Enjoy!

http://www.alchemyeng.com/PDF/Instal...nstruction.pdf

600KB, so right-click, save-as ...

 

Thanks for the install sheets. My kit will be installed 06/30/03 at Towne MINI.
The wait has been tooooooooo long.

 

THanks for the link. I printed off the instructions. Hmm I could sell some of my stock options and get this kit!!!!!!!!!

 

Its fun to watch my bandwith disappear! :smile: Enjoy the file!

http://www.alchemyeng.com/stats/

--
Cheese

 

Even though I am a lowly MC owner, I had to look

I noticed that the exhaust is routed differently - I assume it adds a bit more power? I know you engineering guys definitely know this better than I...

 

the ratio of content to fluff is about the same as performance to dollar.
3 pages on how to affix decals; one line "assemble in reverse order" for wrenching.

 

They seem more worried about external appearance than internal performance.

 

Took my dealer 3 days to install my Works kit, and they didn't even put the logo's on the car.... what a ripoff!

 

3 days to install? Hmmm, that seems quit long. I spoke to my dealer about length of time to install. The dealer said the firsat install took 15 hours and they expect that future installs will go faster and faster as they get more aquainted with the parts.
As far as the badges are concerned, you do need to tell the dealership to install the badges (the dealer should have asked you), because some people like to drive their set up 'stealth' not wanting anyone to know they have the upgrade.
The badges require drilling holes in the body so once the badges are installed there is no turning back.
When I went to pick up my car the dealer asked me if I wanted the front license plate installed for the same reason, he didn't want to drill any holes unless I told him it was okay.
You should go back to the dealer and tell him to install the badges!

 

The badges do not require any drilling at all....

the rear one is attached using doublesided stick tape, included and precut to the shape of the badge. The front badge just attaches through the grill using two bolts. The instructions do say to drill the grill, but since the grill is essentially just a plastic mesh all I had to do was move it over to the left and down an inch or so and it attached through the holes themselves allready in the grill. A little locktite on the threads and it's not going anywhere the grill doesn't follow.... Not "spec" placement of the badges, but not very noticeable difference.

 

oh, and the 3 day install....

dropped the car off monday morning, they finished it up weds night. They wanted to take their time and go through it very carefully, as it was their first install and hence went a lot slower than it would normally for someone experienced in installing them. They did have problems downloading the new tune and getting the programming set up correctly and had to call either MINI or John Cooper Garages to get talked through it, but said it would be a lot easier for them on future cars.

and no, they didn't charge for the actual labor hours, they gave me quite a huge discount actually.... they charged me LESS than the $1000/10hours labor estimate. Not sure why, but I didn't argue when it came time to write the check.

 

Glad to hear your Works install went smoothly and happy to hear you got treated really well.
The badge that may need drilling is the one that is attached to your front grill. Depending upon which grill you have, the Aero or the regular, the install may require the drilling of two or one small hole depending upon exact positioning of the badge within the grill itself.
Now for the neat stuff, tell us how it drives! Please, Please, Please!
Inquiring minds want to know!

 

Cool, but why does it seem like most of the work is installing "works" emblems?

 

I'm guessing it took so much space, in relation to the actual mechanical parts, because when these mechanics go to BMW school or whatever it's called they tend to focus on the actual mechanical process of their job rather than installing emblems. And being that we MINI owners are fairly peculiar about our cars, they knew we'd want everything exactly perfect - even down to the spacing and placement of the badges.

I mean seriously, if there were 50 pages about how to remove the head, what size wrench and screws to use, which side was up on the exhaust system, etc.... that would worry me. There's really only one way to fit the supercharger, the exhaust, the head, etc.... but countless ways to screw up the badge placement.

Now to the ownership review, have had it a week and a half now and am loving it more and more every day. Easier to drive, better torque down low so doesn't feel like it's gonna stall at redlights anymore. The only "problem" is not driving it like an idiot, for me anyway.... the car is faster, quicker, more responsive.... it's just wonderful. The power comes on strong and fast, but almost transparently... it doesn't feel like something has been done to it, just feels "right."

