F55/F56 F56s
#1
#2
#4
Let's see if I can get this place fired up. I just test drove a JCW and prefer my regular S. In my harsh road urban environment, the JCW was just too stiff and the tires to thin to enjoy. My 16" tires bounce around less over the potholes and a little suspension movement is my friend.
So I say it is all about your needs.
So I say it is all about your needs.
#5
My new JCW order
Let's see if I can get this place fired up. I just test drove a JCW and prefer my regular S. In my harsh road urban environment, the JCW was just too stiff and the tires to thin to enjoy. My 16" tires bounce around less over the potholes and a little suspension movement is my friend.
So I say it is all about your needs.
So I say it is all about your needs.
#6
Let's see if I can get this place fired up. I just test drove a JCW and prefer my regular S. In my harsh road urban environment, the JCW was just too stiff and the tires to thin to enjoy. My 16" tires bounce around less over the potholes and a little suspension movement is my friend.
#7
I personally prefer a stiff ride as it makes me feel attached to the road. It's just my preference but everyone has their comfort zone.
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#8
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: California Native still livin' in LaLa Land
Posts: 2,162
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Part of me would LOVE to have a JCW Clubman or, as a replacement for one of our other cars, a JCW convertible to go along with our Clubby S All4. I would love to have the extra grunt from the JCW added HP/TQ, and the better brakes.
But I'm gettin' old and the hard ride of the JCW ain't good for my dental work or my butt or my aching back.
Having said that, the Missus and I plan to test drive a JCW convertible this spring -- we might just catch the fever for which speed and JCW exhaust burble and true MINI go-karting are the only known cure!
But I'm gettin' old and the hard ride of the JCW ain't good for my dental work or my butt or my aching back.
Having said that, the Missus and I plan to test drive a JCW convertible this spring -- we might just catch the fever for which speed and JCW exhaust burble and true MINI go-karting are the only known cure!
#9
JCW vs Std "S" suspension
I get it that some would like a stiff "sports" suspension. I had it on my '08 and with run flats it was just brutal as a daily driver. The car would skip over expansion joints on corners. I replaced the tires at 11,000 miles.
On my '12S I ordered 16" tires witha stock suspension and the car was a vast improvement over the previous car in everyday driving and handling on our California roads.
After test driving a '14 F56S, I ordered my '15S with stock suspension and 17" all seasons. It has been perfect for me. In my 65 yo experience, cars that are tuned for auto cross or track are horrible as daily drivers. I like the idea of the JCW's power and brakes with the standard suspensions. To each his own
On my '12S I ordered 16" tires witha stock suspension and the car was a vast improvement over the previous car in everyday driving and handling on our California roads.
After test driving a '14 F56S, I ordered my '15S with stock suspension and 17" all seasons. It has been perfect for me. In my 65 yo experience, cars that are tuned for auto cross or track are horrible as daily drivers. I like the idea of the JCW's power and brakes with the standard suspensions. To each his own
#10
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: California Native still livin' in LaLa Land
Posts: 2,162
Received 507 Likes
on
383 Posts
I get it that some would like a stiff "sports" suspension. I had it on my '08 and with run flats it was just brutal as a daily driver. The car would skip over expansion joints on corners. I replaced the tires at 11,000 miles.
On my '12S I ordered 16" tires witha stock suspension and the car was a vast improvement over the previous car in everyday driving and handling on our California roads.
After test driving a '14 F56S, I ordered my '15S with stock suspension and 17" all seasons. It has been perfect for me. In my 65 yo experience, cars that are tuned for auto cross or track are horrible as daily drivers. I like the idea of the JCW's power and brakes with the standard suspensions. To each his own
On my '12S I ordered 16" tires witha stock suspension and the car was a vast improvement over the previous car in everyday driving and handling on our California roads.
