When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Considering trading in our 05 Dinan Mini S for an 08 JCW plus Sidewalk Cabrio that the local dealership just got in. Only 53K miles and seems they are asking a pretty good price. I've been trying to do some research...it seems this one is the supercharged version rather than the newer turbo-- I'm getting conflicting info but the dealer does have it listed as supercharged. It's a manual.
Any issues I should look for beside rattle on cold start?
Thanks! Dealer doesn't have pics listed yet. It's at their body shop getting detailed but they offered to pull it so we can check it out tomorrow. I'll snap some pics if we do. Don't really need car payments again but.... :-)
Dealer doesn't have any mention of LOTSC but since it's got the SW and JCW packages and the black/white trim seats...I'm thinking they have not realized it's a special edition.
Welcome, keep the Dinan, quite rare and get the rarest R52 Convertible.
I wish we could afford that. Love the Dinan. Not 100% sure I want a convertible -- I mean I love convertibles (had a 350Z roadster before, and currently we own 2 Wranglers) but already have enough issues with the Jeeps as far as lack of locking/hidden trunk space and the cabrio has even less space in back that the coupe. Nonetheless we're going to go check it out tomorrow
I assume the 2008's suffer some of the same issues as the R53's...like control arm bushings that only last 40K miles, harmonic balancer that falls apart, and motor mounts? Just replaced those in our Dinan. Another reason to keep it right?
I had a hardtop S 2005 BRG with cordoba interior and lsd. I miss it but I don't regret going to the vert. I got super lucky and found a pepper white sidewalk with only 8K miles on it. I love it. With the wind screen in place and windows up, I can talk on the cell phone no problem at 70 with the top down. I know... keep it hands free. Just my 2 cents.
Well we got to check it out this weekend. It is a LotSC and still has the badge although a bit faded. #83/100. Seemed in fairly good condition. Has the Mini aftermarket small GPS and the wind deflector. Rims are pretty scraped up from curbs, but that is one of the things the dealer has it waiting to be repaired in their body shop. Stripes are fairly faded as well but that's easily replaceable. Dealer put on new rear brakes/pads and new battery. Oh and it has Lojack as well.
We're thinking about it. We are torn about turning in our Dinan Mini. We do love it although it is getting up there in miles. Some trade offs for sure...for instance one of our favorite features of our Dinan is the rain sensing windshield (this R52 does not have that package) and the two tone blue/black interior, as well as the awesome burble that only came with the 05/06 years. Did seem to have a bit more power than the Dinan but didn't sound as cool!. My husband wants to have both but financially we just can't do that.
They didn't offer us as much as we hoped on trade (we are at about 100K miles) but when we hesitated they upped it another $1k which is fairly in line with what we were originally thinking. So we are currently having them provide us a financing proposal...then will make a decision. Will keep you posted.
has dark tint which is OK but I prefer to have it matching on the front windows (not legal in CA but ... it's a risk many people take). Looks like they cut the wires on the rear defrost because of it...apparently it can melt the tint.
I had a hardtop S 2005 BRG with cordoba interior and lsd. I miss it but I don't regret going to the vert. I got super lucky and found a pepper white sidewalk with only 8K miles on it. I love it. With the wind screen in place and windows up, I can talk on the cell phone no problem at 70 with the top down. I know... keep it hands free. Just my 2 cents.
Thanks for the input. My husband was concerned that the cabrio would be more a "chick car" but I've convinced him that it appears most cabrio owners who are truly driving enthusiasts are men (no different that Miata's and Boxters)
So is there a designation on the VIN for LOTSC version or just build date to know? It was built 6/23/08
No designation in the VIN. The build specification will include options 7A1 (Sidewalk Package), 3AL (John Cooper Works Kit) and 2TA (Limited Slip Differential). And the LOTSC badging.
Well we bought it! Going to really miss our R53 but excited to have a Cabrio. We pick it up from dealer this afternoon. Will need to take it back within the next 30 days to have them refresh the wheels (former owner scraped a lot of curbs it appears) and buff out a few minor scratches (former owner also hit both side mirrors on a white painted object apparently). First item I think we'll purchase is a replacement shift ****. Not sure how or why but the inside of the **** (facing the console) the brown leather is worn off.
