New dark silver '04 JCW!
#1
New dark silver '04 JCW!
I just closed a deal on a new to me, 2004 R53 JCW with 34k miles, loaded, for $xxxx. It was a one-owner car always serviced at MINI dealership. I paid over the phone (bought from MINI dealership, so I took the word of the tech), and pick her up on the 21st! Road trip!!!
Dealers said zero dings, scratches, and flawless interior. I'm going from a higher mileage '05 R52 JCW so my wife can have a hard top (her preference). It will be weird going from the facelift gearing, but I'm sure I'll love it. Its got a "tail of the dragon" badge, so I think it was a NAMer's car. Anyone recognize it? Located in Georgia.
This will be my 6th Cooper, and I'll have 3 in my garage (including my parts car). I think I might have a problem..
Dealers said zero dings, scratches, and flawless interior. I'm going from a higher mileage '05 R52 JCW so my wife can have a hard top (her preference). It will be weird going from the facelift gearing, but I'm sure I'll love it. Its got a "tail of the dragon" badge, so I think it was a NAMer's car. Anyone recognize it? Located in Georgia.
This will be my 6th Cooper, and I'll have 3 in my garage (including my parts car). I think I might have a problem..
Last edited by burley; 01-25-2019 at 06:18 PM.
#3
I just noticed that my 04 JCW has the airbox.. I wonder if the previous owner upgraded the software and injectors to the full 210hp. Seems like an expensive mod for the money.
#4
200hp stock . . back in 2005 / 2006 (and probably still now) you could get the 'upgrade' kit, which added the JCW airbox, the 380cc injectors, and the 210hp tune. Shortly after getting the car I bought the JCW airbox and JCW injectors. My local Mini dealer was not able to install the tune (primarily due to their complete and utter incompetence), so I got Way to install a tune . . he said his QuickTune would be way better than the factory 210hp tune, and he was right!!
#5
200hp stock . . back in 2005 / 2006 (and probably still now) you could get the 'upgrade' kit, which added the JCW airbox, the 380cc injectors, and the 210hp tune. Shortly after getting the car I bought the JCW airbox and JCW injectors. My local Mini dealer was not able to install the tune (primarily due to their complete and utter incompetence), so I got Way to install a tune . . he said his QuickTune would be way better than the factory 210hp tune, and he was right!!
#6
Yep, pop's and burbles!!
Car was pretty rough (for my liking) after the injectors and airbox were installed . . and there were lots of dead spots in the rev range both before and after the injector / airbox upgrade, but Way's tune got rid of all that - super smooth power range, and car runs like a dream now - definitely the best runner of the 3 R53's that've had .. and this is my first pre-facelift one.
Car was pretty rough (for my liking) after the injectors and airbox were installed . . and there were lots of dead spots in the rev range both before and after the injector / airbox upgrade, but Way's tune got rid of all that - super smooth power range, and car runs like a dream now - definitely the best runner of the 3 R53's that've had .. and this is my first pre-facelift one.
#9
Hi burley,
You made me laugh, as I was reading and saw: "I now have three", I looked in my shop and outside and noticed I have three of my own now too!
I just keep buying them, fixing them and sending them to new owners and causing them to get the disease also!
My daily is an 06 MCS factory JCW. I just love this car and can hardly stay out of it, as it is just so much fun! I have given up a few keepers, to folks that just had to have them. I am glad I live in twistyville!
Congrats on your new to you 04 MCS JCW model!
You made me laugh, as I was reading and saw: "I now have three", I looked in my shop and outside and noticed I have three of my own now too!
I just keep buying them, fixing them and sending them to new owners and causing them to get the disease also!
My daily is an 06 MCS factory JCW. I just love this car and can hardly stay out of it, as it is just so much fun! I have given up a few keepers, to folks that just had to have them. I am glad I live in twistyville!
Congrats on your new to you 04 MCS JCW model!
#10
Hi burley,
You made me laugh, as I was reading and saw: "I now have three", I looked in my shop and outside and noticed I have three of my own now too!
I just keep buying them, fixing them and sending them to new owners and causing them to get the disease also!
My daily is an 06 MCS factory JCW. I just love this car and can hardly stay out of it, as it is just so much fun! I have given up a few keepers, to folks that just had to have them. I am glad I live in twistyville!
