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might check this one out, but the possible leaking around transmission is kinda of scaring me, and these transmission isnt cheap. i offered $4000 and they are willing to let it go for this price, but im worried about the transmission and the mechanic i bring all my minis to says to avoid these transmissions.
I thought that the 2006's had the Aisin 6 speed Automatic in them... and that by 2006 they were sorted out??
If it leaks... but shifts well... Sounds solid for $4k.... could very well be easy.. like the pan or axle-shaft seals. ???
The Aisin was optional for the S beginning with January 2005 production. It's definitely better than a CVT, but the 2006 is still the same Aisin. AFAIK, it's the same in all 1st gens, up to the 2008 R52S. There seems to be a different Aisin for the 2nd gen beginning in 2007, including being available in Justa instead of the CVT, but I'm not sure if reliablility or performance is improved, or if they can be installed in a 1st gen.
Not that the Aisins have terrible reliability, but the diagnosis/repairs seem to be hit and miss and can add up very quickly.
Being an '05 Aisin owner, I would personally avoid an auto unless you are definitely sure it will bug you in traffic, or you have a condition which makes driving a manual difficult or impossible. This is the opinion of someone who specifically looked for an auto because it was going to be a daily. Ironically, it was replaced as a daily with a manual within a year. Not by choice, but because of a car deal that came up that happened to be a manual. What I found was driving a manual is so much in my subconscious that it never has bothered me in traffic, and the fun factor is really noticeable even in a low horsepower commuter/appliance.
My R53 is still a fun car, but almost every time I drive it it's in the back of my mind how much more fun it would be with a manual. It the Aisin ever becomes terminal it most likely br replaced with a facelift 6 speed conversion.
The Aisin was optional for the S beginning with January 2005 production. It's definitely better than a CVT, but the 2006 is still the same Aisin. AFAIK, it's the same in all 1st gens, up to the 2008 R52S. There seems to be a different Aisin for the 2nd gen beginning in 2007, including being available in Justa instead of the CVT, but I'm not sure if reliablility or performance is improved, or if they can be installed in a 1st gen.
Not that the Aisins have terrible reliability, but the diagnosis/repairs seem to be hit and miss and can add up very quickly.
Being an '05 Aisin owner, I would personally avoid an auto unless you are definitely sure it will bug you in traffic, or you have a condition which makes driving a manual difficult or impossible. This is the opinion of someone who specifically looked for an auto because it was going to be a daily. Ironically, it was replaced as a daily with a manual within a year. Not by choice, but because of a car deal that came up that happened to be a manual. What I found was driving a manual is so much in my subconscious that it never has bothered me in traffic, and the fun factor is really noticeable even in a low horsepower commuter/appliance.
My R53 is still a fun car, but almost every time I drive it it's in the back of my mind how much more fun it would be with a manual. It the Aisin ever becomes terminal it most likely br replaced with a facelift 6 speed conversion.
I thought I read a couple FB posts from the UK saying there was Aisin (which they trashed) and another manufacturer that was much better but difficult to find because of limited production.
Looks like this is the most popular thread on NAM so I'll share my rags to riches story.
I have been in the hunt for a pepper white R53 for close to 18 months. During the peak of COVID 19 last summer, I saw two crappy pics of a pepper white R53 on a Saturday night on Autotrader listed for under 8 grand in a Ford dealership in So Cal. Needless to say the ad stated automatic transmission but I could see the JCW badge on one of the pics. I call the dealership leave a message and sent an autotrader request for carfax. I was the first to call on Sunday and the salesman tells me that he is just opening up the showroom and he would send me more pics. Fast forward another hour and I call him back. He apologizes and tells me he would do it within the next hour. I tell him consider it sold pending your pics of the interior/exterior. He stated he is an expert in selling cars to long distance buyers and that I need not worry one bit. One hour later I call and he avoids my call. So I speak to his colleague who is telling me that this salesman I spoke to is selling the R53 to another customer who just walked in to the store a few minutes ago.
