MY05 JCW Mini Cooper S R53
Discussion
Sold my Supercharged Mk1 MX5 in March and brought a Mini Cooper S as fancied a change, though id start a thread as some people might be interested and know a few people on here have Mini's too 
My MX5 when I sold it -
and the replacement, details copied from another forum -
Its a 2005 Cooper S JCW model in Pepper White, standard apart from a couple bits.
The spec from new -
Works Kit
Leather Gravity Black Seats
Dynamic Stability Control
Elec Folding Mirrors
Chrome Line Interior
Visibility Pack
Elec Tilt & Slide Roof
Tinted Windows
PDC - Rear
Auto Air Conditioning
Cockpit Chrono Pack
Harman Kardon Hifi
Chilli Pack
Black Viper Stripes
Spot Lights
Black Mesh Grilles
Has had a few bits added over the years too.
JCW Suspension, hard springs
JCW Strut Brace
JCW 18" R109 Wheels
Suspension & Strut brace where fitted at JCW in East Preston before it closed.
My MX5 when I sold it -
and the replacement, details copied from another forum -
Its a 2005 Cooper S JCW model in Pepper White, standard apart from a couple bits.
The spec from new -
Works Kit
Leather Gravity Black Seats
Dynamic Stability Control
Elec Folding Mirrors
Chrome Line Interior
Visibility Pack
Elec Tilt & Slide Roof
Tinted Windows
PDC - Rear
Auto Air Conditioning
Cockpit Chrono Pack
Harman Kardon Hifi
Chilli Pack
Black Viper Stripes
Spot Lights
Black Mesh Grilles
Has had a few bits added over the years too.
JCW Suspension, hard springs
JCW Strut Brace
JCW 18" R109 Wheels
Suspension & Strut brace where fitted at JCW in East Preston before it closed.
Edited by House86 on Saturday 8th July 16:36
jamiebae said:
I love these. I had a 2005 Cooper S Checkmate for a while and it's probably the car I miss the most out of all of the 30+ I've owned. The supercharger noise is brilliant, they're great fun to throw around at semi-sensible speeds and feel way more 'special' in a totally undefinable way (to me at least) than anything else for the same money.
Does handle well and agree good fun for the money.SteveS Cup said:
That does look like a very good spec. The digital climate is quite rare in the Facelifted models especially with HK.
There's so much you can do to these to improve them over JCW spec (ask me if you want, I've spent a fortune!) but if I were you I'd leave it alone.
Enjoy it, they're great fun to throw around, in this guise it will still be nice to drive sensibly / cruise on a motorway!
Happy with the spec of it, my last car I ended up spending loads modding it but not planning on doing to much to this just some exterior bits and enjoying driving it There's so much you can do to these to improve them over JCW spec (ask me if you want, I've spent a fortune!) but if I were you I'd leave it alone.
Enjoy it, they're great fun to throw around, in this guise it will still be nice to drive sensibly / cruise on a motorway!
Done a couple small bits, first fitted a shorter Mini sports aerial thats 8cm long rather than the 41cm original.
Next gave the engine bay a good clean, dont think its ever been cleaned.
Before -
And After a scrub, strut brace shined up well and a big improvement to how it was
Next gave the engine bay a good clean, dont think its ever been cleaned.
Before -
And After a scrub, strut brace shined up well and a big improvement to how it was
Edited by House86 on Saturday 8th July 16:40
Had my first problem with the car, was a loud whirring noise on all the time the car was running even when not driving it, turned out to be the PS pump, a common part to go wrong with these just wish it hadnt gone within 2 weeks of owning it lol
All fixed now and also got round to fitting my obligatory PH Smiley.
Some pics from Sunny Brighton the other day
All fixed now and also got round to fitting my obligatory PH Smiley.
Some pics from Sunny Brighton the other day
Edited by House86 on Saturday 8th July 16:44
speedtwelve said:
Looks great! Shelby stripes really set it off. Mate had an R53 supercharged S. Direct handling and as mentioned addictive 'charger whine.
The Wife has a MINI One. Not quite in the same league, but still fun to drive as a shopping trolley.
Cheers I like the stripes but some say it would be better without them, had an MX5 as my last car and although steering doesn't feel quiet as good as that it still a great car to have fun in The Wife has a MINI One. Not quite in the same league, but still fun to drive as a shopping trolley.
Done a couple bits this weekend to tidy it up a bit, both numberplates where cracked and stained so ordered some replacements to freshen them up. Also won an original JCW Carbon bonnet scoop on ebay so fitted that too, some pics.
How it was before changing anything -
Old and new no. plates -
And all fitted, car needs a good wash -
Think the Carbon goes well with the black viper stripes, just need to find a matching carbon rear boot handle to complete it now
How it was before changing anything -
Old and new no. plates -
And all fitted, car needs a good wash -
Think the Carbon goes well with the black viper stripes, just need to find a matching carbon rear boot handle to complete it now
Edited by House86 on Saturday 8th July 16:49
InfamousKeiran said:
The carbon air intake is lovely.
So the Girlfriend just got one of these today, her's is a Cooper S with the JCW tuning package. It's a real solid car but Christ them gears are so long and I was hoping for a lighter revving engine.
Other than that it's bloody brilliant, proper little motorway cruiser and that whine is addictive along with the snap, crackle and pop of the JCW exhaust!
CheersSo the Girlfriend just got one of these today, her's is a Cooper S with the JCW tuning package. It's a real solid car but Christ them gears are so long and I was hoping for a lighter revving engine.