Congrats on your new to you 04 MCS JCW model!
You made me laugh, as I was reading and saw: "I now have three", I looked in my shop and outside and noticed I have three of my own now too!
I just keep buying them, fixing them and sending them to new owners and causing them to get the disease also!
My daily is an 06 MCS factory JCW. I just love this car and can hardly stay out of it, as it is just so much fun! I have given up a few keepers, to folks that just had to have them. I am glad I live in twistyville!
Congrats on your new to you 04 MCS JCW model!
I'll make room somehow
Last edited by burley; 12-10-2017 at 12:49 PM.
#11
#18
Thanks everyone! I’m a little hesitant to go back north.. I’m really enjoying short sleaves in December. Atlanta is a beautiful city full of wonderful people.. I’ve never been before and I’m very impressed.
Quick shout out to Mall of Mini Georgia. Their sales team treated me like I just dropped $50k. I purchased the car over the phone (paperwork FedExed to my house), and it was the easiest transaction I’ve ever made.
#20
The dealer took it off for some reason. I was a little cheesed, but then again I don’t want to wear a badge for something I didn’t attend. More than anything, I felt the car earned it. There’s another MOTD plaque on the interior. I was less irritated when I found a windshield sunscreen, car cover, trunk net, 2 sets of mats (rubber and carpet) and trunk rubber mat included in the sale.
Also, instead of it just being a regular pre-facelift JCW, I found a JCW air box and blue injectors! No idea about what tune it has, but the owner seemed to take great care of his vehicle. I would imagine if he went through the trouble of injectors he did the tune as well.
Passed through Knoxville and staying in Louisville tonight. The weather has been amazing with a slight downpour today (and 4 accidents) which made for some major traffic.
Last edited by burley; 12-23-2017 at 05:43 PM.
#21
Arrived in Chicago on Christmas eve. Beautiful drive up until the last 2 hours and caught a little snow/ice storm in Gary, Indiana. I had to run it through 2 car washes to get the ice off. I'm pretty sure this Cooper has never felt temps below the 40's.. It was 3 degrees when I made my last leg of the trip.
Road trips are the best way to get acquainted to a new car. I clocked in 1000 miles in 2.5 days with my wife and 2 toddlers.
Road trips are the best way to get acquainted to a new car. I clocked in 1000 miles in 2.5 days with my wife and 2 toddlers.
#22
Thats super clean, well before the snow storm Congrats again.
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#23
#24
Quick question: When I picked up my pre-facelift I was expecting it to be the standard early 200hp kit. I knew it had a JCW airbox, easy mod.. But I was very happy the day I picked it up to find blue injectors.
Is there any way to tell if I have the updated software as well? This was a very well cared for JCW, so I assume it was updated. It runs very smoothly.. Wouldn't it run poorly with larger injectors and pre-facelift JCW software? It pops a burbles a little, but not nearly as much as my last '05 JCW.
Still thinking about Way's tune.
Is there any way to tell if I have the updated software as well? This was a very well cared for JCW, so I assume it was updated. It runs very smoothly.. Wouldn't it run poorly with larger injectors and pre-facelift JCW software? It pops a burbles a little, but not nearly as much as my last '05 JCW.
Still thinking about Way's tune.
#25
If you pull out the ECU (or the DME, whichever part of the computer is attached to the airbox) it will have a JCW sticker on it, which should have a date on it . . that will tell you when the JCW software was installed.
Quick question: When I picked up my pre-facelift I was expecting it to be the standard early 200hp kit. I knew it had a JCW airbox, easy mod.. But I was very happy the day I picked it up to find blue injectors.
Is there any way to tell if I have the updated software as well? This was a very well cared for JCW, so I assume it was updated. It runs very smoothly.. Wouldn't it run poorly with larger injectors and pre-facelift JCW software? It pops a burbles a little, but not nearly as much as my last '05 JCW.
Still thinking about Way's tune.
Is there any way to tell if I have the updated software as well? This was a very well cared for JCW, so I assume it was updated. It runs very smoothly.. Wouldn't it run poorly with larger injectors and pre-facelift JCW software? It pops a burbles a little, but not nearly as much as my last '05 JCW.
Still thinking about Way's tune.