Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
User status: Offline
|
After considering pretty much everything for a new car for the Mrs, we've decided to buy an R53 Cooper S.
Ideally we want one which either has the Works kit or is a proper JCW car.
Problem is, no matter where I look, I can't find a proper lost of differences or even a way to identify a proper JCW car.
Who has one? Who's had one? Who knows about them?
|
RichR
Premium Member
Registered: 17th Oct 01
Location: Waterhouses, Staffordshire
User status: Offline
|
Hasn't Ginger Matthew got one?
|
VrsTurbo
Premium Member
Registered: 8th Jun 10
User status: Offline
|
My mate bought one thinking it was a jcw it wasn't.
|
SXI - Matt
Member
Registered: 8th Jul 07
Location: Leicestershire Drives: Corsa C SRI
User status: Offline
|
Surely there's a registry for them or on the log book would it say? I still can't help but think the running costs just doesn't justifie the power ect.
I was getting 24mpg average out of mine for 160BHP non JCW model yet I've been running around in a new ST 250BHP 30+ MPG two different cars i know but still makes you wonder, newer turbo models are meant to be better
|
Seany
Member
Registered: 13th Dec 06
Location: Dunfermline, Fife : Drives Astra cdti Sri
User status: Offline
|
Try mini torque for info or total mini. I would just get a well specced s with the aero kit though.
|
SXI - Matt
Member
Registered: 8th Jul 07
Location: Leicestershire Drives: Corsa C SRI
User status: Offline
|
Extra lower from the JCW though quite abit in fact, I'd still love to drive a GP
|
Daniel_Corsa
Premium Member
Registered: 21st Apr 04
Location: Wigton, Cumbria
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by LiVe LeE
Hasn't Ginger Matthew got one?
His is an R56
April '06' Corsasport Feature Car  | Aug '08' Total Vauxhall Feature Car | Spring '09' Fast Car Feature Car
|
Seany
Member
Registered: 13th Dec 06
Location: Dunfermline, Fife : Drives Astra cdti Sri
User status: Offline
|
http://www.minitorque.com/forum/f29/r53-cooper-s-prefacelift-vs-facelift-guide-29996/
Not an exact guide but lets you know some info on the models.
|
Seany
Member
Registered: 13th Dec 06
Location: Dunfermline, Fife : Drives Astra cdti Sri
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by SXI - Matt
Extra lower from the JCW though quite abit in fact, I'd still love to drive a GP
Jcw hold a premium over a standard s a new pulley and intercooler will more than make up the power difference for a few hundred bucks.
|
Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
User status: Offline
|
So it's probably not worth the extra for a JCW?
Did the works kit have a different supercharger?
|
Toby
Premium Member
Registered: 29th Nov 05
User status: Offline
|
My ex is selling her r53 cooper S with JCW body kit. LSD etc.
|
Seany
Member
Registered: 13th Dec 06
Location: Dunfermline, Fife : Drives Astra cdti Sri
User status: Offline
|
It had a teflon coating I think to reduce wear and tear. From memory I think it had an 11 or 13 % reduced pulley on the works.
My04 is the facelift you can tell by the lights which have a round cluster in the top half and rears had the reverse light moved into them.
|
Norcy91
Member
Registered: 15th Sep 08
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by Robin
So it's probably not worth the extra for a JCW?
Did the works kit have a different supercharger?
The R53 JCW has the same Teflon Coated Supercharger as the facelift R53's (04-06). JCW has an 11% smaller pulley, JCW airbox, JCW Cat Back (Milltek), bigger injectors, slightly ported Head and a different map. This all gives it the 210(?)bhp over the standard 163bhp.
As far as i'm aware you can only get a genuine JCW on a prefacelift, but they sold the JCW Engine and Styling packs as an optional extra on facelifts.
I've got a 15% Pulley, Dave F Hybrid Airbox and a Stainless Cat Back on my 05 plate facelift and it pulls really well! Getting between 27-29mpg with mixed driving.
