So, did you hate it as much as you acted like.

Don't get me wrong, a free JCW kit and LSD are VERY nice, but the guys on the show (and the chick) were very annoying. Neither of the "tuners" even liked the MINI.

How quick did you pull the spider graphics?

 

Hey. Well, one thing everyone has to realize, all the mods they do on all the shows are provided by sponsors. In this case the principal sponsor was MINI. I now have my warranty back. They made the JCW sound like more than what it is, different cam profile? WHAT?!?! The diff makes a huge difference (no pun...). The spider graphics look pretty good in person, they're growing on me. I might pull them, haven't decided. The car feels WAAAY smoother but is putting down the same kind of power numbers as I had before give or take a tad. I had the pulley, intake and Magnaflow before I now have the JCW with the intake. Numbers should be comparable. The JCW wheels look nice but I'm not keeping them and the H&R springs rub with my 15" Kosei K1 Racing/Victoracer setup for autocrossing so they're going back to stock.

All in all I can't help but be happy but you're right you could tell the LSD was what I was after.

Paul

 

I found the same thing Paul ... after my JCW upgrade I swapped cars with Keith who had the pulley but not the whole package. Both of us noticed that the complete JCW is just plain "nicer". Still probably not worth $5K if you only want performance, but excellent if you want a great car :smile:

You should make some money selling all those unwanted extras too!

 

Paul, I will make you a deal on the Magnaflow if you want to sell! I love what they did to your MCS except the graphics. They gotta go !!!!!!!! You lucky dog you....

 

For those of us that are unlucky to not have the speed channel, lets see a couple of pics!

 

JCW has one thing going for it...Warranty. Otherwise your previous mods were more than adequate. But, you got it for free, no harm in that.

 

 

>>Paul, I will make you a deal on the Magnaflow if you want to sell! I love what they did to your MCS except the graphics. They gotta go !!!!!!!! You lucky dog you....


The Magnaflow is semi-spoken for. I'll find out if it's final if not I'll let you know. I'm in Toronto, Canada so it might be hard for shipping.

Paul

 

Affirmative on the exhaust. Here is a photo of VW and owner being reunited...




_________________
2004 MCS - Pepper White/ Black

 

Paul:
Congrats on the package. I was skeptical when the tuners began discussing the car, thinking they would cook rice on the hood. They seemed shocked when they first opened the hood. All said, they did justice to the MINI mod market and stayed true to a nice MINI package.

 

Just watched the episode-

I don't think you did so bad- the spider graphics on the side are a bit much maybe- but the kit and the JCW wheels are pretty hot not to mention the LSD!

I agree that the show is a little annoying but was impressed at how much of the install process they showed- I wish I had a spring compressor like theirs- would have made my install a little quicker

All in all I think you could have done a lot worse- enjoy!

plus now yer famous

_________________

 

How annoying is that show? And the woman - what an idiot! She kept saying they gave you the supercharger! What?!?!? And the guys were saying adding the JCW kit will totally change the power yet you already had the intake, exhaust and pulley! The one guy said your pulley doesn't do much yet they were so gung-ho about the JCW supercharger! Ugh!!! It didn't seem like any of them knew what they were talking about. $6k to give you a couple of horses? What's wrong with them??? And of course it stunk that they didn't like the MINI also.

At least you got the LSD. Congrats!

 

Just got through watching it. My wife and I both found it hilarious. "What about the SUPERCHARGER! You like the new SUPERCHARGER!?!" Yes, clearly you could see the sponsors' involvement; but at least the one guy cared enough to throw the LSD on. It was nice to see your face light up when they told you about that. I was bummed though...I was hoping for some serious custom headwork and maybe a monster supercharger/intercooler. Oh well--I think it was all worth it for the LSD. Enjoy, and congrats!!

 

Um, not to sound like a total moron, but what do you mean by "track mode DSC"?

 

Sure they're annoying, but what do you expect from 2 Fast 2 Canadian?

I think you posed a real challenge to them considering your Mini came to them pretty well modified. It didn't seem they knew much about the Mini mod options. You're were at stage one and you could have used headers, maybe a hotter cam, a tricked out intercooler package and a throttle body. Just go up to a stage two or three. The LSD was a really nice pull as everyone has said. The suspension guy was the only one really into the Mini and really seemed to get what it needed most. What was ironic if it seemed that he really got the autocross game why did he dump your 15" wheels for 18" wheels?

I have a stock MCS (well I have a Milltek too but otherwise stock). I would have been thrilled by the JCW -- even if I was modded out, I'd still be pretty psyched. I drove one and thought the driveability was out of the world. Could the Mini service guys look more disinterested? The graphics were so predictable when they focused on the gear shift in the intro. I saw the show the week before so I kinda had the show figured out.

Good luck on the autocross circuit.

