hey guys, I've been gone for awhile since selling our last Mini but am in the market and looking at this one and would like your advice/suggestions on it since I haven't owned a JCW before.

The car is a 2011 (yeah I know the dreaded N14) JCW with only 20k miles on it. It's still stock with the exception of the Alta hot side pipe. Even with it being the N14 I'm not overly concerned with it due to the low mileage. I'll just keep the oil changes frequent. But aside from that, do any of you guys have any thoughts on this car? Any reason NOT to buy? I'm not aware of any other issues with these other than the timing chains but again I'm not real familiar with them either. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

Price?

 

Oh the price is good, atleast according to Nada.... 16,900. I was more interested in knowing if there were any other mechanical issues with the 11's that I should be concerned with

 

I wouldn't worry so much about the N14, as long as the maintenance has been done and you plan on keeping up on it.

 

Timing chain, thermostat, turbo oil line leak, oil filter housing/oil cooler gaskets leak, HPFP to name a few common issues that I've read here. Low miles is a good sign, hopefully the PO changed the oil at least once if not twice or thrice in those 20k miles.

 

to be fair the oil filter housing will leak on everything that has anything to do with bmw, not just the N14

 

I put 156k miles on my N14 S, now I'm driving an N14 JCW....the problem areas mentioned above are accurate for both. In other words, I don't think that the JCW has any additional problems over the S. The extra cost for the JCW is worth it in my opinion....the S is fun, but the JCW is funner!

 

Thanks guys! Just wanted to get your thoughts on issues I need to check this for or be aware of. Going to check it out Sunday for purchase.

 

Slick top? Hard to tell from the photo. Looks nice though.

 

Slick top....? Not sure what you mean. It doesn't have a sun roof if that's what you are referring too.

 

Yes, no sunroof

 

So now there's this.... I found another one. It's a 13 with 40k miles on it for $1k more. So it's 2 years newer but twice as many miles, yet it doesn't have the N14.

Woukd that hat be a better deal? To pay a little more for a 2 year newer car with more miles but to avoid the N14?

 

I do not care for the N14 engine. After a few years of ownership the oil consumption problem started on my 2008 MINI Cooper S...what a hassle.

 

I would pass on a 2011 because it is a 6YO car with an engine proven to be a money pit and a ticking time bomb not anymore on warranty.

You have a better bet on a 2013 if you can find the maintenance records and how many previous owners it went through. Furthermore, it may still be under warranty.

I am the first owner of my JCW Coupe now at 32K with absolutely no mechanical problems, still under factory maintenance until July.

 

Definitely go for the n18 2013. The mileage is low regardless but the n14 has many more issues, even if you keep up with it. You'll likely save more than the $1k in additional cost on the replacement of those other items like the timing chain, hpfp, etc.

That's said, there are always the other factors...which one has multiple owners? Are there service records available?