The exhaust note is absolutely wonderful, not louder than original but the sound is like a symphony, especially when the supercharger kicks in. Best sounding exhaust, in my opinion, of all I heard at the Deal's Gap rally.... some were louder, some were deeper, some sounded like bee's in a coffee can...., this one will turn heads without angering little old ladies or pissing off cops. Sounds REAL, and not like a cheap addon.

The power is so seamlessly transferred that it's deceptive.... add that to the incredible handling of the car to begin with and this car is just about perfect. Expensive yes, but I plan on keeping this car till I'm too old to drive it and I am very happy with my decision not to go aftermarket with the mods but to wait for the real thing....

 

I can't believe this kit costs so much! I mean, they should at least throw in a limited slip, new suspension, new big brake kit, new heavy duty 6-speed transmission, and new balanced and blueprinted engine, along with everything else in the kit, for maybe $2000. THEN, and only then, would it be worth it to me.

 

Normalizer-
Thanks for the update and review. The JCW kit sounds wonderful. The upgrade is for the serious enthusiasts who don't mind the price of admission for a well done job. That it "feels right" and that it provides seamless power speaks reams of the balance that the car now has. Driving well is all about control and balance of the throttle, traction, breaking and cornering.
The problem of not driving like an idiot is common to all MINI owners. Some show more restraint than others. Might have to do with testosterone levels. You always have a "choice" to show restraint or not. That's why its good to go to the track and thrash about a bit to get it out of your system.
For me, your review sounds "just right" as you said. Be proud that you are among the first. Leave the badges off if you prefer. Under the hood is the proof. You might add just the rear hatch badge and skip the front due to your rally lights. Or you can get a custom side stripe done that says WORKS or JCW on it.
If you ever take it to the track give us an update of how it handles.

 

Where's your stash of $500 engines, I've got a project or two up my sleeve these might come in handy for....

 

>>Where's your stash of $500 engines, I've got a project or two up my sleeve these might come in handy for....

There right next to the new superchargers that can be repalced for $1000. In the BMW service department of someone's dreams.

Just took my MCS in for the JCW kit installation. Checked out the new supercharger, head etc.. SC vanes are definitely coated with a hard abrasive ceramic-like materisl. Not Teflon for sure.

Test drive in 2 days!

 

"SC vanes are definitely coated with a hard abrasive ceramic-like materisl."

so are the stockers.

 

>>"SC vanes are definitely coated with a hard abrasive ceramic-like materisl."
>>
>>so are the stockers.

No, they're actually not. I compared stock and JCW side-by-side myself today. The vanes are very different. Stock is coated with very smooth grey Teflon. JCW is coated with very abrasive, black ceramic. The mechanic had never seen an SC like this before, and he's very into building racing BMWs. This ceramic apparently increases boost at high RPMs by creating a better seal in the SC and reducing leakage.

 

I heard that this is a running change in production of the superchargers, that all MCS produced after a certain date have the same coating as the JCW. This could account for differences in the finish between stock blowers.

 

As I understand it (disclaimer), early run MCSs had the ceramic vanes and the new ones have the teflon vanes. I believe that the "new" supercharger you get installed with the JCW kit is simply someone elses charger that was removed during their install but with the 15% smaller pulley now on it. Hence, your shiny new teflon coated SC may in fact be replaced with an older style ceramic. They MIGHT be doing some other improvements to the SC but if so I have not seen a post that reflects that.

If you like it and it makes the car more fun for you, then more power to you (literally). It's all good.

Jim

 

Boy the programming procedure sure is amusing. I like the part at the end where they tell you "Finally check whether all systems such as the air conditioning for instance and the cruise control (Tempomat) if fitted are fully operational."

It doesn't say after that what to do if one of those things isn't working, or how the JCW code might cause the air conditioning to stop running... Scary.

 

The link no longer seems to work.

Does anybody know another host?

Thanks.

 

Go to http://bridger.us/mini and click on the "How Tos" on the right side of the page. The BMW instructions for the JCW Install are listed, and can be downloaded in .pdf format.

Charlie