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I am looking into buying my first Mini, and I am looking at an R53 because they are the coolest in my opinion. However, I have found a Cooper S with JCW upgrades, but I do not think it is a true JCW. It appears to have the proper JCW body kit, so I was thinking it could be just a JCW Aero Kit model, but upon closer inspection it has the JCW exhaust too...so I was hoping you all could take a look at the photos and offer your opinion. Thanks in advance!
Any pics of the engine compartment? It should have a JCW engine plate with serial #, JCW intake, and silver IC cover as visual indicators. The head and pulley are not as obvious. Also, if factory installed it would show up on the build sheet for your VIN. There are a few VIN lookup sites on the internet that will give you the specs for your VIN.
Those arent jcw wheels, and am not sure about the brakes, either (cant see the calipers real clearly). Either way, the car looks nice; if it hasnt been abused and the miles/price is decent, you might have something there. Check the front control arm bushings, make sure they havent collapsed.
Ok, the website with the car has no pics of the engine. Without pics of the engine compartment, or the JCW build certificate you can't tell if it's a JCW. The only other way might be running the VIN at an actual MINI dealer to see the history of the car.
Running the VIN online shows the production date was 8/23/2004. I think this was an early production 2005 so the JCW kit wasn't available from the factory, only dealer installed before late (facelift?) 2005. JCW brakes weren't part of the JCW kit, they were a separate option. The front calipers in the pic are red, but you can't see the calipers clearly, or if any JCW logos are on them. JCW suspension was also a separate dealer installed option. The car originally was built with R84 xlite wheels according to the VIN decoder, not the 18's on there now.
If you can't look at the car in person, see if the dealer will send you pics of the engine compartment and front calipers. Also, pics of the struts, but this isn't as easy to get clear shots without lifting the car or pulling the wheels.
Too early to be a factory fit JCW package.
Not a sport package car - no fog lights, Xenons or factory fit 17" wheels
Not a premium package car - no Auto A/C, no MFSW, no cruise control (can't tell if sunroof)
Appears to have cold weather package, Harman-Kardon stereo and chrome line interior trim.
The body kit was a dealer installed option and I'm pretty sure the 17" Bullet wheels came later in production.
Yes you have the Aero body kit, but that was a dealer option, nothing to do with being a JCW.
The wheels are off of an R53 Cabrio S as they were never an option on the hardtop.
Need to see better pic of front caliper to see if it is a stock, JCW, or R56 as it could be any painted red.
Need to see pics of engine and supercharger pulley to see if they are JCW. Being dealer installed is possible, but need to see to be sure.
The buyers guide HERE has some good info. You can also run the vin HERE to get some more info. I dig those wheels on the R53. Looks different, but very clean.
I am looking into buying my first Mini, and I am looking at an R53 because they are the coolest in my opinion. However, I have found a Cooper S with JCW upgrades, but I do not think it is a true JCW. It appears to have the proper JCW body kit, so I was thinking it could be just a JCW Aero Kit model, but upon closer inspection it has the JCW exhaust too...so I was hoping you all could take a look at the photos and offer your opinion. Thanks in advance!
Very Nice,
PM me and with the VIN and I can see if its was in the original build , some people added the JCW tuning kit extras after delivery.
Nice R91 wheels on the painted Aero kit. Nice find.
01-23-2016, 12:20 PM
