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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'm looking for a MCS as my daily driver, probably a Gen 1. I found a 2005 JCW with 105k miles on it and though I'm getting tuned in to what Cooper Ss are worth I don't have a good feel for how much the JCW package would boost value. My understanding is that for the Gen 1 cars the JCW package could not be ordered from the factory, rather was installed either by the importer or the dealer. So...
Is that correct?
What would you say the "add" for the JCW package is?
Seeking advice from those more knowledgeable here.
My understanding is that for the Gen 1 cars the JCW package could not be ordered from the factory
JCW was available from the factory in 2006, but it would have been dealer installed for the 2005 you're considering. Kelley Blue Book says the JCW package adds about $500 in market value to the 2005 model year. I think that's a fair estimate. The original dealer installed kit was about $4500 in parts plus $1500 in labor, but it was overpriced and at this point we're talking about a 13 year old car.
The supercharger was a bit different, in that the two screw compressors were teflon coated.
The injectors were 380s and on the 06, the air filter was different.
It most often had the limited slip differential, a stainless steel exhaus system and JCW exhaust tips. The horsepower on the 05 was 200 and the 06 210hp.
You would need to decide what you can buy a JCW model, verses the "S" Model.
You can sometimes find a decent priced JCW model.
I have an 06 with the factory JCW. These cars rock!
The 210hp JCW kit came out in late 2004 so unless an old kit was installed on the 2005, it should be the same as a factory 2006 JCW minus the JCW brakes and LSD.
If the 2005 you’re looking at has the blue 380cc injectors and JCW airbox it should be the 210 kit. There was also an upgrade kit for the early 200hp kits which added the injectors, airbox, and tune to bring them to 210hp.
All JCW superchargers were Teflon coated, 200hp or 210hp. All of the facelift superchargers were Teflon coated so the only difference between a FL S and JCW supercharger is the pulley size.
I'm schedule to see/drive this car tomorrow, but it appears to have the full JCW suspension and brakes as well. I like the colors and equipment on this car, thought it does not have a sunroof. At 105k the mileage is disconcerting. I'm not afraid to address a few things but I don't want to take on a money pit either. It appears someone has added MSD ignition along the way.
Bottom line, think this car would be worth $7,000-7,500?
Offer 4 or 5k and work up. Yes, it’s a clean JCW but you have no idea how it has been maintained and that MSD coil is a No No and should be the first part removed and replaced with an OEM coil which is better.
I detail cars and can make any POS look like a show car but the inside of the motor and underneath tell the true history of the car. Ask for a Carfax history report for prior accidents and ask to have it put up on a lift and have a non-bias mechanic you trust look at it with you.
Here is MSD and Screaming Demon proof from a good friend that had them tested.
So because EVERYBODY asks about coils, I will post up some test information so its easily searchable when somebody posts up about the weaker than stock MSD coil soon.
As you can see the MSD is a UPGRADE over the stock Mitsu coil, but not over the stock MINI coil.
With a 3,5ms dwell time the stock coil will be right around its max duty cycle at 8000rpm using wasted spark like the stock system.
All of them will honestly light off a spark with a M45. Its the back feeding to the ECU you have to worry about with the non stock ones. They have fried many 1st Gen MINI OEM ECUs over the years but people don’t listen because they are Red and made by MSD (for a Dogde Neon) so they must be better.
Sorry off topic: Dave.O what data do you have to support the OEM>MSD coil statement?
I'd like to know that also, not challenging the assertion, just would like to know why.
Clearly there is deep expertise on this forum, I'm most appreciative to have access to it, thanks guys! I hope to be a regular member here once I get a Mini acquired.
When I bought my first MINI five years ago I had the coil go. I used NAM as a reference point and saw enough negative comments on the red coil pack that I just did not pursue it. Are there people that have good luck with them? Must be as some vendors here sell the things. I just figure I do not want to be one of those that have had issues.
Same reason goes into why I have the Gen1 and the not the Gen2, just too many negative vibes.
It has the OEM aero kit, which is very rare on a used MINI for sale and quite expensive originally (parts+painting+installation). I notice it also has strut tower or camber plates. Clearly it was owned by an enthusiast and likely a member here on NAM. If you search around, you might get lucky and find the previous owner to ask questions about the car.
