Is there a list somewhere that describes which elements in the GP are R56 flavor rather than R53 flavor? For example, IIRC, the bolts / lug nuts on the GP are R56 rather than R53. Are all the maintenance type parts (oil filter, for example) on the GP the same as R53 (and which R53 items are different when it is a JCW)? I used to have a lot of this information in my head during the first year of GP ownership, but, I'm getting older, and I need to write this stuff down! This information is especially important for me to compile during the coming months, as my GP will run out of the 4yr/50K warranty in August this year. Thanks and I hope this is not considered a stupid question!

 

Also rear aluminum trailing arm, I think the rear brake lines too? (not sure)
Check out this site: http://gpmini.net/wp/

 

Yup, and I figure Ian will chime in at some point here, too. Great pointer to the site, on the picture of folks walking to their GP's at Laguna Seca, the couple with cartoon MINI's on their T-shirt backs, that's me and my wife Debbie walking to our GP0102 to check it out. That was a great experience, doing the delivery in California and then doing half of MTTS (we lived in North Texas at that time, which was one of the route points for MTTS).

 

The trailing arm difference is important because if you change the rear shocks you also need to purchase the little cone shaped spacers.

The GP rear brake lines do have a different fittings than earlier R53 Minis but I am not sure if that was a switch made late in the R53 build (such as around 2005) or a R56 change.

The R53 JCW front brakes are the same as the stock R56 brakes.

 

Also, 14mm wheel bolts/hubs and third brake light.