I’m looking into buying a JCW. The one I am currently looking at is a 2012 with 36000 miles. I’m new to the mini world and don’t know too much about the cars. Is this a decent year? I’ve heard about one of the motors possibly to n14 being a money pit. Is this the year with that motor? Also I have a question about the features you could have added when you ordered the car from factory. The only package I see that this particular mini has is the cold weather. If I wanted let’s see..the navigation package or something else they offered, Can I take it to Mini Cooper and have the package installed or is it too late for that?

 

The N18 engine was only available from 2013 and up for the JCW, The N14 engine is a can of worms to pop out sooner or later. Everybody knows.


I have 38K from new, still under warranty until 07/18 and always serviced at the dealer.....never had engine problem.


Of course, go for a later N18 engine for piece of mind depending how the car has been serviced.

 

If it has been written about a MINI JCW then it is most likely here someplace. The Gen1 MINI had a Tritec engine that was a joint effort between Daimler-Chrysler and the Rover Group (owned by BMW at that time). The Tritec has a cast iron block and the S model has a supercharger. The Gen2 cars have a Prince engine that was made by PSA Peugeot Citroën. The N14 was the first model with the N18 coming later in the production years. The Gen1 is "smaller" looking than the Gen2 although both have the same 97.1" wheel base. With a supercharger the Gen1 does not have the torque of the turbocharged Gen2. The Gen1 build quality/look is not as good as the Gen2 and many will say the Gen1 has allot of interior squeaks. Many say the Gen1 handling is more "raw" then the Gen2.

Back to the engines, I know a guy with over 200k on his N14 and others that curse the day they ever saw the N14. If you do some reading on the issue the oil change interval had allot to due with "timing chain" problem. The N14 also suffers from carbon build up around the valves. The N18 addressed both the timing chain and the carbon build up issues.

 

N18 engines still have carbon deposit issues. My 2008 N14 at 54K miles had very little carbon deposits on it when I decided to walnut blast. I just walnut blasted a 2013 with 38K miles that was pretty bad. I think they are both prone and that how you drive it determines if and how bad your carbon fouling will be. I drive mine at high speeds and high rpm - a lot. The N18 I cleaned is owner by a friend who drives like the proverbial little old lady.

 

2012 JCW R58 (N14) with 43k. Trouble free with the exception of one coil going bad.

CHECK THE OIL FREQUENTLY!

 

I had 135K miles on my '07MCS w/N14 motor when I traded it. Mini replaced the timing chain cassette at 120K and I replaced the T-stat, water pump, turbo oil lines. Other than that I just changed oil every 4-5K and checked the level at least weekly. Was still running like a champ when the MA drove it away. Only stayed on the dealers lot for about a week.