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General MINI TalkShared experiences, motoring minutes, and other general MINI-related discussion that applies to all MINIs, regardless of model, year or trim.
I use to have a bunch of Exoto 911 models and sold them for a pretty penny years ago with the boxes. I also had a bunch of BMW Kyosho models and sold those.
They're cool to look at, but I wouldn't pay the crazy money that people want for them now
"At 71 years old I have decided to quit playing on the track. I own a 2006 JCW mini that has been modified for track use. The car has a RMW stroker engine producing 360 hp. It has a wide body kit, roll cage, and a fully stripped interior with carbon fiber seats, ATL fuel system, TILTON pedals and many, many other improvements. The engine has 1 hour of track time on it as does the Giken clutch. Both installed by Jan at RMW this March. I’m asking $20,000. The RMW work last winter amounted to $16,000 plus."
Just saw this mega-rare key ring and it's sitting at $90 with 5 days left on the auction.
The rarity of old logo JCW stuff can cause a sort of obsessive madness!
Still though,
no comparison to vintage JDM stuff which is a burning hot market right now with insane amounts of money being thrown to own them,
like several days ago this old logo Nismo strut bar sold for close to $10,000 friggin dollars!
At some point I think I will buy another R53 just because I love them so much.
That one has been listed for over a month.
It's only 45 minutes away from me so I might go look at it next week, if it was a slicktop I'd deffo consider buying it but being as it is I just wanna check it out as a passive tirekicker.
OB Yeah I think that was actually originally listed months ago. Guess not much attraction so maybe fairly negotiable. I believe Dakar was a BMW color, if this was special ordered in that factory paint, would be pretty cool, if you like yellow. Going by the door jambs, looks like original paint, and some very rare JCW gel entry covers. Weird no engine bay pics. Go give those tires a kick.
Though it looks to need a thorough detail … this is IMO an amazing find, even for the asking price of $20k
More of a ‘club spec’ … basic seats, manual climate control, no cruise control, SlickTop…
That’s the part that makes it cool to me … not an ‘accessory-catalog’ car (which can be cool to… but this is Refreshing to see)
California car… so none of that ‘rust belt’ corrosion …
and less then 5k miles on it
dang … I hope someone on here can see this car for what it is and snap it up !
Last edited by mountainhorse; Oct 7, 2021 at 02:33 PM.
The one side I get excited about low mile cars, but from a former tech perspective a lot of them are ticking time bombs if the year service intervals on coolant and brake fluid aren't changed.
I watched more than few cars that we're 10/10 on paint and interior, but as soon as they were pressed into daily service seals perished and it looked like the engine and transmission just drank magnesium citrate.
I still rather start with a low mile car when it comes to an R53 vs. some of the roaches out there
They ALL need age related maintenance IMO.... ALL of these 17+ year old cars... Easy enough to do... still a bargain compared to buying a new car of equal 'fun factor".
They ALL need age related maintenance IMO.... ALL of these 17+ year old cars... Easy enough to do... still a bargain compared to buying a new car of equal 'fun factor".
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The R53 isn't too bad when it comes to oil pan, dipstick, crank sensor, front pulley, timing cover, and valve cover seals. It just sucks that the seals even genuine MINI ones aren't designed to last. The 2004 Tacoma with the 3.4 I had didn't leak a drop at 260k, but my 2002 R53 with 130k found a new place to leak from every few months. Well up until I pulled out the gasket bazooka and replaced every seal and gasket with the exception of the rear main. I went so deep that I even changed the power steering hoses.
My 2006 has all those original seals on it.. yes...leaks a few drips here/there... Getting a full treatment this fall.... to all needs...and like to see input like you are giving us above !!
I think 16 years is pretty good on those seals... especially in these hot running, high output small 4 cyl boosted buggies.
Not too bad.
But, yea... for those low mile hunters out there that believe that they are getting a "like new" time capsule that will not need work.... RUST NEVER SLEEPS is apropos here.... nor does Rubber Rot !!
That's spec'd very much like my car but it has 99K fewer miles. And the engine appears to be mostly under the hood rather than on every horizontal surface in my garage.
Good point about age-related wear being universal regardless of mileage, like see how degraded the top foam strip on the rad is of that low miler?
Speaking of which, I need to replace mine because they're tatty, crumbling, and only halfway stuck on LOL
I feel like a sucker for paying $50 on a few slices of lousy foam though!
Local dealer prices:
L - 51717042997 - $14.09
R - 51717042998 - $14.09
top - 17107515479 - $10.15
bottom - 17107515480 - $10.15
Although I have been suckered in to high priced OE parts in many other examples, I'd like to think that this could be an easy DIY hobo style replacement yes?
Should I try to find some generic foam at the home supply store?
Or should I try to find 'high quality' stuff from some online vendor?
Then it'd just be a matter of cutting to size and bonding it which I think 3M VHB tape would do the trick?
Or should I just bite the bullet, maybe save some time, and fork over for the high priced OE pieces?
