I am considering installing a JCW suspension on a new 06 MCS Works. I am told it improves both ride and handling. Any thoughts and/ or experiences to share?

 

Whome ever told you that the JCW Suspension improves both ride and handling... .... is CorrecT! I've had the JCW S. for a couple 'o months now on my '04... and i love it. It lowers the car about a half inch... so it's great for keepin your MCS street friendly... after the install i could tell that the car was alot tighter (just cruisin and digging into turns), still keeps a smooth ride over bumps and potholes. plus the blingy red springs...
I recommend it.

MotorOn.

 

It's a very good, balanced package. It keeps your car streetable, even on crappy roads and through snow in the winter (if you're lucky enough to have to drive your MINI in the snow), but works really well autocrossing and even on the track.

I've had BMWCCA instructors drive my JCW suspension equipped Cooper (with a little extra rear swaybar) and they've all been impressed with the suspension.

 

get it...its worth it..

 

im looking to get it too, does any one have any before and after pics.

 

The difference is so little, you probably couldn't see it at only .4 inches.

 

Guess which is before and which is after.

 

im guessing the top is after.

 

is the install a straight R&R or do you need to disassemble the stock struts to re-use parts?

 

I have the JCW springs right now. Waiting to install the kit once I can afford to buy the struts. I need close to stock ride height for the roads on my commute, so this was my best option. I hope the ride will be better than stock. I was considering doing Ireland Engineering fixed front camber plates at the same time, but I don't know whether they are worth it. I am concerned about possible tire wear issues and oversteer.

 

Is the JCW suspension NOT part of the JCW kit one purchases for $6300 from the factory

 

nope, its an add on.. only the brakes and engine kit from the factory for that price.

 

with only half an inch of drop, are these okay to use with stock shocks/struts?

 

The JCW suspension upgrade is designed as a complete kit - springs, shocks / struts / dampers, and sway bars (if you do not already have the Sports Suspension Plus swaybars). You could do springs only, but why? The springs and dampers are designed to go together.

Of course, I did do different swaybars with my setup, so I'm not completely without sin.

 

??? Ride WILL be better than stock, especially for the passenger on those bumps.

Why do you want camber plates? When I first had mine installed, two dealers couldn't get the front camber correct. Finally they brought in the MINI Regional Rep and fixed it sort of ... simply need to settle down and all was fine. However, before that, they were talking about needing camber plates which to me was insane ... I was not going to pay for something they should be fixing.

Oversteer? Why are you worrying about that. You need a big rear bar set tight to approach true oversteer. The suspension does not come with a rear bar.

 

I guess I know what my first mod is going to be.....

 

just got mine installed on Sunday. Very nice

 

Recommendations for a rear bar diameter?

 

For the MC? MC JCW suspension comes with a rear bar

For the MCS, 22mm bar equivalent. There are many threads to read on this with some ppl worried about oversteer with the bigger bar (vice 19mm). Then again, the vast majority seem to get the bigger bar.

I'm not going to recommend anyone bar over another because basically, the all do the same thing. I will see I got the H comp 25.5 mm bar (22 mm equivelent because its hollow) simply because it has zerk fittings making it easy to lube the bar.

 

If your car doesn't have SS+ (Cooper that didn't come with the optional SS+), the JCW suspension upgrade should include the SS+ front and rear swaybars.

There's no reason to suggest one swaybar for a Cooper and another for an MCS, especially if they are both JCW suspension equipped.

There is such a thing as too much rear swaybar. At least for someone with my (lack of) driving ability. My setup has the stock SS front swaybar and the Helix / RDR 22.5mm rear swaybar. It's wonderfully balanced with the rear bar on the softest setting. It's not safe for someone with my (lack of) driving ability on the middle setting. I've never tried the stiffest setting.

 

Your points in order:

1. See http://motoringfile.com/howto/JCW_Su...structions.pdf the JCS suspension kit comes with a rear bar for the MC but NOT for the MCS. That is what I said
2. Yes, there is. 22mm is way to much for the MC. I believe most people just use the stock 17mm from the MCS.
3. Of course there is. If you have never experience oversteer, and going to a stiffer setting will induce oversteer, your going to have real fun recovering from a 180 Seriously, too much induced oversteer is not a good thing for the street.

 

Why is 22mm for a rear swaybar "way too much for the MC", but what you recommend for the MCS? Especially if they both have the same size front swaybar (which they will if they both get the full JCW suspension upgrade)?

The people who use the stock 17mm rear bar from the MCS in their Coopers are the ones who got ripped off my MCS owners trying to make a quick buck.

 

I have an hsport comp bar right now in the rear. I had it on the middle setting for a while and liked it for the street, but on canyon drives it got a little sketchy. Now I left it in the softest and it works great for me. I would like to move it back to the middle but not until I have a chance to get used to it on an open track or parking lot (autocross), since my driving skill is not up to par yet where I would feel comfortable.

I was worried about oversteer if adding camber plates. The camber plates will let the front stick more and the rear might then slide out first. I was thinking about them, but I really don't need them and probably won't do it. Just the JCW suspension should be plenty of improvement.

 

I agree. Mine is on the softest setting and is fine. If doing track days I would probably move it to the center but I could care less about track days. Real life is on the street

 

From what I understand, MCs come with no rear bar. By adding the kit, if they upgrade the front bar then they need to do something with the rear bar to balance things out. I doubt the MC JCw rear bar is more than 17mm. If it is, I'd like to know.