Hey everyone!

I'm in the process of searching for an '11-'14 JCW R55 as my intro to the MINI brand. Currently I have a Lotus Elise as the weekend car (you'd be surprised to see how many Lotus people also drive MINIs), my wife dailies a straight-piped SKY Redline, and I daily a motorcycle or G5, depending on the weather. Since we don't have a car with more than two doors, the R55 is both more practical and improves the performance average (that G5 is barely passable on that front). I am looking forward to spending more time on the for sale section here as well as reading up on everything. Any tips, advice, or hidden gems, let me know!

 

Good luck in the search.

Have you reviewed the differences between the Gen2 (2011-2013) and the Gen3 (2014)?

 

Pricing pushes most '14s out for me, so I hadn't looked too much into that. I am trying to keep it in the teens and under 50k miles, lower being better for both. My understanding is it was mostly a facelift and the big differences were from '10 to '11 or from '14 to '16. Absolutely feel free to correct me if I am wrong though.

 

If you have not already done so, suggest you check out the Gen2 FAQ section, link below. I am a Gen1 guy and don't know allot on the Gen2s but thinking the N14 engine was still in the 2011 JCW. The N18 is suppose to be a better engine. You should get some other opinions on this.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-gen-faqs-446/

 

I'll dig through that but everything I can find on google shows the '11-'14 as having the 1.6 208hp. I don't need opinion - I just was a daggum chart of engines and years! Why does that not exist?? haha

 

Wikipedia has a page on the Prince engine, but then that is what NAM is all about, helping others interested in a MINI.

 

My point is just this is not a matter of opinion - there is a set truth for what engines came for what year. This site (https://new.minimania.com/MINI_model_designations) says the engine changed between '12 and '13. I'm not trying to be rude or dismissive, but it hurts rather than helps when input muddies the waters rather than clearing it up.

 

Look at the last paragraph from MINIMania, the JCWs did not get the N18 until August of 2012. If you do any reading on MINI you will learn that updates are sprinkled throughout a model year. On the N14 vs the N18, the month of the year is very important.

R55 MINI CLUBMAN (2008 – 2014)
3-Doors / Split Rear Doors / Front & Rear Seats

Pre-Facelift Models – (2008 thru Jul 2010 production):
MINI Cooper (non-Turbo N12B16A engine)
MINI Cooper S (Turbo N14B16A engine) 2008 - 2010 (thru Jul 2010 production)

Post-Facelift Models – (2011 - 2014 (from Aug 2010 production):
MINI Cooper (non-Turbo N16B16A engine)
MINI Cooper S (Turbo N18B16A engine)

JCW MINI Cooper S Models:
(05/2010-06/2012) - Turbo N14B16A engine)
(09/2012-2013) - Turbo N18B16A engine)

 

So back on topic, as I said in post # 4, the 2011 JCW still have the N14 engine, what I did not know was when the N18 was used.

MINIs are a little different. I have a 2007 JCW that most would say is a Gen2 turbocharged engine but since I have a R52 Convertible, I still have the Gen1 Tritec supercharged engine.

 

Right, and that isn't too atypical to have midyear updates, but it conflicts with your first post. What I also don't like about that source though is that it implies JCW production ended in '13. The site has other info for later years, so it makes me wonder if the years are off or if it is just truncated. See what I mean about muddy waters here?? I have no problem researching this either, it just takes time and I am not fully done with that yet.

 

motor change from 12-13 was for the Cooper S only..

as stated - the +08/12 JCW would be an N18 vs. early models with N14

*N14 or N18.. I dont think you can go wrong with a JCW. Been very happy since I sold my WRX(2014 hatch) and picked up my JCW(2012 hardtop).

 

Thanks to both of y'all, I now need to read up on N14 vs N18 since I am sure that is discussed ad nauseam on here somewhere...

My initial thought is that it won't be a deal breaker so much as a pricing factor. I also enjoy overthinking things, so more data is just fine. Heck, I've got an Excel sheet where I am using a custom curve fit to determine typical asking prices for a given mileage

 

Overthinking, hmmm that sounds like me. In my first post I said/suggested "Have you reviewed the differences between the Gen2 (2011-2013) and the Gen3 (2014)?" and then I came back in my 2nd post and said "If you have not already done so, suggest you check out the Gen2 FAQ section, link below. I am a Gen1 guy and don't know allot on the Gen2s but thinking the N14 engine was still in the 2011 JCW. The N18 is suppose to be a better engine. You should get some other opinions on this." So to my follow up where I said "Wikipedia has a page on the Prince engine, but then that is what NAM is all about, helping others interested in a MINI", the good thing about NAM is that you get people answering you back and not Alexa.

 

Welcome to the forum

 

Welcome, I enjoy the looks of the Lotus but I'm a little to big for them...

Motor On!

 

Hey Cyow5! Welcome to the forum. Good luck in your search for the right JCW, from another Elise guy!

 

Thanks! I moved out here to the DC suburbs from Farmington Hills, haha. I put my personal touch on a guard rail at Grattan and then the car spent nearly two years in the shop, so I didn't get it out much while I was there. Anytime a "what second car should I get" thread pops up on LotusTalk, it is inevitable a MINI comes up. This Saturday a local friend is bringing his S so I can take a closer look. I don't see my opinion changing though - I have wanted a JCW ever since I saw one in Evo Magazine about a decade ago, so it is a bit of a personal challenge now, haha.

 

The 2015 F56 is my second JCW; started with a 2004 R53. I skipped the generation of cars with the N14 engine due to some of their inherent problems. Take your time finding the right car.

 

Arrived last night! '14 JCW from Texas. So far I am very happy with it, so now I have to fit the urge to modify it...

 

Beautiful! I couldn't find a JCW to test drive in Colorado. Buying a S and modding it to be like a JCW

 

Yeah, this is the only car I have ever bought sight-unseen, but that's because it came from a MINI dealer that had service records on the car since new (two owners, both in the same area). The dealer was hugely helpful with answering questions with objective answers ("How are the brakes?" "They are these thicknesses and will be due by xx/2019"). I think they understood that if they can prove all maintenance is up to date then it reduces my negotiation power. I talked with one non-MINI dealer in Ohio that had a JCW, and their response was the polar opposite. They eventually said they'd call back after I kept pushing for a single good answer, so I gave up with them. Given all of the unknowns, I would of had to have stuck with an insulting offer just to make sure I don't end up underwater after a bunch of maintenance. Before all that, I test drove a local automatic JCW and enjoyed it, so I knew the platform was a good fit for me.

 

I'm doing kind of the same. I test drove a base 2006 S convertible locally that was in rough shape to make sure I liked it. Buying a 2008 S convertible out in LA sight unseen, flying out on Saturday to pick her up. It's kind of a gamble, but got a good price and lots of pictures, so I'm feeling confident. I can always fly back if I don't want it. I don't mind wrenching on my cars, especially when I have another one to drive while it's down. I can take my time If she makes it home on her 1100 mile road trip back home, I'll be happy.

 

Yeah, that should be a great drive! My advice though would be to spend the extra little bit for a roundtrip flight so you can be in a position to walk away if anything goes awry. Good luck!

 

Congrats, in that garage the MINI is the largest Car.