Ok so I am planning on buy a R58 S or JCW.

I plan on changing the turbo (prob Atla's upgrade or send the stock unit to G-pop), intercooler, downpipe, hotside boost tube, exhaust manifold and exhaust.

My question is I know the JCW engine and trans is "beefed up" but will the S engine hold up or am I better off doing this to a JCW?

Now I understand the N14 is easier to tune with an AP but I think I can also just send my ECU to NM-ENG.

My real concern is if the S engine can handle the upgrades.

I only ask this is that the JCW is $5K more and if I plan on changing almost everything anyway so all I am getting for the extra money is a "beefed up" engine/trans and Brembo front brakes.


So is the JCW worth it in my case?

THANKS in advance!

 

Go ahead and spend the extra money the internals are better for extra boost. and you get the brakes, wheels, and body kit for the extra money so it's not a bad deal. Trust me I'd rather sell you aftermarket parts to build your car, but starting with a JCW is a great idea.

 

Thanks for the reply. The wheels are getting swapped regardless and If I get the S I will be getting the JCW package which will have the aero kit. The price difference is still $5K. If I get the JCW I STILL AM going to mod it RIGHT AWAY.

BTW, I will be buying the manifold from you ...whatelse you got?

 

If they make it for a MINI we can get it for you, just not everything listed on site yet. Too busy actually working on cars.

Your still better off to start with the JCW internals, plus you can sell the JCW wheels pretty easy to get some of your $$ back.

 

way, if we already have a S on order, could we still do the above mods to a S and still be ok with it?

 

What do you mean by JCW internals. Sorry if this is a dumb question. I did try searching but didn't really come up with anything. What is different about an N14 with a factory JCW compared to a N18 with a JCW engine kit that makes it a better base on which to mod

 

What he's talking about is the engine internals such as pistons, rods, crank. The JCW is built a little more stout and can handle more boost longer.

 

I switched from an 11 S to a 12 JCW. Don't discount the brakes. There is no comparison in feel and stopping power. The faster you go, the more you need stopping power.

I know one internal difference is sodium filled valves. I also believe the pistons are different.

Make sure you do something to prevent carbon buildup. I plan on eventually doing everything in your list too, but I did an Aquamist Water-Methanol Injection install before anything else.

 

Only the pistons are different

And they both end up blowing once you toss some boost at them, so if you're going to push your luck, might as well push your luck with .5 higher compression and have more fun with it

My R56 S with a JCW turbo made almost 40 ft-lbs more trq to the wheels down low than a fJCW does...due to the higher compression.

 

I say buy a used MINI and save yourself a lot of money and then build it. It is not worth ruining your warranty to upgrade a new car.

 

The only reason I would say to get a JCW is due to a problem I have encountered with my S... Boost Cut. The S can only see just under 20 psi before it hits a hard boost cut. The JCW does not have this problem as it sees higher boost levels stock than the S. If you do not plan on "heavily" modding the car then go with the S for $$

 

can the boost cut be tuned up or even out with a tune?

 

Ugh...don't tell me that lol

Can't decide...

 

Thumper didn't you have a heck of a time with the previously mentioned boost cut issues?

Well if you wait another month and buy a 2013 JCW it maybe a moot point.

 

If there was any way to get around that boost cut please let me know

 

Yep...

Just flash JCW software onto the ECU as a starting point, as well as JCW sensors...and tune from there. Never got around to doing it, so can't say for certain if it works, but it should.

ThePenl also has said that his Evolve tune is boost cut free though...so maybe thats a way out

 

You'll want the JCW versus the 2011+ S-model due to the ECU programming.
The JCW still uses the N14 engine which is easily accessible to the aftermarket.
The 2010+ S-models are the N18 engine which doesn't allow for easy programming (at the time of this writing).

But the JCW is worth the admission price. Beyond the brakes, the engine is revised with a different cylinder head for thermal cooling with strengthen intake valves. The pistons have strengthened side faces and the compression ratio is dropped to 10.0 (down from 10.5 in the 'S'). The air intake, the charge air piping, and turbocharger / exhaust manifold are tailored specifically for the JCW.

- Erik

 

For $5k, wouldn't you be able to make most of those upgrades with potentially better aftermarket parts and a little more customized to your liking?

Also, the one thing that hasn't been mentioned is the LSD difference (at least this was mentioned to me). I'd rather spend the $5k on bolt-ons and coilovers first then move onto deeper performance. Just my two cents, though.

 

this is a great discussion...

 

There's not much to discuss really...

JCW vs S...if you want big power and want to play with turbos, its almost irrelevant which you choose. They both aren't up to the task and both need LARGE sum's of money invested into them if you want to do it right.

If you want to buy a MINI and get crazy modding it...buy an R53, its very straight forward, and a much better platform for that sort of task. If you want a decent DD, that can be relatively quick with just a simple tune, get a R56 JCW. Sorry to bring up the R53 vs R56 debate but seriously...

 

I thought it was 2011 that they switched to the new ECU though....

 

Whoops; correct! It was 2011.

- Erik

 

Unfortunately the dealer will not just flash the JCW software... At least Orlando MINI wont. I had a hard time even getting part number from them concerning the JCW sensors. I have a JCW MAF now and there is no difference. The map sensors are what dont have but flashing JCW software without buying the "tuning" kit has proved to be fruitless.

 

Yeah some of us are hard headed and like turbo instead of s/c. There will be a day that they are just as easy to customize as the r53. The r53 just has more time then the r56. This always happens with new generations. The only problem is that MINI is albout "youification" but gawd forbid you touch the ECu of the car that would be a death sentence.

 

why not utilize the NM engineering tune? Lifetime tunes with the use of existing sensors, buttons and functionalities though out the car.