Learn Me -R52 Mini JCW

OK learn me some mini, I am not driving the mr2 much, trade for a r52 mini the JCW kit on it? I know nothing of them.....

Mini has 130k on it, coilovers, aftermarket racing seats and harness bar, needs abs sensor repair, needs Hvac blower motor or resistor replacement and has intermittent check engine light from a minor air leak ( this is from the aftermarket intercooler boot choice from previous owner). Body has some damage, but its a good 10' car. 

But its sorta more than two seats so I could drive the wife and kid at times.

I don't think its a true JCW car as it has a back seat and rear window wiper (which wiki says it shouldn't). 

I feel the mr2 is worth a bit more than he is asking, but who knows. Learn me!

No one? Uh oh.... 

You are going form Japanese reliability and maintenance  to a BMW. 

130k is about the time those things like to start being expensive. Given what sounds like a spotty owner maintenance record,  it could empty your wallet very, very fast. Otoh, probably one of the most entertaining vehicles I've ever driven. 

In reply to dean1484 :

True, and low mileage Toyota to high mileage BMW. The mr2 just needs 100 more hp and a LSD to be fun. That's big $$. And its a car I cant use with the family as its only two seats, so if I want to drive the fun car its just me.....

In reply to Mndsm :

I have not driven one, I like the look with big aero on the back though. Its not going to be a DD, just a fun car. 

It almost looks like someone is flipping this one. Not sure tho. How easy is it to get more HP out of these? 

Has the blower been serviced or replaced? That and the water pump are usually due around 100k. Sorry, that's the supercharger, not the HVAC blower.

Also, R52 is the convertible, R53 is the coupe - which one would you be looking at?

Another thing to check is which JCW kit(s) it has fitted. IIRC the engine kit and the brake kit were sold separately so you can end up with a car that's got more power and not exactly adequate brakes for the power.

JCW cars have back seats and wipers, its the GP limited edition one that came without.  GPs are rare and pricey and defeat your intended usage.

2005 and 2006 are the years to get as they will be the least problematic due to several factory improvements to troublesome components.  Still the struts are good for about 75k at best and the control arm bushing are only good for about 50k.  Many replacement items can end up being spendy if you are using a shop due to added hours to get at things.  Eg clutch.

Common failures:  LCA bushing, front sway bar bushing, rad fan resistor, power steering fan, power steering pump, blower fan, coolant reservoir, thermostat, crank pulley, some like to pop spark plugs out of the head, cupholder, stereo amp, seat airbag sensor,  PCV leaks, oil leaks from oil pan, crank sensor, valve cover, rust around rear taillights and doors, both automatic transmissions suck...

You can add power with an exhaust, smaller SC pulley, and intake, then larger injectors and a tune, after that you are into headers and cams and SCs.

Still a fun little car when everything is working and a good one is likely more reliable than the later turbo MINIs.  I would not buy a former track rat.  Spend more on a nice one and fix up what needs to done.  It won't depreciate much.

In reply to BoxheadTim :

No idea on blower and WP..... 

I guess I dont know my Minis obviously, its a coupe, R53  is guess. Add with pics and details https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/d/cheap-mini-cooper-jcw-6-speed/6711777744.html

Looks like a tuning kit car. The factory JCW's have the larger R56 front rotors and red JCW badged calipers (although those can be added). 

I agree 130K is when they can start to get needy. My ex- put a ton into her '03 R53 at about that mileage. 

$3300 seems high for a car with a rebuilt title, has that many mods (so it's likely been beat on) and needs a fair amount of work.

Ian F said:

Looks like a tuning kit car. The factory JCW's have the larger R56 front rotors and red JCW badged calipers (although those can be added). 

I agree 130K is when they can start to get needy. My ex- put a ton into her '03 R53 at about that mileage. 

$3300 seems high for a car with a rebuilt title, has that many mods (so it's likely been beat on) and needs a fair amount of work.

Agreed, seemed like a smoking deal until seeing the rebuilt title (may not be a huge issue, but makes it harder to sell).  I agree that it's probably been beat on.  That could be a good thing or a bad thing.  If someone on this board beat on a car, I'd assume they also took care of it, so it wouldn't be as big of a risk.  And the issues with the car don't seem things that would be a critical to someone who used it more as a driver/track day type of car. 

