R56 John Cooper Works (FJCW)
Discussion
Hi all,
I've been a lurker on PH for a couple of years and figured I'd start giving back! I've had a fairly decent car history considering I'm approaching 23 and I've just always had the bug for cars. Started out with a MK6 Fiesta Zetec aged 17, then onto a MK6 Zetec-S. Then the jump and probably one of the most memorable cars I've owned being a Clio 197, fantastic handling and I had a decent example... or maybe just got lucky and had pretty much 0 problems with it. Sadly after changing job and commuting much more between where I was work, football and family, and with a Clio that managed about 24 on the motorway with a decat and crackle map it became a little tiresome throwing money away on fuel. So I took a step... and bought a 1.9 Polo SDi, 110K on the clock and set about racking up some miles. Now this thing is slow... I mean dangerously so! Ended up selling it to my girlfriends family so I still see the lump now and then. Onwards from there to the previous car... something I've always loved the look of a 1 Series Coupe. An appropriate one was sourced... 7 months of troublesome ownership later with it having taken extended stints in BMW for a multitude of things and having had an accident which I wasn't told about... instead finding the repair form in the glove box it was time to go. Picked up my 2009, FJCW last week after a 440mile round trip and pleased to say I'm loving it! Chopped it in for the 1 series coupe and haven't looked back so far.
The old E82, only owned for less than a year and a troublesome one at that, can't fault it on a long hop for comfort but apart from that it just caused me nightmares.
Prior to that was my 197, alongside the old mans 225 inferno facelift rare in the colour and spec for a ph2.. it's still lurking on our drive and is his daily when he plods to and from work.
Still the Mini takes me back to when I had a Clio, such a fun nippy car and nice for it not to be NA. Got a couple of slow and steady plans for it, my first R56 so need to be careful about the oil with the N14 so I've got a litre top up on route to make sure I don't get anywhere near dry. Previous owner only used it to plod between home and the station on the commute into the capital and the age is about right so I may get it decoked also shortly to try and remove some deposits. Still got to be thankful for the spec...
It's got a nice little spec, Chilli, Xenons, Comfort, Nav, Storage etc
So far only need to sort the drivers window with a bit more spray grease as the squeak has nearly solved itself...
It's already had an up to date Sat Nav Update which has seen some action and also waiting my private reg to go on... just not sure on pressed plates as of yet! Then new headlight surrounds and go black, bit of Carbon on the interior to.
Currently awaiting a good detail as all of my gear (I'm a bit of a nut) is 50 miles away at my parents currently. So first inline will be a good cleanup and application of protection, probably Fusso for the rest of the winter and then get something else on it for the summer! Plus a tidy up Plans then include correction and then hopefully Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light. I need to tidy up the centre caps as they are corroded and a check at a local independent mini specialist (SwissMini in Cardiff) then for some power upgrades...
So far I'm loving it though, it handles like a roller skate, it's refreshing to move away from an N/A and I still get fairly decent fuel whilst on a long run. Plus the JCW Backbox gives me a reason first thing in the morning when it's freezing and quite frankly I don't want to get up. Will update as more and more is added...plus some photos which aren't rubbish of the interior!
Cheers,
Harry H
I've been a lurker on PH for a couple of years and figured I'd start giving back! I've had a fairly decent car history considering I'm approaching 23 and I've just always had the bug for cars. Started out with a MK6 Fiesta Zetec aged 17, then onto a MK6 Zetec-S. Then the jump and probably one of the most memorable cars I've owned being a Clio 197, fantastic handling and I had a decent example... or maybe just got lucky and had pretty much 0 problems with it. Sadly after changing job and commuting much more between where I was work, football and family, and with a Clio that managed about 24 on the motorway with a decat and crackle map it became a little tiresome throwing money away on fuel. So I took a step... and bought a 1.9 Polo SDi, 110K on the clock and set about racking up some miles. Now this thing is slow... I mean dangerously so! Ended up selling it to my girlfriends family so I still see the lump now and then. Onwards from there to the previous car... something I've always loved the look of a 1 Series Coupe. An appropriate one was sourced... 7 months of troublesome ownership later with it having taken extended stints in BMW for a multitude of things and having had an accident which I wasn't told about... instead finding the repair form in the glove box it was time to go. Picked up my 2009, FJCW last week after a 440mile round trip and pleased to say I'm loving it! Chopped it in for the 1 series coupe and haven't looked back so far.
