Thanks for confirming this! They offered different packages with the JCW in 2005. There was like aero, exhaust, tune, or the whole shebang. They aren't trying to sell it at the JCW package listing price so it doesn't bother me that it's not a full JCW package. I kind of figured it wasn't the whole JCW package after I started researching. It's just strange that someone would put aero, exhaust, and which ever part is on this mini on but not the rest..

 

Technically speaking, in '04-'06, JCW were installed in steps/packages.

There was the core JCW upgrade, which consists of:

The other JCW upgrades were the "Sound Kit" and "Sport Suspension Kit" -- which as you can tell from the name, were the exhaust and the red calipers/shorter suspensions with JCW logo on it, respectively.

Technically speaking, you could say that the seller's car is a JCW, because back in '05 you could order JCW kits separately and have it installed by the dealer.

Though the JCW air filter confuses me... that's a core upgrade. If that's the case, where's the other upgrades?

The aero were called "sport package" if I'm not mistaken.

 

Got it..well as long as you know what you are getting into...go forth and enjoy.

My personal view on this car it will need about $2000 in maintenance and repair on day one. That's with mechanic prices...and what you should use to price it fairly. You could do most of the basic stuff with dad or bf help for about $700? Depends on how comfortable dad is dropping a sub frame for the A-arm bushings. Brakes and rotors are not hard.

The deformed shock towers are my biggest worry.

http://www.promini.com/technical/sho...nt_failure.php

Check that video...their shock towers are barely noticeably mushroomed. Now compare that to the image you posted..it freightens me.

 

Thanks for all the input.

I have a few other minis I was going to look at, so I'm going to pass on this one and look at others.

I've decided it's going to be too much work and I don't want to find out more things are wrong with it later down the road.

 

Haha, yeah. I was a little confused by the air filter.. I was wondering the same thing.

But it doesn't matter, I'm going to pass on the car now and look for other minis. Theres a couple I'm interested in.

 

I think that was a good choice... Keep us posted

 

Will do!

I'm checking out a local MINI this Saturday.

 

I've got an 06 with 52k dark silver, LSD, HK radio, sport pack, xenons, cruise, heated seats, anthracite interior, with 15% pulley, Milltek Exh, Intake, Hsport sway bar, ATI crank pulley, new Powerflex control arm bushings all for $17k

If your still looking, need to sell it to get the new GP.

 

Sounds like somebody is trying to sell a S with A FEW JCW parts As an JCW.
one tip...get the airbag fixed BEFORE you pay $$ for it....airbagparts, such as weight sensors are very $$$, and if it was a cheap fix they would have done it BEFORE showing it for sale.....
Remember, there are more cars outhere...DO NOT BUY SOMEBODY'S PROBLEM UNLESS IT IS DEEPLY DISCOUNTED, in this case, price it as a S, AND THEN SUBTRACT about 2 or 3 times the repair costs...so about a $3000 discount....at the least. Used cars are like old houses, you NEVER know what you are gonna find when you start tearing into them!!

 

Missed that post!! Sounds like a good move!!

 

Moving on to a GP?! congrats!! Gotta laugh....heated seats in ATLANTA GA!!

 

Don't laugh, the passenger seat makes for a great way to help keep your pizza warm for the drive home.

 

good call on passing. thats def NOT a "true" jcw. if you really want a R53 JCW, get an '06 model. there are a couple left on autotrader.com.

i personally searched for 6 months! to find my mini! and, IMO, well worth the wait! i got a good one. put some time in, keep cruising the net, one will pop up, and youll "know" its yours

 

Thanks for the offer, but I'm going to turn it down.


Well they had it listed at the S price.. and I asked them if they would go down, THAT'S when things became sketch for me because they didn't think anything was wrong. So I backed out.




Haha, definitely agree with you. I'm going to be watching for a little bit longer.
I've also been looking into the MINI Select program and may possibly get a new MINI. The interest rates here are pretty decent for the MINI Select and I have the opportunity to negotiate between two dealerships to get the best price.

