Drivetrain (Cooper S) MINI Cooper S (R53) intakes, exhausts, pulleys, headers, throttle bodies, and any other modifications to the Cooper S drivetrain.

Drivetrain Should I go JCW or Helix/Madness/Alta (Turbo's)

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Old Aug 12, 2006 | 09:21 PM
  #1  
Mastersonics's Avatar
Mastersonics
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From: Paradise!
Should I go JCW or Helix/Madness/Alta (Turbo's)

Ok everyone
Here's the thing.

I have bought pretty much everything I need for my Cooper S Cabrio
(rear sway, M7 USS etc...) except engine parts.

My dilema is to decide between 2 scenarios:

1. Go JCW all the way (brakes, engine etc...) and don't look back.

-OR-

2. Go with a Turbo Kit (Helix, Madness or Alta) and go nutz.
(Wilwoods, Tein's etc....)


I love to have a much as power as possible (like most of us)
but there's a voice telling me that I should stick with JCW
since they closed shop and the value of a JCW MINI might go up.



Can anyone shed some light to this.


I have the $$$ to get either system right know.
just wanted to see what you guys/gals think,
If you were in this situation and "WHY"

my only concern about going Turbo is Reliability etc...


Thanks in advance for your help and thoughts


regards,
Charles
 
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Old Aug 12, 2006 | 09:28 PM
  #2  
Yucca Patrol's Avatar
Yucca Patrol
Coordinator :: Alabama Motoring Society & South East
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Burning-Ham Alabama
Don't make the decision based on the future value of the JCW car. You'll definitely lose money on the deal if you think of it as an investment.
 
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Old Aug 12, 2006 | 09:44 PM
  #3  
minihune's Avatar
minihune
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From: Mililani, Hawaii
If you are certain you could sell your MINI in a few years then go-

JCW and be careful not to break anything.

If you want to drive and keep your MINI for as long as possible and you might track your cabrio then-

Go turbo and don't forget some lightweight rims and wide wide sticky tires.
 
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Old Aug 13, 2006 | 03:29 PM
  #4  
pberry51mini's Avatar
pberry51mini
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From: Golden Central Coast Cali
Originally Posted by minihune
If you are certain you could sell your MINI in a few years then go-

JCW and be careful not to break anything.

If you want to drive and keep your MINI for as long as possible and you might track your cabrio then-

Go turbo and don't forget some lightweight rims and wide wide sticky tires.

This is really smart thinking - many have said that for the JCW money you can do way better with components rather than a package like JCW.
That said though, it really is nice to have a warranty while you thrash your Mini.

Long term - short term - that's really the question you should ask.
 
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Old Aug 13, 2006 | 03:55 PM
  #5  
Gr8Force's Avatar
Gr8Force
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From: Alpharetta, GA (Atlanta suburbs)
I wouldn't go either route. Keep the MCS and wait for the M62 to come out. Most likely it'll be cheaper and more reliable than turbo. Word from those in the know (i.e. not me) is that it's for real. I'll go that way if good word continues to come out of that camp.
 
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Old Aug 13, 2006 | 04:33 PM
  #6  
DarkMiniCooperS's Avatar
DarkMiniCooperS
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From: Quebec City, Qc
Turbo route for sure!!

More power, and much more aggressive.
 
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Old Aug 13, 2006 | 04:49 PM
  #7  
sdv515's Avatar
sdv515
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From: ct
if your looking for the power then the turbo is for you. just keep the boost lower levels if reliability is a problem
 
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Old Aug 13, 2006 | 05:20 PM
  #8  
trackster's Avatar
trackster
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Reliability is the key word here . There is a local shop with a SPI twin charge car back in for repair work. This time is for a seized supercharger. The first time was for a No. 1 piston replacment .
 
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Old Aug 13, 2006 | 07:55 PM
  #9  
MINICHEF's Avatar
MINICHEF
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From: Golden, Colo.
love the power, but, must pass smog check to keep it on the street. ill stick with jcw.
 
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Old Aug 13, 2006 | 09:59 PM
  #10  
Mastersonics's Avatar
Mastersonics
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From: Paradise!
Hi everyone

thanks for your comments

I will go ahead and wait for the M62
it sounds promising especially after the email i received from Peter (M7)

If the M62 is a no go,
I think I will go for the Helix or the Madness
although I haven't heard anything about the Madness Turbo.


Has anyone heard anything about the Madness Turbo?


regards,
Charles
 
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Old Aug 13, 2006 | 10:33 PM
  #11  
Motor On's Avatar
Motor On
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Originally Posted by Mastersonics
Hi everyone

thanks for your comments

I will go ahead and wait for the M62
it sounds promising especially after the email i received from Peter (M7)

If the M62 is a no go,
I think I will go for the Helix or the Madness
although I haven't heard anything about the Madness Turbo.


Has anyone heard anything about the Madness Turbo?


regards,
Charles
IF the M62 falls through have you consider other things out there like a Cosworth Stage 2, a piece of work I've heard very good things about and still leaves room for some of the more "converntional" mods for about the same cost as the JCW and should be highly reliable.
 
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Old Aug 13, 2006 | 10:48 PM
  #12  
goin440's Avatar
goin440
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From: Speedway
JCW didn't close shop, MINI just became the exclusive distributer--which they already were in the US.
 
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Old Aug 14, 2006 | 03:54 PM
  #13  
herbie hind's Avatar
herbie hind
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has anyone with a twurbo stripped a head bolt yet? it seems like way too much boost. somethings gotta give.
 
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