I'd hoon that one! Offer $3500 and you have a nice track car!

Not my normal kind of “good deal”, but for rarity’s sake this car needs saving. What this looks to be is an R50 with the true unicorn JCW tuning kit installed on the engine. The seller says the car had an engine transplant so I assume the JCW exhaust is not there, but if the engine and ECU can be salvaged then this seems to me like a good deal for an R50 enthusiast who wants a car rarer than a GP. Plus, the ask is low (1700) and some good negotiating could make this a no brainer for someone.




https://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/c...454284095.html

No doubt!
Looks like a grand oppo for entry level fun --- I'd be game if it was closer but it's all the way across the country.
It seems like the west coast is some sort of MINI Mecca as I've seen many many attractive cars nicely priced out there. I know there are probably just as many nice ones in the southeast but I've had trouble finding one and I've been looking for several months --- given, I was too slow with 3 that I came across and missed out because they sold so fast. At this point friends and family are poking fun at me for being so particular LOL


I'm tempted but put off by the auto trans.
It's a killer deal and I'd probably bite if a manual gearbox swap was easily feasible.
But if I was an R50 enthusiast I might just buy it for the motor as it is such the rare bird as you say. :thumbsup:

What if its the same blue 04? lol
http://www.motoringfile.com/2006/03/...ng-kit-review/

I'm guessing the sidewalk edition was available on base models also?

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/c...472692826.html

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/c...422839263.html

This ones nicer.

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/wat/c...476453745.html

If I remember correctly, the sidewalk package was basically just an option package that one could spec for either an S or Justacooper. If you started with an S and added the Sidewalk package you could also add the JCW package for the ultimate R52. From what I've seen the Sidewalk cars all came with the malt brown english leather interior with one exception. The Last of the Supercharged cars were spec'd the same with a sidewalk package (but with black english leather) and JCW package.

$5500 for a rebuilt R50 with 105k miles and a CVT made of glass? Thats a hard pass.

That's not even a hard pass, that's a "Would never consider."

https://images.craigslist.org/00P0P_...g_1200x900.jpg

Clean looking slicktop down in N'awlins.

05 MCS slicktop
107k
$5,500
https://neworleans.craigslist.org/ct...482611418.html

And,
this is pretty interesting here --- a BRG MCS JCW --- it is an early build date (2005-04-19) so it isn't a "factory" JCW, probably dealer installed? It did come from the factory with LSD though. Add aero kit, red brakes, plus the all important tuning kit and it looks pretty damn good --- no price listed though.

05 MCS JCW
87k
$ not listed
https://stlouis.craigslist.org/ctd/d...481819682.html

I notice the majority of the CL finds getting posted here are typically 1st and early 2nd Gen.

For what its worth, I'm in the market for a low mileage 2nd or 3rd gen hardtop. Prefer S, manual, pano roof, and an "attractive" color combo. Located in California but willing to travel.

I'm very grateful for everyone's contributions and I'll join in and start posting some deals as I see them. We're on our second R56 already but I still consider myself a novice, so no promises!

There seems to be quite a few people looking for a nice R53 lately, so I guess that's why they've dominated this thread?

I've been looking for a slicktop and they're far and few inbetween,
truly scarce.

I've had such difficulty that I've considered the N18 as a good alternative, but I'd much prefer a JCW and they're still above my budget because I want to pay cash and not finance.

Cargurus is great and perhaps a better format for finding the later models...

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/invent...ting=197955537

But the odds are better on CL to find a deal on something,
for instance,
if I had a bit better cushion of cash I may go for this GP:

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto...447376328.html

...which has already appeared in this thread, but the price has been raised by $1,000 I think?
It has lingered unsold.
If I was the seller, I'd have a go with the BAT auctions.

This is 2017 Mini S with less than 4k miles. The car has been rebuilt after an accident. Front end collision with replacement of the radiator, condenser, bumper and hood. Fenders were also repainted.

I usually steer away from a car with accident history but this seems like it's priced right. Checks most of the boxes were looking for. Thoughts?

https://kansascity.craigslist.org/ctd/d/2017-mini-cooper-3776-miles/6480962005.html

Is there something that makes the R53 more desirable than the R56?

Not once have I concerned myself over a failure called a death rattle with my R53 :grin::grin::grin:

https://tinyurl.com/y8xckgjc (Its a huge autotrader url that I shortened to not clutter the page)

This one has been for sale for a long long time. I dont doubt you could get away with something in the 13k-14k range on it. Plus youll be able to put full coverage insurance on it since it doesnt have a salvage title.

I'd also clarify the whole out of state debacle with california registration. Since that 2017 has fewer than 7500 miles on it california will consider it a "new" vehicle instead of used.

Divisive question.. depends who you ask.

Drive them both back to back and you'll have a clear answer. Steering on R53 is much more precise and tight. When I took a Clubman as a loaner it felt like a Camry in comparison. R56 got somewhat more generic handling, but its still a great car (when it runs) :lol:. It took a little while to appreciate the styling (a little more bloated), but its really grown on me, minus the cartoonish interior. The exhaust note of the R56 JCW is a thing of beauty.

But.. R56 is fraught with gremlins that will leave you searching Craigslist for a new engine. Oil starvation, death rattle, turbo failure. Its a long list. Evidently its hit and miss. Just call any MINI dealer and ask to speak to a tech, and they'll tell you which one is more reliable. When questioning any vehicle's reliability, I like to search Cars.com and look for high mileage examples. Why are there so many more R53's?? Why are there so many cheap low mileage R56?? :sly:

That is an excellent method.

Thanks for sharing, I hadn't thought of that aspect.

Saw this recently:
although an outlier because it has been capably rebuilt and modified, this is still a 220k miles car,
and it fetched a respectable sum:
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2006-mini-cooper-s-5/

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sg...473166713.html

I've had this on CL for months to appease the wife, now there's 3 in line this weekend.

I've been tempted by your car for sure.

It's about as cherry as cherry can be.

Good luck with the sale.

Thanks for the tip on the car being considered new by some states. I need to check into that.

I offered 12k on the rebuilt F56 and we have a deal. I was pretty excited until I told the wife. It's her car and she "doesn't love the color, or the rooms."

Sigh. I think I'm sticking with it and will look for new rims and a roof rack. I think that should help add the styling she's looking for. We have been trying to get something beach ready, she prefers the turquoise color but then I don't if I could stand be seen driving it...
​​​​​​

It should just be an emissions issue with california. Minis are 50 state cars so it shouldnt be a problem at all.

Youre certainly more brave than I am...I'd be absolutely terrified running liability only on a $12000 purchase. I hope you enjoy it nonetheless!

:thumbsup:
Congrats on the car!

At first I wan't too fond of Liquid Yellow but the color has grown on me,
I especially think they look good with the black roof.

05 MCS slicktop
118.5k
$4,500
https://cosprings.craigslist.org/cto...474736436.html

And,
this is a good lookin' car right here:

05 MCS JCW
132k
$7,850
https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/...486145566.html

I'm sorry, yellow looks horrible, lol. Also, this was their extra car which I assume was for their kids to drive and probably learned to drive manual in. Probably budget a clutch. "Last kid off to college so I'm selling as we no longer need extra car."

The JCW looks good, too bad no heated seats, lots o' miles and wasn't the amp kinda iffy on the HK?

What do you think I should post this one for in the summer?
2014
13k miles
fully loaded minus heated seats
rebuilt (fresh water)

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...4aa1336642.jpg