Allow myself...to introduce......myself.

My name is Jesse and I am new to the MINI community. I am a mechanical engineer in the Milwaukee area, and I work for an American motorcycle company.....I am sure you can guess who.

I picked up a R53 JCW as I wanted something to handle my 45 minute work commute better than my previous RX-8 did. This is what I found at a local small town dealer:




It is a real 2006 factory JCW. Here is the VIN decoder information:

Vehicle information
VIN long WMWRE33536TL18460
Type code RE33
Type COOPER S (USA)
Dev. series R53 ()
Line M
Body type COUPE
Steering LL
Door count 3
Engine W11
Cubical capacity 1.60
Power 125
Transmision FRONT
Gearbox MECH
Colour PEPPER WHITE (850)
Upholstery LEDER ENGLISH/PANTHER SCHWARZ (LNPN)
Prod. date 2005-11-14

Order options
No. Description
1CA SELECTION COP RELEVANT VEHICLES
2TA LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL
210 DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL (DSC)
249 MULTI-FUNCTION FOR STEERING WHEEL
3AL JOHN COOPER WORKS KIT
319 INTEGRATED UNIVERSAL REMOTE CONTROL
329 BLACK BONNET STRIPES
369 LT/ALY WHEELS/S-SPOKE
383 ROOF AND MIRROR CAPS IN BLACK
4AA ROOF LINING ANTHRACITE
403 GLAS ROOF, ELECTRIC
429 INTERIOR SURFACE, ANTHRACITE
431 INTERIOR RR VW MIRROR W AUT ANTI-D
450 HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT F FRONT PASSENGER SEAT
473 ARMREST, FRONT
5AA REAR FOG LAMP
520 FOGLIGHTS
521 RAIN SENSOR
522 XENON LIGHT
534 AUTOMATIC AIR CONDITIONING
550 ON-BOARD COMPUTER
609 NAVIGATION SYSTEM PROFESSIONAL
645 RADIO CONTROL US
650 CD PLAYER
674 HIFI LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEM HARMAN KARDON
692 CD CHANGER I-BUS PREPARATION
8SP COP CONTROL
895 ADDITIONAL VENTILATOR
9AA EXTERNAL SKIN PROTECTION
925 SHIPPING PROTECTION PACKAGE

Series options
No. Description
228 SPORTS SUSPENSION SETTINGS PLUS
255 SPORTS LEATHER STEERING WHEEL
262 HEAD AIRBAG
441 SMOKERS PACKAGE
470 CHILD SEAT ISOFIX ATTACHMENT
481 SPORT SEATS F DRIVER/FRONT PASSENGER
493 STORAGE COMPARTMENT PACKAGE
546 REVOLUTION COUNTER
563 LIGHTS PACKAGE
657 RADIO BOOST
736 SECOND RADIO REMOTE CONTROL KEY
823 HOT CLIMATE VERSION
845 ACOUSTIC BELT WARNING
853 LANGUAGE VERSION ENGLISH
876 RADIO FREQUENCY 315 MHZ
992 NUMBER PLATE ATTACHEMENT MANAGEMENT


The tires that I bought the car with were toast, so I immediately replaced them with some Sparco wheels with Hankook V12 tires. Here is the car at its first autocross two weeks ago (6 days after ownership):




This past weekend I installed the aero grill set:




The MINI will be my daily driver and winter car, so I only have a small list of future modifications for the car. The MINI will share driving duty with my motorcycle and my soon to own NA/NB Miata. I am a true RWD fan, and enjoy track days and autocross.....so the Miata will be my track toy. The MINI will see some autocross duty, especially in the meantime until I add a RWD fun car. Here is a pic of my previous RX-8 which had daily driver, track car, and winter car duty:




NAM looks like a great forum for enthusiasts, and I am looking forward to my time here.

Thanks,
Jesse

 

Welcome to NAM, Jesse! What a beautiful RX-8 you owned. I'm sure you'll enjoy the new JCW a lot. Great color combination as well! If you need any help with future fixes/repairs or upgrades be sure to check out our DIY tech articles here. If you have any questions or need any help please don't hesitate to ask!

 

Thanks for the welcome. I actually just placed my second order from PelicanParts yesterday. I am also expecting my first order to arrive today. Nothing better than new car parts!

I will be sure to check out your DIY tech articles.

Also, I didn't realize until now that there is a 1st Gear section for introductions. Maybe a Mod can move this thread if it should belong there instead.

 

That's great to hear! If you need anything in the future don't hesitate to let me know.

Yes, 1st gear is for introductions, but a lot of people post within their generation specific part of the forum all the time. Looking forward to seeing what small mods you add to the MINI.