The old E82, only owned for less than a year and a troublesome one at that, can't fault it on a long hop for comfort but apart from that it just caused me nightmares.
Prior to that was my 197, alongside the old mans 225 inferno facelift rare in the colour and spec for a ph2.. it's still lurking on our drive and is his daily when he plods to and from work.
Still the Mini takes me back to when I had a Clio, such a fun nippy car and nice for it not to be NA. Got a couple of slow and steady plans for it, my first R56 so need to be careful about the oil with the N14 so I've got a litre top up on route to make sure I don't get anywhere near dry. Previous owner only used it to plod between home and the station on the commute into the capital and the age is about right so I may get it decoked also shortly to try and remove some deposits. Still got to be thankful for the spec...
It's got a nice little spec, Chilli, Xenons, Comfort, Nav, Storage etc
So far only need to sort the drivers window with a bit more spray grease as the squeak has nearly solved itself...
It's already had an up to date Sat Nav Update which has seen some action and also waiting my private reg to go on... just not sure on pressed plates as of yet! Then new headlight surrounds and go black, bit of Carbon on the interior to.
Currently awaiting a good detail as all of my gear (I'm a bit of a nut) is 50 miles away at my parents currently. So first inline will be a good cleanup and application of protection, probably Fusso for the rest of the winter and then get something else on it for the summer! Plus a tidy up Plans then include correction and then hopefully Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light. I need to tidy up the centre caps as they are corroded and a check at a local independent mini specialist (SwissMini in Cardiff) then for some power upgrades...
So far I'm loving it though, it handles like a roller skate, it's refreshing to move away from an N/A and I still get fairly decent fuel whilst on a long run. Plus the JCW Backbox gives me a reason first thing in the morning when it's freezing and quite frankly I don't want to get up. Will update as more and more is added...plus some photos which aren't rubbish of the interior!
Cheers,
Harry H
darker grapefruit said:
Nice to see a JCW without any of those tacky 'red bits'. Talking of paint, the front wing on that 1-series looks 2 shades darker than the rest of the car...
Spot on with the wing colour. It was 'repaired' by the BMW Dealer prior to collection... when informing them of there crap paint match + blend I was initially told that they hadn't touched that wing. Cue their sprayer putting it under streetlights and agreeing to respray that panel and the bumper. Truly awful match!Lites said:
Looks smart mate, congrats! First thing I'd do is go about dechroming it. The Clio also looks amazing.
Cheer mate, I'm not sure on the Chrome, thinking about Black light surrounds and belt line... think it's all vinyl though! Miss the Clio like made especially the Recaro CS despite being a mare not to wear through. Part Ex'd it into the dealer, went off to auction and then someone got ripped off by the selling dealer by about 1.5K.. never heard or seen the car again online at all 
Really nice. I think these are one of the best looking hatches on the road. I've had a go in on of these and a new one too. Bags of mid range grunt. Quite a compliant ride to boot.
Only thing really that puts me off them is the two people I know had trouble with each of them. First one had an intermittent electrical disaster disco now and then. The other has a head gasket gone with hardly many miles on, right after buying! Hope this one is top notch for you!
Look forward to updates
Only thing really that puts me off them is the two people I know had trouble with each of them. First one had an intermittent electrical disaster disco now and then. The other has a head gasket gone with hardly many miles on, right after buying! Hope this one is top notch for you!
Look forward to updates
Sillyhatday said:
Really nice. I think these are one of the best looking hatches on the road. I've had a go in on of these and a new one too. Bags of mid range grunt. Quite a compliant ride to boot.
Only thing really that puts me off them is the two people I know had trouble with each of them. First one had an intermittent electrical disaster disco now and then. The other has a head gasket gone with hardly many miles on, right after buying! Hope this one is top notch for you!
