North American Motoring - Clubman Talk (2008+)

Clubman JCW reviewed in Autoexpress Weekly

TouchlessCover — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:44:45 GMT

From November 2009 Autoexpress Weekly
MINI JCW Clubman
Is new performance flagship estate as much fun as hatchback version?

By Jack RixNovember 2009
Rating:
Bosses at MINI have mixed their most practical bodystyle with their most potent engine – and this is the result! The Clubman has undergone a full John Cooper Works conversion, and been transformed from a quirky estate into a hot hatch. But can it live up to the expectations of the badge on its boot?

Under the bonnet is a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, derived from the John Cooper Works Challenge race car, and shared with the JCW hatch and Convertible. It delivers 208bhp, and propels the hot Clubman from 0-62mph in 6.8 seconds. That’s three-tenths slower than the hatch, but with the exhausts booming and popping behind you, it makes the regular Cooper S Clubman feel pedestrian.

The styling has been updated too, and the overall effect is even more striking than the hatch. At the rear, the wide-set exhausts and side-hinged van doors are unlike anything else on the road. An aerodynamic bodykit and 17-inch alloys – weighing less than 10kg each – not only look the part, but help boost performance. And if anyone was in doubt about this MINI’s potential, John Cooper Works badging on the lower front grille, wheel hubs and boot complete the makeover.

As with the rest of the Clubman range, the wheelbase is 80mm longer than the hatch’s – but with the JCW, this makes all the difference on the road. Stability in corners and traction are improved, which is hugely important when you’ve got more than 200bhp going through the front tyres.

The torque steer that plagues the hatchback version appears to have been reined in. Floor the right pedal mid-bend or encounter a rough surface, and you’ll still wrestle with the wheel, but it feels more playful and less of a fight.

Push the Sport button and throttle response sharpens up, while the steering becomes even weightier. But this adds nothing to the amount of feedback through the wheel; it only amplifies the torque steer. We wish you could have the improved throttle feel with the lighter steering setting.

Alongside the Sport switch is a button marked DTC. Leave it alone for full traction control, push once for ‘dynamic’ mode, or press and hold to turn it off altogether. The middle setting is perfect for the average driver when the pace picks up – allowing enough slip to stop the power being cut mid-corner, but keeping you out of trouble at the same time.

Turn the system off and it will brake the spinning inside wheel in bends, mimicking a limited slip diff, and help the MINI find more traction and accelerate harder out of corners.

A firm ride is to be expected from a car in this class – and the Clubman is certainly stiffly sprung. Speed bumps and imperfections in the surface send jolts through the cabin. But on fast, sweeping B-roads, the trade-off is superb body control. It’s also supple enough to prevent long motorway journeys from becoming a chore. If this isn’t extreme enough for you, a rock-hard JCW chassis can be specified as an option – this lowers the suspension by 10mm and firms up the dampers.

The JCW isn’t cheap – it costs more than �22,000 before you’ve added anything from MINI’s famously long options list. And it has all the usual Clubman quirks, such as that single suicide door behind the driver, plus a boot which is smaller than a Ford Fiesta’s.

However, for �1,000 more than the JCW hatch, the Clubman does combine greater flexibility with a more polished driving experience – and in this respect, it makes a lot of sense.

15in wheels on Clubman S

KiwiMtnClmbr — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:04:42 GMT

I've been lurking these forums for a long time but finally need to make my own post. I pulled the trigger on a '10 Clubman S to be delivered some time around Christmas. I've been backwards and forwards through everything I can find here and elsewhere and am at a loss... has anyone had success putting 15" wheels on a R55 S? I understand the brake issue but I can't imagine that there aren't any wheels out there that fit. I'm trying my best to get away from the run-flats, utilize a spare, and get as much sidewall as possible on my winter setup.

I travel from northern New Hampshire / Vermont to central New Jersey weekly and drive a full gamut of the Northeast's worst roads... in four years I've bent 3 rims on other cars - hence the desire for a more traditional sidewall height. Please be specific as to what rims have worked for you, as I need to get some ready to put on my new baby as soon as she comes in. Thanks for the help.

Clubman Stripes - Show me your Stripes!

ClubmanS-REX — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:42:11 GMT

I am thinking of getting stripes on my clubman S and wanted to see some pics first. I would love to see how they look first. Photos of a black clubman with Silver stripes would be even sweeter! Also wanted to know if there are any good quality alternatives to the MINI stripes offered? Thanks alot.

Muchas Gracias!

Clubman trip report

Clubmaste00 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:47:44 GMT

Last month SWMBO and I took the Clubbie S on a trip to Hilton Head Island for a weeks stay. Packed the car pretty full with two sets of golf clubs and the usual luggage. While she was concerned that everything would fit it wasn't a problem - we did make good use of the spare tire well for lots of small stuff but the Clubbie is pretty easy to pack.

