2002 Mini Cooper S (R53) JCW 200

Highlights

• Genuine JCW kit
• One of the first R53 JCWs
• Current owner since 2006
• Very smart example in great overall order
• Recaro seat upgrade

Overview

Some cars are just born fun, and there’s no denying that the original BMW-built MINI Cooper S is one of them. A wheel at each corner and super-quick steering made even the basic MINI One a delight to drive and the addition of a shrieking Eaton supercharger took the Cooper S variant to the next level.

Quite simply, the Cowley-constructed pocket rocket is one of the most adorable compact performance cars ever made – but that didn’t mean it couldn’t be bettered. And where better to have had your R53 tweaked than by John Cooper Garages, a name entwined with performance Minis since 1961 and the appearance of the first car to wear the iconic Mini Cooper name.

From 2004, a JCW kit was offered as a factory kit, such was its popularity, but from 2002 to 2004 it was an aftermarket set-up, only available via John Cooper Garages. These early cars, known to some as the JCW 200, came with an upgraded cylinder head with bigger exhaust ports, an 11% smaller supercharger pulley to spin the charger more quickly, uprated spark plugs, a Teflon-coated supercharger core and a JCW cat-back exhaust system that added a flatulent edge to the R53’s squawk and chatter.

In addition, you got JCW badges and an individually numbered badge on the rocker cover – in this case, number 668. It’s one of the first JCWs made, registered in September 2002, meaning it’s also more likely to become one of the most collectable of its ilk.

Right now, though, R53s have never been more affordable and that’s a situation that we know won’t last forever – look at the values of the last of the line Rover Mini Coopers as a guide and remember that nostalgia is cyclical. People who were in their early Twenties when the JCW came out are now in their mid-Forties, and some of them have got two decades of wanting one to catch up on – but they’ll have to compete with an army of younger enthusiasts who’ve bought into the MINI legend. Miss this one and there may never be another opportunity like it…

History and documentation

• UK V5C
• MOT August 2025
• Two keys
• Original handbooks and manuals
• JCW certificate confirming authenticity
• Two previous owners
• Current owner since 2006
• Full service history
• Current mileage of just under 59,000 miles
• Large file of work and invoices

Interior

• Front leather Recaro sports seat upgrade
• Original BMW-Mini CD-radio
• Good, non-droopy headlining
• Blue carpets and door trims in good condition
• Some signs of wear to gear knob
• Twin panoramic roof
• Genuine MINI floor mats and load bay liner
• Wiring fixed for an issue with the front airbag warning light which has not re-occurred since
• Seller reports that he once had a drip on the inside of the windscreen after very heavy rain, but not seen since
• Minor wear to passenger door handle and speaker grilles
• Some gentle signs of wear to driver’s side seat bolster
• JCW sill kick plates

Exterior

• Smart Royal Grey metallic paint
• Very smart overall condition with no notable dents or damage
• No signs of external corrosion other than some tiny blisters on inner sill panels
• No bubbling or deterioration to rear lamp surrounds (a known R50/53 weak point)
• Small marks on rear bumper
• Some scuffs on passenger side that appear to be from other car doors being opened into the flanks
• Light chips on bonnet, touched-in
• Some small scuffs to wheel rims
• All correct JCW badging
• Fading and discolouration to plastic wheel arch trims
• Vendor advises of occasional blockage to rear washer
• Genuine Mini accessory spot lamps
• Aftermarket clear rear lamp lenses – originals included in sale
• Appears straight and solid underneath

Mechanical

• 1.6-litre TRITEC engine with supercharger
• Six-speed manual gearbox
• Genuine John Cooper Works kit
• Rated at 200bhp
• Well-maintained and well cared for in current ownership for 18 years
• Not driven regularly of late
• New battery
• Genuine JCW exhaust
• Vendor reports that the Mini is a lot of fun to drive with no known or apparent faults

Summary

There aren’t many 2002 MINIs that have been with their current owner for almost two decades, but that’s all the evidence you really need that this one is a little bit special – it’s a low-mileage, unspoilt and largely original JCW in great, original condition and with a documented service history.

As one of the very first JCWs it also has the potential to become one of the most collectable examples in the future ­– and that’s as good a reason as any to make it yours, as it’s a chance that’s unlikely to come again.

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This seller is located in Buckinghamshire.