Alright, I know there have been many threads like this before and everything is basically opinionated and based off the buyers, but I would like some opinions and what better place then where MINI Maniacs hang out.

I am thinking about parting with my R53 in favor of a Newer MINI, I know some people think this is a bad idea, but a decision I am tossing around, so I would like to see what people think my car would sell for if I did decide to pursue this.

Details about the car:

- 2006 R53 in Hyperblue metallic with white roof
- Just under 67k miles
- 6 Speed
- Leatherette Interior
- Cold weather package
- Xenon's
- Panorama Roof

I have done basic mods, but I will remove most of them before sale. Some of the things I will probably leave with the car for sale (unless I end up trading it in or selling to carmax):

- WMW 16% Pulley
- ATI Super Damper
- R52 Cabrio Braces
- Kingsborne Wires
- Brand New NGK Plugs
- Craven Strut tower Defenders
- VIP Engine Stabilizer
- Front all weather rubber mats
- Rubber all weather boot mat
- POSSIBLY Vibratechnics Lower Mount (Brand new just put in yesterday)
- POSSIBLY TSW Wheel Stud Kit with Blox Lug Nuts
- May be a few other things I can't think of right this second

Maintenance that I have done since I purchased the car, here is the list and it shows just how **** I am about this car:

54,680 Car Bought and Driven Home
54,680 Installed S2000 Antenna
54,680 Install PIAA Silicone Wipers and Rainx front/rear windows
54,680 Replace Air Intake Filter
54,680 Replace Cabin Filter
54,682 Redline Transmission Fluid
54,700 Installed Kingsborne Wires
54,700 Installed New Coil with Grommets
55,871 VIP Stabilizer Bar Installed
56,054 R52 Convertible Chassis Braces
56,490 Replaced Thermostat
56,490 Flushed and Filled Coolant
56,490 Replaced Power Steering Hose and Pressure Line
56,490 Replaced Crank Pulley with ATI Super Damper
56,490 Replaced OEM Belt Tensioner
56,490 Installed new Napa 535 Belt
57,443 Installed 16% WMW Pulley
57,443 Installed OEM Idler Pulley
58,256 Installed PowerFlex Lower Control Arm Bushings
58,256 Installed new front sway bar bushings
58,256 Installed Mudflaps
59,615 Installed new Upper Strut Mounts
59,615 Installed New Falken ZE-612 215/45/17 Tires
60,312 Installed New Rear brake Calipers
60,756 Installed New Valve cover w/ gasket and spark plug tube seals
60,756 Installed New stock intercooler
60,756 Installed Oil Catch Can
61,106 Installed Craven Speed Strut Tower Defenders
61,106 Installed New throttle body Gasket
62,165 Changed Supercharger oil with GM Supercharger oil
62,165 Replaced 2 Water pump O Rings
62,165 Replaced Supercharger Outlet Gasket
62,165 Replaced Green Intake Inlet Gasket
62,165 Replaced Timing Chain Tensioner
62,165 Changed Oil
62,165 Changed Belt (Gates 060535)
62,650 Battery Replaced
62,856 New Front Calipers Installed
62,856 New OEM Rotors Installed Front/Rear
62,856 EBC Ultimax Brake Pads Installed / New Sensors
62,856 Brake Fluid Flushed and Bled
63,028 Installed New Heater Core with clamps and O-Rings


Before the sale, I will be putting in a new Belt, New OEM Coolant tank (Mine started leaking, so I am replacing this weekend and rebleeding the entire system), Fresh oil change using MINI oil/Filter/Plug (doing this weekend), replacing the air filter and cabin filter again, etc.

No rust, I bought the car from a guy in NC and I live in VA so it doesn't see salt or snow pretty much ever.

Exterior has a couple small dings, front bumper/bonnet have a few chips (I have used Dr. Colorchip system to paint them, looks good, but you can see really close where the chip was), and it has typical wear and tear from daily driver on the exterior.

Interior is free of any rips/tears/major blemishes. No awkward noises from the suspension or braking system. Overall it is a very clean R53, but it is a daily so it does have daily use wear... which is unavoidable.

There may be some things I'm missing, but opinions are welcome.

One other thing, clear carfax, no accidents, etc.

Thanks guys!

-Jimmy

 

Around here a clean '06 with low-ish miles would list for about $12-14k in a private sale.

It seems like the USA tends to have lower prices though.

 

Thanks for the input... as it seems, looks like I am probably going to strip every mod off except the supercharger pulley and trade the car in :(

Just did the oil change, fresh plugs and replaced the coolant tank, but I don't know if I'm going to have the time to deal with a private sale.

 

Let me know what you get for it if you trade it in.

- drew

 

Just a question, with all this work you have done why trade it? Your MINI IMO now will be more reliable.

 

Will do, but in the end, what they give me for trade in may be a variable because they will use my trade as leverage to make the deal look "better" like instead of coming off the price of the new car, they will bump my trade up and be like "look how much we're giving you!" I sold cars for a little while so I know what to expect, but I will report back.

Braminator: Honestly, the car is super reliable. I've been chasing down rattles here and there, but reliability wise, car has never had a problem because I've fixed everything before it breaks. Cars to me are a hobby, so I don't really look at the work I did as a burden, I learned a ton about these cars and I enjoyed most of it along the way, but I'm looking into a New Paceman, Countryman, or heaven forbid a car that isn't a MINI. I just need more space and there has been talk of a child or two. Given that my other car is a 1993 MR2 turbo with fixed bucket Sparco's, I can't really put a child in that, and the R53 just isn't going to fit my needs with 2 dogs and a little one if it's next on the list in life.

To date, this has been the most fun daily driver I've had... even if it has been maintenance intensive. I've tried to slightly delay the child thing for awhile now by getting dogs along the way, but that is only a distraction