After casually looking at 25 or 30 dyno printouts of various MCS w/ aftermarket mods and comparing these to cars w/ Works cars (all dynoed at the same shop during several group meets here in N. Texas) the visual evidence seems to suggest that the Works tuned cars are very much different: The Works cars have a uniformly more linear torque curve and when superimposed the graphs are virtually identical from Works car to Works car* (the same holds true for HP specs but may not be as compelling/) In torque terms, Works vs. AM the differences are striking and may help those folks looking to select tuning products (on paper anyway the Works package looks very impressive, better, smoother and not choppy.)
-It might be interesting to post dyno graphs w/ descriptive text to offer up something more substancial to support or refute the arguments (which seem to keep popping up from time to time.)
* 05' Works packages even more so

 

I am willing to bet that this trend will change as more and more aftermarket-tuned cars are further tuned with AFCs and/or bigger injectors (a la 19% pulley plus GIAC plus JCW or Bosch injectors). I plan on running a similar set-up soon (19% plus JCW injectors plus Apex'i SAFC2), and with a wideband O2 sensor-equipped dyno session, should be able to squeeze out a more linear torque curve. Plus more hp and torque on top of what I'd make without the A/F tune.


Marty

 

A comparison from last year here

 

I'm very happy with my 05 JCW. I've thought about a 19%...jury is still out. Header and employing some method for cooling the IC during summer are two definate mods. Niether will result in shattering performance improvements.

Very driveable.

 

I had a 05 210 HP JCW MCS for a little while and I now have a 05 MCS with 19% pulley, GIAC, JCW Injectors, Milltek cat-back, and JCW CIA. I can tell you first hand that while the aftermarket car definitely "feels" faster than the JCW car, it doesn't even come close to matching the smoothness nor the low-end power of the JCW car. I like them both. They're different cars for different types of people. However, they're both still MINI's in the end and so they're both terrific cars!

 

I was opposite, I went aftermarket and went to JCW. And I agree with the assessment above. While the aftermarket produces more peak hp, the JCW just feels better in driving. The low down torque is much better,and it feels more powerful in the 3,000-5,000 rpm. And in real world driving 3,000-5,000 rpm mean much more than power at 7,200 rpm. There is no doubt it is more expensive, but taking price out of the equation, since that didn't seem to be the question above, I personally feel that the JCW feels better than your average modded Mini. Granted, start throwing $10,000+ or a twincharge setup and the Aftermarket will feel more powerful.

 

The time and effort put in by the John Cooper Works team won't be matched any time soon by any aftermarket tuner most likely. Putting parts on piece-meal won't match in smoothness to the JCW kit for some time I'd imagine.

However, if you were to find a good tuner who really knew his stuff and you had the patience to let that tuner tinker with your car I'm sure you could come close, if not match the JCW. However, at that point, with all the time you'd most likely end up spending nearly as much as you would just going directly with the JCW kit.

If I had it to do all over again, I may very well have gotten the JCW kit installed when I bought mine. However, it was a gift and bumping the car payment upwards of $600 a month was not an option. I still lust after it a bit though. :smile:

 

One other comment also about the power of the JCW. I notice that it is a lot less affected by the outside temp. I felt my aftermarket modded car had more power that was quite noticeable at lower temps, and a lot less power at higher temps. While you still will feel this in the JCW, it doesn't feel as dramatic.

 

I've had my MCS since April 2003, and got one of the first JCW kits installed in the US (# 492). At the time I agonized over whether to spend the big $'s or just go aftermarket. Aftermarket choices were far fewer than they are today. I've really enjoyed the car as is, but have always wondered "what if I had gone aftermarket instead."

This seems to confirm that the aftermarket, while possibly getting higher peak hp numbers, is not quite matching JCW in terms of quality of the tune.

There are some radical set-ups available now -- like twincharge --that are putting out very impressive numbers. God I would love to be puting down 300 HP at the wheels (maybe someday!). But in terms of overall tuning quality JCW has nothing to be ashamed of. It is hard to beat.