After test driving a '14 F56S, I ordered my '15S with stock suspension and 17" all seasons. It has been perfect for me. In my 65 yo experience, cars that are tuned for auto cross or track are horrible as daily drivers. I like the idea of the JCW's power and brakes with the standard suspensions. To each his own
#11
JCW vs Std "S" suspension
I have never a fan of adjustable suspensions. I admit that I'm "old school". But with an adjustable suspension, I would just find one ride and stick with it.I could probably get used to the standard JCW suspension, but why?
It seems that the horrible ride of the '02-'06 S models with run flats were examples of how a great handling car should ride. I don't buy it.
It seems that the horrible ride of the '02-'06 S models with run flats were examples of how a great handling car should ride. I don't buy it.
#12
JCW vs Std "S" suspension
I have never a fan of adjustable suspensions. I admit that I'm "old school". But with an adjustable suspension, I would just find one ride and stick with it.I could probably get used to the standard JCW suspension, but why?
It seems that the horrible ride of the '02-'06 S models with run flats were examples of how a great handling car should ride. I don't buy it.
It seems that the horrible ride of the '02-'06 S models with run flats were examples of how a great handling car should ride. I don't buy it.
#13
I get it that some would like a stiff "sports" suspension. I had it on my '08 and with run flats it was just brutal as a daily driver. The car would skip over expansion joints on corners. I replaced the tires at 11,000 miles.
On my '12S I ordered 16" tires witha stock suspension and the car was a vast improvement over the previous car in everyday driving and handling on our California roads.
After test driving a '14 F56S, I ordered my '15S with stock suspension and 17" all seasons. It has been perfect for me. In my 65 yo experience, cars that are tuned for auto cross or track are horrible as daily drivers. I like the idea of the JCW's power and brakes with the standard suspensions. To each his own
On my '12S I ordered 16" tires witha stock suspension and the car was a vast improvement over the previous car in everyday driving and handling on our California roads.
After test driving a '14 F56S, I ordered my '15S with stock suspension and 17" all seasons. It has been perfect for me. In my 65 yo experience, cars that are tuned for auto cross or track are horrible as daily drivers. I like the idea of the JCW's power and brakes with the standard suspensions. To each his own
Last edited by 02fanatic; 02-14-2017 at 06:14 AM.
#14
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: California Native still livin' in LaLa Land
Posts: 2,162
Received 507 Likes
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383 Posts
I enjoy the dynamic adjustable suspension in my Clubby and have appreciated the improved ride in other cars I've had with dynamic adjusters.
It is a remarkable thing to have the shocks constantly adapting to the road. With the longer wheelbase Clubman the rear shocks often adapt to something the front has experienced -- it happens that fast.
Considering my wife would tell you I'm not that adaptable in so many other ways, I take great pride in being a fan of progress in suspension technology -- when it works. And on my Clubby, it works for me.
It is a remarkable thing to have the shocks constantly adapting to the road. With the longer wheelbase Clubman the rear shocks often adapt to something the front has experienced -- it happens that fast.
Considering my wife would tell you I'm not that adaptable in so many other ways, I take great pride in being a fan of progress in suspension technology -- when it works. And on my Clubby, it works for me.
#15
I knew I could get it going. But seriously, where I live in a downtown urban environment with one pothole, sewer hole, expansion joint, ripple after another thin tires and stiff suspension bounce around and give you less contact with the road. We've all been sold a bag of goods that stiffer and paper thin tires are always better, they can be in the right scenario but that is not my daily life.
I love the looks of the JCW though, my next one will probably JCW body package on regular S.
I love the looks of the JCW though, my next one will probably JCW body package on regular S.
#16
If I'm not mistaken one can get the JCW car and "decline" the free Sport Suspension (and dynamic damper option too), and end up with the same standard suspension that comes on the MCS. It's mainly the runflats that add to the harsher ride not the sport suspension which largely consists of thicker sway bars. What I do is decrease the tire pressure a little which helps the ride a bit.
#18
#19
#20
Part of me would LOVE to have a JCW Clubman or, as a replacement for one of our other cars, a JCW convertible to go along with our Clubby S All4. I would love to have the extra grunt from the JCW added HP/TQ, and the better brakes.