I'm back after a 5 year absence. Just picked up a '08 JCW Sidewalk cabrio. Waiting for delivery, so pics coming. My last MINI was a '09 JCW which I bought in Germany and installed parts unavailable in the US such as MINI JCW alcantara Recaros and a factory BMW Motorsport splitter which was a direct fit to the factory body kit. I brought back a couple of the splitters so at least 2 lucky owners got them. Left the car in Vegas in 2010. Not sure who ended up with it. But alas I didn't like the turbo after having a '05 MCS so now I'm back. My "new" MCSC JCW has 36K miles. Not new but was a great deal. Waiting to see what number it is as well. Build date was 24 June 2008, so perhaps one of the last ones.
Last edited by Stevie B; Aug 12, 2015 at 08:35 PM.
I'm back after a 5 year absence. Just picked up a '08 JCW Sidewalk cabrio. Waiting for delivery, so pics coming. My last MINI was a '09 JCW which I bought in Germany and installed parts unavailable in the US such as MINI JCW alcantara Recaros and a factory BMW Motorsport splitter which was a direct fit to the factory body kit. I brought back a couple of the splitters so at least 2 lucky owners got them. Left the car in Vegas in 2010. Not sure who ended up with it. But alas I didn't like the turbo after having a '05 MCS so now I'm back. My "new" MCSC JCW has 36K miles. Not new but was a great deal. Waiting to see what number it is as well. Build date was 24 June 2008, so perhaps one of the last ones.
Yes it's one of the final 100. Has the white bulldog badge graphic in the door jams. Should receive it early next week.
It's astro black of course. I'm assuming all the final 100 are the same color spec?? Were they all JCWs too?
Cool That is low miles!! Yours will probably a lower number than mine (#83) as mine was built in mid-late July.
They are all the same except I have noticed subtle differences with the badging and stripes. Apparently some of them shipped to dealers without the stripes and badges and they were provided later for the dealers to apply--but some were not, or done differently. Ours still had the grill badge--although badly faded, the stripes -- which are in terrible shape so will need to replace them, and it has the JCW badge/emblem on front lower grill, but not on the rear. From pics I've seen of others they all had the badge/emblem on the rear. Looked at getting another one but the "gen 1" style badges are ~$79! Wow. The newer JCW badges are ~$20 give or take, but I prefer to keep it original so some day maybe I'll fork out the $$ for one.
Cool That is low miles!! Yours will probably a lower number than mine (#83) as mine was built in mid-late July.
They are all the same except I have noticed subtle differences with the badging and stripes. Apparently some of them shipped to dealers without the stripes and badges and they were provided later for the dealers to apply--but some were not, or done differently. Ours still had the grill badge--although badly faded, the stripes -- which are in terrible shape so will need to replace them, and it has the JCW badge/emblem on front lower grill, but not on the rear. From pics I've seen of others they all had the badge/emblem on the rear. Looked at getting another one but the "gen 1" style badges are ~$79! Wow. The newer JCW badges are ~$20 give or take, but I prefer to keep it original so some day maybe I'll fork out the $$ for one.
Per your post #8,your build date was a day earlier than mine, so I'm thinking my number is somewhere from 84 to 100. We'll see.
Does yours have Homelink? I'm not sure if mine does. I want that.
No...unfortunately that package with homelink and rain sensing windshield wipers was not offered with the special edition package. The only option I think you could add was the chrono package and cold weather package.
On our R53, the rain sensing wipers was by far one of the coolest things and I will miss immensely when we ever get rain again I'm already seriously missing that driver's side sun visor that the R53 had...but impossible to have that on the convertible so it's all good. We had some trade offs for sure. With this R52 we gained the HK stereo, GPS and Alarm system/Lojack, but gave up that convenience package and the really cool exhaust burble.
No...unfortunately that package with homelink and rain sensing windshield wipers was not offered with the special edition package. The only option I think you could add was the chrono package and cold weather package.
On our R53, the rain sensing wipers was by far one of the coolest things and I will miss immensely when we ever get rain again I'm already seriously missing that driver's side sun visor that the R53 had...but impossible to have that on the convertible so it's all good. We had some trade offs for sure. With this R52 we gained the HK stereo, GPS and Alarm system/Lojack, but gave up that convenience package and the really cool exhaust burble.
Look our cars are sisters. Mine is #84!
Car is in great condition. No issues thus far, but I just explored it a bit. Got it delivered only a few hours ago. Tires are original, and think it probably needs a serpentine belt. Pics later.
That is low miles!! Yours will probably a lower number than mine (#83) as mine was built in mid-late July.
I'm already seriously missing that driver's side sun visor that the R53 had...but impossible to have that on the convertible so it's all good. We had some trade offs for sure. With this R52 we gained the HK stereo, GPS and Alarm system/Lojack, but gave up that convenience package and the really cool exhaust burble.
