I have the option between a 2004 Cooper S with full JCW kit and pretty much every options package including nav, with 72k miles on it for $15.9k. The alternative is a 2005 Cooper S with an Alta pulley and intake, 53k miles, nav and most every factory option as well for $16.5k.

Which should I go for?

 

umm id go with the JCW

only downside would be the 04 has the different gearing, but even with an intake and the pulley you wont be making near the same power as the JCW, plus they are both over warranty so thats not a factor

 

jcw

pretty good deal

 

JCW package would have a better resale value plus its covered by the factory, some dealers won't touch cars with none stock performance
upgrades

 

even with the mileage where it's at on the JCW?

 

well which one do you want more?

 

hmm - well, the 05 has my first choice for body color (grey) but the 04 JCW is still a looker in blue. Oh one more thing - the 04 JCW has a previous accident on its history, door was bashed in and was replaced along with a respray of the front end... so that will affect resale negatively

 

Personaly its a close call. It for me would depend on If you ever want to put a Aftermarket head.
If not go with the Jcw.
the head is basicly a smidge better and with the taller gearing will help keep the wheel spin down when you add the more power.
the 2005 Would be a much better built car however.

 

umm I don't know.. on the paper its 200hp for 04 JCW and 170hp for 05 MCS

so we know the mcs is giving +/- 150-160 at wheels. plus pulley: 170-180hp. and at the crank should be around 190-200hp right?
if you add the different gearing then maybe wont be much difference with a 04 JCW

 

+1 for the jcw.

 

jcw for me have u driven them yet?

 

by saying this you are saying that simply with a pulley and intake that you are going to achieve 50 extra horses?!

haha

and no, you are going from wheel back to crank horsepower, sorry to say but you are way off

 

Well, he's saying that it'll go from 170 to 190-200 . . . so 20-30 increase at the crank (not 50) -- which is still a high estimate for just pulley and intake.

 

When you say full JCW are we talking brakes, suspension and body kit? If so it's a no brainer............... JCW

 

Without the brakes, suspension and plastic, I'd take the `05, as the gearing and many, many small improvements make it a better car.

You can match the JCW engine output with the `05 car pretty easily and for not much more money - adding cat-back and ECU will get you close as makes no matter....

 

by '04 most of the bugs have been ironed out and honestly the main difference to an '05+ is the tranny gearing. '05+ cars are not "way better built," it's pretty much the same build quality compared to an '04 car. in fact, in one (beautiful black eyed purple) '06 mcs i checked out the ceiling lights and the headliner felt extremely flimsy. the main advantages are gearing and the fact that you can get lsd later on

why was the front sprayed? was the accident serious? does it show up on the carfax? if that bothers you and you want a more pristine car, then the '05 might be better. does the jcw have the upgrade kit? there's an upgrade kit available for the -'04 cars up to '05+ jcw kit specs

 

Do both cars have the limited slip differential (LSD)?
I would lean towards the 05 if it has a LSD because the 05 gearing is better.
Does the 05 have a aftermarket cat-back exhaust?
Has the 05 had a ECU reprogram to go along with the pulley and CAI? If so, the HP should be similar to the JCW.
I would not want the 04 because it has been in an accident and repainted.

 

no, I'm saying that the 200hp of the JCW 04 are at the crank. like the 170hp of the MCS are at the crank. then the real power (at the wheels) of the 04 JCW must be between 175-180hp that can't be wrong.

and we know (from many dynos we had see here) the MCS gives around 150-160hp at the wheels and with the pulley you will find a lot of dynos around +/-175hp.
so a MCS with pulley will be close to 200hp at the crank, otherside there is no way to get 175hp at the wheels like we know it does.

 

Has everything in the JCW package except surprisingly the bodykit - otherwise it's the full deal meal: exhaust, upgraded supercharger and head, alcantara seats, etc.

 

05 I'm not sure about - it's very well optioned so I'd be surprised if it didn't. The 04s didn't have an LSD as an option from what I know?

I was planning on doing exhaust and ECU if I get the 05..

 

I had an 03 MCS with CAI, 15% Pulley, Borla Cat-Back, and ECU reprogramming but stock gearing and no LSD.
I know have a 06 MCS GP (full JCW) with the newer gear ratios and LSD.
The HP is similar but the gear ratios and LSD are a huge improvement.

If the 05 does have LSD plus you are planning the exhaust and ECU for the 05, I would go with the 05.

 

Which one drives better? Do you know the previous drivers driving styles? Have either of the cars been driven really hard and/or tracked? Personally there are things about both I really like. I recently drove an 05 JCW and was amazed at the difference from my 02 with 70,000 miles (before my pulley install). However, a lot of what I felt was due to the tranny change. I'd have to say drive both, find out as much history as possible (you may be able to have MINI run the VIN for service done at MINI, they were happy to do it for me). Then do what seems best. My first instict was to go with the 05, but...

 

test drive both. Chances are, with a pulley, ECU, and exhaust on the 05, youre going to "feel" that hp more off the line because of the gearing. Also because of the gearing, one thing is true: with the same hp in the old R53 and the new R53, the newer one is going to be faster off the line. So if you plan on upgrading the 05 to around JCW hp, your going to have a faster car than the 04 JCW. I would take the 05.

 

The accident shows up in the carfax unfortunately - I guess the current owner just wanted to get rid of some road debris pocking on the front end so just had the front sprayed too. I've sold enough cars to notice how much an accident on the car's record can affect resale - which is one of the main reasons I'm balking..

 

LSD was not a commonly selected option -- just 'cause someone likes heated seats and nav, don't assume they also got the LSD.

Nobody's said anything about mileage, but I think there's a big difference between a 50k MINI and one over 70k -- so that's another plus for the '05