Very Black R53 Mini JCW
 

So, I was after a little run around, for a few reasons really:

a) when the Mrs is out and about in the A6;
b) when the A6 is too much (school runs on narrow roads);
c) when I don't wanna use the CSL;
d) keep the mileage down on the A6/CSL

I had a budget of around £5-£6k. Was keen on relatively low mileage, i.e. below 60-70k miles if possible. Four doors would be useful but not a necessity. Petrol was likely for the shorter journeys too.

So my shortlist was either a Mini Cooper S or a JCW, a Golf GTI Mk5, or a RS Clio 197 Cup. Also looked at A3 2.0Ts.

I ruled out the Golf and A3 as I've had enough of the VAG group, so fancied something different. Thought the Clio 197s were perhaps a bit Barry-from-Essex :hahaha: so decided on the R53.

Spent a few days looking at ads, and one popped up last night. A metallic black JCW on a 55plate. Popped up to the dealers today and shook hands on it. Drove it the 70miles home, trying to get used to the new (to me) interior/dash layout. Sure I'll come to love it eventually :gayfight::blalalala:

It's only covered 40k miles, has a few very small marks here and there, but nothing major. Not sure I'm too keen on the wheels (black JCW ones), so may change the colour to a graphite grey. Needs a new tyre, so will get a new pair for the front. All in all, pretty pleased with it.

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...psijwqg9ad.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps5w8lxit9.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...psxmnn955h.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...psjdewtbuv.jpg

:thumbs:

Looks smart :thumbs:

At this rate we'll be able to have a Mini owners sub section :whistle:

Great little cars, just check the oil level weekly, they drink the stuff ...

Why not, this forum has already gone downhill with a IM section. :hahaha::hahaha:

So, will a Mini bit bring it back up again? :whistle:

Congrats ! Car is looking good

definitely. :thumbs:

Just bought a mini one "D" for the wife's 50th!

Tax exempt and 70mpg

Plumbed for the Moonwalk Grey or Battleship grey for the matelots out there!!:smokin:

Looks like there is quite a number of us with a Mini.

Be interesting how close you get to 70mpg. My guess would be 40.

Mini lover here too having had three.

Pops is getting me interested in a r53 GP. Must resist

Oh yeah, blame me. :whistle:

Looks like the GP sub section is gathering pace.

I'm not helping either, as I bought a GP1 during the week. As soon as I drove it I got what all the fuss was about - mad little car, and great fun!

Going to get it detailed and in for a service then will post up a few pics

Good to hear!!

Modifying them can make them mental..to put it mildly :thumbs:

Congrats on your Mini btw Stumpy, looks v nice :thumbs:


I can only imagine! I'll probably be keeping it standard for the moment, as I plan to use it for a bit of tripping around and occasional commuting, but longer term who knows...

Just keep an ear out for chain rattle, tensioner is the easy fix but there has been a few GPs recently with bent valves. Timing chain has stretched and jumped a cog leading to a big bang!

Anyhow,

Apologies Stumpy for railroading your thread.

You'll love the Mini :thumbs:

Will do :smt023

All good. Nice yo hear about others.
Been spending a lot of time looking at tuning :whistle:

Need new tyres. Its on runflats currently :bigcry:

Maybe brakes afterwards. Not sure other than maybe a larger IC...

Tuning you say??

Not sure where you're based but, there is only one place to go, 1320Mini. They're near St Neots in Cambs, I wouldn't let anyone else touch mine and it's a 250 mile round trip for me.

They're very knowledgable, reasonably priced and don't try to sell you things you don't need. They have saved me a fortune on my car, I tend to come up with all sorts of ideas and they patiently explain to me I'd be wasting my money :whistle:

Customers come from all over e.g. Scotland, even Switzerland!

Met Peter down there when he bought his csl for me to see. I warned him the same as I'll warn you, you going to think it's a pikey yard :hahaha:

http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/...psvjl7juwo.jpg

Ta. Not really needing/wanting much more power. Maybe an IC + map, a LSD and decent brakes?

I'm in Kent...

Not too far away then.

They don't only do tuning, they undertake any work on a Mini, mechanical that is.

They've done my suspension, brakes, rear diffusers, altered the battery tray, altered a Gen 2 exhaust to fit and engine works.

They have a dyno there so can also map.

Any details of the work done on yours plus pics?
Interested to learn the various elements. The diffusers for example...

Spec : -

KW ClubSports and adjustable top mounts,
Adj RCAs,
Uprated rear arb,
Mini Cooper front arb,
Whiteline adj drop links,
Polybushed where needed,
GTT upper strut brace, OMP lower strut brace,
Camber of – 2 deg front and – 1.5 deg rear
BBS RC wheels, 17 x 7 in chilli red with Yoko AD08 tyres.
IRO of 25 - 30mm lower than standard. GP is 10mm lower than a S or JCW to start with.

Engine / exhaust : -

17% SC pulley
Vibratechnic top mount
Polybushed lower mount
Cat Cam, 550cc injectors and remap…currently at 250 BHP, 210 WHP
Janspeed manifold & sport cat, Milltek centre pipe with R56 Scorpion back box.

Brakes : -

AP Racing BBK to front with 2 piece discs, standard discs to rear. Mintex 1144 pads and uprated fluid and Goodridge hoses.

Interior : -

Recaro Pole Positions in half leather, half alcantara (faux but still nice)
Dash, down tubes, armrests, gaitors and dash top done in black nappa leather with red stitching.
All interior plastic in satin black
JCW leather / alcantara steering wheel

Misc : -

Vented A panels..
Wheel stud conversion.
Black roof
Front vents in body colour.
Mini Challenge rear diffusers.

