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

I agree - tough to find R53's with low miles. BaT has kind of set the bar for prices on low mile R53 JCW's and low mile R53's in general. There are lots and lots of pieces of crap around, with 160k on them for $5k .. but not a lot of ones with 1 quarter of those miles!

I spent about 6 months looking for mine - initially I was aiming for a 2004, 2005 or 2006, with 70 or 80 thousand miles on it, because I only wanted to be spending somewhere between $5k and $7k, so that I could keep my M3 too. Most of the stuff I went to look at (here in the PNW) was in the $8k to $9k range, and a couple in the $4k to $6k range but with well over 100k miles on them.

I knew I'd be spending X amount of dollars on maintenance and modifications (it was going to be my 4th R53 so I knew exactly what work I was going to be doing to it) . . so I thought it wouldn't really matter how many miles it had.

What clinched the fact that I needed a lower mile one was a 2006 JCW that I went to test drive - the price was right but the car was literally falling apart. Multiple mechanical issues, gearbox issues, bodywork issues, seats that didn't work, bumpers that were hanging on, etc. I came home and told my wife that a higher mile example was not the way to go, not for me anyway.

So I set my mind on either (a) giving up the search, or (b) stumbling across a sub-50k example.

So early on MLK day 2021 a 2002 JCW with 21k on it popped up on FaceBook marketplace (via a link in this thread). It was the color I wanted, had the full 210hp kit, had barely been driven, and was in immaculate condition. I called the seller who had a fascinating story of the original owner of the car and how he came to be selling it. He was also a genuinely nice guy, very knowledgeable about cars . . and was at the time in negotiations with a certain someone to purchase his specially built Ford RS 200. The price I had to pay for it meant my M3 would have to go .. but in the end it was pretty easy to say adios to the BMW! The R53 arrived on a Tuesday (from North Carolina) and the following Thursday the M3 headed off to New Jersey.

And now all the modifications start!!!

 

Hey, congrats. That's the Electric Blue one I posted here. I thought it was immediately sold, guess it must have fallen through and you snagged it (or that was your fake out "it's sold" move while you negotiated for it ).

Tough to find an EB, let alone one in that condition. Glad you got it.

EDIT: He sold a JCW to buy an RS200? Talk about going from petty cash to 401K savings account.... Was the RS200 owned by someone well known?

 

Not a fake out at all - it was indeed sold already . . to me! He was selling the JCW for a client and didn’t want to put it on BaT because all his previous sales were high end Bronco’s. The RS200 was owned by a guy called Ken - and the seller of the JCW built it for him!

 

Post a few pics when you get a chance. I never saw it cuz the link didn’t work when I clicked it before.

 

 

Looks amazing. Congratulations!

 

Nice, first investment coolant reservoir tank lol. Amazing for almost 20 years old.

 

04 MC40 200k miles, clutch and other PM done $7500

https://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/c...279407143.html

 

I asked earlier but I guessing my question got lost in the great amount of post the other day. Can anyone answer if a mc40 does not still have the engraved plaque that also states what number of mc40 it is , does it make it less valuable or no more valuable then a regular cooper S ?

 

Not sure about the value if it’s missing, but the overall condition and maintenance would determine the value more than the plaque. It’s not likely most would fake an MC40 especially with a CF dash being present. And there are probably quite a few other ways to determine its authenticity, probably VIN and other things.

 

I look forward to putting 175k more miles on my car and then asking $7,500 for it when it comes time to sell it

 

When it comes to an MC40 I would not put less value on it if it was missing the engraved plaque. But I wouldn't regard it as any more valuable than a regular Cooper S. I think the value of an MC40, compared to an MCS is in the eye of the beholder.

 

So around 2061 lol.

 

It'll get driven around 3k a year . . so I'll be dead long before it reaches 200k miles!!!

 

Would make a slick low mile coffin.

 

First investment was a new set of tires and a refurbishing of the wheels.

Then it'll be: oil change, coolant change (with new tank), new spark plugs and leads, new JCW air filter, full JCW brake upgrade (with Akebono ceramics all round) and brake fluid flush, new front JCW badge, new antenna, 12mm wheel spacers and extended bolts, new wheel center caps, new interior mats, new gear shift ****, custom 3 spoke steering wheel with red stitching (and airbag and MFSW controls), WMW strut brace, WMW 17% supercharger reduction pulley (with smaller belt), WMW Quicktune, bigger WMW rear sway bar, and finally, if I actually have the ***** to do it, a full set of Championship Red Lounge Leather sets from an R56, to replace the 18 year old leatherette . . which is still perfect! All original parts will be kept, just in case I ever do decide to sell it - which I am not planning on doing, ever.

 

lsd?

 

Nope. Waste of time and money the way I drive. Put one in on my last one (2004 JCW) and noticed no difference whatsoever

 

I hear ya, good if it’s already there, but not worth aftermarket, unless you like screaming out of corners, I’m guilty.

 

03 S 86k miles $5300
https://eugene.craigslist.org/cto/d/...279495319.html

 

This one looks nice. Rare to see all CR colored, including roof, with no stripes.

 

Messing around on BAT, found a link to print original window sticker $7.99 always good to have.
https://monroneylabels.com/

 

I just saw that as well... are these accurate? Is there any way to get a true "original" window sticker for a 15+ year old car or is this it?

 

I would think a digital reproduction, if it’s available for high end cars, may be fairly accurate.

 

I've used this site before. It's not an identical window sticker from the original.
I've found some to be perfectly accurate; others, not so much. As an only option, it's better than nothing.