That’s a really clean looking JCW and has some pretty good options like the Chrono gauge pack, rare and discontinued aero body kit, rear fog light , HK sound, R98 wheels, and JCW brakes which were a separate from the main dealer JCW kit.
The JCW suspension was separate from all JCW’s so verify that it really has that option. No sunroof is desirable to a lot of performance minded drivers as it removes about 80 lbs. from the roof lowering the center of gravity.
From the ad it looks like the strut towers are mushroomed and the passenger side motor mount is bad, or has been replaced, because of the hydraulic fluid stains on the frame rail. The coolant tank also looks old and they frequently fail by splitting at the seam. You can use these issues and anything else you find in your negotiations.
Overall, it looks really clean and with the options, including the factory car cover, looks like was spec’d by a real car enthusiast.
That’s a really clean looking JCW and has some pretty good options like the Chrono gauge pack, rare and discontinued aero body kit, rear fog light , HK sound, R98 wheels, and JCW brakes which were a separate from the main dealer JCW kit.
The JCW suspension was separate from all JCW’s so verify that it really has that option. No sunroof is desirable to a lot of performance minded drivers as it removes about 80 lbs. from the roof lowering the center of gravity.
From the ad it looks like the strut towers are mushroomed and the passenger side motor mount is bad, or has been replaced, because of the hydraulic fluid stains on the frame rail. The coolant tank also looks old and they frequently fail by splitting at the seam. You can use these issues and anything else you find in your negotiations.
Overall, it looks really clean and with the options, including the factory car cover, looks like was spec’d by a real car enthusiast.
Thanks RB-MINI! Good to know about the aero kit, I'd seen reference to it but didn't really know what it was. I've also heard about strut tower mushrooming, can you see this from the pics above? Also good info about the motor mount, what are you looking at to tell you that?
I now see the red under strut tower plates RKW pointed out, but from the pic you posted it still looks like the tower nuts are bowing out and point away from each other.
I was looking at the pics from the dealership ad. On the pic from the passenger side with the motor mount in the middle, the frame rail looks like it’s stained with the black hydraulic fluid from the motor mount. It will be obvious if it’s stained once you see it in person. The mounts often fail from the rubber fluid cell breaking down, possibly due to age. My first mount failed at only 17K miles, but the car was 7.5 years old. The replacement was still intact around 20K later when I replaced it with a Vibratechnics aftermarket mount.
I'm down here by Federal Way area.....maybe we can get together sometime
Bryan
Hi Bryan,
I'm in the process of moving from Yakima to the Mill Creek area, would love to connect and learn more about Minis but it'll need to be after Labor Day, I'm just jammed with new work, dual residence for a bit while we do some remodeling, and then the big move. Would love to know if you can recommend any good Mini independent repair shops in the Seattle area too. I'm a fairly decent DIYer but my time is limited.
I'm fairly new to the Mini scene for only a couple years.....I have done all my own work on the car(s) since I have owned them. I did take the R53 to Mini dealer near me for oil change because they had a special going on.
I did the supercharger service on my '04 R53 because I never knew if it was done.....was fairly easy but the entire front end had to come off the car.
I can't help you with any shop recommendations because I do my own work....plus I'm a ways South of Seattle by about 30 miles
When you get settled in, contact me through here in a PM and maybe you can come on down if you have time
These cars are worth what someone is willing to pay! It's a nice Jcw with full aero kit and painted arches. That's rare. Mileage is high and I'd expect sc service, oil, suspension, etc to need attention. Try and gauge the service history. Look for leaks from engine fore and aft - it's probably going to need new seals.
It's hard to kbb these cars because there is no entry for jcw. That car is ~$9k over a normal s with the aero, sport and jcw package. Take that into consideration. I strongly disagree that an aero jcw is worth only $500 more than a S. Next to the "unicorn" GP, (or the jcw vert ) they are the most desireable.
Ps check that hood to bumper gap on the drivers side. It's too large.
It's hard to kbb these cars because there is no entry for jcw. That car is ~$9k over a normal s with the aero, sport and jcw package. Take that into consideration. I strongly disagree that an aero jcw is worth only $500 more than a S. Next to the "unicorn" GP, (or the jcw vert ) they are the most desireable.
You can price JCWs on KBB ...
According to KBB the JCW Tuning Kit adds $549 to value of this car.
) they are the most desireable.
