“It’s not that we like old cars, it’s that the cars we like are old.” In today’s world where most people like the new and dislike the old, people who can stick to sentimental cars are, in the opinion of the public, either poor or poor. Or a prodigal boy.
I think a car should not be a tool, but a toy to spice up life. I know there is a problem with the value orientation of this statement, but this is actually the same as watches. You don’t need to wear a famous watch to tell the time, but famous watches are worth playing with and collecting. Cars, in fact, can be treated the same way.
Becoming a MINI owner was a decision I made in a daze 4 years ago after being encouraged by a good friend during lunch time. Little did I know that this car would change a lot of the way I looked at things over the next few years. I bought a Dongben Siming less than 3 years ago and exchanged it with a second-hand car dealer for a 2006 MINI Cooper Checkmate version. Afterwards, I always felt that I had made a loss by exchanging new cars for used cars, and I should ask the car dealer to pay me back the price difference.
The reason why I was encouraged is entirely because I particularly like small cars, and they must have panoramic sunroofs. Originally, the first car in my life was a facelift of the second-generation Fit because it had a panoramic sunroof. As a result, his family strongly opposed it, so he had no choice but to choose Siming within the budget. After all, as a Cantonese, he has been influenced by JDM culture since he was a child.
However, after seeing this MINI Cooper Checkmate online, I was completely struck by feelings. Its retro design, compact body and panoramic sunroof make it seem like everything is arranged by God, which is completely in line with my taste. Moreover, many famous scenes from the movie "The Last Day" came to mind, especially the classic scene where three MINIs shuttled through the subway station. Of course, I didn’t do enough research before I impulsively bought this MINI.
This MINI Cooper Checkmate is the first model born after being acquired by BMW, code-named R50. The brand spelling was changed to MINI in all capital letters to distinguish the product LOGO from the Luofu period. But this small car has a lot of design and craftsmanship worthy of consideration. Among them, the headlights are embedded in the engine cover, which is not only retro, but also to facilitate maintenance in the small cabin. In addition, the shape of the rear glass window that completely wraps the C-pillar is unique and is based on the manufacturing technology of the year. The Checkmate is a "track" special version, which is different from the ordinary R50. There are checkered flags on the fenders on both sides, badges on the B-pillars, and 17-inch tires as standard.
The interior of the car is all black, and there is a three-spoke steering wheel with paddle shifters, which instantly enhances the sporty feel. The seats are wrapped in first-layer calfskin, and even after 10 years of baptism, they are still intact. But in fact, looking back at the subsequent two generations of MINI, we found that the materials used in this first generation were solid and thought-provoking. Just compare the layout of the buttons on the center console, and you will find that the first generation model is better in style and distribution, except that it has no display screen due to its age. However, as a MINI with strong retro elements, the display The screen is obviously superfluous. But this does not mean that the configuration is retro. The steering wheel buttons, automatic air conditioning, Bluetooth phone, and cruise control in the car
Actually, I am quite lucky. The interior of this Checkmate is far better than the 70,000-dollar Checkmate. The mileage machine is in much better condition. In addition to looking at the sheet metal when buying a used car, it’s also important to check the depreciation of the interior. Because after we buy the car, we are the ones sitting in it. If there is an irreparable problem and we realize it every day after getting into the car, life will be boring.
After driving the car home, I browsed the MINI information on the Internet and discovered that for me, who has been fond of cars since I was a child and worked in the automotive media for three years, this is the first time in my life that I have This impulse purchase took less than 3 hours from viewing the car to taking the car. If there was not a procedure to inspect the car in the middle, it would have been completed in less than half an hour.
After removing the earthy decorative parts from the previous owner’s “Auto Parts City”, Checkmate regained its former British temperament. The short body combined with the solid chassis makes it possible to overtake flexibly on the road. As expected, the small car feels comfortable to drive. Even when entering a parking space, it is easy to dive in without having to move out.
But here comes the problem. With its low horsepower, the ravages of time, and the temptation to pair it with a CVT transmission, this 1.6-liter self-priming engine not only accelerates and exerts power, but its high speed during cruising leads to alarming fuel consumption. But as for a car, you always have to make some adjustments to make it the only one that belongs to you. To quote Jeremy Clarkson from "The Grand Tour": If your car doesn't make you excited every time you get in it, it's just a tool. If all you have is a tool, you might as well take the bus.
In fact, I originally had the idea of ??transplanting the FD2 powertrain into the Siming. After purchasing the MINI, I also searched the Internet for the power data information of this Checkmate, and then I found a What’s shocking is that this engine actually has a lot of history. It was born from the cooperation between Chrysler and Rover. This engine, called TRITEC, has two versions, 1.4-liter and 1.6-liter. It was first used in Chrysler's PT Cruiser. Later, it was implanted as the main power source in the updated MINI models. Moreover, some of our domestic self-owned brand models, such as Chery and Lifan, have also been equipped with this engine due to some origins.