.... 8 months later and 3500 more miles on the odometer a pepper white shows up on Craigslist and I was the very first to contact the seller. I asked him if he had bought the car last summer and for that he stated yes. I then told him the date and time he bought the car (it hurt me so bad that I couldn't get over it). He had goose bumps and tells his girlfriend that the guy who is calling from Seattle now after seeing the CL ad is the same guy who wanted to talk to the salesman when we were signing papers at the Ford dealership. He was so sold on the story and pulled the ad (of course he has 5 other callers). The beauty is now in my garage.
I must say it was not rags to riches from a purely dollars sense as I paid waaaayyyyyy more than what the Ford dealership listed it for.
I just find it ironic that mis-titled great finds like this 51k-mile ‘gem’ get ‘blown off’ ... while that Mis-labeled ‘yellow’ JCW above are coveted for the poor description... 😜.
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Theres nothing ironic about it because nobody is blowing it off. Seller has sold the car. He clearly got what he wanted for it and the buyer, whether on here or not, may have gotten a bargain.
Looks like this is the most popular thread on NAM so I'll share my rags to riches story.
I have been in the hunt for a pepper white R53 for close to 18 months. During the peak of COVID 19 last summer, I saw two crappy pics of a pepper white R53 on a Saturday night on Autotrader listed for under 8 grand in a Ford dealership in So Cal. Needless to say the ad stated automatic transmission but I could see the JCW badge on one of the pics. I call the dealership leave a message and sent an autotrader request for carfax. I was the first to call on Sunday and the salesman tells me that he is just opening up the showroom and he would send me more pics. Fast forward another hour and I call him back. He apologizes and tells me he would do it within the next hour. I tell him consider it sold pending your pics of the interior/exterior. He stated he is an expert in selling cars to long distance buyers and that I need not worry one bit. One hour later I call and he avoids my call. So I speak to his colleague who is telling me that this salesman I spoke to is selling the R53 to another customer who just walked in to the store a few minutes ago.
.... 8 months later and 3500 more miles on the odometer a pepper white shows up on Craigslist and I was the very first to contact the seller. I asked him if he had bought the car last summer and for that he stated yes. I then told him the date and time he bought the car (it hurt me so bad that I couldn't get over it). He had goose bumps and tells his girlfriend that the guy who is calling from Seattle now after seeing the CL ad is the same guy who wanted to talk to the salesman when we were signing papers at the Ford dealership. He was so sold on the story and pulled the ad (of course he has 5 other callers). The beauty is now in my garage.
I must say it was not rags to riches from a purely dollars sense as I paid waaaayyyyyy more than what the Ford dealership listed it for.
This one I posted a few weeks ago for sale has that stainless mesh kit on the front (pictured in the advert above). Bet there’s not many of those hanging on any minis now. I was wondering where it came from.
This one I posted a few weeks ago for sale has that stainless mesh kit on the front (pictured in the advert above). Bet there’s not many of those hanging on any minis now. I was wondering where it came from.
I often wonder about such things too, also wonder what ever happened to all the stuff that people used to put on these things because it seemed overly abundant at one time but in reality it was probably only a very small % of people getting some of the more obscure stuff...
...your example of the stainless grill is a perfect example and one of those isn't often seen, I think in many cases such stuff gets parted out before selling the car, or the car just gets crushed or junked or whatever.
Another grill not often seen is the one from Hamann, kind of strange looking in my opinion...
...but perhaps appealing to someone for exactly that reason? To be unique? And Hamann is a well-respected name.
Wow I can’t believe how pricey that stuff was back in the day. Funny on the grille, they took the same shape found on the back side of the aero grille and put it out front, I don’t think it looks bad, but definitely wouldn’t have paid that price for it back then. If they only new how hard it would be to find in the future. Love this stuff! You’re research skills are top notch.
