Well, I ended up getting this 2004 JCW that I posted about a few days ago. Seller initially asked $6400, which got my attention in the first place since it was reasonably priced at that.

After getting a PPI and finding out it needed a few things sorted, although nothing major or to keep me from driving it, we negotiated and I ended up getting it for $4600. I definitely felt that was a good price!

According to Carfax it's never been wrecked, and it doesn't appear to be at all. I had two techs/friends at Mini look at it and say it was a super clean car, well cared for, and a great price, even at the $6400.

Seller even had the certificate of authenticity for the JCW upgrade that was done at 8 miles by the BMW dealer.

The Electric Blue was probably my last color choice when I was looking but couldn't pass up the car at that price. Stripes came off today, as I'm not a stripe fan-sorry stripe lovers However, now I get to deal with the two tone blue paint, not sure what's worse! Getting front bumper resprayed soon, probably tossing on coil overs, and looking for an aftermarket, lighter wheel. After owning 14 VW's and a couple of M3's and I'm excited to take care of the Mini!

 

Great deal !! Enjoy your new ride.

 

nice deal!

 

Congrats! You might be able to do a good polish and wax to help with two tones of blue because of the strips. I do like that blue though. It's really got a good tone to it. If you need any DIY assistance with it, like for your coil over job, be sure to check out our tech articles here or feel free to ask any questions that you may have!

-Luccia

 

How many miles on it? Where in Virginia are you?

 

The JCW Engine Tuning Kit would be the 200 bhp version. Has it been upgraded?

RealOEM - R53 JCW Upgrade Kit

Car has the dealer fit Aero Kit also

Here's the build sheet ...

 

Thanks for the replies!

Luccia, I'm going to break out the Porter Cable polisher tonight and see what I can do, but have a feeling that after 11 years of the sun that it's going to be tough to do much, but I'll try!

JAB, I'm in NOVA, and 91k. You?

Miniac, thanks for that build sheet-awesome! And, are you referring to the fact that it may have the 210bhp kit since it doesn't have the JCW airbox? I think it probably initially had the JCW airbox but at some point one of the owners of the car took it out and replaced it with the open air cone filter and heat shield. Wish it still had the JCW box!

 

I'm really not a huge fan of the lights on the front bumper in front of the grill. Are those driving lights, or fogs?? Would it be foolish for me to take them off, or are they unique/rare enough that I should leave them on?

 

I would leave them on , someone spent some money on that 04' EB, nice color also.

Great deal and congrats.

 

The 210bhp kit wasn't available until October 2004 and the kit on your MINI was installed a year prior to that.

 

you could just put new stripes back on it and then you'll never notice. Or enjoy the ghost stripes.

 

Too late...already took them off. They were in bad shape, rusted through!

Thanks for the compliments. The color is growing on me....wasn't a fan at first!

 

I'll think I'll be enjoying the ghost stripes. Couldn't get the faded paint to match any better, and really don't want to put stripes back on, so oh well.

Just picked up some 15x8 Enkei RPF1's with the 28offset and some Bilstein PSS10's, so that'll help keep my mind off the stripes!

 

Welcome. If you ever want to add them back we have the housings.

 

What'd you end up doing with the driving lights? Are you interested in selling?

 

Any updated pics ?

 

Agree with both. The driving lights were not durable and tended to be an eyesore after several years of the elements. My first MCS was also electric blue by default (it was the least-bad choice at the time) but I came to really like the color.

 

Fantastic price! Great ride. I love seeing the R53 JCW's saved.
Motor on!

 

The 210bhp JCW Kit wasn't available until October 2004 and, according to your JCW Certificate, the kit on your MINI was installed a year prior to that, making it 200bhp ... unless it was upgraded at a later date.

 

I'll have some updated pics soon. I actually ordered a drilled/slotted rotors/pads kit from you guys, but believe they got delayed a bit, which is no big deal...I'm patient

I also picked up some Enkei RPF1's, 15x8 ET 28's, Bilstein PS10 coil overs, Hotchki's rear sway bar, poly engine mounts, and some Vorshlag camber plates. I have all of that already, so just waiting on the brakes to do everything at once.

I wanted to knock out wheels/tires, and brakes and suspension upgrades before doing anything else. That's the stuff that makes the car much more fun to drive There's enough HP already!

 

Sorry..but I trashed them. They were in pretty bad shape.

 

Great , thanks for the orders. Let me know if you have an other issues, I am here to help.

 

Looks like a great JCW! Bargain too

 

Thanks Mark! I've put a few dollars into it since purchasing it, taking care of some minor issues that I knew about before buying it, and many more dollars into it for the stuff in my sig that makes it even more fun to drive!

 

Any updated pics or JCW mods.