F56 JCW buying advice
Discussion
Happybiker80 said:
Yeah it is nice and I know what you mean, we had a Guiletta with 1/2 leather and it was actually fine in winter.
How many owners has it had and what's the service history like?
She’s replaced it with an XC40 and heated seats were difficult to find. But it has the fabric seats and it’s actually fine. How many owners has it had and what's the service history like?
We got it from Sytner Mini and it had 1 owner. SH is as per what they ask for. Every 2 years as it never did 18k in that time. Too long for my liking but you won’t find one on a 12 month oil change. The wife paid the bills….
But honestly. If you have the funds, I would go JCW. If only just for those seats. Go pre-LCI the the exhaust burble, and I honestly would go manual. My mum had the JCW auto, and it was just too lazy. And definitely get the small wheels with PS4s.
Edited by PT1984 on Friday 19th April 14:15
Going back to previous questions about bikes, I took my road bike and longest mountain bike to a dealer today to see if they fitted in an electric mini, so same as a 3dr petrol (22 plate).
Road bike fitted fine with both wheels removed and front passenger seat just a little bit forward. This is for a bike fitting me at 5' 10".
My latest mou tain bike is a long Pipedream Moxie and it just fits with the front seat as far forward as it goes. The rear mech was resting on the top of the passenger headrest, but it did fit
Bikes were in Ground Effect bags, so hardwr to make it out from the pictures.
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Road bike fitted fine with both wheels removed and front passenger seat just a little bit forward. This is for a bike fitting me at 5' 10".
My latest mou tain bike is a long Pipedream Moxie and it just fits with the front seat as far forward as it goes. The rear mech was resting on the top of the passenger headrest, but it did fit
Bikes were in Ground Effect bags, so hardwr to make it out from the pictures.
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Yes the pro exhaust is great but so rare you'd be ruling out loads of great cars without it. As I said, the noise in Sport is OK without it. I think JCWs are really good value ATM for some reasons, they've dropped a lot in a year, but mostly quite recently.
The delta in price vs Cooper S is now too small to bother with the cheaper car as you get the seats, brakes, more power, a slightly better chassis, LED as std.
The delta in price vs Cooper S is now too small to bother with the cheaper car as you get the seats, brakes, more power, a slightly better chassis, LED as std.
Edited by nickfrog on Saturday 20th April 10:06
nickfrog said:
Yes the pro exhaust is great but so rare you'd be ruling out loads of great cars without it. As I said, the noise in Sport is OK without it. I think JCWs are really good value ATM for some reasons, they've dropped a lot in a year, but mostly quite recently.
The delta in price vs Cooper S is now too small to bother with the cheaper car as you get the seats, brakes, more power, a slightly better chassis, LED as std.
That was a big factor in me getting a JCW, the value of them now. I always liked but couldn't justify the cost until recently but they're now great value. I think everyone lusts over Fiesta STs and whatnot, and the mini is overlooked which is great for buyers like me. The delta in price vs Cooper S is now too small to bother with the cheaper car as you get the seats, brakes, more power, a slightly better chassis, LED as std.
I also agree on the JCW over the MCS, it really had to be a JCW for me, they're just a bit more special I think.
Also I think these are a good platform for mods as the B48 is robust and detuned really from stock so big gains are possible. I really like mine
I've got a readers cars thread on mine if anyone is interested.
TameRacingDriver said:
nickfrog said:
Yes the pro exhaust is great but so rare you'd be ruling out loads of great cars without it. As I said, the noise in Sport is OK without it. I think JCWs are really good value ATM for some reasons, they've dropped a lot in a year, but mostly quite recently.
The delta in price vs Cooper S is now too small to bother with the cheaper car as you get the seats, brakes, more power, a slightly better chassis, LED as std.
That was a big factor in me getting a JCW, the value of them now. I always liked but couldn't justify the cost until recently but they're now great value. I think everyone lusts over Fiesta STs and whatnot, and the mini is overlooked which is great for buyers like me. The delta in price vs Cooper S is now too small to bother with the cheaper car as you get the seats, brakes, more power, a slightly better chassis, LED as std.
I also agree on the JCW over the MCS, it really had to be a JCW for me, they're just a bit more special I think.
