There's an R53 JCW for sale around here that is right on my budget, but it's pretty high miles (175k). Given that the usual advice on here seems to be to run from them, how much faster does one have to run from one with high miles?
There's an R53 JCW for sale around here that is right on my budget, but it's pretty high miles (175k). Given that the usual advice on here seems to be to run from them, how much faster does one have to run from one with high miles?
I'm going to hazard a guess and say very fast. Although aren't the R53 the more reliable ones? Still, more reliable is a relative term with Minis.
The good news is you won't have to run away for long- the car will break before it catches you 
Run far and fast.
My experience helping a friend with one and hearing and seeing his problems have convinced I don't want one as a daily. They are a blast to drive though. He just finished putting a new head gasket one his with about 185k miles.
What year?
Manual I'm assuming?
What kind of service records come with it?
That's a lot of miles for an R53 and they aren't cheap to rebuild. I love my R53, but it's rare to see them running around at the +150K miles mark. If it's an '05/'06 and super clean I would give $5K for it or work backwards from there. They aren't hard to work on, but parts are expensive.
It's a 2003, no mention of service records.
There is also an 04 for sale for a bit less with only 100k. That sounds like a better choice if I want to go there at all.
As fast as you berkeleying can
If you're going to go R53, find an 05 or 06. Those are the most desirable and most reliable.
In reply to BoxheadTim:
Tim, no offense, but given your experience with cars turning into major projects, this is exactly the kind of car you do not want. I have a friend who just spent $1500-$2k rebuilding the front end, supercharger, and replacing the head (along with a few other bits) on his. Adding to his pain, one of the MINI vendors(and apparently one of the few who could help) basically tried to screw him over on the head, saying his core was unrepairable - fortunately, he took pics of the s/n on it before shipping it off, and the one they returned was not his. It ended up being about a 6-week hassle - for a car that was his DD.
I have a r53 with 125xxx on it and there have not been any issue. other then a clutch and front axles. I know supercharger and stuff can go but the car is so much fun to be honest.
I wonder how long until someone makes a kit to put a Honda Civic engine and transmission into the new MINIs like they make for the original Mini?
How fast to run? Depends on how far you are from work when it breaks down... Hahahaha.
A very close friend of mine was a mini tech for years. He says if you have to buy a mini, buy the early non s. If you have to buy an s, get the supercharger.
Depends. As your primary car, I'd say no. But as a secondary toy you can afford to leave sitting while waiting to be repaired, sure.
Yeah, it wouldn't be a primary car - I'm basically looking for a track toy to replace the MR2 that I've never really warmed to that much, and I did like the R53s I've driven. So it'd be like 3rd/4th car, but I also don't really want something that's in the shop all the time and have to rent more race cars to make it through the season.
They're unreliable with <100k, I wouldn't even consider it.
Unless you're looking to gut it as a dedicated track/auto-x car and K swap it. I KNOW I've seen one in an R50/53, button cannot find it now.
I can count on one hand how many Minis I've come across with over 100k. And I've worked on a LOT of Minis(considering I don't work at a dedicated Mini dealer).
Mine is my DD.It has 112K on it and has never left me stranded,BUT it has had some issues. While still on warranty it needed a new wiring harness for the electric power steering and the driver's mechanical door lock was replaced. Later on I had to replace the front LCA bushings, they're known for failing. The biggy was the PTO on the back of the supercharger losing it's lubricant. It was caught before it failed so a new supercharger fixed it. That was a $1400 bill at a specialty MINI shop nearby, not the dealer. All of these are known issues with the R53, especially the early ones like mine. If the one you're looking at has had those same issues and has service records to show the repairs I might buy it. Might,but I wouldn't be tripping over myself running toward it. They are a very entertaining car with some significant "Buts".
Relevant thread?: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/new-poster-with-a-wwgrmd-thread-would-you-daily-a-/105760/page1/
At some point, your garage will look like this 
WingZombie wrote: At some point, your garage will look like this
would a take on the original new MINI marketing scheme for this picture be "Let's get wrenching" ?!
In reply to WingZombie:
That's under the assumption that it doesn't look like this all the time...
I think I'll pass on this particular car.
BoxheadTim wrote: Yeah, it wouldn't be a primary car - I'm basically looking for a track toy to replace the MR2 that I've never really warmed to that much, and I did like the R53s I've driven. So it'd be like 3rd/4th car, but I also don't really want something that's in the shop all the time and have to rent more race cars to make it through the season.
This is sort of my thought as well. Granted, I've spent enough time with MINI's looking like WZ's that it doesn't really bother me. I have some special MINI tools that allows installing LCA bushings fairly quickly without having to drop the entire subframe.
What I would like to find is a '05/06 factory JCW car with no mods. To me, that would be the best autocross/track car after some moderate suspension changes. One problem with used R53's is finding one that hasn't had a lot of modifications done to it. Especially a pulley change, which bumps the car into Street Modified FWD. A JCW car will essentially have the same power, but can run in either D-Street or STX (w/ suspension) where the car will at least be almost competitive vs. SMF where it gets blown away unless built into something not really a street car anymore.
Do you fit in a Fiat 500? If you want something small to play with as a track toy, I'd trust an Abarth more than a Cooper. Seems like buy in on a used on could be 11-13K for one that still has part of the factory warranty.
Has the head been replaced yet? The S's burn valves and blow head gaskets regularly, especially if you up the boost. Pretty much can't machine the head so replacement is necessary. I have a friend who did the head gasket replacement twice before just replacing the head the third time.
If driven spiritedly you'll be replacing tires with each oil change too. They are fun to drive in anger but I would never spend my own money on one.
The Hoff wrote: Has the head been replaced yet? The S's burn valves and blow head gaskets regularly, especially if you up the boost. Pretty much can't machine the head so replacement is necessary. I have a friend who did the head gasket replacement twice before just replacing the head the third time. If driven spiritedly you'll be replacing tires with each oil change too. They are fun to drive in anger but I would never spend my own money on one.
I think you're referring to the N14 motor issues on the '07-'10 cars.
In reply to eastsidemav:
Unfortunately they go for about twice the money R53s go for and that's outside my budget.
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