Can anyone elaborate on the differences between the JCW head and the R53 head (components, performance, possible HP gains, etc).
Thanks,

 

The JCW head is ported a little on the exhaust side only, same valves, and same intake as the standard S. That's it, so if you are thinking about buying a head, don't spend money here, get a nice high flow aftermarket ported head with larger valves. I have an RMW head and like it.

 

+1

 

Only differnce is exhaust valves are sodium filled. all ports and everything remain the same. A non S will work on a S.

 

I thought there was just some minor porting work on the exhaust side, as mini_racer said above.

 

Bullsh.it! The S exhaust valves are made from inconel, the cooper valves are simple valve steelt.
The shaft diameter is only 6,x mm much to lees for sodium filling.

The JCW head is cnc ported on the exhaust side, nothing else.
Here are some pics....

 

Is it that you have a personal issue with guidmini, or is it that you are just a poor communicator? Really, ..uncalled for.

 

I guess the first pic is from an S head and the other 2 are from the JCW, right?

 

I agree with you on the aftermarket head but I have to get an stock head...as my extended warranty is paying for it

 

So I´m a poor communicator
Since 5 years it was the funniest statemant about the exhaust valves, nothing personal at all

Yes the first pic is a standard cooper S head, the other two details about the JCW porting.

 

Well, in that case, if you can talk them into a JCW head, then get it. While not much, it is better than the standard S head. However, don't pay extra for it, unless it is really cheap.

Also, if you can go offline on your MINI for a couple of weeks, maybe you could take the new OEM head from the dealership and send it off to a shop to get it upgraded (e.g. RMW, thumper, etc.) and then let the dealership install your upgraded head. When I shipped my JCW head back to RMW as a core I think it was only ~$30 to ship as just the head minus the cam is around 30 lbs.
I would assume the dealer wants to keep your damaged head.
It is an evil plan, but it could work.

BTW, how did your original head fail? I am very curious.

 

That's right!

 

That sounds like a good idea. Depending on how much it would cost I could end up doing it.
I already spent on a RMW cam and I might need to pay another couple hundreds to make up for the difference between the S and JCW head plus another $100 deductible...$$ keeps adding up, but if money would not be an issue I would definitely go for it.

By the way, I got 2 broken valves...according to the shop the spark plugs failed (broke) and caused the valves to brake .

 

Hmmm. .... guess you'ed better be looking into a new piston, and depending how messed up the cylinder wall is.... ???
Sounds strange.

 

Cucho: what broken spark plugs were they? brand & model #

 

Yeah, strange for sure. A spark plug breaking off in the head has got to be very rare.

 

nope not that rare i know of a few cars that have in the UK some plugs cant cope with the high heat from the boost on tuned cooper S's

 

They were NGK's 4 prong plugs (recommended by Mini) for MCS

 

Very good point. Would you suggest recommending (forcing) the shop to first take the block to a machining shop or just wait until the shop performs the compression test after installing the new head??. Pls chime in with suggestions.

 

Your sig. says you have a lot of mods? I'm glad your warranty is covering it anyway.

 

Yes! If you had a plug break in the cylinder and it ended up bending two valves then it would be hard to imagine that the piston and cylinder walls did not experience damage also. Top of the piston for sure will have at least some dings in it.
I would have loved to have seen a picture of the plug and the damage. It's just hard to believe that the plug, especially these NKGs, would fall apart. Did the valves break or just bend? If the valves are broken then I say they went first.

 

Don't put a new head on without 100% pistons & cylinder walls. Broken valves usualy cause extensive dammage.

 

According to the shop valves broke...I did not see them myself...I should have but I was really busy with the holidays and all

 

 

This is an important thing to check. You need to know why this happened and should have the head, plugs, pistons and cylinders diagnosed. I say this because you may have serious tuning issues that caused these problems. You don't want to get this all repaired and end up doing it all over again.