Mini R53 JCW GP #1571

[Leins]

Not updated this for some time, but the GP is still with me, and have been really enjoying it with the latest batch of good weather. The traffic here in Dublin has been unusually light in the mornings, so even indulged in a bit of commuting into work in it

Had it into BMW for an oil service and general checkover, followed by an NCT (Irish MOT), and all seems to be in good shape, and the car feels tight and responsive any time I’ve given it a run. In saying that, I’ve spent the last couple of years with a Qashqai as a daily, so my gauge could also be slightly off!

There’s a Mini/MINI festival on at Mondello in a couple of weeks, so hoping to take a run down to that with a few other R53 owners

Over four years into ownership of this car, and I still absolutely love it. I’ve never had too many regrets post-sale of other cars, but this one would worry me, and I still think only an R26R might tempt me to swap it

[Leins]

I’m still running the GP with very few external badges and decals, but have all the new ones sitting in a box ready to go on the car, including the roof number. I’m in two minds about whether I prefer it without them though, so not in a rush

[Leins]

GP is back out for the summer, and I’m loving it. Went in for a bit of a freshen up over the last few days







Next up is getting a couple of JCW parts fitted - gearknob and handbrake grip - along with a service and a few other small bits and pieces done

[Leins]

So a few new parts fitted, including swapping out some old bolts that were looking a bit corroded. New wheel bolts from RAD in Germany too, and know from putting them on my old CSL previously that they are really good quality.

[Mr Scruff]

Such a ‘right’ looking car, these. Would definitely be on my lottery list.

[Leins]

Mr Scruff said:

Such a ‘right’ looking car, these. Would definitely be on my lottery list.

For me I think it’s getting even better looking with age, as the proportions are just about spot on

[moktabe]

Good to see you're still enjoying it

[Leins]

moktabe said:

Good to see you're still enjoying it

Cheers mate, I really am. Best car I’ve owned I think

You still having fun in the mad Clio?

[Leins]

Brought the GP in for its NCT (Irish MOT) and it passed, although they warned the brake lines might need a bit of attention. Got my mechanic to replace them as a result, and then it was time for a bit of driving

I’ve been taking the car out for quite a few runs lately, and never get tired of how it goes, handles and grips. Such a fun little car!






My son is a bit of a fan now too

[Leins]

I managed to get out for a spin this evening across the local back roads, and for once the timing was impeccable. No tractors, pelotons or day dreaming motorists about this evening blocking things up, and so I got to enjoy about 25 miles of just me and the car. Bliss!

[Leins]

Out for a run with my mate’s E46 the other day. The weather wasn’t great, and the MINI is somehow brilliant at covering the back window in dirt after just a few miles. One of the few times when I miss a rear wiper!

[oobster]

Enjoyed reading that Leins.

I'm considering swapping the run flats on mine (F56 JCW) for Michelins, do they really make that much of a difference?

[kylos27]

Did you not consider a mk1 Bmc mini or Austin metro?
They were both powered by the A-series pushrod engine which is much easier to work on and offers sufficient performance ?

[Leins]

oobster said:

Enjoyed reading that Leins.

I'm considering swapping the run flats on mine (F56 JCW) for Michelins, do they really make that much of a difference?

Thanks. It was a huge difference on mine, but then I’ve always hated RFTs and I’m a bit of a Michelin fanboy. I’ve still got the MPSS on this, although they’re a really weird size so the options whenever I come to change might be limited

kylos27 said:

Did you not consider a mk1 Bmc mini or Austin metro?
They were both powered by the A-series pushrod engine which is much easier to work on and offers sufficient performance ?

Bit too small inside for me I’m afraid. Although I’d probably force myself to fit into a 6R4

[coded2112]

Thanks for the prompt to your thread Leins, i have had my GP1 since new in 2006 and covered nearly 120k miles in it now...

Loved every single one of them too.

It has been a great car, you are right to have had the brake lines done, mine failed on the M25 last year, made for an interesting drive home on the hand brake lol

Not really had many faults with it, had the supercharger refurbed at 100k miles and various bits like steering pump, alternator, radiator etc but other than that has been a little beauty

She is retired now as a daily and my GR Yaris is taking the strain, but still love getting on for a good old thrash down the country lanes!!

