With over 300hp on tap, this turbo-swapped R53 Cooper S is one full-on modified Mini.
Opting for forced induction with the Cooper S R53 was a big-brain play by Mini. It meant a small engine could output a decent amount of power without having to be a high-revving unit, along with plenty of torque, and choosing supercharging over a turbo made it a unique offering among its rivals. Naturally, factory forced induction also meant that when it came to extracting more performance from the 1.6-litre four-pot, options were plentiful, and gains were impressive.
However, while superchargers are great at delivering lag-free power and the Mini’s positive displacement setup serves up a lovely spread of torque, if you’re hunting for really big numbers then turbos rule the roost. That’s why, when you lift the bonnet of Oliver Aitken’s R53 you will find a snail in place of a supercharger, and this homebrew build is serving up some serious boost.
Family Ties
“I’ve been interested in Minis for about five years,” Oli begins as we chat, which is, funnily enough, how long he’s owned his Cooper S. “I always liked the R50/R53 first generation of BMW Minis as my parents had one from new. A couple of mates of mine had some and when I realized the R53s were very cheap, I saw my opportunity to own one and got this one for £1300,” he smiles.
“I decided to get one because I kind of knew the R53 was a unique and solid platform for an enjoyable hot hatch. It wasn’t until I got one that I realized its true potential,” Oli grins.
“The models have aged very well and still stand up considering some are 20 years old now. Tritec over-engineered this engine, so it can easily push double its factory output with the right mods. The car handles very well when standard, too,” he adds, and those are just some of the reasons why we love Minis.
While Oli has owned and modded a selection of cars before acquiring his Cooper S (his first car was a Polo that he dropped on some coilovers) when he picked up his bargain R53 he certainly had no idea that it was going to become a serious project. “I didn’t really have any plans, just coilovers and wheels I guess – I definitely didn’t think it would end up this far,” he laughs, but that’s all part of the modding journey.
First Mods
Oli wasted no time in getting stuck into the mods, opting for a set of BC Racing coilovers for their adjustable damping and ride height. He fit them on his first night with the car, then got straight into the performance upgrades.
“Firstly, back when it was supercharged, I did all the bolt-on mods, starting with a 17% pulley. I knew the easiest way to increase performance out of my R53 was to reduce the ’charger pulley and wanted to see what all the hype was about. I did that, and the car didn’t seem to be any better. After a bit of head-scratching I realized the bypass valve was broken and stuck wide open,” he laughs. “I fitted a new one from 1320 Mini and, wow, what a difference! The next addition was an Airtec top-mount intercooler and a Newman Phase 2 camshaft. I chose that cam for its top-end punch, which was great for a drop-in,” Oli enthuses.
“After this, I got a ported cylinder head from Pro-werx, as the standard exhaust ports restrict this engine quite a bit. Then I swapped the earlier gearbox for a BKL facelift gearbox for the limited-slip differential with shorter ratios (well worth the money). Finally came tuning at 1320 Mini, along with some Bosch 550cc injectors, and the car left with 230hp,” says Oli.
Turbo Conversion
That’s a healthy number, but he’d got a taste for power, and he wanted more. “Despite the 230hp I still wanted more grunt, and after seeing all the turbo R53s I knew that was the only way to go if I wanted some big power and serious performance,” he grins. So, Oli and his dad began the turbo build, which took them a year to complete.
“I bought a supposed ‘turbo kit’ off Facebook and pieced together all of the missing items. The kit I bought consisted of a Garrett GT2871R turbo, 3” downpipe, top-mount ABF manifold, GRS intercooler and pipework and a couple of bits and bobs, the basics,” says Oli. “The engine came out, I sold all the supercharger parts and then began fitting the manifold, turbo and auxiliaries. It could have stayed in but was easier for some of the more tricky jobs,” he explains.
“Luckily, I had someone who lived close by that could do some alloy welding for the sump oil return, oil feed and inlet throttle body plate. One of my good mates refreshed all the bottom end bearings and fitted the APR rod bolts on the engine while I was at work. Top bloke,” he grins. “I used the Cooper water pump, alternator tensioner and belt system for reliability, and once the engine was back in and starting on the key, I opted for a full Airtec front-mount intercooler and rad package that fitted nicely and was a great addition to the build,” Oli says.
