So for the longest time I was planning on getting a 2011 JCW when my lease was up in November.

Then they released the new engine info and proclaimed no upgrade to the JCW engine. I thought well that sucks but I'm still getting a JCW.

Now they have upgraded the JCW tuning kit on the car and I'm having serious difficulties understanding why to get the factory JCW.

See article here. http://www.motoringfile.com/2010/09/...-for-2011-mcs/

The difference in power seems to be almost nothing and lets be frank I'm going with Alta or RMW tune shortly after I get it anyway.

The gray gauges are cool but whatever and frankly the red roof looks a little cheesy.

I can still get the JCW suspension, brakes, and alcantara wheel on the Mini S.


I've always been the one to get the "top model" cars...Z06 corvette, SS camaro....ect.

But is buying a 2011 JCW just a suckers bet these days??


Discuss...

 

The one thing that a factory JCW gives you is a warranty...that is important enough to some folks. Having said that, I am not aware of anyone (yet) having warranty issues with a flashed ECU either. I am very puzzled with the stall in improvements that MINI is doing with the JCW at the moment. I suspect that there may be good things coming by way of the coupe/roadster and that is where there are spending their efforts right now. If I had to buy today (I don't) I would buy a 2010 MCS and flash it.

 

I wish I could extend the lease on my car by a year. I'd just pick up a JCW coupe and be done with it. Unfortunately, to my knowledge, that's not possible. So back to the subject at hand.

Yeah I agree with the warrantee issue. But the Alta unit makes it even less of an issue if you can just remove and replace it in a matter of seconds.

 

If you want a JCW, I would go with the '10. The '11 adds Sirius and HD for $300, but if you care about those you could get a great deal on a '10 and still come out ahead. I guess I am saying that I don't really see the motivation to go to '11 if you can find a '10 that meets your needs. Hope this helps.

 

Hello - new here to the board. We're going to be ordering a new '11 JCW this weekend - love the JCW and for us - it gives us everything we want. Sure if we wait there may be something newer coming down the line but the JCW is great as it is. Sure we could flash an S but factory JCW for us is best. However, the most frustrating part of the '11 is the lack of information available as to what changes truly were made, etc. Even the dealer doesn't have all the information at this point to be able to answer my questions. I understand the power didn't change, but there were some minor changes on the exterior. My biggest question is the aero package - it was deleted because it now comes standard but is the standard package a matte black? I want the kit to be body color as it has been in the past JCW's. (Sorry - didn't mean to hijack your thread!)

 

Anytime you tune a car, warranty becomes an issue. They can tell when it's flashed and un-flashed.

 

I like my Factory 2009 JCW due to:

Beefed up engine ( Made in Germany)

Beefed up Transmission (Made in Germany)

211 Honest Horsepower.

The Brembo Brakes are just awesum.

The free flowing exhaust sounds great.

Beefed up clutch and flywheel set.

four year 50,000 mile warrenty.

I now have over 15,500 + totally trouble free miles on my car and I average 32mpg + almost all of the time.

It is a great car and I have no complaints at all. I do have the optional "Sport Suspension" and I love it.

-- I think the "S" and a "Just-a-Mini are great cars but if you really like all around very hi-performance out of a car the Factory Works JCW is the car you need.

-------- Plus--- Full Warrenty---- ( I just leave mine stock so I don't need to worry about not being covered) It runs and handles great enough for my needs.

---- I would like to put on a set of OZ Alleggerita HLT wheels though------

 

Ronnie - great points! Your car looks great! How do you like the sport suspension? I believe that's an option we are considering.

 

Can you get a 2010 JCW off the lot, if you order it you will get a 2011. When you go to sell or trade in eventually you will have a 2011 vs. a 2010 and you will have a factory JCW vs. a hopped up MCS, for whatever that is worth. Factory JCW has a beefed up turbo, beefed up trany, bigger front brakes, different pistons and head, and I guess JCW bragging rites. My opinion is choose if you want an MCS or a JCW, if you decide on the JCW get the 2011, the extra $300 is moot to me because down the road your title says you have one year newer car. My 2011 JCW will be here in 2 or 3 weeks and will eventually get an RMW tune, sooner rather than later. I bought a 350Z off the lot, it had XM radio pre installed and 3 monthes of free XM radio, I've never activated it.

 

I don't know about other tunes, but i believe the RMW tune can't be seen by the dealership.

 

I think they did a great job designing the Sport Suspension on this car. It is not so harsh that it rattles your teeth when driving on a crap highways like I-4 here in Florida. It stays planted at very high speeds and does not let the wheels bounce at all. Hot lapping Daytona at 148mph it is very stable and I really can't find any fault with it. I do NOT auto-cross so I can't inform you if it is a good suspension for that type of competition but for a car you use every day and still want good handling I do not think you will do better then the Factory Sport Suspension for $500.00. I like it.

I just got rid of the Dunlop Sport Run-flats and put on a set of Michelin Exalta PE2 non-runflats a size larger 215/45/17 in place of the 205/45/17's Both tires weigh in at 22lbs even thoough the Michelin's are a little taller & wider but I really do feel my car rides quieter and smoother now. The suspension still controls bounce on bumpy roads and seems to be still working perfect. I still like it.

 

They can tell - the ECM history shows when changes are made.

 

Does the ECM record if your Scangauge has cleared any codes?

 

Madster, No matter what anyone tells you, if you take a 2010 now, it is one year older than the 2011 that you can have in, probably four weeks. No brainer for me.

With me, my JCW will be ordered on Sept 10th, as I have a lease ending on November 1st too. As for the Red roof and mirrors, I peersonally like the idea of the JCW, finally, having a look all its own. But in saying that, you don't have to take them, as they are a No Cost option. Same for the Chili red color line, and the black Challenge wheels and the red trimmed cloth seats. You can still get the vinyl seats if you want, or spurge for the lounge leather and others.

