Thats correct guys and gals I am now selling my all Black 2005 Cooper S.

Milage is 12,000 miles
chrome line interior
added boost & air/fuel gauges
aftermarket stero is not included but can br for extra
intake
front & rear strut braces
carbon fiber intercooler cover
Hsport springs
Alta oil catch can
Alta 15% pulley
Magnaflow Exhauest
18" after market wheels
tinded Windows
pics on my site at http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...ice=&cardist=0

Asking $23,000. I am not parting out at this time.

I am also located in So California

 

I sold my 04' E46 M3/SMG/19" coupe for an MCS/JCW 05/brembo/Hsport/koni/dinan/SSR comp. fun -mobile Mini hotrod (my second MCS.)
The only thing I miss about my e46 M3 is getting all the bloody S54 recall notices, warranty & service advisories and spending time fretting that my macho Munich playtoy might not make it till the warranty expires. At 3470lbs w/ a paltry 261 lbs of torque the M3 is only fun on the track or at speeds that will get the driver a prison term .I have owned many BMW's since 1970 and found that the newest M3 is in many ways too refined for its own good, too heavy for it's power and simply not a car that puts a smile on my face as a day to day driver (on the track or in the boonies it's a blast but stil too massive.) And to add insult to injury, despite the good press, the stock E46 M3 suspension is the WEAK point in the engineering package and the first thing to modify if handling is an important criterion to the driver.
IMO: wait until the M2 makes it to the US and in the mean time enjoy the hell out of your great looking Cooper!

 

Great looking wheels! What are they?

 

Hi,
you have done many mods. to have enjoyed them in 2500 miles. My brother has an 04 E46 and got 2 tickets on the first week of ownership. Keep your cooper enjoy it for a bit. If its because of the engine displacement I understand, but I rather have a 1.6L that can keep up with any thing out there. I enjoy the look on other drivers faces when you tell them its a 1.6L and they have already told you that there's is 2.0, 2.3, 3.4, 5.0, you get the picture. good luck! enyoy your E46!

 

I notice that you underlined "thinking."

Just drive the Bimmer before you decide that's your route and then do what makes you happy.

Personally it wouldn't interest me, but if your MINI no longer talks to you then it is time to move on!

 

Me thinks at $29,000 he's going to be thinking for quite a while.

I wouldn't trade my MINI for an E46 ///M3, you're giving up some squeaks and rattles for an overweight car with a grenading motor that sounds like crap. E36 M3.....in a heartbeat, but they're soooo hard to find in unmolested condition these days

 

What he said...:smile:

 

Your MINI and your price seems high even with the fact MINIs hold the resale value as good as any cars right now, but… If you get $29K for your MINI please post you did.

I’ve watched and seen many MINIs for three years now, moded to the max go up for sale at max price, but no one would touch them for more than standard retail cost less used.

Mods don’t impress buyers when concerns of warranties come in to play. And mods are not covered by warranty.

Hope you get what you’re asking, but I think you’re dreaming about the price nice wheels or not.

 

I agree.

IF it was maxed out on options, I think it would still be a tough sale for $25000. Mods suck the resale price off cars big time. In my experience, parting out is the most cost effective way to do it, you get the most for your "stock" car and you sell the parts...often time the total is more than you were asking for the vehicle to begin with.

 

Well guys after talking with wife and others on NAM I have decided not to sell. I always wanted to do a 3 series car build up but though abought just getting the M3. After talking to wife, I will just pick up a 330ci build up for a lot less and keep the cooper aswell. We may even trade the Saab 93 Aero in for a 535i for the wife first to keep her happy. Another factor on keeping the Cooper was my dad who passed 3 weeks ago. I bought the car to spend time with him working on another father son project. I will keep on with the Cooper project as a memory of him.

 

Sorry I forgot about this reply. They are MSR wheels style 103, here is a link.



http://www.aewheel.com/msr/wheels.cfm

 

I have a buddy w/ an absolutely perfect, stock E36 M3 w/ 18k miles for sale if interested..

 

Very sorry to hear about your father. Glad to hear that the car will remind you of fond memories. May they live forever.

 

Back on the market 5/6/05

 

Same here, although I only owned my E46 SMG M3 for 1 year, then a smattering of M-cars (and non-german cars) until now, my second MCS (technically third, if you count my old '70 Morris Cooper S).

I have to say, I have the same, if not more, fun in my MCS than I did in the M3.

 

I decided a wile back against the M3. I am not sure what we will get yet but I need something a little bigger than the Cooper. It is nothing but fun but I need to get another 4 door of some type for work.

 

I just bought an 05 MCS - It is a fun car to drive. I bought it for just that - to drive. Like some of you M3 owners - I have a 04 M3-CONV. that will stay nice and clean in the garage. I love my M3 but wanted something I can toss around and drive on trips around when I photograph old farm homes, covered bridges and what not. I am selling my LX470 that was used for that purpose but after $450.00 of gas per month - I decided it wasn't worth having something of that size for only one person. I don't care how much money a person makes - $450.00 for gas on a secondary car is not worth it at all!

For me it just the right size for what I am using it for. J505 sorry to hear that you are leaving the Cooper. I wanted to wait for the 05 model due to the changes they were making because of the problems I heard of the 04 and older models.

For previous M3 owners lets not bash the M3 about exploding motors and what not. Bad pistons are bad pistons - the motor is solid. I am sure you can find a few people who are having problems with their MCS's.

Coilovers and 18" coming up next. Does anyone have any experience with 40mm HR springs? I really don't want to go coilovers if I can find a spring that will make the Mini sit on 18"s right at the well. Any help would be great!

J505 - good luck with the sell.

 

I use H-sports with my 18s, sits perfectly. No rubbing or anything

 

Noz,

thanks for the reply on the springs. Are they progressive rate springs? Did it get better handling? I know some people think that lowering your car betters the overall handling - not always true.

Another question - sorry to hijack the thread - why don't people run 225/35/18's? I see 215/35/18 - I will getting 18x7.5 - I don't see people running 8.0 or 8.5 18" wheels. Rubbing?

The wheels will have 43mm offset.

J505 - - thanks for letting me chime in - BUMP!

 

I also have the H-sport springs and I think they close the 4x4 wheel well gap on the MINI nicely with 18's.

 

Yup the handling is a WHOLE lot better. I run 215s to stretch my tires, which I believe most people do in order to avoid rubbing. And nope, I run 8s and never rubbed once, even while driving hard

 

Bump