[OzzyMini]

Well maybe not my first Mini. I did have a mini van and a sedan back in the 80s. So I should say my first BMW Mini.

Well I am currently the owner of a Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo (see below) and decided it was time for a change, thanks to fuel costs etc. For some reason I drifted to the newer Minis and drove a few, and fell in love again. I forgot how much fun they can be to drive.

So I started looking for a Cooper S at the local dealer within 200 kms. Well I was shocked by the prices. My budget was $30,000 aus. For that I was looking at a 2002 to 2003 model with not a lot of options.
Just by chance I decided to look at private sales and just sell my XR6 to a dealer for a wholesale price (yep, a HUGE loss). Luckily enough I stumbled upon a 2005 R53 Cooper S with Chili pack 17" Rims, Sunroof and H/K stereo. Pretty much all the options I wanted except leather and Chrono gauges (can the gauges be added to a used Mini?) All this for only $25,000

My Ford is off to the dealer on Monday and I get to pick up my Mini on the 14th of Feb It's the one below the Ford.

Any members of the NSW Mini club on here? I am interested in a chat.

[Paul]

The MINI looks lovely, nice spec too.

[OzzyMini]

Well I went and test drove it today to confirm it was the one. The owner lives nearly 300kms away so we met between our 2 places Closer to mine than his. The car is everything I was hoping it would be. Has a few stone chips etc but nothing major and expected.

Here are some more pics of it. Click the thumbs to enlarge.

Just realised my wife and previous owner are in the first pic. Shows how blind I was when admiring the car through the camera.

[withoutabix2007]

chilli red is deffo the best colour lol and yours looks great!

btw you can buy the chrono rings that surround the gauges from many places on the internet they just go over the original surround and they dont cost the earth either

[OzzyMini]

Quote: Originally Posted by withoutabix2007 (original)

chilli red is deffo the best colour lol and yours looks great!

btw you can buy the chrono rings that surround the gauges from many places on the internet they just go over the original surround and they dont cost the earth either

Thank you. I definately love it in red. Couldn't decide on red, Elecric Blue or Dark Blue. Price certainly had a lot to do with it though

Funnily enough I was on ebay just now ordering the 26 piece chrome kit for the interior.

Lucky I didn't press the final button. Seems the kit doesn't fit the Hardan Karmon Speakers. Hmmm Anyone know which kit I need then?

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

That is a beautiful R53 Cooper S. It's completely original, so let the modding commence I've been a real enthusiast for adding interior chrome since my first Cooper arrived nearly 4 years ago There is no chrome that will fit over the door speakers and interior door release handles of an H-K equiped MINI. However, it's easy to find chrome to fit just about everywhere else. The plastic eBay kits are okay-ish, but if money isn't too much of an issue (and you would like quality considerably better than the OEM chrome) then there's only one manufacturer to source it from:

gap germany chrome parts

This is high quality chromed steel, not "chromed" plastic. I've got rid of all of my own OEM "chromed" plastic and replaced it with this stuff where ever possible.

Tigger.

[OzzyMini]

So what are gaps prices like? I tried to email them but it wont go through. Anyone know what they sell for?

I don't mind paying for quality.

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Quote: Originally Posted by OzzyMini (original)

So what are gaps prices like? I tried to email them but it wont go through. Anyone know what they sell for?

I don't mind paying for quality.

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