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Year: 2006 Make: MINI Model: Hardtop Price: $1 Mileage: 100 Color: red Private or Dealer Listing: Private Listing Location (Region): Midwestern
That 2015 in DC has LED lights, cold weather package and leather. Sweet. But, if you don't mind the Chili red, I'd tell you my car is cleaner for $1000 more and mine has the media package... just saying.
Damn good spec on that car and looks in very fine fettle --- if it was a slicktop I'd be tempted to swap it for mine.
Might try and go test drive it since it's only an hour away!
Leather JCW dash + downtubes are rarely seen.
WMW plug wires + JCW strut bar, it appears to have been well maintained.
I just called him. It has some carfax damage, which I think I'm okay with. It also has an airbag light on. What would cause this? I'm aware of the airbag sensor mat recall, but if that's not the issue with the airbag light, could there be something else? The recall is listed as open on the safety recalls website. If I went to a dealer, would they fix it free of charge? I'm very interested in this Mini for sure.
I just called him. It has some carfax damage, which I think I'm okay with. It also has an airbag light on. What would cause this? I'm aware of the airbag sensor mat recall, but if that's not the issue with the airbag light, could there be something else? The recall is listed as open on the safety recalls website. If I went to a dealer, would they fix it free of charge? I'm very interested in this Mini for sure.
airbag light could be related to the recall or something else. Without an inspection it would be hard to known. Luckily WayMotorWorks is nearby and could probably do a thorough inspection.
if you did buy this car, I’d be very interested in buying that leather dash and downtubes or trading dash’s / downtubes + cash. I’ve got a Piano Black / Se7en dash in storage.
Is the power difference that much greater in the '11? Is the R53 really that much more of a driver's car?
No and yes... R53 feels more solid on the road as far as handling goes due to the suspension geometry changing on the R56. R56 has more power but is a turbo so it has to spool up before you get into the power. All of these things are addressable with mods and upgrades but I love the R53 best. Of course it takes some work to make sure she stays running tip top but what 13-18 year old car doesn't?
I have both R53 and R56S and love my R53 so much more. The R56 was purchased as a daily when I let my last R53 go. I only lasted a year before I broke down and got another R53.
Is the power difference that much greater in the '11? Is the R53 really that much more of a driver's car?
I think if your budget allows for the cost of the R56, I would get the R53 and put the difference into maintenance and upgrades. In the end, you'll have much more of a "Drivers" car.
My vote is for the R53, especially for 6K difference. If you need the R56 I would look for all the failure stuff being replaced and a much lower price
Would a low mile (30K) N14 be a good bet? From the stories I've read, it seems safer to get the higher mileage N14 that either was replaced entirely or had all of the failure points documented in its lifetime.
I'd like to thank everyone that has joined in this venture of mine to find my next Mini. The original plan was to spend maybe $5-6K to get back in a Mini if I could find one for a good price. My buddy has an R55 that he's done a lot of the engine work on; he wants to sell it but I guess he's just not as motivated to sell as I am to buy. Of course not pushing too hard for an N14. Then I thought about upping my budget to $11-12K for a good low mile R56 JCW. I found one in Chicago and when I asked for a video of the engine during start, and about rust on the underside, he went quiet so I took it as a red flag.
I spoke with Way, what a pleasure to talk with; he was very knowledgeable with this R53 in GA as the PO took it to him to get worked on for a few years. Knowing its issues I managed to negotiate the dealer down somewhat; enough for me to pull the trigger.
I'm going to leave home at 4am on Tuesday in a rental car, dump it near Atlanta, and the dealer will pick me up. Drive it home for the next 10 hours and with luck roll into the driveway by midnight or 1am. That'll be a good test drive I think.
For the drive, should I take some spare oil or anything? I've heard about oil usage but am I thinking that applies more to N14s?
I'd like to thank everyone that has joined in this venture of mine to find my next Mini. The original plan was to spend maybe $5-6K to get back in a Mini if I could find one for a good price. My buddy has an R55 that he's done a lot of the engine work on; he wants to sell it but I guess he's just not as motivated to sell as I am to buy. Of course not pushing too hard for an N14. Then I thought about upping my budget to $11-12K for a good low mile R56 JCW. I found one in Chicago and when I asked for a video of the engine during start, and about rust on the underside, he went quiet so I took it as a red flag.
I spoke with Way, what a pleasure to talk with; he was very knowledgeable with this R53 in GA as the PO took it to him to get worked on for a few years. Knowing its issues I managed to negotiate the dealer down somewhat; enough for me to pull the trigger.
I'm going to leave home at 4am on Tuesday in a rental car, dump it near Atlanta, and the dealer will pick me up. Drive it home for the next 10 hours and with luck roll into the driveway by midnight or 1am. That'll be a good test drive I think.
For the drive, should I take some spare oil or anything? I've heard about oil usage but am I thinking that applies more to N14s?
MINI_42
Rich B here. I couldn't be more happy that this jcw is going to someone on this forum. These cars are getting harder and harder to find and deserve to be enjoyed and cared for as I am sure you will do. Yes....Way is a MINI enthusiast through and through and his shop offers top notch service and discounted parts pricing. You and I are fortunate to have such a well respected MINI shop so close to us. The best to you with your new ride! Rich
For the drive, should I take some spare oil or anything? I've heard about oil usage but am I thinking that applies more to N14s?
Congratulations on a really nice R53!
As far as the road trip, no specific concern for an R53. Like any vehicle, you want to be sure all fluids are topped off, that tire pressures are set, and that all lights and turn singles are all operational. Oh, and a phone charger adapter for the lighter socket (no USB ports on an R53).
MINI_42
Rich B here. I couldn't be more happy that this jcw is going to someone on this forum. These cars are getting harder and harder to find and deserve to be enjoyed and cared for as I am sure you will do. Yes....Way is a MINI enthusiast through and through and his shop offers top notch service and discounted parts pricing. You and I are fortunate to have such a well respected MINI shop so close to us. The best to you with your new ride! Rich
Thank you Rich! I'm hoping Way will give it a going over on the day before I drive back to STL. Pretty stoked that I managed to secure a fine Mini with some great choices of options. You're a star for throwing that CL listing up, and I've got to say if it hadn't been for you and Aero and Oldboy, and a couple of others, I may have gone with the N14 JCW in Chicago. Which wouldn't have been a bad choice, but I'm so much happier this is the route I'm going. I've been staring at the forums and videos for several days now. And I'm planning a 9 hour drive, buy a Mini, then another 9 hour drive. Where do you draw the line between crazy and enthusiast haha? Reminds me of that lady astronaut that drove to Florida with a diaper on. Now there's a thought...
First congrats on what will hopefully be a great MINI!
Having done a lot of road tripping in my prior R52 S this is what I’d pack if I were in your shoes:
- method to charge your phone (battery pack / socket adapter / etc
- 1 qt of oil
- 1 gal of MINI coolant + gal of distilled water (I usually carried a large water bottle filled with the correct mixture)
- portable tire pump (one of those $20 Walmart deals)
The link above is for my 03 MCS that is on Bring a Trailer. I should have posted here earlier to let you all know about it. It will at least provide a point of reference for buyers and sellers about current values. The listing is archived on their site so it can be viewed even after the auction end.
