What is the "R53 UPGRADE"?

[Aussie Rob]

The MCS I'm buying was built in December 2003 and is referred to in a lot of documentation as an, "R53 UPGRADE".

Does anyone know what this upgrade represents over the earlier cars?

[conan7772]

Quote: Originally Posted by Aussie Rob (original)

The MCS I'm buying was built in December 2003 and is referred to in a lot of documentation as an, "R53 UPGRADE".

Does anyone know what this upgrade represents over the earlier cars?

No, but we have a 2002 MCS R53 and the build plate says R50 ??

[stuwhittaker]

They could possibly mean it has the JCW John Cooper Works tuning kit on it... but reffering to it as an upgrade...


As an R53 is the 2000-2006 Cooper S model that you could retrofit the JCW package(s) too....


Cheers
-Stu

[minicore]

I'd echo Stu's thoughts... not sure why you'd call a JCW car an "R53 UPGRADE" though? Perhaps it's had some aftermarket performance mods?

My other thought was perhaps that they meant R53 "facelift", but that wouldn't be the case as it's a 2003 (not 2004) car.

You could ask your local dealer to run the plate/VIN; they'll be able to tell you exactly what the car is, or is not.

Quote: Originally Posted by conan7772 (original)

No, but we have a 2002 MCS R53 and the build plate says R50 ??

Are you sure it's not a Cooper with a supercharger etc. bolted on? (That's not meant to be sarcastic or patronising by the way; I know a couple of cars where this is the case...)

[Dawi03]

Quote: Originally Posted by Aussie Rob (original)

The MCS I'm buying was built in December 2003 and is referred to in a lot of documentation as an, "R53 UPGRADE".

Does anyone know what this upgrade represents over the earlier cars?

Mate I think it is just the r53 with a facelift


Sent from my Autoguide iPhone app

[minicore]

Quote: Originally Posted by Dawi03 (original)

Mate I think it is just the r53 with a facelift

There wasn't a 2003 facelift.