The Clubbie S performed admirably. total trip miles a bit over 2,500. Ave. Speed for the entire trip 60.1mph with gas milage of 35.1 mpg. FWIW I burned premium for the entire trip, I know some like to drop down a notch or two when doing extensive highway driving. Found out that the speed limits in Kentucky and South Carolina are a joke - you better be doin 80 in the left lane :)

As part of the drive we took in the Dragon (my first time) and parts of the Blue Ridge parkway. The dragon wasn't too busy but the bikers do love to take the corners hard. The only close call was meeting a mini van on a blind left hand turn and I wasn't sure he was going to stay in his lane. Well worth the detour from our main route - even bought some pics from the net vendors. Saw a white van whip off the road and the passenger door open so someone could get sick guess they did not like the turns.

Overall a very pleasant trip - and while many are concerned about the ride of run flats, I've found that if the round is decent the ride is fine. :thumbsup:

Dennis

Cruddy Reverse Light Still A Problem?

johnhardy1 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:04:32 GMT

Im one of the unfortunate ones who didnt order the rear fog light for my '09 Clubman. Man as much researching as I had done prior, I wish I had found out how low level the reverse light is with just the stock single reverse light before I ordered mine!!!

I've read most all the posts regarding this issue and the best idea I could find was to find a dealer in the UK who would sell me the UK version of the left side rear light assy and have it installed. Not sure who would do the installation though and of course the cost would probably be high as well.
No one mentioned it but I wonder if having the rear fog added (switch and all) is possible and how many arms and legs would that cost! Anyone ever checked into that??

At any rate Im sittin here dumber-than-dirt hopin' someone has come up with a decent answer to this (a very real) problem.

Someone did mention duct taping a flashlight on back. Hmmmmm....:sly:

Experience with Clubman and a toddler in a car seat?

isthar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:24:18 GMT

Hello...

It's been a long time I haven't been on these boards. We had an '07 mini cooper for a little bit, then we got delivery of a little girl, and 5 months in you realize a rear facing car seat in a regular mini cooper is insane !

So, we parted ways with it. Replaced with a Volvo S40.

but now, she's older, almost 2 y/o. Car seats face forward, and my car (a 2005 altima se-r) need not be so big anymore...

and now I'm looking into getting a Clubman S!

So, anybody think I am crazy thinking the clubman is a good compromise between my mini obsession and a toddler and car seat?

We are still keeping the Volvo, a four door, so that's the car for important trips. The mini is to take me to work, although I do drop her and pick her up from day care three times a week. I'm young, she's light, so I'm not so worried about the "back" factor.

And of course, the other big question... the options I'm ordering, but that's for another thread.
:confused:

BRAND NEW H&R COILOVERS ON AMAZON FOR 279.64

Stig One — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:15:34 GMT

http://www.amazon.com/Street-Perform...12835&sr= 1-1

BUY THEM BEFORE THEY CATCH THE MISTAKE :lol:

Coolant Level-Cold Engine

Kimbo80 — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:52:39 GMT

I just went and checked the coolant level on my Clubman. The car has been sitting for 4 hours, and the reading is about a 1/2 inch below the minimum level. There are no leaks under the car or in the engine bay noticeable to the naked eye. Is this something I should be worried about?

Update: I ordered a gallon of BMW antifreeze from Bavarian Motorsport and will do a 50/50 mix with distilled water. I did a search and this there are some owners that have noticed the levels go down due to evaporation, but I'm surprised the dealer did not top it off the last time I visited them, when I had some warranty work done last month.

A Clubman S, a Satellite, and a HD Switcher...

pizazz — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:16:40 GMT

This is what you get...

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We recently completed the build out of this Clubman for our client NewTek. They specialize in small compact TV Production Studio in a Box solutions so putting together a demo car in a MINI seemed like the best fit.
Basically we built out a complete television production truck (normally 52' long semi trailer) in a Mini Cooper Clubman.

You can see some of their press tour pics and video here
www.streamordie.com

I am sure you guys have lots of questions. I will do my best to answer them so feel free to ask away.

A list of the mods/addons/stuff we did....

1.Installed IPBased Satellite Uplink System

2.Designed and Installed custom rack to house a NewTek XD300 HD switcher and NewTek 3Play Instant Replay unit along with Satellite controller/modem and a 24” HD monitor.