Diffusers need a silly amount of work to fit but look the nuts. Remove or shorten battery box, fit Gen 2 exhaust, cut rear valance. I had the battery box shortened and a smaller race battery fitted.

http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/...psa2okv4vn.jpg
http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5rivtbzz.jpg

ClubSports

http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/...psf4252a57.jpg

Different A panels

http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/...ps72d95931.jpg

Interior work

http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/...ps97029cba.jpg
http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/...pse577f3f5.jpg

AP Racing brakes with Mintex 1144 pads

http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/...ps22e45f9a.jpg

Ending with a feature in ModernMINI

http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/...ps850daee1.jpg
http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/...ps755ff695.jpg

Currently sat at 250bhp on a safe map.
Had planned fitting a BVH to take it to 275 - 280 bhp but no point when buying a csl.

Goes like a stabbed rat as it is :thumbs:

Very nice :thumbs:

Like that a lot. Thanks for sharing...
I take it you've removed the rear seats?

GPs didn't come with rear seats. Just 2 armchair Recaros in the front.

With this being as highly modified as it is, very little will be done to a csl. Possibly the brakes and Supersprint back box.

Sorry, missed the fact it was/is a GP.

1320 are only a 2hr drive, so who knows... :whistle:

:beer:

Can I ask a few queries please?

Adj RCAs Say what now?
Uprated rear arb - which one?
Mini Cooper front arb - is this smaller than the GP? The GP induces too much oversteer? With the uprated rear have to not messed with the F-R balance?
BBS RC wheels, 17 x 7 in chilli red with Yoko AD08 tyres - I have 18" wheels which might be a bit too much - the ride is quite crashy. Do 17s, make for quicker steering?
IRO of 25 - 30mm lower than standard. GP is 10mm lower than a S or JCW to start with. So you're 25-30mm lower than a S/JCW or 25-30mm lower than a GP?

17% SC pulley - The GP/JCW has a 11% pulley I think? So this swap alone will free up 10-20bhp?
Cat Cam, 550cc injectors and remap - Who's map?
Janspeed manifold & sport cat, Milltek centre pipe with R56 Scorpion back box. I assume this is alot more fruity sounding than the stock zorst? The JCW is actually quite quiet.

Recaro Pole Positions - if the OEM Speedsters allow a rear child seat I'd be tempted.

Vented A panels..- where's this from? Like the look.

fit Gen 2 exhaust - what's the difference with the stock one?

Currently sat at 250bhp on a safe map.
Had planned fitting a BVH to take it to 275 - 280 bhp

What's a BVH ?

Apologies for the (Mini) newbie questions, but all very interesting and relevant!

:beer:

No worries..
RCAs are rear control arms. Give the ability to alter rear camber.

Rear arb is Eibach. Helps to cure understeer

Front arb on a GP is a standard Cooper S / JCW one. Cooper arb is smaller dia and also helps cut understeer.

Changing those on their own may interfere with f & r balance but on mine the whole suspension has been changed and everything set up accordingly.

Going to 17 wheels would make them lighter, obv dependant on make, and will reduce the crashy feeling. Keep in mind though the std suspension is dire! not sure on the improvement of steering feel although run flats aren't going to help if you have them..

25-30mm lower than std GP so 35-40mm down from a S or JCW

Yes, the JCW inc GP has 11% pulley,as a rule of thumb going 6% bigger will give 6% gain on bhp. However, if you go above 15% you're going to need a bigger intercooler, the GP one has an additional 2 rows so can cope with the extra heat from a 17%.

The map is a Bytronic map installed by 1320. Need doing as with the cam the car wouldn't even start so the map is part of the cam package along with the injectors.

I originally fitted a Milltek and was happy with the sound but with having the diffusers it was in the way. Poke your head under the back end and you'll see the exhaust splits into 2, there are 2 silencers and it then joins back up to give the twin tail pipes. A Gen 2 exhaust is a straight through giving room for the diffusers. The current set up is quite loud but not obtrusive, when bumbling about it grumbles but doesn't scare kids....open it up and it howls :thumbs:

The A panels are from Orranje although the guy that owns it is seriously ill at the moment so nothing is happening.

BVH is Big Valve Head.

Ask whatever you wish bud, more than happy to answer,

A very short clip of trying back boxes, this is the R56 Scorpion..tried a Mini Challenge but was actually painful on the ears!!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVyE-LFdB50

Much appreciated pops.

Might drop you a PM, rather than clutter this thread up too much, with a suggested first visit to 1320 'splurge' !

:beer:

Have a R53 was my sisters but I have it since 2010. It on full mental spec now after a full rebuild with forged bottom, stage 2 head, induction, cooler, oil cooler, full exhaust, KWs, GP brakes, carbon dash, Sparco seats. At the minute the aero kit is coming off and being replaced with full GP kit. Also new OZ rims.

Enjoy the Mini stumpy...:thumbs:

....................

Very nice...

Nice Bart...

Just bought some new wheels & rubber.

18s are too big and with run flats/hard suspension, gives for a very crashy ride.

So I've dropped to 17s and 'normal' tyres.

Looking to upgrade done chassis components next. Oh I discovered it has a LSD too, which was a nice surprise...

:beer:

Nice! What tyres did you go with? I'm sticking with 18"s, but just ordered a set of PSS from Camskill

Took a while to decide actually. But went for the Hankook Evo V12 @ £64 a corner!! Can you believe that?!

Wow, that's some price! What wheels did you get?

Rota Blitz in Hyper Silver - 17x7,5J ET35