>

Mini JCW - a new start

N

n1nja-frog

Member
Derby
So after a brief stint in an Audi TT RS, I decided to reduce my car running costs and find a fun car once more - while the TT was quick, it was just too serious and devoid of feedback.

So this Mini turned up at the local Mini dealership, 1 owner, only 32k and well specced. After a quick test drive and taking a 7k hit on the TT (only depreciated by 1k a month :wall:smile:, I was sold. So much feedback, character, eagerness, great turn it, burbly exhaust, just a lot of fun coupled with great economy :smile:

A brief spec is as follows -

- Mini JCW in midnight black / black alloys.
- Leather interior
- Heated seats
- Heated windscreen
- Panoramic sunroof
- Interior light pack
- Xenons

Plus all the usual JCW bits and bobs

So the short term plans are :

- Replace interior bulbs with LEDs (ordered)
- Reg plate, driving lights, side indicators for LEDs. (ordered)
- Metal pressed plates
- Tint the spotlights / foglights (undecided whether to go black or yellow:confused:)
- Dechrome the headlight and rear lights using plastidip (ordered)
- Stubby aerial (ordered)

Medium - long term plans

- Bilstien Coilovers
- Replace runflats for Mich Supersport 4s
- Drilled front discs with EBC yellowstuff pads
- Breathing mods / meth cooling / stage 1 map
- Walnut blasting of the N18 lump as they're prone to excessive carbon buildup


33614890861_476e1839b0_c.jpg20170330_180936 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

33614887541_2b5942990e_c.jpg20170330_181008 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

33744090135_e371c12917_c.jpg20170330_180916 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

33744092815_deafa82367_c.jpg20170330_180834 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

33744091795_83289cc118_c.jpg20170330_180853 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

32901042914_b98e380a46_c.jpg20170330_180718 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

33614889371_74f262fe8b_c.jpg20170330_180951 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

33614886111_c4d181b2d8_c.jpg20170330_181032 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr
 
Do like it. :) The ttrs is very good on paper but people that have owned them always tell me how dull/easy to drive they are. I personally want my car to have a bit of an edge, character.
 
You've explained it perfectly.

This may be down on power and status, but i've bonded with this car more in 2 days than the 5 months I owned the TT.

I look forward to even the slightest excuse for a drive in this, it's so eager to please and it really does :)
 
Really liked my JCW mini and yours looks great :thumbsup:

Keep an eye on the oil levels as they like a drink and they don't have a low oil level warning light, just a low oil pressure light. By the time that comes on you'll need a good couple of litres :o
 
That looks great :thumbsup:

I have to admit, I'm tempted to change my zed for a Cooper S or JCW. My zed is so mollycoddled that some of the fun has gone out of driving it. I'm constantly on the lookout for potholes because of the lowered suspension and 19" wheels, I daren't put my foot down too often because the mpg plummets, I'm worried about where I leave it because of the ragtop etc etc

I'd quite like to get something that I could give a bit of a thrashing every so often and not feel guilty :lol:
 
Spotted this on Cliosport too, champ - Mini looks great and Dave has given some good possible mods I think.

But as said, £7K hit?! Where did that come from!
 
Could you not have sold it privately? I bet someone would have snapped it away at £22k

Love the mini though, I've been looking at GP's.
 
Spent the day on the wheels / arches today.

First car i've owned that has these nasty fabric arch liners :doublesho

Attacked the arches / calipers / suspension setup with a 10% solution of surfex.

Wheels were hit with Bilberry / Surfex / Iron X / Tardis and a final Bilberry rinse down. They were then dried and sealed with CarPro Dlux. As were the calipers.

33878842965_da356f0871_c.jpg20170406_150227 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

33065219413_ac6e2b120c_c.jpg20170406_152811 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

33034764554_a21c138371_c.jpg20170406_134824 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

33034763164_aea31084e3_c.jpg20170406_144503 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

33878838235_d4877c838a_c.jpg20170406_162908 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

33878836635_03aa88c576_c.jpg20170406_162912 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

33878835335_4363e084a2_c.jpg20170406_164546 by DEAF N1NJA, on Flickr

PlastiDip arrived today so i'm going to attempt de-chroming the headlights and rear lights.

Also the interior led kit and puddle lights should be here also. Again will attempt to install them too.
 
My old daily one



My new daily one



Still think the R looks better than the F model, but the Bluetooth exhaust on the new one is just great childish fun :driving:
 
That looks tidy mate!

Have to say i'm really not a fan of the F56 - especially that front bumper.

Next for mine is BC coilovers and some spacers.
 
I know what you mean on the bumper - it is the over-bite lol. I added the JCW front black plastic bits which reduce the bite a little, but h R still remains the best looking of the two. Especially having had both in the same colour....will de-chrome mine soon, and it will be getting a little tune which should take it to c.290bhp :D

Strut brace in the R made a huge difference, well worth a bit of research. Think mine was only the JCW one vs some of the hardcore ones. The manicmini tune is also epic fun!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom