Hello again, friends!

I received the blunt end of a ram-bar Jeep the other week and I've been consequently fighting with the insurance to get myself a fair settlement.

Well, the check should be arriving next week (I missed a cruise this morning ), but I've pretty much exhausted the Craigslist pages for AZ, ABQ, LV, Reno, etc.

Do you guys perchance have any nice R53's for sale near you? I'm looking to spend $4000-$5500. I will work on it myself, so although it needs to be drive-able back to Arizona, it doesn't need to be perfect.

Less than 140k mi preferred.
Mods are an interesting thing...I sort of prefer having them on, since they sort of don't make the car more expensive, but they're expensive to purchase new...

Then again, if the mods are impractical/imbalanced (like 2% solid crank pulley+17% supercharger pulley+restrictive ebay intake with no heat shield+solid tensioner bar), I'd prefer a stockier example.

I don't like chromeline trim,
I don't like the silly "so-mid-2000's" navigation package with the relocated speedo.
I don't want a sunroof unless it's in perfect condition.
LSD Preferred...and that's where I've been having a lot of trouble...

 

That's something you may have to compromise on because it's so rare.

Only available '05-'06, and even then very few buyers optioned it — only about 1%. Your best chance for LSD would be on an '06 factory JCW.

 

I see! I didn't realize it was that rare. Did the dimensions of the diff change between pre- and post-facelift non-LSD models? Would I need a post-facelift transmission to swap an LSD in?

 

I have at least 5 or 6 in Massachusetts. You interested?

 

Yeah sure, please share!! That's a really far drive from Arizona, but maybe one's a gem and would justify the journey.

 

http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/ctd/5912493696.html
http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/cto/5899391727.html
http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/cto/5902843225.html
http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/ctd/5913585671.html
http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/cto/5881637733.html
http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/cto/5903270734.html
http://boston.craigslist.org/nwb/cto/5911746106.html

 

https://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/cto/5913885496.html

Portland, OR - seems like a great deal!!

 

There's always a good volume of cars available in the SF Bay Area. I'm guessing LA would also have a ton as well.

Here's a search result of 2005-06 Cooper S with Manual Transmissions.


SF Bay Craigslist Search Result

 

http://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/5917568897.html
http://norfolk.craigslist.org/cto/5914355233.html

 

I'm getting my 2003 S ready to sell. 6 speed, 107K miles, dark silver, leather, in SoCal if your interested.

 

Thank you so much guys! Some of these are amazing choices, albeit a little far for me to travel. I really like that one in VA and the red one from MA! Still looking so if you guys see anything let me know!!!

 

There is a yellow 04 JCW with 150k miles for $4500 on Sacramento Craigslist. Lots of maintenance already listed. Looks good

 

oh my god...it's literally perfect...thank you so much (i'm such a sucker for liquid yellow...)

 

It's dropped to $4K now. There's also a 2004 chili red JCW in Davis with only 75K miles, asking $6,600. Davis is about 15 miles from Sac.

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/5893710379.html

 

Wait a second...look at the engine bay pic and compare it to this one. Is that a genuine JCW? It looks like they just put a JCW intercooler diverter on...shouldn't the valve cover and intake be stamped with the logo too? Also it's a non-aero body, not sure if you could order JCW performance without the appearance.

 

It's the older 200 hp JCW kit.
http://www.motoringfile.com/2012/05/07/24014/
http://parts.miniofkennesaw.com/prod...wd=&origin=pla

Aero kit was sold separately, doesn't come with the engine kit.

 

Wow, I didn't realize the JCW sound kit came with the silver intercooler cover, numbered engine plate, certificate, and badges. I wonder how many people think they have 210hp JCW's and basically only have regular R53's because they're missing the head, injectors, and the JCW supercharger?

The MF article makes it seem like the LSD and the JCW brake upgrade was part of the JCW 210hp kit, factory installed, or not. I don't think that's true for the dealer installed kits. Also, was the LSD automatically included, or still an option on factory JCW's?

 

The Aero Kit for the 1st Gen MINI was NOT a JCW branded part.

The factory JCW Package (option 3AL) included the JCW Engine Tuning Kit, JCW Sport Brakes (294mm front discs) and LSD (option 2TA).

Without the numbered JCW plaque on the valve cover of the 2004 Liquid Yellow MCS I'd doubt its authenticity.

The 2004 Chili Red MCS has a 200bhp JCW Tuning Kit.

 

JCW Sound Kit is for non-S. I had it on my R52. If I remember correctly, all 120hp of it (although I did get an RMW custom tune). But no, I didn't think I had a 210hp JCW.

It was one of the best sounding exhausts, S or non-S: http://www.thedailytoggle.com/jcw-ki...t-mini-cooper/

 

Sorry to hear about that! No fun. Loved your travel adventures. How about signing on to truecar.com and type in the desired zip code. You can filter from there. Let us know how things go! Please keep us posted.

Drive Hard. Drive Safe. Keep Grinning.

 

I've literally seen those silver intercooler covers for sale on the marketplace...I guess this is where they end up.