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JCW GarageInterested in John Cooper Works (JCW) parts for your 1st Generation MINI? This is where JCW upgrades and accessories for the Cooper (R50), Cabrio (R52), and Cooper S (R53) MINIs are discussed.
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..
Great looking car .. congrats! Welcome to the world of 04 JCW ownership!!
Thanks! I just noticed on your profile you have an 04 JCW as well, but its 210hp? Is that due to aftermarket mods? They're 200hp stock, right? I wonder how different my 200 hp JCW will be vs my 210hp R52. The convertible is heavier, but has more HP and better gearing. Time will tell..
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.
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!!
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!!
I have the airbox and extra injectors laying around. How much was Way's tune?? Pops and burbles?? Must have!
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.
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!
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!
Is that blue one the JCW? Beautiful! I was ideally looking for a blue with white roof, chrono, english leather JCW with under 40k miles.. Is that too much to ask? I couldn't find anything but convertibles until this one.
Yes, the Hyper Blue 06 MCS factory JCW, with chrono package A few I had last year blue 06 MCS JCW, 08 convertible, 05 MCS (Sold), 04 MCS (sold) 08 MC R 50 base.
Picked it up today! Not a single flaw! Wheels have zero rash, new car smell, absolutely perfect condition. Gearing feels slower than my 05 JCW but it’s much nicer. I’ll start my road trip from Atlanta to Chicago tomorrow.
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.
Congrats again, but did what happened to the MOTD badge?
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.
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.
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.
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.
Originally Posted by burley
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.
I couldn't find anything but convertibles until this one.
Congrats again.
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