07bpb: I had the opportunity to drive a Classic - with my LEFT hand shifting! Sorry, but that is just gnorw! It was a little difficult but I could see getting used to it - but seeing around traffic (especially in that little road toad) would be, umm, interesting from the wrong side of the car. It also reminded me of how minimalist those early cars were.

 

Haha, nice. When im driving my brain likes to make the sure left side of my body takes care of the shifting. I would get so confused using my left foot and right hand to shift.

 

Well guys, its been fun.. but time to move on.. Mine's officially up for sale now..

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=137478

 

New SB/S Checkmate owner checking in. This is MINI number 5, and I definitely like the interior the best of all of the previous MINIs. Picked it up in NH a couple weeks back with only 9700 miles on it.

 

FS: Checkmate decals
Hi all, For Sale, left & right decals for Checkmate Package, silver, good for all colors except Pepper White, I ordered wrong color, still in box, I'm taking back to dealer next week but if someone can use them $90. cash, I paid for shipping, local pickup only (could meet partway) near Hershey Pa. phone 717 571-5416, they go back tue. 5/13 click on parts pic


http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...& hg=51&fg=25

 

Waiting for the documents to sign then it will be shipped, should have it next week

 

Good luck Shota! As long as those documents aren't from a nigerian courier, and the car being shipped isn't stuck in a container port near Vancouver, needing cash wired to clear customs...

 

Nope I got the doc's today, already to send back

 

Here it is coming off the truck

 

Wow she's a beauty! Enjoy!

 

WOW, Shota, she's sweet!

 

Thanks, I will take some better pictures as the weather improves here in New England. Now the fun begins, I went to the local Mini Dealer today and had the arm rest fixed under warranty and picked up a few items. I can't wait to start moding. The only problem I'm going to have is deciding to drive the Mini or my M3.

 

I bought a used Checkmate too about a month ago. I think I saw the one you got online. Was it from Thompson outside Philly? I picked up mine from a guy in Albany. Such a great car.

 

Hi John,
Yes I did get this from Thompson BMW, I have been watching the Checkmates online for awhile now and they had been asking between 26k & 19K this one had been advertised for awhile ,then one night I was going to make an offer on ebay and I decided to look on Auto Trader and found the same car had just been reduced by 2k so I sent them an email and bought it for 19.9k with 29K miles. It is in very good condition. It has a couple scrapes on 2 of the rims and the fog lights in the grille do not work but nothing major. I think I got it for a good price. It is a blast to drive!!!!!
Donald

 

First time Mini owner, just bought a second hand Checkmate edition. I couldn't resist it sparkling next to the water, bought it right there on the spot!

 

The Checkmate is such a cool little car. I have more fun in this car than any I've ever owned.

 

Congrats new Checkmate owners!

Only downside is keeping those wheels clean.

 

Here's mine, just added some more to it.

 

I believe this is my first post here on NAM. I normally just enjoy reading but I'm in need of some advice. I own a Space Blue S Checkmate and absolutely love the car. I like the idea of owning a limited edition vehicle that few will ever have the privilege of driving.

Now without getting into a debate about aftermarket versus OEM, I'd like your thoughts on what each of you might do if you were me. So here's what I'm struggling with. Since our checkmates are limited edition, I want to keep the car as stock as possible meaning not going with aftermarket performance upgrades (Alta, RMW, etc..) as I believe these modifications hurt the value of most cars. With that being said, I do want performance so was looking towards the JCW route (I know more expensive less bang for the buck). My calculations would put the price for what I want near the 6-7K mark. In the end I have a JCW Checkmate with 28K miles and a little more personality. This is option one.

The second option is to sell it and find a good used GP. The GP in my opinion is another beautiful car and should be a classic for years to come.

I know the grass is not always greener on the other side and that's why I'm not sure if it's worth selling my checkmate for a GP.

Bottom line, I'm just curious to here some thoughts from other enthusiasts out there. Thanks

 

Welcome to NAM! You've got the best looking Mini R53 combination, IMHO. Mine's Astro Black and I would have loved Space Blue.

I struggled with the same things, abd came to the conclusion - for me - that it's a car. Most mods are fairly easily (and inexpensively) reversible if that's necessary. Unless you're keeping it as a collector's item or museum piece, do what you want! If you keep the OE parts you're golden.

Opinions only:
- The stock Checkmate wheels are nice, look good, are fairly light for OEM... and a real beast to keep clean. I liked the BBS RKs better and went that route, the Buyer for my OE wheels was pleased to upgrade his MCC to 17's. This was my one "nonreversible" mod, since I sold the OEs.
- Pirelli Euphori@s ride like Oak. Maybe Poplar. Gone with the wheels.
- The Checkmate interior is among the best looking R53 interiors. LOVE it. Only thing I'd change for would be Recaros, and even then I'd be torn.
- The Checkmate cloth pills up and gets pullers, and Mini mainly doesn't help us out there (if anyone has any advice to the contrary, speak up, I have 1500 miles left on my warranty!). When mine gets unbearable, I'm replacing the Space Cloth with identically colored Alcantara, and moving on.
- Alta CAI is a reversible mod - do it and save your OE stuff. I did and I'm happy. Nice whine/growl.
- Alta Exhaust is likewise reversible, as is any performance exhaust. While I haven't gone this route yet, I know the OE exhaust hangs real nice-like in the rafters, is Stainless, and will survive well in storage. Be sure to take a longer run (1/2 hour or more) so all combustion byproducts are evaporated out by the heat if you're storing it a while. Oh - let it cool first.
- Pulley is likewise reversible. Friends love theirs. Some have some belt squeak. I haven't gone that route yet, as my MCS is pretty strong stock.

Hope that helps! Don't feel a prisoner of the car just because it's limited edition!

Mine:

 

Thanks for the reply. I see your point, most mods are reversible as long as you keep the old stuff.

As for the "Prisoner" statement, that is my concern if I were to sell the checkmate and purchase a GP. The GP has the makings to be a classic. Question is will the Checkmate do the same?

 

Hmmm, good question. I think it'll retain value a little better than non-Checkmates, but mostly because the option package itself has attractive features and a "cool factor", not due to some intrinsic "Checkmate" value.

Somewhat the opposite would be the case for a GP - that one's more unique, more "known" as limited production, and it has actual performance enhancements (or "deletions", as in the rear seat!).

Now, 30 years on down the road, who knows?

Don't take my "prisoner" statement harshly, only meant as a "don't deny yourself fun for the sake of a car or investment" statement.

 

aw man, i read through all 19 pages..and i saw Nobody with a "hyper blue" checkmate.. do they exist??

Does anybody have a hyper blue checkmate? I've been eye-ing this Hyperblue checkmate at a dealer.. so yeah

 

I think hyper blue is a rather rare checkmate combo kind of like my dark silver checkmate.

 

There may be a hyper blue checkmate, but there may not. The Checkmate package included:
- Checkmate space-blue leather and grey cloth seating
- Checkmate Space Blue and grey steering wheel (it's great)
- Space blue dash inserts and door ovals
- Checkmate graphics on the wing "fenders"
- Horseshoe ally wheels (S model)
- AVAILABLE (not mandatory) u-shaped bonnet stripe
- I believe (not sure) they all came with the silver roof to match the checkmate decalling
- Checkmate doorsills and B-pillar trim
- I believe they came with the Sport option package standard (xenons, sport suspension, fogs)

Most Checkmates I've seen have also been petty loaded up (chrome interior trim rings, chrono pack, etc.)

I know the Checkmate wing decals were available separately, make sure it's not a faux Checkmate!