I am expecting my MCS JCW 'Vert in about a week or so, my only knock on the vehicle was the sound it puts out. When I test drove the car it was nothing special. I am reading the older posts here on various exhausts and intake changes. I think the majority seem to take a liking to the Alta cold air intake, but I havn't seen anyone change a JCW to Alta. The JCW is a cold air intake, so I doubt the sound would be changed that dramatically by moving to a different cold air system. I did read that the JCW air filter is both restrictive and expensive - 2 huge negatives. Any suggestions on what filter to replace that with?

I'd like to hear a few sound clips of a JCW exhaust and after market comparisons. Also, if any exist for air box changes as well.

 

if you go on youtube and type in mini cooper exhaust sound clips, youll see a bunch of them. if you want to see something wild, type in mini cooper stunts. watch the classic cooper go around the opsticle course of cones. youll be very surprised and amused at the ending!

 

The thread related to that was stickied at the top of this page.

 

:-) Yup, I started through that thread (very long). It starts off with many (many) clips of various after market exhausts. Someone posted a link to regular and JCW clips (I would like to compare the JCW to the aftermarkets) but that link does not work. You're right tho, I should go through the entire thread and I will this afternoon. I'd like to find some clips for the JCW cold air versus aftermarket cold air intake. Perhaps its later in that thread, I'll look a little later. Thanks !!

 

While watching MCSs on the track at Sebring and Homestead, the supercharger sound is much louder coming from the Altas than the JCWs or my Dinan cowl. Much louder meaning you can hear it coming when they are wide open on the long straights. You know there is a supercharger there. I do not know about daily driving with either of these.

As far as changing from a JCW to an Alta, the JCW is 150$ or so more than the Alta. I cannot see anyone moving down, but I'm sure someone has.

If the JCW is installed as the factory intended, the mixture is regulated by the ECU requiring a software flash to get the benefit. From talking to a reseller, many people simply leave it wide open and do not flash or patch into ECU. I'm certainly no expert, but it seems more like bling then, and the Alta is better for the money. I almost bought a JCW myself. Just my $0.02.

(Awaiting flames...)

 

the alta is louder than the JCW, the JCW has a "flap" that closes and prevents the loud SC sound that you get with the alta. I've heard of ppl removing this, but have not heard what it sounds like with the modification. I have a couple videos of a before and after alta intake install, but its on a MCS, not a JCW

 

hmmm, you got my attention with this comment - I have been reading all I can, and I do recall reading about the flap that opens under heavy exceleration. Anyone here removed the JCW flap and have any comments ?? I suppose I could replace the JCW filter and the flap and see what it sounds like.

Any suggestions on what filter to replace the stock paper filter with ? I have read enough to realize the stock filter is too restrictive, but I an not convinced on what to replace it with.

 

I'm running the JCW box with the AMSoil Nanofilter - seems a bit louder than the stock JCW paper filter.

Regarding the flap, it opens at (IIRC) 4200RPM... which is about when the SC really starts to whine - you don't gain much sound from the flapectomy - you theoretically gain a little more air, but the car really doesn't start producing boost and REALLY sucking air until about the point where it's open... so I don't think it makes much difference one way or another for performance. But I'm sure others who have done this will have a different opinion. I don't recall seeing dyno results before vs. after the flapectomy.

It's a common misunderstanding that the JCW airbox requires an ECU flash - not true, at least not for my 2006 cabrio. The box worked exactly as designed with no ECU flash - all it's doing is reading voltage or current off one of the ECU wires for RPMs, when it hits that point, it unlatches and vacuum opens the flap. The way this rumor got started is that the airbox often comes in a kit with JCW 380 injectors - and those DO require a flash to work properly - so the KIT requires a flash, but the airbox itself does not. I just installed the airbox, no injectors, and am happy as can be.

The JCW box DEFINITELY mutes much more sound that the Alta, DDM, Madness, etc. sheetmetal CAIs. Any of them will be significantly louder, if that's what you're looking for.

One note - I believe the real reason for the JCW flap is to mute undesirable throttle whistle sounds that some of the cars have at low RPMs with the throttle just slightly cracked... on the cars that exhibit this, it's quite noticable (and to some, including me, annoying) with the "open" CAIs - I started with a Dinan and went to the JCW for this specific reason.