But I'm gettin' old and the hard ride of the JCW ain't good for my dental work or my butt or my aching back.
Having said that, the Missus and I plan to test drive a JCW convertible this spring -- we might just catch the fever for which speed and JCW exhaust burble and true MINI go-karting are the only known cure!
But I'm gettin' old and the hard ride of the JCW ain't good for my dental work or my butt or my aching back.
Having said that, the Missus and I plan to test drive a JCW convertible this spring -- we might just catch the fever for which speed and JCW exhaust burble and true MINI go-karting are the only known cure!
My 2015 has the JCW tune and it's plenty fun to drive and actually produces more torque lower in the RPM range than the F56 JCW. So not really sure if I want an F56 JCW in 2018. I do not track nor do I AutoX, so the bigger brakes, sway bars and such are not big factors. I like the looks and the straight line performance.
Clubman on the other hand has a different motor than the F56 JCW which produces considerably more torque than the F56 JCW and my MCS w/ the JCW tune. Torque is where the "grunt" and perceived performance is around town and from stop light to stop light. If I can get similar performance out of the All4 JCW Clubman w/ the DDC that I am getting out of my 2015 MCS w/ the JCW tune, I'll be a happy camper.
#21
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: California Native still livin' in LaLa Land
Posts: 2,162
Received 507 Likes
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383 Posts
In 2018 the All4 Clubman JCW is likely going to be my next car. Plan to get the DDC as I have them in 2015 MCS and the ride improvement is noticeable (as I can adjust -10% stiffness in Sport mode.)
Clubman on the other hand has a different motor than the F56 JCW which produces considerably more torque than the F56 JCW and my MCS w/ the JCW tune. Torque is where the "grunt" and perceived performance is around town and from stop light to stop light. If I can get similar performance out of the All4 JCW Clubman w/ the DDC that I am getting out of my 2015 MCS w/ the JCW tune, I'll be a happy camper.
Clubman on the other hand has a different motor than the F56 JCW which produces considerably more torque than the F56 JCW and my MCS w/ the JCW tune. Torque is where the "grunt" and perceived performance is around town and from stop light to stop light. If I can get similar performance out of the All4 JCW Clubman w/ the DDC that I am getting out of my 2015 MCS w/ the JCW tune, I'll be a happy camper.
Our experience of the Clubman S All4 with 8-speed Sport Automatic and the Dinan Sport Tuner box added is pure pleasure for zipping around town and along the SoCal freeway system, with the lousy pavement. The 17" wheels, coupled with non runflats helps, and, as you point out, dynamic damper control is the way to go. Love the paddle shifters with the automatic. Get some pops and burble in Sport Mode -- just enought to remind me I'm in a MINI.
#22
Get the JCW. You don't want to live with regrets. If you configure an S as close to JCW specs on the mini configurator, you'll save about $3000. But you won't get:
1) Brembo big brakes
2) JCW tune (228hp)
3) sport suspension
4) JCW intercooler
5) additional cooling system
6) lower compression pistons
etc....
1) Brembo big brakes
2) JCW tune (228hp)
3) sport suspension
4) JCW intercooler
5) additional cooling system
6) lower compression pistons
etc....
#23
Clubman on the other hand has a different motor than the F56 JCW which produces considerably more torque than the F56 JCW and my MCS w/ the JCW tune. Torque is where the "grunt" and perceived performance is around town and from stop light to stop light. If I can get similar performance out of the All4 JCW Clubman w/ the DDC that I am getting out of my 2015 MCS w/ the JCW tune, I'll be a happy camper.
WooHoo! 20 more foot pounds of torque and only a 600 pound increase in curb weight!
#24
#25
Throw some light weight wheels and tires on the Clubbie (which I just happen to have in my inventory to eliminate about 45lbs of unsprung weight) and you'll likely get the .1 back.
It's all in the perspective and what one wants.