Rare Mini Cooper S R53 Factory JCW Part 1: The cheapest on eBay? First Look at what needs sorting.

[@honestreviewer3283]

Looks like a good project car, and nice to see it hasn't been modified. My 2005 wasn't as rusty underneath, but during Covid I completely restored the subframes, added aluminum trailing arms and new suspension, big brakes, all new bushings, etc. This car just needs some TLC to undo the ravages of time. It's rare and definitely worth keeping; in 10 years you'll be kicking yourself if you let it go.

[@lukas0846]

Good looking car with some rare jcw options! I would say, do it up and make it nice again.

[@ThorMotorWerks]

You may be right 👀

[@derekgb3780]

Rare car, I reckon worth restoring. On the positive side, the oil leak(s) on the front look like they've kept the front subframe rust free. 😀

[@ThorMotorWerks]

@@derekgb3780 😂 Take the positives

[@NYChemicalRomance]

Definitely a “fixer-upper” and keep.

[@ThorMotorWerks]

😂 I want to keep them all, however space is at a premium. We’ll see how it progresses. Thanks for dropping a comment ❤️

[@paulwilliams8725]

Good luck 👍

[@ThorMotorWerks]

🤞

[@OhioRed55]

Fix and keep. I'm not seeing anything that would make me think about parting it out.

[@ThorMotorWerks]

I can see the cars increasing in Value over time, Especially when US can start importing them with age limits. It’s very Hot & Cold in UK second hand car prices, car has some decent parts on it that might make it attractive to buyers.

[@OhioRed55]

@@ThorMotorWerks I am a Brit living in Ohio and have a Chili Red 2006. Last year I hit a deer (little buggers are everywhere!) and didn't claim on my insurance because of it being a 17-year-old car, at the time, with over 300000 miles. They would have totaled it. So, I have been collecting all genuine parts to fix it myself. I've had it for nearly 12 years and can't think of being without it.

[@alexgallagher3604]

Personally, I'd say it's definitely a "fixer upper" !!

[@keithstapleton7805]

You know Minis so you know all you’ve shared is quite normal for one of this spec and age. Only question to ask is do you want to keep it, because addressing all the normal stuff makes it unviable to sell for a profit. I did 99% of the same to mine in 10 years of ownership.

[@ThorMotorWerks]

Yeah I’ve found a few other gifts since as well 😂 Nothing is unfixable whatever has happened but like you say there is a balance to be struck. The main advantage to this car is of course the ‘JCW’ on logbook. Whereas I have another dealer fit car that I’ve worked on for the last couple of years and that has all the bits you’d want but without the all important model on V5. We’ll see, I’m a sucker for a Mini 😂

[@simonainslie6912]

What sort of mileage is it ?

[@ThorMotorWerks]

Currently around 115k - So it's about average for one of these cars.

[@GetTheZoomOutaHere]

"Rare Mini Cooper S R53 Factory JCW Part 1: The Cheapest on eBay?" "With the deal done, I may have overpaid for this car". Proceeds to never say what the price paid for the car was

[@ThorMotorWerks]

@@GetTheZoomOutaHere Pretty standard for a full cost breakdown at the end of the series. Which coincidentally is tonight at 6pm. 👍

[@GetTheZoomOutaHere]

@@ThorMotorWerks Ahh, cool job. I'll have to give it a watch so