 for a stripped pair that most are asking, it was worth the wait and the hour or so labor......if there's one near you, I'd be checking their inventory regularly

[shaggy11]

A friend of mine, he is actually on here as Locke I believe, found 2 sets at a junk yard. I wasn't planning on doing it but I couldn't pass up the price. Now I just need to find some wheel speed sensors and order the powerflex bushings for them.

[shaggy11]

I still have a few kinks to work out but the car is running again!

This was my first time pulling the trans on this car and it was interesting to say the least.

Subframe out


AC deleted and transmission out


Out with the old, in with the Quaife LSD and Act clutch/flywheel




I was not able to pair the Valeo clutch and pressure plate with the lightwieght flywheel like I had originally planned, so I ended up with the full ACT setup

Along with the Aluminum rear trailing arms, I did a brake update too. DBA rear rotors to match the fronts with Hawk HP+ pads all the way around.




Instead of getting the wheel speed sensors off of the r56, I reused the r53 ones and just 3d printed a little bushing to keep it centered in the arm.



I dont have any pictures but I also changed the supercharger oil which, for 107000 miles, looked pretty clean!

Now I just hope I can have the clutch broken in for our last autocross in a week!

-Hayden

[werD]

Sweet 3D printing!

Looks like you're having fun.