I'm looking at a 2005 MCS with a bunch of JCW emblems both on the car and under the hood. As far as I can tell visually, it has the silver engine cover, the cold air intake, and the brakes with the red calipers. When I checked the VIN with the dealer, however, I was told that the VIN corresponded to a straight, unenhanced MCS.

• Does this mean the JCW stuff was installed after purchase of the original vehicle?
• the car was first registered November of 2005 and has 22000 miles, so it still has about 3 months of the original warranty. Would this cover the JCW stuff? The car is being sold by a non-MINI dealer and has no documentation for the JCW installations.
• Would MINI reissue the JCW documentation?
• are JCW kits sold to and installed by private parties?

Thanks. I'm new at this and any advice would be appreciated.

 

I dont' know if I qualify as in the know, but I do own a JCW. As far as I understand, all years prior to 2006, the only way to get the JCW upgrades was to have them installed at the dealer. in 2006, you had the option of getting them done at the factory as an option or at the dealer again. I would think that most of the JCW parts were installed at a MINI dealer but I suppose it could have been purchased and installed at an outside shop but I would consider it unlikely given that the car is still under warranty. Maybe MINI can tell you where the car was put into service and you can call the dealerships in the area to find out if they installed it? And thats about the extent of my knowledge or ideas...

 

Thanks for the suggestion. I called the local dealer and they told me exactly the same thing you did.

 

I have an '05 JCW with the build date of 7/04. Took delivery on 8/28/04 and had the JCW engine kit installed by the dealer in 10/04. Look at the top of the valve cover next to the coil pack and there should be a plate with the JCW kit serial # along with the intercooler cover with the JCW emblem on that as well. Do you have the JCW exhaust as well?
I would think you could give MINIUSA the serial # and they should get you the supporting documentation.
Good Luck.....

 

Thanks. I did see the kit serial #...will pursue that. I had the car checked out by the local MINI dealer and they just told me it's a pretty solid car with one potential problem...

There is a slight crack at the middle of the "core support" and a bent on the AC condenser. I didn't get a good feel for how big a problem that is, but it sure sounds expensive to replace - something like $1900 for the support and the condenser!

Anyone want to chime in?

 

AC is over rated! if the price is right get the JCW

 

The crack in the core support doesn't affect any other function of the car?

 

I dont think so as a guy I work with had this happen to his MCS and it drove fine. It was only when you looked closely at the car under the hood that you noticed it. He had his replaced for about 1/2 that cost at a non dealer shop that works on MINIs so definitely check into that if the seller won't fix it. He belives it happened when his son rolled/scraped it over a curb/sidewalk when parking, so it may not have been caused by a collision.