2003 Mini Cooper S Resurrection

JoeyS

Member
Hi folks been some time since I've posted on the forum.

This car has been sitting for 3+ years at a local shop they where unable to get it started. So I made and offer and bought the car and had it towed to my place.

Keys had been lost so had to get that sorted first . Got a new key made It's been coded but the central locking still doesn't work tried the programing procedure but still nothing.

Once I got the car home I checked the obvious tested the ecu, fuel and spark, removed the cooler and pulled the line off the rail and no fuel was coming through, I proceeded to lift the back seat to hear the pump and I got nothing checked out the necessary relay and fuses all tested good.

Removed the pump from the tank and bench tested it and confirmed the pump was dead. Striped it open in the hopes of checking the brushes to get a quick fix this is now late night desperation . On getting it open it was a shocker the pump was seized up and filled with rust and sludge. At this point I'm excited that I found what could be the main issue.

Next step before fitting the new pump was draining out and cleaning the the tank and fuel lines, got that done. I struggled to find a pump locally so I matched one up I found that the Mk3 /MK4, Polo pumps are an exact fit pressures range from 3 to 4bar I opted for the MK4 pump which measured 4bar the cooper S pump rating was 3.5bar so I decided to give it a shot. Also replaced the in tank filter which comes with new o rings and the locking ring seals for both the pump and filter. I've found that the O ring on the filter housing must be replaced if it is damages or kinked you will not get fuel pressure to the rail as it will leak in the tank and not build pressure. Connected up the battery and violla I was in business I had fuel in the line turn the key on and off a few times to call the fuel to the front. Put the fuel line in a small come bottle or similar.

Once that was sorted i fitted the fuel line back on the rail and then the cooler.gave it a crank and it started on the fist turn .

However I had a rough idle, I continued to diagnose the issue, I could not find anything I thought it might be a sucking air when I took out the cooler so I removed it again. At this point I decided to check the fuel rail injector O rings to my suspicions they where severely worn out. I got 8 new ones and replaced them, the ones on the top of the rail were fine but replaced them anyway got that reassembled and that solved my erratic idle issues.

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JoeyS

Member
Next job on the list is the power steering which I have done some homework on this topic and it seem these cars have a common fault with the electric pump . Also I noticed the privious owner had ATF in the system knowing the bmw line I only use Pentosin in my PS systems. So the ATF will need to be flushed from the system. Will post an update on the pump

Will be removing the pump and bench testing it. Updates will follow

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gavsadler

///Member
Nice thread, good job on getting it running again.

I have a soft spot for these cars, I did the full Kyalami track experience back in 2004 in one of these - great fun
 

Salt

///Member
These are some of my favourite type threads. Looking forward to the next episode. I have to ask, and you are entitled to decline, but I ma very curious to know they sold it to you for?
 

JoeyS

Member
These are some of my favourite type threads. Looking forward to the next episode. I have to ask, and you are entitled to decline, but I ma very curious to know they sold it to you for?
I paid R15000 for the car license upto date. The car was a trade in vehicle at a local VW dealer they had removed the motor to fit a new clutch ever since then it had issues so they sent it off to a third party workshop it has not ran ever since.

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JoeyS

Member
Nice thread, good job on getting it running again.

I have a soft spot for these cars, I did the full Kyalami track experience back in 2004 in one of these - great fun
A real blast to drive I'm loving it

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Salt

///Member
I paid R15000 for the car license upto date. The car was a trade in vehicle at a local VW dealer they had removed the motor to fit a new clutch ever since then it had issues so they sent it off to a third party workshop it has not ran ever since.

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Wow, very cool and what a deal considering you've got a working hot hatch now. Looking forward to the journey.
 

Kyle

///Member
Nice project bud, well done on saving it! Couldn't have been a very good shop if they couldn't diagnose a failed fuel pump...
 

JoeyS

Member
Will do a proper detail on the car this coming weekend. I did some clay bar on the left side it made a massive difference the car was covered in sand for years the paint felt like 600 grit sand paper
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JoeyS

Member
Nice project bud, well done on saving it! Couldn't have been a very good shop if they couldn't diagnose a failed fuel pump...
I wouldn't be surprised if this particular shop had switched parts on the car I don't see how that pump could have gotten that rotten inside, the tank itself was in immaculate shape but anyway

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very nice recovery,
My first thought was also "Brave Man", but i see another member beat me to that Line :D haha

Well done on the refresh, looking cleaner and cleaner with every photo uploaded.

Regarding the Intercooler, i see the fins are bent and flat, may be a good idea to get a thin plastic pry tool or similar and spend some time carefully using the tool to straighten them all up, will definitely help in the long run.

Good job so far.
 

JoeyS

Member
very nice recovery,
My first thought was also "Brave Man", but i see another member beat me to that Line :D haha

Well done on the refresh, looking cleaner and cleaner with every photo uploaded.

Regarding the Intercooler, i see the fins are bent and flat, may be a good idea to get a thin plastic pry tool or similar and spend some time carefully using the tool to straighten them all up, will definitely help in the long run.

Good job so far.
Thanks man yes will probably have to take a day off to attend to that

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