Good Morning Everyone,

I'm looking around for a low mileage factory JCW car, specifically one with the limited slip, etc.

I found this car.

http://www.rjcwheels.com/2006_MINI_C..._266322222.veh


The dealer confirmed it has numbered plate "S6967" in the engine bay, plus a supercharger badged as "John Cooper Works." You can see it has badging and exhaust in the pictures.

However, when you run the VIN, it lacks any mention of the 2TA or 3AL option packages. The VIN is WMWRE33596TN25368

So, I guess my question is...what exactly am I looking at with 25,000 miles on it? A factory "stage 1" car? Definitely doesn't look like the option packages I'm after, but I haven't found any 2006 R53s with anything less than the 3AL package. I've only seen full JCW cars or regular R53s, which leads me to want to know more about it.

Thanks in advance for the input.

 

I have talked to Kief about his JCW he has for sale. He doesn't seem keen to sell it, and I don't blame him.

 

You're probably looking at a dealer installed JCW package. Therefor it wouldn't have the JCW package in the build report.

 

From my reading I thought all 2006 JCW cars were factory after MINI bought them out. I guess I might have interpreted what I read incorrectly, and that you could have it both ways in 2006.

 

The JCW Package wasn't a factory option until November 2005.

The JCW Kit was probably dealer installed after the original owner sold the car.

 

Looks to be a nicely equipped car

 

As the VIN does not have the JCW code and as the car is not equipped with a LSD, all the JCW stuff is aftermarket, and/or, dealer installed. The supercharger if a JCW would have a silver plastic trim cover with the JCW logo on the drive side of the trim. The JCW badge with serial number is mounted on the valve cover at the passenger side rear. Without the serial number badge on the valve cover, I would wonder if the JCW head was installed. The JCW SC is also different and without aforementioned valve cover badge, I would also question whether the SC is correct.

Somebody made this to look like a JCW, the question is how many of the JCW adds ( a total close to $6,000) were really installed.

 

I think you meant that the intercooler cover is silver.

OP - have you asked for a photo from under the hood? Externally, the only things visible are the JCW badges and the JCW exhaust

 

Anybody can put those badges on the car, I would check the exhaust setup, badging on the valve cover and also take a peek at the injectors and see if they have light blue body.

 

The JCW exhaust system has two typical looking oval mufflers (first link) whereas the standard S muffler has two odd tool box looking mufflers (second link). If you want a JCW, you want the limited slip. Night and day difference.

The kit number S6967 appears to be in sequence for that year. I think a BMW or Mini dealer can take the number and see what dealer did the work and what was installed.

Blue injectors and the air box with the JCW sticker were also part of the kit.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...bA0UR3l198D0Gg

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/i...WrEQ9fZVsWX1wQ

 

This is an R53 Cooper S, not a factory JCW. It appears to have the dealer installed JCW tuning kit, but a little more confirmation is needed as others have stated. It is possibly the 210hp version.

No LSD, no JCW brake kit, as would have been found on a factory 2006 JCW.

It appears to have cold/sport/premium packages, plus the English leather option. I see auto air, and garage door opener, so it also probably has one of the convenience packages.

Missing a few desirable options (icing on the cake really) including rear fog light, H/K stereo, and anthracite headliner.

That said, this is still a very nice low miles R53 with lots of really good options.

 

Just my two cents but without the LSD the car is not worth the money for the extra HP of the JCW engine kit. I would like to hear comments from non LSD drivers that have put money into braces to keep the tires on the ground.

Having similar cars, one with LSD and one without, would not buy a Mini that did not have .

 

My view on LSD versus non-LSD: totally depends on what you use the car for and how you drive it

 

I totally agree with Noonzio post above.

 

With such low mileage and questionable provenance, I would want to see if the title is clean. I have over the years seen many low mileage cars purchased as "builders" from insurance pools. They were built up with added goodies to make the previously salvaged title look indescreet. Check this car's title closely.

 

Thanks everyone, you have confirmed my suspicions! Shame because it's a nice car but I'm after a factory JCW car with a LSD, brakes, etc.

The dealer gave me the JCW serial number and confirmed it had a silver SC cover, he did not send me a picture because I told him I was not interested in the car. It is definitely a well fitted dealer installed car.

 

Good luck on your search, they are out there. I was going to buy a clunker r53 and fix/mod but found my jcw searching a bunch of old craigslist posts. Of course when I read about the new JCW with that sweet sounding exhaust .........

 

They are definitely out there - took me almost 12 months to find the right one . . but I did miss out on 3 or 4 that I definitely would have bought if I'd been able to see them before they were snapped up!!

 

Thankfully I'm in the position where I do not need to purchase immediately, the car probably would see much driving in the coming months anyway since it's truck season in PA.

I appreciate everyone's input!

 

I just picked up this 04 JCW 40th. How can I tell if the JCW package was factory or dealer installed?

 

Factory JCW's were only available for the 2006 model year

 

I own 2 r53s one with (factory jcw) and one without, huge difference all over, I will be installing one on my 2nd car soon

 

The LSD is an expensive add but, yes, it makes a great difference.

 

That was dealer installed and a rare MC40. I would say allot of MC40 got the dealership JCW packages as back in the day they would load them up and set in the showroom as an all option car. They marked up the MC40's when they first came out and most sat at the dealer. I remember seeing these new back in 2004 when I bought my MINI. Awesome, save that plate and dont loose it from that MINI. Most people lost the center plates. Also, those wheels are the rare JCW 18" wheels. R95

https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/Jcw_18/



Good info here:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...nt-03-jcw.html

 

The LSD is the main reason I'm after a factory JCW car.

I don't need 200hp in a front wheel drive car to spin one wheel all the time.