 

>>>>
>>Um, not to sound like a total moron, but what do you mean by "track mode DSC"?

Ian Cull made a circuit to provide "Auto Up" windows. To this I convinced him to add "Track Mode" basically I can now tell the car to disable DSC every time it starts, hence the term "Track Mode." I hold the unlock toggle for 5 seconds and flip the DSC button the let go of the lock button. Every time after that the car will automagically disable DSC when I start the car. This is great for track days but AMAZING for autocross where you'll blow the run if you forget to take off DSC. Done for the day at the track/autocross, do the same key sequence again and no DSC is back to regular operation.

Contact Ian if you're interested.

Paul

 

>>
>>I think you posed a real challenge to them considering your Mini came to them pretty well modified. It didn't seem they knew much about the Mini mod options. You're were at stage one and you could have used headers, maybe a hotter cam, a tricked out intercooler package and a throttle body. Just go up to a stage two or three. The LSD was a really nice pull as everyone has said. The suspension guy was the only one really into the Mini and really seemed to get what it needed most. What was ironic if it seemed that he really got the autocross game why did he dump your 15" wheels for 18" wheels?
>>

The 15" were my snow tires, they already knew I had a set of 15" R-comps sitting at home and well, sponsors. This was MINI's show and I got one of the first sets of JCW wheels in Canada if not North America. BTW, anyone interested in buying a set of slightly used JCW 18" wheels? Seriously, see the Marketplace forum. :smile:

I agree I would have taken it the same way you discribed above if it were my money. A nice head job like jlm just got done by TOO would be amazing, larger valves, headers, cam and a custom intercooler would have really been sweet. But at the end of the day the show does what the sponsors provide. I can't complain. Just got to sell those JCW wheels to pay for some of what is discribed above. :smile:

Paul

 

>>Sure they're annoying, but what do you expect from 2 Fast 2 Canadian?

I'm going to have to take offense to that. I have to say that there are a couple of shows on speed that are addressing the import fever. Tuner Transformation and Sports Car Revolution. Both shows are Canadian. They may suck, but at least they're out there.

As for 2 Fast 2 Canadian, you really need to come up here and see for yourself.

 

Pull the graphics. Err... "please", I mean. Having watched several episodes, that graphics guy needs some style.

I wonder how MINIUSA will zing this into upcoming marketing campaigns?

Congrats on the show. Looks like it turned out VERY enjoyable per dollar.

 

I like what they did, the exception may be the JCW wheels for autocross. I now have added respect for my Works kit having seen the work beyond what is dicussed in the official install guide. The LSD is a must so I am off to find a local shop that can do the work. The graphics add a nice dimension and keep with the spider web Whalen ****.
Keep the JCW wheels for show and tell unless the steering stops interfere with autocross.
These guys may be bit aloof but they did a nice job.

 

Paul,

Since you have a Phantom Grip LSD in their MCS, what are your opinions about it? effectiveness, smoothness, etc.?
Thanks!

 

>>Paul,
>>
>>Since you have a Phantom Grip LSD in their MCS, what are your opinions about it? effectiveness, smoothness, etc.?
>>Thanks!
>>
>>
>>

What is an LSD?

 

I think they did a good job except for the graphics. Now you have about the same power with better resale value and a factory warranty. It would be nice to have headers, larger inter-cooler and a throttle body but those are some things you can add if you sell the wheels. And as everyone said the LSD was a good touch. One thing about the show did catch my attention, when did they give the new parts a proper break-in? Happy Motoring
Charles

LSD = Limited Slip Differential


_________________
Frogs have it easy. They can eat what bugs them.

 

That was the most disapointing thing I have seen in a long time. I'm not saying you didn't get great stuff done to your car, anything free is probably good but they could have done sooooo much more. You should have ended up with 250hp (intercooler, header, big valve head, cam, throttle body, ignition upgrade and ecu upgrade), coilovers, big brake kit and and an LSD for $10,000. The people on the show didn't seem to even know what they were talking about. I would think they should have done some homework first but maybe they did what they could to make the JCW sound good if those were the only parts available to them. At least they could have picked someone who had a completely stock car, that would have made more sense.

I would look at selling your car tomorrow and getting your money out of the JCW and buy a new MINI. The problem I see with the JCW is that once you mod it to get more HP you loose the value of the JCW because you replace JCW parts with "Aftermarket" parts that now don't have the JCW name/value.

I was dissapointed because my car has similar upgrades to yours and If I had $10,000, I could do everything to my car that I've wanted to do and probably had money left over.

I guess on the upside, at least they didn't totaly waste the money and put TV screens, video games and a big sub in the boot.

_________________

 

I would like to know your opinions on the Phantom Grip LSD. I want to do that as my next mod on my MINI. I wonder if I can get the Tranny out with the car on jackstands?