I don't think the cost is too high given the rarity of the kit that's on it, maybe 10-15% high.  I think at $3k, it might be ok.  It's probably worth checking out just to see what kind of condition it's in.  With the upgraded seats and such, they may have also gone ahead and upgraded the bushings with poly's which would take care of the worn out suspension woes these cars struggle from.  If you do take a look at it, focus on it like any used car and see if it seems to be taken care of and keep in mind the typical issues that Aspen brought up.

FWIW, this generation motor seemed to be pretty bulletproof.  Most of the issues with these cars are everything around it.  I've heard of several folks doing a teardown of a 150k mile motor for a rebuild and finding the original factory cross hatch patterns in the cylinder walls.  Instead of a full rebuild, they end up just putting new rings and crank bearings it for a freshen up.

And I agree that DIY is the only way for them to really be affordable.

Nothing beats the way they drive, though.  I've had 4 of them and although each has had issues, for my son and I the driving experience makes up for it.

-Rob

In reply to Ian F :

That was my thinking also. I dont think its a true JCW. If it seems priced high I may not want to go there..... I think my MR2 is worth more than 3k.... Its rebuilt title too so I dont really care about that.

In reply to rob_lewis :

Yeah honestly it seems like hes flipping the car to me, but who knows. I would expect the little Issues fixed though if just flipping. 

Never drove one, I am ot 100% sold on FWD wiht bigger HP tho. 

Also since this is likely a tuner kit it wont have LSD correct?

In reply to java230 :

It might not. The factory JCW cars came with the LSD but it was an option otherwise.

In reply to Ian F :

That is my fear.... I dont want FWD wo/ LSD.

Having looked at the ad, it's not so bad.  Definitely worth a good look over.  I didn't see a clear pic of the underneath the engine bay so there may be oil leaks (they all leak).

Also look for mushroomed strut towers, cause this car doesn't have reinforcements.  Usually they can be hammered back into shape if not severe.  Also inspect the rear control arms because the stock ones can bend with heavy track use.

I've owned 14 MR2s and 1 R52 MINI.  Just sayin.  

Edit to add some value. 

I mushroomed the strut tops hitting an average expansion joint once.  Nothing a couple hours, a hammer, and a 2x4 couldn't fix.  They eat windshields.  Sersiously.  Replaced a windshield and got cracked again 3 days later.  The eat bushings like BMWs do.  They eat power steering motors. 

Unless you want a MINI, buy an E46 and get all the same issues and costs with a better platform. 

In reply to Tyler H :

Thanks for the input :D

Tyler H said:

I've owned 14 MR2s and 1 R52 MINI.  Just sayin.  

 

Edit to add some value. 

I mushroomed the strut tops hitting an average expansion joint once.  Nothing a couple hours, a hammer, and a 2x4 couldn't fix.  They eat windshields.  Sersiously.  Replaced a windshield and got cracked again 3 days later.  The eat bushings like BMWs do.  They eat power steering motors. 

Unless you want a MINI, buy an E46 and get all the same issues and costs with a better platform. 

It depends on what you want out of the car.  I own both a R56 MINI and BMW 128i (former R53 and E36 owner as well) and the MINI is definitely more fun.  The BMW is better at day to day driving, but the MINI just begs to go fast and fly around corners.  It's an angry little car.  The BMW feels somewhat lazy by comparison. You can definitely feel the weight difference.  Don't get me wrong, I love BMWs, but the MINI is a different beast.  They still have similar issues to be sure, but like I said, it depends on what you want out of a car.  

Lately I have been thinking about replacing the MINI, the problem I've found is that the MINI is more fun that any of the cars I've driven (Boxster, Cayman, NC Miata, as well as my previous BRZ).  I'm going to look at the ND2 as soon as classing comes out for it, but I've resisted driving it so far.  Also I recently spent time in a F56 JCW and it was so much better than I was expecting.  If you can stomach the typical BMW failings, there really isn't a modern car with as much character or built in fun factor.