3.Designed/Installed Secondary power system consisting of
a.3000 watt 12vdc to 120vac pure sine wave invertor
b.120vac AutoTransfer switch to automatically switch to shore power when car is plugged in
c.Large Backup Battery giving 1 hour of run time for complete system without car running
d.Independent 12vdc feeds to Alarm/GPS system
e.12vdc feed to CarPC independent from car battery
f.Remote power on CarPC from Alarm Keyfob or authorized iPhone/web browser
g.Feed Cradlepoint Wireless access point router

4.Installed motorized actuators for moving rack in/out along with LCD monitor up/down

5.Installed 2 x 15.3” LCD flip down VGA monitors for back seat operators of the Switcher and Replay units. This had to be done without removing the existing sunroof over those seats.

6.Installed Hardware interfaces for XD300 and 3Play on back of front seats

7.Installed 7” LCD monitor in place of rear view mirror since driver could not see out of rear window

8.Installed Rear view camera for 7” LCD rear view mirror

9.Built and installed CarPC running Centrafuse front end for GPS, music, video and remote control of car accessories such as the actuators on the rack.

10.Installed 16x32 SDI video router

11.Installed Video Patch panel behind license plate in back so the car can be operated completely closed in case of bad weather or heat. (They are from Texas like us)

12.Built and installed custom Satellite cowling to minimize air drag.

13. Installed advanced Alarm with GPS tracking capability and remote control

I will be finishing up the blog site with lots more pictures and video shortly.

Enjoy,

Jef

Waiting!

b13mini — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:07:24 GMT

She's ready and waiting for her ride across the pond!!!!!
:popcorn:

Possible New Owner: 2009 Clubman JCW

bluefox280 — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:12:03 GMT

Hey all; stepping into a possible new venture outside of my heavy VW/Audi experience.
Located a 2009 Clubman John Cooper Works edition (6-speed, 17K miles) that I'm interested in trying to make a deal for.

My question, with the 2009 production for stock JCW parts, what's the not-so-obvious things over the standard "S"?
I see the wheels, brake package, higher output of the engine, the wrapped steering... but what else?

Shots of the looked-at car:

Thanks a bunch for the help!

- Erik

Placed my order today....

macct — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:09:04 GMT

Well, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted, but had a few questions before ordering. My intent was to order a Pepper White Clubman S. That changed, though, after seeing a Chili Red Cooper with a Black Roof. It looked really sharp and it was the color combination that my son was lobbying for. I found myself going back outside, comparing it to a Pepper White Clubman a few cars down. In the end, I decided to be less conservative and ordered the red. My cars tend to be white or some shade of grey, so this is notable for me.

With the change in exterior color, I also changed my interior choice. I kept the Black Lounge Leather, but changed from the cream color line/oak trim to the rooster red color line with piano black. I am hoping this is a good color combination. I was a bit hesitant going with the red color line because of the white piping on the seats. I thought the cream would be out of place with the red exterior. Any thoughts on the this combination?

Other options include: AT, Premium, Sport, Cold Weather, iPod/BT, Sirius radio and R112 wheels (JCW).

While I wasn't expecting the color change, the process and the dealer have been very good to deal with. I opted for the dealer a bit further away, finding them more professional and engaging. Now, the wait begins. I appreciate all of the assistance.

Kind of a stupid question....

patchman70 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:37:32 GMT

I would like to put some kind of a jolly roger or roof art on my MINI. Does anyone know if it depreciate the value or affect the resale? (other than the obvious)

Are they easy to take off if needed?

As far as I know i'm going to keep my MINI for years, but just want to know. I've had some people tell me leave it 'natural' and some 'do what you want.'

Just looking for some info..

removing the front seat, but leaving it in?

pointydog — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:33:17 GMT

I'm hoping someone here has done this, and can tell me if there's a simple way.

I will be driving my grandmother from NY to TN, with a car full of luggage (she will be in that front seat). On the way back I will have an empty car, and will be stopping to pick up a harp. It would fit just fine if the front seat would fold flat, either in the open or closed position, but it doesn't do flat either way.

I'm hoping I can take it off the rails and thereby open it flat by moving it forward enough so the seat back is in the rear footwell instead of on top of the rear seat. I really just need about 2'' over the furthest forward it goes.

Obviously I will still have to have the seat in the car, and I hope I can strap it to the rails to make sure it stays put should there be an unfortunate mishap of some sort. I don't see how it comes off the rails though, do I have to remove the rails from the floor? Torx driver?

ANy and all advice welcome.
Thanks,
Chris in NY

Shift Knob

dkamp — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:25:49 GMT

08 Clubman Shifter question.
I was getting kinda agressive going thru the gears comparing with/without the sport button and something happened, yea:thumbsup: besides enjoying the acceleration... three times while pulling hard into second gear the shift lever felt like it completely pulled out:eek2: of whatever its connected to below it.
I pushed it back in quickly so not miss the right timing for 3rd gear.
Everything seems ok. I experimented and in any other gear the lever won't come out, but it will if in 2nd gear (if you pull upward hard).
Has anyone else experienced this?

.