]OK I have some idea; I have driven an MCS since 2003. I am looking for a chart or comparison that tells me the difference between an MCS and the factory JCW, a technical point by point description of what I will receive for my expenditure if I order a Factory JCW (on Monday, insurance just totaled my beloved 2003). When I price a well optioned MCS with a few JCW options it looks like the delta to the factory JCW is 3K not 6K so it seems like something I should strongly consider. This site has an amazing amount of information and may very well have what I am looking for but I have not found it yet. Any help would be very much appreciated.

Thanks, Jim

 

Try here...

http://www.miniusa.com/#/jcw/JOHN_CO...mpare_Models-i

http://www.miniusa.com/#/jcw/JOHN_CO...uipment_List-s

The two big differences between the JCW and the MCS is in the engine and the brakes...the JCW has a beefed up bottom end with different pistons as well as a bigger turbo...the JCW also has a Brembo BBK in front and larger rotors in back.

Welcome to NAM.

 

A JCW factory car is one that had the parts installed during the original manufacturing process instead of being built and then the parts installed at the dealer as a dealer installed option. Same stuff if installed correctly. Now on the new JCW R56 with the pistons and so forth being different I would want one done at the factory.

 

A Stage I dealer installed JCW is not the same stuff as the Stage II factory JCW. In addition to the pistons, the factory JCW gets a better clutch, better head, and bigger turbo with higher boost, among other things that you cannot get with the JCW kit on a MCS.

Motoring File has a Stage I vs Stage II comparison.

 

I thought I also read that the transmission was a little beefier to handle the additional torque

 

I stand corrected.

 

OK you guys sold me…… the test drive helped a lot as well.

I put a Factory JCW car on order this afternoon with Cincinnati Mini. I was told to expect a late Jan. or early Feb. delivery. With no car of my own it will REALLY be a long three months. With better internals for the engine, bigger brakes, turbo, etc. this should make a platform just right for a little more boost.

Thanks for the help, Jim

 

Congrats, don't worry the time goes pretty quick, except for that last week...

 

when 19psi is not enough!

 

Jim, you won't be dissapointed. I waited 4 months, and now I wait everyday for my lunch hour, the drive home, and any errands I have to run.

 

So I'm looking into what a 09 JCW factory is, now in 2011.
There is one for sale here but it is different then the same year car I looked at two weeks ago. Is there a list or something, how do you tell stage one or two? black grill or chrome ? JCW bodywork or none?

 

In terms of trying to discern based on pictures it can actually be a bit difficult to tell the difference but there are some tell tale signs that are good places to start. None of these are necessarily singular indicators of whether a car IS or IS NOT a factory JCW. However when you look at these things all together you stand a better chance of identifying a stage 1 vs factory JCW. This is BY NO MEANS an exhaustive list....just some quick clues.

Exterior
- Side scuttles - factory JCW scuttles are chrome with no markings
- Exhaust tips - factory JCW tips are chrome with no markings, stage 1 JCW tips have the JCW logo on the tips
- Brakes - factory JCW has red painted brembo brakes with JCW logo
- Wheels - cross spoke wheels for factory JCW

Interior
- red pattern on shift ***
- checker flag bubble decal on dash
- anthracite headliner
- JCW door sills on factory JCW

Transmission
- Manual - factory JCW is only available in manual tranny, therefore if you see a JCW with an autobox IT IS NOT A FACTORY JCW

Under the Hood
- look at the air intake - if it looks like a regular MCS intake, it is most likely factory JCW. If the intake looks different and features a JCW logo its likely a stage 1 kit.

Again you can't necessarily use any of these items a definitive indicators. The reason I say this is that many of these items are easily retrofitted. In other words someone with a stage 1 car can add many of these other items and make the car look identical to a factory JCW.

VIN Number
If you have access to the VIN this is a more definitive way to know for sure if its factory JCW. Whether you are talking 2009-2011 if you look at the VIN, the sixth character from the front should be a "9". This is the pattern that I've noticed. Regardless of whether it's coupe, cabrio, or clubby.

 

Engine wise


Block wise the only difference is lower compression pistons... the heads and blocks are identical other wise. Peripherals(trans, turbo, exhaust,clutch etc) are the only difference other* than the pistons.

 

so the factory Aero bodywork is an factory installed option and a factory JCW might not have it?

 

There are essentially 2 different aero kits, Factory Aero and JCW Aero. The Factory Aero Kit is installed at the factory. The JCW Aero Kit is installed at the VDC or the dealer. Neither kit is standard on the JCW.

 

Well it looks like I missed out on a rare,nice 09 JCW that had the aero package, strut brace ,fog lights,add on MINI nav , Chilli red with a black,grill and top. Fairly local in Des Moines IA.It seems they are hard to find. well I didn't want to make car payments anyways

 

so is this the same as the factory installed aero kit but something you can get from the dealer?

http://www.minimotoringgear.com/#/pr...?CenterId=null

to install on this car

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...t/15027/cat/20

to look like this

 

No that is the JCW aero kit. To date the only options for installation of this kit are dealer install or port install (with the exception of a few special edition cars perhaps).

However I'm not sure what kit would make it look like a corvette...

 

I could have sworn there was a C6 JCW aero kit.

 

fixed the image, (goofy websites)

 

This is the only "factory installed aero kit" although I believe it has been or is in the process of being discontinued.

 

if that is the factory installed bodywork I prefer the dealer installed stuff.

 

Yes. This is the "factory aero kit". Its looks are somewhat polarizing but I would argue the prevailing reaction to this particular kit goes something like this... "Yuck". Realize, of course, some will disagree. Opinions aside, the kit has not been well received and this is why it was killed.

 

"Yuck" is a very accurate assessment. I've never seen a JCW with it.

 

Best told with pictures that I have posted on NAM quite a few times. Its too bad that the search on NAM is truly horrendous.

Factory Aero kit:





JCW Aero kit. Installed at the dealer or at the port VDC (Vehicle Distribution Center.) It can be included in your lease or purchase financing.

Stock, JCW aero kit and Factory Aero kit on 2009s JCW and Cooper S:







All pics from the set are here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/onefish...7623913010746/