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I own a 2004 MCS and I'm considering having the JCW kit installed as described in the Bentley manual. "Key elements: redesigned air box w/ elontronically-controlled air induction system, a set of higher flow fuel injectors, a reprogrammed electronic control unit, a stainless steel sport exhaust, a high performance cylinder head, and an enhanced Eaton supercharger"
Bentley writes " the kit originally retailed for US $4,500, plus an estimated 9 hours of labor for installation (US $4,650, plus 10 hours labor for the 2005 higher output kit)
The dealer installed John Cooper Works kit is a fine upgrade, but it IS expensive for the amount of HP produced. I have it on both MINIs I own.
Most folks who have an R53 model, that did not have the JCW upgrade installed while the car is under factory warranty, will opt for an aftermarket supercharger reduction pulley an aftermarket cat-back exhaust, and an aftermarket intake (Alta, MINI Madness, Borla, Mill Tek and a host of others design and manufacture these various components), You'll get a significant change in HP from those bolted on modifications, alone. The cost is thousands less.
If you really want the JCW option, it's a very well done, solid performing, reliable group of mods. It's significantly more "sorted" than a few bolt on mods but at a LARGE cost. It is often debated about with regard to cost/benefit.
For the same 4500 bucks, you could do extensive aftermarket tuning. With varying levels of success, the more extreme you go.
Just as JCW Driver said, its a fine upgrade, but for substantially less you can have the same amount of horsepower if not more. If you just want the essentials then go for a smaller pulley($120), intake($200), exhaust($900), tune($450). If you want to take it even further, header($850), cam($350). These are just average prices, but for around $3000+install you could have probably around 210-220whp, about 30whp more than jcw kit.
__________________ Fun Stuff.
Last edited by drsilvermini; 08-19-2009 at 01:00 AM.
The dealer installed John Cooper Works kit is a fine upgrade, but it IS expensive for the amount of HP produced. I have it on both MINIs I own.
Most folks who have an R53 model, that did not have the JCW upgrade installed while the car is under factory warranty, will opt for an aftermarket supercharger reduction pulley an aftermarket cat-back exhaust, and an aftermarket intake (Alta, MINI Madness, Borla, Mill Tek and a host of others design and manufacture these various components), You'll get a significant change in HP from those bolted on modifications, alone. The cost is thousands less.
If you really want the JCW option, it's a very well done, solid performing, reliable group of mods. It's significantly more "sorted" than a few bolt on mods but at a LARGE cost. It is often debated about with regard to cost/benefit.
For the same 4500 bucks, you could do extensive aftermarket tuning. With varying levels of success, the more extreme you go.
+1
Also worth checking how much dealer charges, one in area used to charge $165 per hour and just recently lowered rates to $150. Shop around for JCW kit, if you decide that route, and see if any dealers in your area have in stock and willing to sell cheaper. Or check to see if vendors have in stock, like WMW below:
Quote:
Originally Posted by MINIGURU@WAY MOTOR WORKS
Call or email us tomorrow and we'll see what we can get you a JCW kit for.
I have an 04S and have done some aftermarket work, Alta 2degree crankpulley ($200), Alta V2 CAI, ($200), and a one ball exhaust mod ($90).
For $500 with labor (except the CAI that I did myself) it adds alot of zip, sounds awesome, feels lighter and the thickness of my wallet priceless.
Future, clutch is going soon, so that and a lightened flywheel are next, then next year, a 15% pulley, colder plugs and larger injectors, and probably some dyno time.
Would these be good mods to begin with? Do you think they are quality parts? Would they void a warranty?
I have an 02 R50.
Im not sure what kind of gains you would see with an R50, you might want to search and see how much power other people are getting. I haven't had experience with those headers but I have heard some people have fitment problems. No part voids a warranty unless that specific part caused a problem.
i agree with most of the others that replied. if you search around the site, you will find that lots of the mini S owners opted to go aftermarket for similiar performance to the JCW kit. there are many reputable companies that offer supercharger reduction pulleys, intakes, exhausts, headers, etc. that will get you a lot more power for your $$ than buying a JCW kit.
in the end, it is up to you. some people may be more into having JCW parts then other people.
__________________ R53 PS/B
| daily driver | aerokit | + stuff | + more stuff to come | link to my progress | and my overweight GR STI |
i agree with most of the others that replied. if you search around the site, you will find that lots of the mini S owners opted to go aftermarket for similiar performance to the JCW kit. there are many reputable companies that offer supercharger reduction pulleys, intakes, exhausts, headers, etc. that will get you a lot more power for your $$ than buying a JCW kit.
in the end, it is up to you. some people may be more into having JCW parts then other people.
In the future if you decide to sell the car, do you think an aftermarket goodies will top the JCW option ?
I think JCW option will hold better than the aftermarket.
I haven't been in the forum lately and don't know if you've already upgraded your mcs. I posted on this forum about my 04 JCW kit install(Self installed JCW kit) several months ago. You might want to refer to that post. The new supercharger that comes with the kit is the fifth generation unit and is supposed to be better able to handle the higher rpm. I've been very happy with the kit. You would have to have the software install done by the dealer or someone else with the equipment to connect to BMW web site.
Fun Stuff.
R53 PS/B 
DrkS/DrkS "S", Anthracite Headliner, LSD.
