She's a 2004. She's the right color. She's rust free. She's got 165K on the clock. She's got a 6 speed. She's $2400.
AND...
She's a 2004. She's the right color. She's rust free. She's got 165K on the clock. She's got a 6 speed. She's $2400.
AND...
She's a JCW!
Budget for a rebuilt supercharger and go for it?
In reply to SVreX (Forum Supporter) :
Full on JCW or one that's had JCW parts fitted?
The one I used to own had the JCW engine package with the standard brakes.
In reply to BoxheadTim :
Best I can find is that the JCW package was engine and supercharger upgrades only in 2004.
What else should be there?
Knock this E36 M3 off. I loved/hated my last one. I also happen to have about this much cash laying around. And it's been long enough I've forgotten how bad I hated my last one.
In reply to Mndsm :
Me too!!
In reply to SVreX (Forum Supporter) :
After watching a friend continue to deal with his for years, it's a hard pass from me. His has needed the head & supercharger both rebuilt along with tons of other "routine" maintenance items that seemed to fail way faster than the ones on our Fit did.
You know you'll have to spend money on it, but you'll enjoy the hell out of it, too. Allow for the extra expenditures and buy it. I've had to change the supercharger. Yes , it was expensive. But I'd do it again because this is the best FWD car I've ever owned.
I'd have to choose between it and my 280 hp turbo Miata.
The Miata is almost too serious. I always remember having a big smile on my face driving the MINI.
(Although paying for the repairs was never fun)
In reply to SVreX (Forum Supporter) :
As you said it seems to depend on the year. Mine was a 2006 and those also had bigger brakes when they had the full package.
SVreX (Forum Supporter) said:I'd have to choose between it and my 280 hp turbo Miata.
The Miata is almost too serious. I always remember having a big smile on my face driving the MINI.
(Although paying for the repairs was never fun)
Oh, yeah? Pm me if you are thinking about selling the turbo.
I drove a new 04 Works, I really loved it but couldn't swing it at the time. Felt like a modern GTI.
Do it. I need someone to commiserate with... I mean enjoy the journey.
I'm about to do the poor man's BBK. Reading those threads, there are many folks who fake JCWs down to the decals on the calipers.
In reply to tremm :
I can't imagine any S or JCW getting decent fuel economy... too hard to keep your foot off the go pedal!
I bought this car's twin (year/color/S, but not a JCW) a few months ago and finally got it back together last week. It is a miserable little shiny happy person of a car and I don't like how many parts were totally roached and needed to be replaced at 95k miles, but holy E36 M3. It is fun to drive and excellent to look at. Do it.
In reply to SVreX (Forum Supporter) :
I could eek out 30-31 mpg on the trip to the Challenge with mine. That would be at an 80 mph cruising spped almost continuously. Factor in the cost of 93 octane and they're not economy cars. But the fun factor outweighs the cost/nuisance issues in my mind. I bought my 2003 "S" in 2007 and I'm still driving it and have no idea what I would buy to replace it.
Haha!
We all talk about MINIs like a highly skilled elite hooker infected with STDs. 
Worth the fun, but you're gonna pay!
2004 JCW should have a pulley, a different CAI, some head work, a different cat back exhaust and a tune compared to the regular "S". Listed as 210 HP, IIRC.
I dunno if you pay attention to mad money, but I think this is a strong buy signal.
Did these have LSD?
In reply to Robbie (Forum Supporter) :
IIRC some of them do. You can retrofit one, which is what I did with mine.
In reply to Robbie (Forum Supporter) :
As I understand it, in 2004 JCW was a dealer add-on, not a manufacturer package.
Therefore, you could spec it as you chose.
Mine was not a JCW, but had been modified with a smaller pulley and reflashed software and a Borla exhaust. One of the most fun cars I have owned, but I sold it when the 6 speed broke at 98K miles on it (under an extended warranty). I would buy one again under the right circumstances, especially for $2,400 in that condition.
As a Daily you need to rely on your crazy.
As a weekend car that you are going to strip out and make fast and have fun with for minimal cash that you will never get back when you sell. DO IT. I love this things.
In reply to wearymicrobe :
Definitely not a daily.
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