Hi, Kelson here in the UK

Just introducing myself as a recent JCW purchaser (delivered March 2020). I am a complete petrol head and lucky enough to have several cars and motorcycles with the JCW being the most recent addition.

The JCW replaced my manual F80 M3 Competition (the M3 is a good car but too big to be a ‘small’ sports saloon – it’s the size and weight of an 80’s 7 series. So, wanting something small and sporty, I thought the JCW would be just the ticket and it will sit alongside my modified 1988 Mini Mayfair (1380, KAD Twin-cam conversion, Weber Alpha Fuel injection, converted back to 10” wheels) just right.

I went to town on the spec and I think the only 3 options left out were automatic (the JCW had to be manual), the privacy glass and different wheels (more anon). She is Chilli Red with black roof (to blend in with the panoramic roof, black mirror caps and black bonnet stripes.

The first mod I have done is add the AC Schnitzer front splitter and on the agenda will be different wheels, Cibie Oscar long range driving lights (7” diameter as used on my old Mayfair), maybe some carbon bits and possibly lowering slightly – two minds about this as I got the dynamic suspension to allow a ‘comfortable’ ride when in ‘lazy’ mode.

The reason I did not spec different wheels is because I want light 17 x 7.5 ET45 10 spokes in a silver colour - BBS RF505 look nice to me but I can’t find out whether they fit a JCW or not (the BBS site suggests not but perhaps that’s because they have not tried them. NM RSE11 would also be a good option, but sadly they are not in the required. The Team Dynamics Pro Race 1.2 would be ok but I’m not a fan of the lettering around the rim face.

Adding the Cibies looks like another challenge. I can make my own brackets and have dummied them up on the car and think they look fine, but I want a simple install (some hope) with the lights running from a relay, switched by main beam keeping all the wiring under the bonnet. I’ve yet to check out what is available at the headlights but worst case is to use a CanM8 high beam interface to switch the relay (which will need a wire through the bulkhead).

I know different markets have different standard and optional equipment, so for those that might be interested, here is the specification with Mini codes

Main Options
7GK Navigation Pack - includes (6AK, 6AM, 6AN, 6AP, 6CP, 6FP, 6NM, 6NW, 6UM)
ZCO Comfort+ Pack - includes (313, 3AG, 423, 430, 431, 473, 493, 494, 508, 534, 5DP)
223 Adaptive (Dynamic) Suspension
322 Comfort Access
402 Panoramic glass sunroof
552 Adaptive LED Headlights with Matrix Function
674 Harman Kardon
6AD Mini Head Up Display

Other options
2HY, 2VC, 329, 383, 428, 4F3

UK Standard Equipment
249, 2VG, 2XC, 302, 325, 3L2, 450, 470, 4AA, 4BD, 4FN, 4V9, 4VA, 521, 544, 550, 563, 654, 6AC, 6AE, 785

 

Welcome. Got some pics?

 

I'll see what I can do

 

At last I have got around to taking a couple of pictures, not very good and not that many, but its a start. They show the addition of my driving lights, the additional rear spoiler tips and the addition of a Homelink system (we don't get the mirror option in the UK. The USB port is still available, I've just moved it and it cannot be seen (so no one can tell if something is plugged in to not).

I made my own brackets for the Cibies (they are Oscars, so 180mm diameter) using the brace bar mounts and then modifying the brace to suit (and gave it a lick of Chilli red whilst I was at it)