Is the R56 mini jcw worth it?

[Sparrow217]

Hi all I'm looking at getting a different car and I've spotted a mini jcw (R56) its £4989 with 109,000 miles on the clock, from a dealer and the bodywork is great. Is this a good deal? Should I go for it!? I'm looking for a decent quick car for around £5000 that isn't going to cost a fortune in tax! This seems like a decent option as its £205 tax! Any help or info would be appreciated!

[TameRacingDriver]

As far as I know that'll be an N14 engine, and they're cheap for a reason - unreliable. I'm not sure exactly the nature but I'm in an R53 and the N14 engine is one reason I'm in the R53!

[chrisch77]

If it has the earlier N14 engine (<2012 in JCW?) then run a mile.

[Jamescrs]

As above those early engines are a pain in the arse for reliability, you would be better putting your money into a really nice earlier supercharged R53, but then I'm probably baised too as I own one and have helped my mate repair his R56 after all the breakdowns on track days while mine keeps going strong.

[itsnotarace]

Ignore the naysayers, just budget for timing chain and tensioner replacement (£600 at an independant) a walnut blast (£200) and a HPFP (£250), then keep a close eye on the oil level and there's no reason you can't enjoy the car for another 100k miles

[Sparrow217]

Thanks for the replies! Yeah it is the n14 engine, I've actually heard about their unreliability but some people say they're fine with maintenance I suppose it's a roll of the dice! Any other suggestions!? I've looked at R53s but £330 tax for the similer performance seems wrong!

[TameRacingDriver]

Sparrow217 said:

Thanks for the replies! Yeah it is the n14 engine, I've actually heard about their unreliability but some people say they're fine with maintenance I suppose it's a roll of the dice! Any other suggestions!? I've looked at R53s but £330 tax for the similer performance seems wrong!

I guess it's the same with the R53. I see some people recall woeful tales of reliability, and as I've only had mine for less than 2 months, it's not exactly easy reading. One could argue, I guess, that if it made it to 100K then the poster above may be right.

As for the VED on the R53, its worth it just for the noise / character, trust me!

[ChrisH72]

For not much more than your £5k budget it's possible to get a 2011 cooper s with the N18 engine. I wouldn't bother with the JCW.

[ollyh1988]

I had a JCW and loved it, initially. It has plenty of power and was fun to drive but very stiff if you’re using it every day. Pops and bangs from the exhaust were good.
The timing chain did worry me so I bought one that had already been replaced. Two years later, with no warning, the chain let go and caused a lot of engine damage. Luckily for me I had traded the car in that week and it went as it was being driven by one of the dealership mechanics.

[Joelonghair]

Hope you bought a lottery ticket that week Olly!