Also I think these are a good platform for mods as the B48 is robust and detuned really from stock so big gains are possible. I really like mine
I've got a readers cars thread on mine if anyone is interested.
I have pondered whether the 210 Works (only available for a year or so I think as a distinct model) might be an option as a used buy if cheap enough under the JCW, it seems a decent package but lacks the Brembos that are probably a necessity if you ever consider remapping in the future.
WayOutWest said:
As far as I can make out there seem to be more Cooper S 210 Works or 210 Challenge cars available with the Pro exhaust (as the exhaust is part of the 210 kit) than JCWs that have it.
I have pondered whether the 210 Works (only available for a year or so I think as a distinct model) might be an option as a used buy if cheap enough under the JCW, it seems a decent package but lacks the Brembos that are probably a necessity if you ever consider remapping in the future.
IMO the big brakes are one of (if not the) stand out feature of the JCW. Good stopping power but in particular a great pedal feel, without being over-assisted. The small Cooper S brakes are allegedly buttock-clenchingly bad on a remapped car.I have pondered whether the 210 Works (only available for a year or so I think as a distinct model) might be an option as a used buy if cheap enough under the JCW, it seems a decent package but lacks the Brembos that are probably a necessity if you ever consider remapping in the future.
Yes the big brakes probably don't shorten braking distances much on those 205s as that's the limit but at least they'll have thermal resilience unlike the MCS brakes. I reckon they'll be pretty good on track with the right pad too. But I agree the feel is fantastic with very little dead travel.
So the car I was most interested in has an iffy service history...
March 17 1 mile (PDI)
March 19 4242mi (oil service I guess)
Jan 22 10429 mi (Oil service, micro filter, spark plugs, brake fluid)
Despite being 10 months late it's showing as amber on the idrive, I thought it would be red but then?
Supposedly another service was done by Cazoo a year ago when it the current owner bought it, I'm not sure there's any proof of this.
It's having another service at Mini this week at 18500.
So it's super low miles and even without the Cazoo service in 2023 this one is only 3 months late...
I can't decide what to do, it's done really low miles and has such a good spec but that second service was late even if it had only done 6000 miles.
Am I being silly worrying about this?
March 17 1 mile (PDI)
March 19 4242mi (oil service I guess)
Jan 22 10429 mi (Oil service, micro filter, spark plugs, brake fluid)
Despite being 10 months late it's showing as amber on the idrive, I thought it would be red but then?
Supposedly another service was done by Cazoo a year ago when it the current owner bought it, I'm not sure there's any proof of this.
It's having another service at Mini this week at 18500.
So it's super low miles and even without the Cazoo service in 2023 this one is only 3 months late...
I can't decide what to do, it's done really low miles and has such a good spec but that second service was late even if it had only done 6000 miles.
Am I being silly worrying about this?
If you're happy that the car can never have an official warranty and if you plan to keep it for a long time then you should be OK. Bear in mind that when you sell it, prospective buyers will ask the same questions. But if that's in 10 years time then that won't be critical anymore. How much cheaper is it than a similar car with proper FSH?
Edited by nickfrog on Monday 22 April 19:49
Hard to judge but I think it's priced well thanks to the low mileage and good spec. The advert is poor and doesn't list the spec which is really the selling point to me: media xl, sunroof, HK, HUD, lounge leather, heated seats and windscreen, PDC front and rear, camera, adaptive suspension, visibility pack...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403027...
I'm not worried about warranty as I won't be adding one. I'm wondering if the latest service which hasn't been done yet will show as red or amber.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403027...
I'm not worried about warranty as I won't be adding one. I'm wondering if the latest service which hasn't been done yet will show as red or amber.
Olivera said:
IMO the big brakes are one of (if not the) stand out feature of the JCW. Good stopping power but in particular a great pedal feel, without being over-assisted. The small Cooper S brakes are allegedly buttock-clenchingly bad on a remapped car.
Totally agree. The brakes on the JCW are excellent. I've just fitted new discs and pads (full set) and they really are awesome. Regarding the Cazoo car, i'd probably give it a miss based on the service history, despite it being really low mileage.
I've had my Dec 2017 Manual JCW since Sep 23 and honestly love it, done around 6,000 miles in it in that time and it's been faultless.
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