Other than that it's bloody brilliant, proper little motorway cruiser and that whine is addictive along with the snap, crackle and pop of the JCW exhaust!
Gears are too long really but good for acceleration.
Love the crackle and pops from the JCW exhaust, sounds great
CarsOrBikes said:
A similar spec to mine, yours looks great white. Hard to be choosy on the exact specs or colour as it is so hard to get the main bits on the right condition low mileage car in the first place. I didn't want a sunroof, and have the regular Boost CD over HK, ASC not DSC, but DSC is intrusive, and don't need park sensor clutter, although useful. My air con is manual. However it does have a limited slip diff, and Sports Plus suspension which were essential. Yours is a facelift and actually has slightly shorter gear ratios as it is.
Xenon lights are great aren't they? I like the style of the lamps. My wheels are similar to yours, two piece, but web design Ronals. When I got it I managed to separate them without breaking any of the Titanium bolts, and had them reconditioned as per original with diamond turning, and then again differently in a sparkle finish.
I have advertised mine a while ago, at 37,000 miles for 7k, as I'd had it two years, but found many owners convincing others they're worth less, so may keep it longer. I think we want to help others get the best deal, but it must affect residuals. Now it has 39k. It's still worth what I want I think. It isn't the cheapest, and you got a great family deal for sure. I work at a BMW Indy, and mine was nicer than any previously seen, so had to try to get it haha. It is beautiful, I would have got Pepper white again (had a One that colour), but with these you have to get the best you can, and I'd looked long enough and seen so many!
Now though, I have got the fuel consumption from the normal 26 or so, to 42 recently, and added some discreet things for an equivalent to your JCW, not a cylinder head though, but if it doesn't go, I'll do it. I changed other things, but did fit a JCW airbox, and a different pulley, fitted a camshaft, and had 1320 map it last, but this time with their full access software and 550cc injectors, plus a different intercooler. I don't wish to change the appearance at all, so haven't fitted some lovely coilovers which I just put back in the loft, but I have fitted a wideband AFR gauge in the cupholder. All carefully chosen things, and not changing the car to look at. Well, a little as I used 215/45 tyres which are super sticky non runflats, but have the originals. Now I have to take it all off to sell as planned, but at least I can offer it with the option of circa 220hp.
I hope you keep yours, more people should. So many are lowered and roughly modified, and sold in a poor state. These are a better car than the later turbo version all day long, and it will be later on when people fall over themselves trying to get hold of one, so if yours is nice, and in the family from new, it'll be a keeper maybe.
Only my2p
Cheers for the commentsXenon lights are great aren't they? I like the style of the lamps. My wheels are similar to yours, two piece, but web design Ronals. When I got it I managed to separate them without breaking any of the Titanium bolts, and had them reconditioned as per original with diamond turning, and then again differently in a sparkle finish.
I have advertised mine a while ago, at 37,000 miles for 7k, as I'd had it two years, but found many owners convincing others they're worth less, so may keep it longer. I think we want to help others get the best deal, but it must affect residuals. Now it has 39k. It's still worth what I want I think. It isn't the cheapest, and you got a great family deal for sure. I work at a BMW Indy, and mine was nicer than any previously seen, so had to try to get it haha. It is beautiful, I would have got Pepper white again (had a One that colour), but with these you have to get the best you can, and I'd looked long enough and seen so many!
Now though, I have got the fuel consumption from the normal 26 or so, to 42 recently, and added some discreet things for an equivalent to your JCW, not a cylinder head though, but if it doesn't go, I'll do it. I changed other things, but did fit a JCW airbox, and a different pulley, fitted a camshaft, and had 1320 map it last, but this time with their full access software and 550cc injectors, plus a different intercooler. I don't wish to change the appearance at all, so haven't fitted some lovely coilovers which I just put back in the loft, but I have fitted a wideband AFR gauge in the cupholder. All carefully chosen things, and not changing the car to look at. Well, a little as I used 215/45 tyres which are super sticky non runflats, but have the originals. Now I have to take it all off to sell as planned, but at least I can offer it with the option of circa 220hp.
I hope you keep yours, more people should. So many are lowered and roughly modified, and sold in a poor state. These are a better car than the later turbo version all day long, and it will be later on when people fall over themselves trying to get hold of one, so if yours is nice, and in the family from new, it'll be a keeper maybe.
Only my2p
Plan isnt to do anything major with it just improve it in certain areas and hopefully stick to the OEM+ look, not planning on slamming it to the ground on cheap coilovers lol
Someone local to me was selling a JCW Big brake kit at a good price so decided to buy it, the car is still on the original Cooper S brakes that cant really handle the extra power of the JCW kit and arent very good.
New brakes have bigger 294mm discs and bigger pistons on the calipers at 54mm, standard ones are 276mm and a 48mm piston caliper, hopefully will be a good upgrade and be handle the extra power a bit better.
Pads have life in them but am going to fit new discs and pads anyway and get some Stainless braided Brake hoses, hopeing to get them fitted by the end of the month.
Pic of the new brakes
New brakes have bigger 294mm discs and bigger pistons on the calipers at 54mm, standard ones are 276mm and a 48mm piston caliper, hopefully will be a good upgrade and be handle the extra power a bit better.
Pads have life in them but am going to fit new discs and pads anyway and get some Stainless braided Brake hoses, hopeing to get them fitted by the end of the month.
Pic of the new brakes
Edited by House86 on Saturday 8th July 16:51
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