However, what surprised me was that this engine actually has a 1.6-liter supercharged version. In 2000, BMW sold its Rover brand, but still retained its shares in the TRITEC engine factory. The TRITEC engine, which was later built by the MINI JCW department, is equipped with an Eaton Roots-type machine supercharger, which reduces the compression ratio from 10.5:1 to 8.3:1, allowing this 1.6-liter supercharged engine to output a maximum horsepower of 163 horses. With a maximum torque of 220 Nm, it can accelerate from 100 kilometers to 100 kilometers in only 7.8 seconds. The grocery cart instantly transforms into a sports cannon. This is incredible. In the movie "Surprise", the MINI driven by the heroine is a supercharged version equipped with a TRITEC engine. The supercharged sound is like a wolf howling, causing adrenaline to surge. Moreover, superchargers are believed to be the power source of large-displacement muscle cars in the United States in everyone's perception, while small-displacement superchargers are rare. This made me more determined to make this MINI a classic, and transplanting this supercharged TRITEC engine is the best way.
After in-depth investigation of the first MINI after changing ownership to BMW, I found that it is divided into code-named R50 three-door hatchback model, code-named R52 convertible model, and code-named R53 high-performance three-door hatchback model. However, there are only a handful of these models in the country. This situation is caused by BMW's test-market launch, and it is also related to the fact that consumers do not accept the nearly 400,000 price tag of a small car.
There are four models of R53*** equipped with a 1.6-liter supercharged engine. They are all highly distinguishable, that is, the engine covers are all designed with openings to facilitate the machine's supercharged intercooler. Cool down. Unfortunately, the basic 163-horsepower Cooper S model and the 211-horsepower JCW model have not been officially introduced into the country, and only a small number of foreign businessmen have brought them in and resold them in the market. Limited to 1,000 units worldwide, to commemorate MINI's first victory in the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally, the 173-horsepower MC40 was also not introduced into the country. The global limited edition is 2,000 units. As a car series of this generation, it is at the top of its combat effectiveness and can explode out of 218 horses. Only 5 units of the GP1 have been introduced to the country, but only 3 units have been sold. After all, it can afford the price of 730,000. , is the true love among true love.
Seeing that such a classic model is missing in the domestic car industry, I immediately came up with the idea of ??transplanting a supercharged version of this TRITEC engine. However, the domestic car playing environment is helpless for car owners who like to play around.
So, the possibility of me finding the R53’s 1.6-liter supercharged engine in China is extremely low. Of course, as a Cantonese, I definitely know that there is a place called Chentian. This is regarded as a paradise for car lovers, located in the urban-rural fringe of Baiyun District, Guangzhou, so it has been demolished due to the needs of urban development. But 4 years ago, that place was my only hope, the hope that the whole of China could finally get the R53 engine.
After three days of market research and gathering the experience of some online experts, MINI transplantation is not as easy as JDM.
Different from Japanese cars, in addition to the driving computer, European cars also have a gadget called a sensor. This thing is spread throughout the car and is a transportation transfer station for signals. There are good and bad aspects to this design. The good thing is that the most detailed vehicle information can be obtained during maintenance and inspection; but the bad thing is that transplantation means that you cannot just replace the engine, transmission, and wiring harness. What's more, before I bought this Checkmate, I had never been exposed to or driven a MINI. It was just a crash course. But if it can be transplanted successfully, it will be regarded as a classic case in China. It will become a niche car among niche cars and has great collection value. After all, as a car enthusiast, I am most afraid of being misunderstood and just following the crowd.
Finally, through the introduction of a good friend, I met a car dismantling expert in Chentian. After inquiring about the market situation and transportation of MINI accessories, I bought an early-model Cooper S from 2003 through this expert’s second-hand auction house in Japan. I decided to make a manual transmission supercharged MINI that is rare in China.
After marveling at my courage, many friends will question why they bought a Japanese car with the steering wheel turned upside down. In fact, car enthusiasts will know that Japan’s city appearance is clean and its roads are well maintained, so vehicle wear and tear is low. What’s more, Japanese people are very willing to spend money on car maintenance. Moreover, the Japanese believe that as long as their car has a minor accident, it means that the car has prevented the disaster and must be sold after the fate is over. This superstition has also led to the very cheap prices of Japanese second-hand cars.
If you hear me say that the price is very low, you will immediately have the idea of ????following the trend, but this is only the beginning of all evil. First of all, foreign second-hand cars are not allowed to enter the country directly. After my Japanese Cooper S was shipped to Hong Kong, it was disassembled in Kam Tin, which is known as a paradise for car lovers in Hong Kong.
The front of the car is cut directly across the head. This operation, which experts call "Cut head", is intended to protect the integrity of the engine and transmission. For transplantation, in addition to being of reference significance, it is more about avoiding the loss of small parts during transportation. Secondly, it is shipped back to the mainland, where only 10,000 words can be saved (you understand). Before the transplant, I made a plan. The Checkmate was going to be dismantled anyway, so I might as well change the color. Doesn’t MINI pursue individuality and is a fashionable child in the automotive industry? Now that the power is ready to increase, it can be said that the soy sauce is not missing from the plain-cut chicken. The matte cement gray body is paired with a piano black roof; in the opposite direction, the wheel arches, side skirts and the bottoms of the front and rear bumpers are all made of gloss black; the front fenders are changed to orange-red paint to commemorate the Checkmate After the spraying is completed, you can go to the vehicle management office to change the body color.
After the renderings were completed, we started working intensively in a good friend's car dealership. Due to limited space, if you want to know all the interesting things that happened to my Checkmate during the transplantation period, please pay attention to the next issue.
This article comes from the author of Autohome Chejiahao and does not represent the views and positions of Autohome.