 

Welcome to the MINIacs!

I bet you are still smiling...

Motor on!

 

Congrats, looks better with those wheels.

 

Thanks......I am kind of kicking myself for not getting 16x8 wheels and 225 wide tires. I automatically assumed that the 16's wouldn't fit over the front JCW calipers....I was wrong.

Either way, the JCW will be my daily driver and not my track car, so the extra tire isn't really necessary.

 

Congrats Jesse! Looks great!

 

Thanks Pedro. I hope you find a buyer for Scooter......it looks like a really nice car.

 

Wanted to give an update on recent changes to the MINI. I have been quite busy with it over the past few months. Here is a list of recently replaced parts:
-lower control arm bushings with the Powerflex polyurethane bushings
-crank position sensor O-ring
-coolant flush when the front subframe was out
-oil filter housing gasket replaced
-installed Tein S-Tech lowering springs (reused factory dampers)
-replaced windshield as it was "sandblasted" with pit marks

Here is a recent picture with the Tein S-Tech springs installed:




I also picked up the MINI's stable mate about a month ago. A '95 Miata with factory hardtop. The Miata will be my fair weather driver and track car, where the MINI will be my daily mule and winter car.

 

The MINI is looking good, Jesse! Congrats on the Miata! And with the factory hardtop, which is hard to find and buying those tops separate is very costly. My brother just went through that with his NA Miata. You'll have a blast with the Miata on the track. I hope to pick one up in the future as well.

 

looking good!

 

Clean looking JCW R53 Jesse! Just picked up mine a few months ago as well! Definitely fun cars to drive!

 

I am currently having second thoughts on selling the RX-8 and getting the JCW. I really like the R53 and everything.....and it is an awesome FWD car....but it is still FWD, and I miss my RX-8. I think I might put the JCW R53 up for sale this spring and look for a series II RX-8 to replace it. Any idea what price it would be worth?

2006 factory JCW with 117k miles. No rust and a 9.5/10 interior and a 9/10 exterior. Recently replaced LCA bushings with PowerFlex. Lowered on Tein S-Tech springs, new windshield, coolant recently flushed, JCW grille kit, and recent alignment. Factory options include GPS, leather lounge interior, sunroof, 6 speed manual with limited slip differential, and auxiliary input.

And since I like adding pictures.....here is me doing the alignment after installing the Tein S-Techs:


I was able to set rear camber without issue, but had to take it to a shop to adjust front toe as I couldn't break loose the tie-rod nuts. It was painful paying a shop to do an alignment for me.....

 

Wow...so soon? I can understand the FWD vs. RWD issue. I do miss my E46 M3 from time to time as well.

 

Very clean R53 , I would keep it. I had those tire on all three my MINIs. Looks like hankook V12 evo.

 

I actually do really like the JCW.....it is a fantastic little FWD car.....but I long for a RWD car as my daily driver in the winter. Even with the LSD in the JCW, FWD is just no fun in the snow.

I did find another option to consider......a 2003-2005 BMW ZHP 330i or 330ci. I never knew there was such a thing as the ZHP package on them, and so far from what I am reading, they seem like a good option as well. My wife even likes the idea that it is available in a sedan, but I will be hoping to find a coupe first.

Expect the JCW to be listed up for sale come March/April.

 

Any more thoughts on what you'd be asking price wise? I'd still love to pick up a lower mileage 2006!

 

Most BMW guys really like the ZHP, sorry to hear you are selling, at least that puts another great R53 on the market, good luck with the sale.

 

See if does not take long to get some interest,

 

I am thinking $10,000 without the second set of winter wheels/tires. At this price I won't loose my *** on selling it so quickly. And in all reality, I don't need to sell it, so I won't take a big loss on it.

The JCW goes into the dealership at the end of February for rust repair warranty (tiny spec of surface rust under driver's side tail light). And the rust inside the door seal was repaired under warranty this past fall. Got to love the 12 year rust warranty the 2006 MINI has.

Just keep in mind that I am not ready to sell until March at the earliest, as I don't want to drive my Miata in the salt.

 

Do they throw salt up there a bunch or ash ? Thought up north they used a bunch of ash.

 

It depends which municipal jurisdiction you are in as to if they throw ash, salt, or dirt. Sometimes they even squirt this slurry mix on the interstates. Luckily they don't throw down the slurry or heavy salt unless it is in single digits.

 

So do you think I would be crazy to ask $10,000 for this? I did a NADA value check and it comes in at $11,300 retail. Thoughts?

 

I would go to the NAM marketplace , see sales and also check ebay completed and see sales. Note ebay seems to be on the wholesale side price sometime. I know it might be hard to find one exact , but it will give you a close real sale price.