Look forward to updates
I keep looking at it more and more and falling in love just a little each time! I've got it booked in for SWSSMini on Tuesday so any issues flagged I'll get done under warranty with them. So hoping that'll afford me some more protection! Only thing really that puts me off them is the two people I know had trouble with each of them. First one had an intermittent electrical disaster disco now and then. The other has a head gasket gone with hardly many miles on, right after buying! Hope this one is top notch for you!
Look forward to updates
Have an r56 too (nice example) re the black belt line,you need black electrical tape, its the perfect width and very and quick to do, is a nice Matt back OEM look,and has lasted a year on mine so far without pealng, very easy to reverse too in terms of resale. (Can black Plasti dip the light surrounds too fairly easily).
mikey P 500 said:
Have an r56 too (nice example) re the black belt line,you need black electrical tape, its the perfect width and very and quick to do, is a nice Matt back OEM look,and has lasted a year on mine so far without pealng, very easy to reverse too in terms of resale. (Can black Plasti dip the light surrounds too fairly easily).
I'll have a look, did hear that tape was the best for the belt line, did see vinyl kits too. Not sure on it entirely, I quite like the chrome in an odd way, just need to sort the surrounds without breaking any clips! 
Mike1990 said:
Nice car history, your old 197 looked ace!
Really like the look of the R56 JCW's. They Alloy's compliment it nicely. They standard fit JCW Alloy's ?
I've been very privileged so far in fairness! It's a really good looking car, I must confess that when I first really got into cars I never liked the look ofReally like the look of the R56 JCW's. They Alloy's compliment it nicely. They standard fit JCW Alloy's ?
the BMW Mini's at all. Only a few years later I've really come to love the design, alloys are standard fit JCW R112 Alloys, really set the car off especially with the big Brembo 4 pots hiding behind. For a fairly little car the stopping power is tremendous.
So a bit of an update, had the car checked by SWSS Mini - highly recommended by the way, quality service from Cory, Gareth and the rest of the team down there 
. Couple of things I certainly wasn't expecting considering the car has a two week old clean MOT!
So we'll be fighting with the warranty company to get as much covered as possible.. discs have 50% left so will do for now until it's urgent. The rocker cover leak is typical of the N14 but other than that basic bits and pieces.
Couple of small details changed already, new silver side repeater bulbs to get rid of some of the fried egg look.
Then new centre caps off of eBay for the pricely sum of £3.20!
And how she stands currently, still in dire need of a detail and a few other little bits topping up. Loving every second so far and still averaging 40mpg pottering about day to day.
. Couple of things I certainly wasn't expecting considering the car has a two week old clean MOT!
So we'll be fighting with the warranty company to get as much covered as possible.. discs have 50% left so will do for now until it's urgent. The rocker cover leak is typical of the N14 but other than that basic bits and pieces.
Couple of small details changed already, new silver side repeater bulbs to get rid of some of the fried egg look.
Then new centre caps off of eBay for the pricely sum of £3.20!
And how she stands currently, still in dire need of a detail and a few other little bits topping up. Loving every second so far and still averaging 40mpg pottering about day to day.
HarryH321 said:
So a bit of an update, had the car checked by SWSS Mini - highly recommended by the way, quality service from Cory, Gareth and the rest of the team down there . Couple of things I certainly wasn't expecting considering the car has a two week old clean MOT!
So we'll be fighting with the warranty company to get as much covered as possible..
Not trying to be an asshole, but I can't see why an MOT would pick up on any of those things really.. Couple of things I certainly wasn't expecting considering the car has a two week old clean MOT!So we'll be fighting with the warranty company to get as much covered as possible..
And I personally would feel like a 'chancer' trying to get the warranty company to pay out.
cat with a hat said:
Not trying to be an asshole, but I can't see why an MOT would pick up on any of those things really.
And I personally would feel like a 'chancer' trying to get the warranty company to pay out.
Not at all, being honest the only item which I feel they will pay out on is the oil leak from the rocker. It's specifically covered within their T's & C's, the updates etc will be on me ofcourse. At the end of the day the warranty is there to offer some protection to the buyer and having shelled out for a car, certain items which should have been addressed and are obviously you'd like to think would have been sorted. Picky things such as tyres, guards etc are all the risk you take. Completely get what you're saying though! And I personally would feel like a 'chancer' trying to get the warranty company to pay out.
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