Alright guys, I may have the opportunity to trade in my 2005 MCS which I LOVE! But... a honda dealership by me has a 2009 JCW Hardtop for sale. Ok so mine has ever option except for nav and auto headlights. Mine is Liquid yellow with a black top. Mine only has 59,000 miles. What do you think I could get for it? Should I trade it or try to sell it here first? Ok, now for the JCW. It's a 2009 Hardtop Chili Red x3! Body, roof and, mirrors. I mean, I like the bright colors but if I could choose I wouldn't pick it but it really does look good. Its got black sport stripes and dealer accessory oz supperleggra rims. Its got every option except nav. It has the aero kit from MINI, not the jcw one but the body colored black plastic one. Best part, 29,000 miles. I took it out for a drive today and HOLY COW it was FANTASTIC! I couldn't believe how different it was. I'm not really looking for a new one but this one just happened to be there and now its got me hooked! Any and all information from you guys would be great!

 

Sounds like you've already decided to buy it. Have fun!

 

how does price of each car factor into your decision? Financing? Any warranty on theJCW?

Just looking at the specs, the JCW looks good, but given that it IS a JCW I would consider the warranty situation very carefully.....

 

Mine doesn't have a warranty and neither does the jcw. Would it have that much stuff wrong with it? Its only a 2009 with 29,000 miles.

 

Timing chain and carbon deposits just to list a few of the common problems with the N14 motor...

 

Hmmm.. I thought that was just on the "S" model. How do I check for those things by myself? I don't have a MINI dealer near me to check it out for me and there aren't any mechanics I know that are good with MINI's either.

 

you would be able to hear the timming chain if it had the problem. the motor would sound like a diesel. the carbon would cause the engine to run like crap if it was really bad. if you are not noticing it run porley then i would just do the carbon cleaning after you buy it and do a pcv delete so it doesnt get worse. that's what i did. I have a 07 S with 53000 miles and have yet to have any carbon related issues.

 

I'd say do your reading on the N14 issues, check to see if the timing chain work has been done, and then decide if you can deal with / afford the potential maintenance issues. N14s after the timing chain fix and the newer valve cover seem to be doing better for reliability, but I'm sure glad I have an N18. Only downside is having to wait for someone to come up with a tuning solution.

 

Alright guys, well I'm going to look at it on Saturday morning. I don't really want to trade but its already so cheap that if they do just a little bit off then I'll go for it. They've had it for over six months so I hope they'll be pretty motivated.

 

The S and JCW are the same, just tuned differently. Both an N14 for that model year.

 

Ok thanks! The dealership has it offered online as just an "S" but its definitely a real factory JCW. Most people and dealers around here don't know what they are or sell them. I've had the R52 for 3 years now and people still think its brand new. The closest MINI dealer to me is 200 miles away...

 

First off I don't see why they would have JCW in their lot unless someone did the unthinkable and traded it for a boring cookie cutter car. Anyway the fact that the JCW wont have a warranty is a bit worrisome but if i remember correctly warranties are for 4 years..80% sure so by now the car would be out of it anyway. If you did a test drive and the engine sounded fine then i guess timing belt isn't an issue, carbon build up could be but you wont know for sure till a MINI mechanic could look at it. If i may ask, what price range would you put the selling price of the JCW that the dealership is offering in?

 

Its listed for 19,888. Here's the link to the website:

http://www.fletcherkia.com/used/MINI...65a5d68a9a.htm