ECU Tuning
“When it came to mapping, I was set on getting the Cooper S tuned back at 1320 Mini, but I realized St Neots was just too far and expensive to get the car trailered there, so I started looking around for somewhere a little closer to home. I noticed a company in Somerset called PV Engineering that had a compound ’charged R53, which seemed like madness, so I figured they were the right people for the job,” Oli smiles.
“After talking to the guys at PV Engineering, I decided I should go for a Link G4 ECU, as the stock ECU would start to struggle and limit power. We used a MAC 3 bar map sensor for boost control. The car left PV Engineering with 307hp and 251lb ft of torque, but they capped the outputs for safety due to the 550cc injectors. Hopefully, I’ll be back next year for some 1000ccs and 340hp+. But for now, it’s plenty!” he laughs.
“The drive home was immense, considering I had been driving a 50hp Skoda for the past year! The ECU tune completely transformed the car, which now makes all the right noises,” grins Oli, and we totally get where that grin is coming from. A lot of work went into this conversion, and a lot of time too, but the end result was absolutely worth the wait. Even though there’s still more potential to unlock, Oli is over the moon with his turbocharged Mini monster.
Handling Mods
While the engine dominates this build, Oli has not neglected the rest of his Cooper S, and this is very much a complete build.
The BC Racing coilovers sorted out the handling and the stance, but with Oli less than impressed with the stock brakes, they soon made way for a set of R56 JCW Brembo front calipers along with Ferodo rotors and pads, plus braided lines. Oli found the Advanti Racing wheels for £100 on Facebook Marketplace and deemed them too much of a bargain to pass up. That they suit the look of the build perfectly is a bonus, but what matters is that he wrapped them in Toyo R888R rubber.
Aesthetic Mods
In terms of styling, Oli gave this modified Mini Cooper S R53 a few tweaks, but he was keen not to go too far. “I wanted the modifications to be very subtle, just to look like a standard JCW 210, really. It’s nice to see the look on people’s faces when it moves and makes turbo noises,” he laughs.
This Cooper S has got Aero bumpers front and rear, along with Aero grilles, angel eye sidelights and a GP rear wing, giving it a little more presence without going overboard. On the inside, meanwhile, Oli has added a pair of extremely sexy Cobra recliner bucket seats, and they are the only seats you will find in the car as the rears have been removed. The battery has been relocated to the boot to aid with weight distribution, there’s a Coolerworx short-shifter with a red gear knob, and the finishing touch is a boost gauge to the right of the rev counter.
This modified Mini Cooper S R53 is an extremely impressive build for so many reasons. There’s the fact that this is Oli’s first Mini, so he’s set the bar pretty high, and the fact that almost everything was done by him and his dad in the family garage, which makes the end result all the more satisfying. And what an end result that is.
When Oli fits a set of 1000cc injectors next year and cranks the power up to 340hp the project will be truly complete, but there’s no rush – his main priority is to enjoy the fruits of his labours, and we bet they taste pretty sweet.
With thanks to Performance Mini magazine. Photos: Rich Pearce.
Tech Spec: Modified Mini Cooper S R53
Engine:
1.6-litre Tritec, Garrett GT2871R turbo, Pro-werx ported and polished cylinder head, stock valves, Airtec R53 turbo front-mount intercooler and radiator kit, Newman Phase 2 camshaft, ABF 3” downpipe, 3” R56 exhaust, Vibra-Technics engine mount, ABF top-mount tubular turbo manifold, modified OEM inlet manifold, Majesty seven-row oil cooler, Mishimoto 85°C oil thermostat, stock pistons and rods, ARP rod bolts, Victor Reinz head studs, King big end bearings, Bosch 550cc injectors, 8mm HT leads, NGK spark plugs, SuperPro poly bush upper and lower engine mounts, OMP strut brace, R50 dipstick, Link G4+ ECU, Link CAN lambda, MAC 3 bar boost solenoid
Power and Torque:
307hp and 251lb ft
Transmission:
BKL LSD facelift six-speed manual gearbox, Clutch Masters FX400 clutch, TTV lightened flywheel
Suspension:
BC Racing coilovers
Brakes:
R56 JCW Brembo front calipers, Ferodo discs and pads, R56 braided brake lines, R53 rear calipers with EBC Greenstuff pads
Wheels & Tires:
17” Advanti Racing wheels with 215/45 Toyo Proxes R888R tires
Interior:
Cobra recliner bucket seats, Coolerworx short-shifter, rear seat delete, battery relocated to boot, boost gauge
Exterior:
Aero bumpers and grilles, GP rear wing, angel eye sidelights
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