 

I have a 2005 MCS with a JCW air box. That looks like what you have there. Then again, it has the exhaust tips. I also installed an M7 strut tower brace. Mine weren't as bad as your left (always refer to it as your sitting in the car, not as you're looking at it) tower, but I beat it with the said 2x4 without any problems. Hint-Lift the car while banging on it to release spring pressure. How does the car track when you let go of the wheel? Does it pull to the left?
Also keep in mind, and listen for, the power steering pump/fan unit. It sits between the engine and the firewall and collects alot of heat and dust. this often requires replacement ($1,000+ at the dealer). Hopefully the NHTSA will get off their butt and force MINI to replace them (as Canada has).

 

Oh, btw, awesome looking car

 

Bought the car when I lived in Indiana. But I would still order a new car with heated seats, use them less in Atlanta, but still nice on cold days.

 

I actually didn't buy this car, I decided to back out of the sale because they were trying to say nothing was wrong with it and I didn't like that and I wasn't going to pay what they were offering.

 

i bought this car yesterday, the people were not very knowledgeable about it, but were very honest and great to deal with. The mechanic they used does any import car and was very helpful also and my mechanic knows of him and did say he knows his stuff when it comes to mini's. The air bag light was diagnosed by him and by the Mini dealership as the positive battery cable, Phen will do it for just under $700 and the dealership wanted just shy of $1000. after reading, feel I can tackle this. a few other issues, the mushrooming of the towers will get addressed very soon, bought new tires all around today, needs shocks on the rear hatch, need to see what to do to fix the passenger power door lock, doesnt work. will need to paint the front spoiler because of rock chips. It does have the JCW aero package and exhaust and air box. they were asking $11k and bought it for $8k, feel what i paid was good and not too expensive on what needs done. still have a lot to learn on these cars, but am sure you guys in this forum will give me some direction and help!

 

I think you did good on the price..they have been sitting on that car for a long time and finally realized it was being priced too high given the issues. I wouldn't recommend taking on taking on the airbag issue though..it's a very vital safety piece..to me $700 to know it was done correctly is a cheap bit of insurance. The mushrooming...just make sure you go slow...and get both upper and Lower strut braces...because the metal will be highly fatigued after this back and forth..think of it like bending a cooper wire back and forth..eventually it snaps.

You will need to replace the upper strut mounts for sure...given the state of those towers.

Have fun with it...looks like a nice car. Don't forget brakes, a arm bushings and a few other things..would not be surprised if the power steering lets go soon if they haven't replaced the pump yet.

Happy motoring

 

i ordered the M7 strut brace and will replace the bushings. the brakes have just been completely done. will putting the lower brace on make it overly stiff? i did see those listed and was just wondering. Once i get these few things done will look into if I need the struts replaced. Thanks for the advice.

 

I doubt the Lower plates will make a difference in stiffness..you really should do it..it will raise your ride height a little.

Just double check the brakes were actually done i have yet to buy a used car that didn't have "BRAND NEW BRAKES!!!" Their definition of brand new and my definition must differ some what...ha. 20,000 miles ago is not brand new.

 

Sweet.

I picked up a fully loaded '05 MCS in Chicago instead. I would have definitely asked lower but they wouldn't budge. They didn't think anything was wrong and I wasn't going to waste my time driving 6 hours down there to look at it if they weren't willing to negotiate with the issues.

Did you see the car on the forum? Or just on Craigslist?

 

Hey Flying, glad to hear you found one you liked. your right, they didnt want to budge on the price, but when reasonable people get reasonable information, they usually make adjustments. They were told one thing by their friend, which I believe they exagerated what they were buying when they got this car. i think they got flooded by people calling and questioning it and telling them that it wasnt what they thought they had, and they didnt really know how to find out. I fell after fixing the issues and struts etc it will be worth the 11000 they were asking. Its funny, i went to google info about the car issues and I found this forum talking about the car, which helped me also know some things so I was prepared when I went to speak with them and show them what they had. I was lucky that they were 20 minutes away from me. So what did you buy? Pic?

 

Wow, sorry about the super late reply. I haven't had any notification about anyone replying again.

Glad this was helpful. Haha
I bought a 2005 Jet Black MCS. I spent more buying this one but it was work it.