Year: 2006
Make: MINI
Model: Hardtop
Price: $1
Mileage: 100
Color: red
Private or Dealer Listing: Private Listing
Location (Region): Midwestern

Year: 2011
Make: MINI
Model: Hardtop
Price: $8500
Mileage: 76K
Color: Blue
Private or Dealer Listing: Private Listing
Location (Region): Midwestern
$8500
2011 MCS HT
76K miles
https://springfieldil.craigslist.org...118346984.html
Is that an N18 engine? I thought they started the N18 motor in 2012, is that right?

 

That is an N18 engine, and I think that car presents well.
According to Realoem.com the R56 LCI with N18 engine started production in May 2009.

 

I believe the N18 engine migrated into the JCW line shortly after the 2012 models were introduced in the US. Early 2012 JCW's got the N14.

 

Yeah, sometime in 2012. RealoOEM.com has both N14 and N18 listed for early 2012 JCW R56, then N18 only for later 2012 and on JCWs.

 

He's down to $6800 now. Any thoughts on that price? I feel like it might be more in the ballpark now. KBB lists it at $4800 - $7800. So it's in the range at least.

 

I seriously doubt that car has a N18 engine. The only way to be sure is to run the VIN in a VIN decoder and see what it says. As for REALOEM saying May 2009 production, I can’t see how that is correct in anyway. Something to keep in mind is that MINI didn’t operate like most car makers in terms of Model Years. For example, they swapped over to R56 hardtop production in November/December 2006 for the 2007MY R56. Thus, I doubt that less than 18monthes of N14 production that they would have switched over to N18 production. Also, I have a friend with a mid MY 2011 MCS and it has a N14.

my last point on that car is that even $6800 for a 2011 MCS seems to be an ok price not a “Good Deal” as there are 26 2012-2013 MCS cars on Autotrader right now.

for me a “Good Deal” on a N14 car would be priced at least $1500 below low KBB so that I could do all of the timing chain and other maintenance and reliability fixes and still be in the KBB ballpark. Otherwise, it would just be better to start with a sorted ‘12-13 MCS or even better a peachy R53 JCW.

 

Did you even look at the listing? Looks like an N18 engine to me...

 

yes I looked at it and will freely admit that I don’t know as much about the R56 cars.
As such I will say that I could be wrong regarding N18s in 2011, but I still would only trust a VIN decoder over realoem because that May 09 date makes no sense. My understanding is that 2011 cars could have either the N18 or N14 depending on when they were produced and exactly what model it was. For example, I think JCWs stayed with N14s until 2013.

Still, I will continue to say that $6800 Is an average deal for a 2011 MCS.

 

That why I clarified by saying "according to realoem.com". Mid-2009 would have put the N14 into at least two years of R56s in Europe. I don't think N18 engines started showing up in North America until the 2011 model year...

 

Looks like I dodged a bullet on this one. We negotiated back and forth; I was at $6600 he or she was at $6800. I said I can't do $6800 on it and here's their reply:I understand. I have turned this email string over to Craigslist, I imagine they’ll be shutting you down shortly

That was quite the surprise! What on earth was I doing that the craigslist police would come after me about?

 

I wouldn’t worry about it. You were negotiating, and couldn’t come to an agreement. Happens everyday, no?

 

Yeah thanks. I'm not worried about, it was just the weirdest thing. I'm thinking that guy is running a scam.

 

Dealing with children is always entertaining.

 

:

Possible bargain in Kentucky.

Low mileage.

2005 MCS
41,800 miles
$5,500

https://bgky.craigslist.org/ctd/d/sc...125039283.html

:

 

It looks good but is the price high for a rebuilt title? I know he'll take $5K. I think I'd be a player at $4500.

 

Hey I'm not stepping on your toes by checking it out am I?

 

Not at all!

I appreciate you asking though,
very thoughtful.

I'm not in the market but I still like looking because I just love these R53's and like surveying the field to see what's out there.

Are you gonna go test drive it?

 

I don't know. '05, 5 hours drive, 5 grand, rebuilt title. Not my color. Still, it's hard to be too choosey sometimes I think. I'll ponder it for a few days. It does have low miles....but I wonder if it's easy to manipulate the odometer in the R53 models.

 

I hear you, lots of variables at play there.

As far as odo manipulation --- I would think that it'd be tamper proof but I'm not totally sure how it is hard-coded and if they can be hacked.

Finding a good R53 can be somewhat frustrating.

When I was looking I had specific parameters too as far as color and spec --- it took me 6 months to find a pepper white slicktop JCW.

 

And the red R53 is now sold. Not to me though.

 

Here's one I found on Autotrader. He claims it's a JCW. https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...ckType=listing

 

It's a Cooper S with the JCW Interior Package

 

Thanks Miniac, I suggested to him earlier that it was not badged as a JCW and he said it absolutely is a factory JCW. Then he sent me more photos and obviously it was not a JCW, or someone had gone to great lengths to make sure it didn't look like one. An undercover JCW perhaps...At any rate, for the miles, the claimed garage kept every day, and the condition it's in...it's really rough. This one's a hell no.

 

For reference; this is what a real factory 2013MY JCW looks like in the VIN decoder

 

Aero thanks for that I figured there should be something mentioned about JCW or not.