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1st GearNew members: make an initial post and introduce yourself as you shift from Neutral to First Gear. Current members: meet some of the new members.
Apologies....200 views and no replys? Inexcusable! ....There's anywhere from 2,000 to 2,500 folks viewing this forum at any given moment....majority of those hits to your post were views not necessarily made by members, just folks surfing the web.....but no excuse either. Been kinda weird around here for last few months with all that's going on.....So many annual MINI events we've all been looking forward to have been cancelled, lots of bummed out MINI enthusiasts out there.... And to some degree FB has taken away some activity here.
I see you purchased a GP2 ! Congrats !!! GP2's are the best of the newest 2nd Gen MINI's in my opinion....and it's the only 2nd Gen MINI which made me feel as if I was sitting/driving in my own JCW R53...
No worries Gabriel.....As a rule, MINI is truely a social car above and beyond most other brands.
I understand the underlying fear of some MINI's and things you may have heard.
It basically began with the R56s in 2007, and while BMW was slow to address those issues they were rectified by 2013. Upper cylinder head and valve cover design changes were made to reduce the carbon buildup on valves, somewhat of an inherent design flaw to the direct injection BMW lines....that and some folks seem to be adverse in checking oil levels....Oil for timing chain and it's assembly parts (some made of plastic ) cruicial for it's cooling abilities and its only a 4.5qt system...probably why F models went with a level sensor and dash light and no more dip sticks...
I have some friends with the GP2's....They absolutely love them and one is highly modified & running perfectly.
I appreciate the detailed and thoughtful response.
I extensively researched the difference between the R53 & 56 cars, as well as the N14/18 drive trains, as well as some of the differences between the regular S & JCW motors.
I also hold hold a strong preference to the shape and dimension of the earlier generation cars. Nothing at all against the F series vehicles, they all seem very robust, and more mature as cars, but I'm also an automotive enthusiast, and have access to larger more powerful vehicles.
With all of that in mind, a lower milage, N18 based, JCW, seemed like the perfect fit.
I was aware of the GP cars from various press reviews, but honestly had no read on the current market value, or condition of these cars. As it stands, I found what I believe to be, a very clean, 1 owner, 13k model. I'll assume that it was tracked, but that's what it was designed to do.
I've been talking with a vendor here (Mariokart), with the mind to turn it over, and let him basically have his way with it, , as long as the focus stays on driveability and longevity.
In any event, I'm looking forward to many miles with this special car.
Welcome to the family. I jealous, would love to have a gp2 sitting in my driveway. My tip, keep up on the maintenance, 5000 mile oil changes. I personally am under the hood once a week checking everything, emptying oil catch can, making sure fluids are all topped off, etc. Just changed oil yesterday at 145000 and she’s purring away.
I'm pretty uptight about my maintenance and quality of fluids, etc. I tend to do my oil in the 3-3500 mile range, is that too frequent for these cars?
This won't be a daily, as much as it will be a weekend getaway and pleasure car.
Originally Posted by Jason Cornelius
Welcome to the family. I jealous, would love to have a gp2 sitting in my driveway. My tip, keep up on the maintenance, 5000 mile oil changes. I personally am under the hood once a week checking everything, emptying oil catch can, making sure fluids are all topped off, etc. Just changed oil yesterday at 145000 and she’s purring away.
We are still here. GP2 is a great MINI. You get the larger BBK and the seats are nice. Get a good set of tires and you will be fine. The OEM wheels are kind of heavy so if you go lighter that will help unless you want to keep it stock.
GP2 is a great MINI. You get the larger BBK and the seats are nice. Get a good set of tires and you will be fine. The OEM wheels are kind of heavy so if you go lighter that will help unless you want to keep it stock.
