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Reluctantly for sale - 2010 R55 Clubman Cooper S
Well I joined this forum fresh faced and doe eyed when I moved back to Scotland, ready to immerse myself in the world of NMS and enjoy the company of some fellow Mini enthusiasts. You may note however that my activity has been tepid at best. After COVID, the death of immediate family members, furlough, redundancy, new jobs and moving back to Scotland from the English midlands, it seems my wife wishes to complete the traumatic bingo set – and now divorce is next on the list. Alas, the painful day has arrived where I am having to look at offloading my beloved clubbie before I’ve even really got to enjoy it.
It is a sensibly modified 2010 R55 Clubman Cooper S with 61,197 miles on the clock. I am very careful when I purchase vehicles, so I know a fair bit about its history. I may as well put it all down here so that you know as much as I do – apologies if it becomes a tome.
Apologies also for the fact that I have not cleaned the car prior to taking the pictures. As much as I would like to have it gleaming for the pics, right now I just need to gauge some interest. I would like to think that the info below is more important than a recent valet in any case…
Before me
The car has, in effect, only had one owner prior to me. The logbook does state two former keepers, but I have the certificate of sale from the previous owner which states that it was purchased as a “Cherished” (aka Approved Used) in April 2011 with 23 miles on the clock. It was PDI’d by Wayside Mini Milton Keynes in October of 2010, so I therefore assume that from October 2010 to April 2011 it was a (apparently seldom used) demonstrator vehicle – presumably at Wayside Mini Milton Keynes, as they remained the dealer for the sale as well.
As you would expect from a (presumed) demonstrator, it has most of the factory options that were available at the time fitted. I actually have a copy of the full specification enquiry print out, which runs to four pages, but here are some of the key ones:
- Chili pack
- Multi function steering wheel controls
- Sport steering wheel
- Heated front seats
- Armrest
- Rear parking sensors
- Bluetooth and US
- Auto headlights and wipers
- Xenon headlights
- 17” black star bullet alloys
- Heated mirrors, washer jets and front windscreen
- Auto climate control
The owner who purchased in 2011 then owned the vehicle until March 2020, when I bought the car with 57,000 miles on the clock.
From the previous ownership I have a record for the following:
June 2012 at 6,427 miles
Service by Mini dealer
June 2014 at 15,578 miles
Service by Mini dealer
February 2016 at 27,271 miles
Front discs and pads
October 2016 at 31,891
Service
Change brake fluid
Flush crankcase
Clean tappets and oil control rings
Rear discs and pads
August 2017 at 39,299 miles
Service
Replacement stop/start battery
Replacement timing chain tensioner
Replacement oil filter housing
Replacement cooling hose
December 2018 at 48,0846 miles
Oil change
Replacement thermostat, housing, o-rings etc.
August 2019 at 52,750
Service
During my ownership
I bought the car in March 2020 to use as a bit of a weekend toy and with the intent of doing some modifications. Before I could plan what I wanted to do the car, I took it to the guys at Lohen in May 2020 who, for those who don’t know, are a Mini specialist and by many peoples estimation are the best in the country when it comes to new Mini’s and modifying them. I had a service done by them and asked for a full run down on any work that may be coming due, as well as some advice on what is sensible to do to a car of the age of this one. I’m pleased to say that the car came back from them with a clean bill of health. I also had them fit a panel filter and iridium plugs whilst I was there, as I knew they were going to be required whatever mods I did or did not choose to do.
As some of you may recall, May 2020 was somewhat turbulent to say the least. I was furloughed shortly after this trip to Lohen, and made redundant in August of 2020 – so plans of modifying the car swiftly went down the list. I did continue to get out in it from time to time during lockdown; as can be seen from the MOT record I put circa 2000 miles on the car between purchase in March 2020 and the MOT in March 2021.
Fast forward to June 2021 and I am by now settled back in my native Scotland, re-employed and looking to get my modification plans back on the road. The work now cannot feasibly be done by Lohen so, through recommendation on the New Mini Scotland forum, I got in touch with the guys at B&M Centre in Glasgow. As well as a service they gave the car another full once over ahead of conducting the mods (another clean bill from them, always nice for a second validating opinion). They did a stage II remap, fitted an Airtec intercooler and a Milltek sport cat. The rest of the exhaust from cat back remains stock.
As we all know, it's no use making it go faster without making it stop faster, so I also replaced the brake fluid, fitted braided hoses, discs and pads all round. I fitted EBC Turbo Groove (drilled and grooved) discs F+R, yellowstuff pads, RBF600 (synth DOT4) fluid and HEL braided lines. Due to some union issues I also had to replace the copper brake pipes to the rears. For your surety I did this work myself with my father - we are both qualified and practising mechanics.
On top of the above I have also done a few easy exterior mods myself to de-chrome the car. Mirror caps, belt line, headlight surrounds, grill surrounds, door handles (inc. club doors) have all been blacked out. Only the scuttles are left to do, but I quite like the single flash of chrome. I had always intended to have the rear windows tinted too but have not got round to it. I also fitted a ‘bee-sting’ aerial to circumvent the RC car look.
I have fitted LED bulbs to the front fogs and marker lights. Standard the car has filament bulbs that are a warmer yellow which, when switched on next to the white Xenon headlights, look crap.
I had the car fully valeted last summer by a detailing specialist. It still looks good to be honest, and the rain still beads away from the body work, but I would suggest that another valet would pay dividends.
A couple of minor bad bits
I only have one key, and always have done.
Whilst the aforementioned LED fog and side lights look so much better than the original filament type, they have put the bulb warning light on. B&M attempted to no avail to de-code the warning light, I have just learned to live with it. What this means at MOT time I am not sure – the warning light is on but the bulbs are working, although technically I believe the LED’s may be “illegal”. I know my MOT tester quite well, but worst case my plan is just to swap back to filament bulbs for the test if required.
There is some minor bodywork damage to the O/S/F underneath the headlight and O/S/R bumper. These were present when I bought the car so I can’t say how it happened, but they are not particularly significant so there are no worries from me. I have tried to show them in the photos as best as I can.
In conclusion
An R55 Cooper S in fantastic condition with one owner prior to me and a full record of work done.
It is an N18 engine so doesn’t have the same timing chain/fuel pump/coking issues as the N14.
I have owned this car as a second car for less than two years and in that time I have put less than 5000 miles on it. During that time I have had it inspected and serviced by two independent Mini specialist, arguably the best in Scotland and England respectively, both of whom have given it a clean bill of health.
I have (I believe) tastefully modified the exterior of the car, and have brought it up to Stage II with the mods recommended by Lohen (panel filter, iridium plugs, sports cat, intercooler). I am yet to dyno it so would not want to speculate BHP, but it now performs the way an S should.
Absolutely ready to drive in fantastic condition for an 11 year old car. With a relatively insignificant amount of money thrown at it to touch up the minor bodywork scuffs and another valet, you’ve got yourself a pristine car.
I love this car and it will pain me significantly to see it go, especially having barely had a chance to enjoy it since mods were done, not even a full summer. Unfortunately personal circumstances mean that I can no longer afford the privilege of a second car, so I would love to see it go to someone who will look after and even improve the car even further.