Take care and enjoy....

[Leins]

coded2112 said:

Thanks for the prompt to your thread Leins, i have had my GP1 since new in 2006 and covered nearly 120k miles in it now...

Loved every single one of them too.

It has been a great car, you are right to have had the brake lines done, mine failed on the M25 last year, made for an interesting drive home on the hand brake lol

Not really had many faults with it, had the supercharger refurbed at 100k miles and various bits like steering pump, alternator, radiator etc but other than that has been a little beauty

She is retired now as a daily and my GR Yaris is taking the strain, but still love getting on for a good old thrash down the country lanes!!

Take care and enjoy....

Thanks Coded! Would be interested to know how you find the GR Yaris in comparison?

Funnily enough the previous GRMN Yaris seemed to almost be a rerun of the R53, with its supercharged engine and LSD, but I’d say your GR is a step up in terms of performance

[coded2112]

The tech is the biggest leap forward as i commute over an hour each way into London, so blue tooth telephone and Apple CarPlay are a godsend!!

They work well and enable me to use Waze, Spotify etc....

Performance wise, yes the GR is definitely quicker particularly in the wet or uneven surfaces, but the GP1 still has it for the all round visceral experience..

My GP has had a bit of work done, strut brace top and bottom on the front suspension, AP racing big brake kit, a stainless steel big exhaust (cat back) an ECU flash over and smaller supercharger pulley but nothing serious.

I can't see myself selling the GP anytime soon, but also love the GR for its all round easy performance, i think i might swap the exhaust for something a little fruitier, but then i think i quite like that early mornings i can sneak off without waking the neighbours! They all overslept when the Mini retired!!

Hope that helps and enjoy the Mini, my wife still has not forgiven me for buying it as we had 3 young kids at the time and it only has 2 seats lol

The kids however still love it and don't want me to sell it either!

[Leins]

coded2112 said:

The tech is the biggest leap forward as i commute over an hour each way into London, so blue tooth telephone and Apple CarPlay are a godsend!!

They work well and enable me to use Waze, Spotify etc....

Performance wise, yes the GR is definitely quicker particularly in the wet or uneven surfaces, but the GP1 still has it for the all round visceral experience..

My GP has had a bit of work done, strut brace top and bottom on the front suspension, AP racing big brake kit, a stainless steel big exhaust (cat back) an ECU flash over and smaller supercharger pulley but nothing serious.

I can't see myself selling the GP anytime soon, but also love the GR for its all round easy performance, i think i might swap the exhaust for something a little fruitier, but then i think i quite like that early mornings i can sneak off without waking the neighbours! They all overslept when the Mini retired!!

Hope that helps and enjoy the Mini, my wife still has not forgiven me for buying it as we had 3 young kids at the time and it only has 2 seats lol

The kids however still love it and don't want me to sell it either!

Those upgrades to your car sound good. I’m running fairly standard brakes on mine, other than the optional grooved discs and uprated hoses

Snap! I’ve currently got three young kids so only one gets a go at a time. They love it though, much more than my RS4. I think the car is just on a different level of engagement, even for a passenger

Not that I have any intention of selling my GP, but I do sometimes wonder what you could possibly replace it with, particularly for my usage which sounds very similar to yours - early morning spins at the weekend. R26R is all I’ve ever come up with, but I’m not sure it would be a good move for me anyway, especially as I don’t track my cars

[Leins]

Not too much to report on the little GP (they do seem little to me these days! ), but a rare break in the weather yesterday evening allowed me to enjoy a run down the coast for a late coffee. I still love this car after 8 years of ownership, and there’s a reason why it’s outlasted all my other fun cars in that time



I recently sold my B5 RS4 that I’d owned for almost as long, and have a replacement of sorts in the process of being lined up for next year, but for now I’m getting my kicks in the 1.6

[Leins]

First spin in the GP for my daughter, up the coast to Skerries for ice-cream. Her one complaint - I didn’t make the car noisy for long enough