Facelift R53's come with 170bhp instead of 163bhp, they have the Teflon Coated Supercharger which is more reliable, a closer ratio gearbox with a longer 6th gear than the prefacelift, some of the facelift gearboxes came with a LSD from factory, might have been part of the Chilli Pack in the last ones sold. Then it's just stuff like the headlights, rear lights, steering wheel etc which are facelifted.
I think i've covered plenty there 
If there's anything else you want to know, don't hesitate to ask, i'll do my best to answer it! 
|
Graeme
Premium Member
Registered: 26th Jul 04
Location: Northampton
User status: Offline
|
Just bought and picked up my misses brand new Mini Cooper convertible today.
Got a good friend who works at Wollaston if your looking to buy from a dealer?
|
Norcy91
Member
Registered: 15th Sep 08
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by Graeme
Just bought and picked up my misses brand new Mini Cooper convertible today.
Got a good friend who works at Wollaston if your looking to buy from a dealer?
Can he get me a cheap JCW Carbon/Leather Gear Knob for an R53? 
|
Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
User status: Offline
|
So is it worth buying a standard Cooper S and modifying it, a Cooper S with the works kit or a JCW?
I'm not sure what the best option would be now.
Graeme, who's your mate? I know 4 guys who (used to?) work there.
|
Graeme
Premium Member
Registered: 26th Jul 04
Location: Northampton
User status: Offline
|
No norcy that's parts.
Robin friend is Gareth. Also know Paul pretty well.
|
Norcy91
Member
Registered: 15th Sep 08
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by Robin
So is it worth buying a standard Cooper S and modifying it, a Cooper S with the works kit or a JCW?
I'm not sure what the best option would be now.
Graeme, who's your mate? I know 4 guys who (used to?) work there.
Sorry to make the decision a bit harder
Personally i'd be looking for a good condition facelift Cooper S with the Works kit, or a standard facelift and do the 17% Pulley, GRS Motorsport or GP Intercooler, Dave F Airbox and a Milltek Cat Back exhaust. This will bring it close to JCW power, then stuff like JCW Injectors, Newman Fast Road Cam and a map should finish it off!
|
Baskey
Member
Registered: 31st May 06
User status: Offline
|
Robin, what years are you looking at?
|
Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
User status: Offline
|
I was considering a facelift one as I've heard they're a but nippier because of the revised gearbox. Interior seems a little better too and of course the better 'charger is a bonus.
|
Rob E
Member
Registered: 1st Jan 06
Location: Madeley, Stafford....I want to live back in Wales!
User status: Offline
|
From what I researched when I put an R53 supercharger on the Mazda, the only performance difference was an 11% reduction in snout pulley size on the charger. Hence you see loads of mini superchargers popping up on eBay with delivery miles because they have had the JCW upgraded supercharger
|
Seany
Member
Registered: 13th Dec 06
Location: Dunfermline, Fife : Drives Astra cdti Sri
User status: Offline
|
Imo I would buy a facelift version with what you want on it and then mod it unless you can find a cheap enough jcw.
|
Norcy91
Member
Registered: 15th Sep 08
User status: Offline
|
Or buy a JCW GP, bit more expensive, but have all the kit you'd want to put on it, rarer and less likely to lose value providing it's kept in good condition!
|
antscorsa
Member
Registered: 11th Aug 02
Location: london
User status: Offline
|
I recently bought this http://www.gjhautomotive.co.uk/used-cars/mini-cooper-s-1-6-cooper-s-3dr-cobham-201309504426816
Early model but the seats and kit made it worth it for the price. very clean car.
not that quick but as its shared between me and the missus it does the job.
[Edited on 24-03-2013 by antscorsa]
|
BeetleGav
Member
Registered: 27th Jun 10
Location: lancashire, nelson
User status: Offline
|
bought*
looks nice, the standard exhausts look so pointless on these
|