As for no power increase, just about everyone that owns a factory JCW will tell you that they are under rated anyhow. Most, straight out of the factory will wheel dyno at or around 200 hp, and the torque is more than that. Do the math on slippage and you'll find that 208 hp is closer to 215 or more.
As for the cost differences between the MCS and the JCW, start adding what is standared on the JCW and it gets alot closer than most want to admit. And then, you still have the MCS transmission and clutch, don't have the bigger turbo, or the strengthened pistons, or any of the engine improvements. All you have really, is an ECU upgrade, which, as been noted here, can be gotten for the JCW by either Alta or RMS and then hold on to your hat as far as power increase. And that's, without having to do anything with the exhaust.

I'm very biased, as you can imagine, but I still think if you want a nice package, the JCW is the way to go. Sure, you might need a suspension upgrade, or go with the Sport, but Mini leaves that up to you. Get the Sport suspension, like I am, then ad H&R Sport springs, or NM springs. That way you get bigger sway bars and with the new springs it be lowered by 1" or more. Again, that is what I will do.

And just one more thing about the 2010 vs. the 2011, the interior upgrades, if nothing other was changed than the getting rid of that silver look, that's the reason for me. And, the ***** have a changed position and the HD radio. I could care less about the Sirius, but I'll probably take their one year subscription.

I like the changes in the 2011, that's why I am ordering one. And, I am getting just as good, actually better, than taking a 2010 left over. Of course if you are near a dealer that has some left over 2010 JCWs, and there aren't many, and they want to take about $4000 off the sticker, then go for it. I'm getting $1800 off sticker, plus a couple of freebies, so you can see why I went with the 2011. That was actually better than the deal that they were offering me on their 2010, of which they havae 5 hardtops.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but from what I've read the factory JCW comes with a bigger turbocharger (that cannot be put onto an MCS), as well as the beefed up pistons and clutch and Brembo brakes. Plus the exhaust and wheels of course (easily added to MCS). I realize that one can mod the MCS and get nearly the same HP as the factory JCW, but some aspects of the cars will be very different, and it's not that much more money either. I'd go factory 2010 if it were me.

 

Think about it this way, if you get the S and add the JCW brakes and wheels, and the suspension, and the engine mods and engine tune of your choice, once you install everything, wouldn't you be better just getting the JCW model and saving the hassle?

 

Hemisedan - All great points - I wasn't debating the 2010 vs. the 2011. In our area there are no 2010 JCW's equipped the way we want them on dealer lots, so ordering a 2011 is our only option. With the interior changes it's a bonus for us. The 2010 interior is very nice, but I too like the changes that have been made for '11. I'm really looking forward to being able to order the car exactly the way we want it. We will be including the sport suspension as well. I drove a friend's JCW a few weeks back and from that point on I've been hooked - just can't wait to have our very own parked in the garage.

This is a great forum and I'm so glad I found it! Thank you for the information you have all provided and will continue to provide in the future!

 

I'm looking to buy another JCW (probably a used '09) but if I were in the market to purchase a new one, I'd find & negotiate a better deal on a '10 loaded the way I want it. When it comes time to sell it, sure the '11 will be a year newer but the '10 will have been driven less miles per year which hulps it retain value more. Buy one now and you're getting 3 months (5k + for most people) of driving in before the turn of the year. Get a new '10 off a lot somewhere and have a lower-mileage vehicle.

That's just my train of thought.

 

All great points everyone is making.

Unfortunately I'm a major tech nerd and very much am looking forward to the Mini Connect which takes any 2010 out of the picture. In addition I'm also very much looking forward to getting rid of those whack silver bits and pieces for black ones inside.

The thread was really more a question of 2011 MCS with the better more efficient stronger engine with all the JCW bells and whistles for less money.

Or a factory JCW with all the same things, previous tech engine, for more money.

Wasn't really a 2010 vs 2011 thing. The idea of making that decision over a mandatory $300 sirius is just so far from where my headspace is at. Although I appreciate all replies, they have been knowledgable.


Once the new configuration is up (i check every 5 minutes) I'll be able to build the two examples you see above and get a price difference. $2k difference. whatever. $6k then it's all for MCS.

 

I'll bet the JCW would have gone up $300 even if they didn't include the Sirus radio. I'll activate the Sirus since it is there free for a year and I might like it for long trips, although I will also have CDs and an ipod if I figure out how to use it.

 

Black JCW with a Cherry top, that's it. Just finalized the deal, even got floor mats thrown. I, still have to make up my mind, I have till next Friday, on the Xenon's with the new Adaptive system. They're, when it is all said and done, going to cost me an additional $300. Now before anyone says, but no, they'r $600 for both, my dealer made me a deal.

Here's the thing, I like the Xenon's, I think, for driving at night, but I just HATE the looks. It's that headlight washer thingie that makes them look hideous. And, this year the washers are optional, but when you order the Cold Weather Package, you will get them, no matter. But, then again, I can see the safety factor in them, especially in Iowa in the Winter, with slush, and all. Probably wouldn't help all that much in frozen slush, but would be great in foggy, dirty rain types of driving. Anyway, any thoughts or experiences that any has had with the headlight washers.

 

Xenons are worth every penny; useless headlight washers and all - especially for the adaptive bix (turn a bit to the left & right as the wheel of the car turns while in motion). Drive a car at night with them, and then drive a car at night without them (in that order) and you'll see that they make a HUGE difference. I guess I'm quite the opposite: I think that the non-headlight washers look cheap even though I'll be the first to concede that they're absolutely pointless and even a PITA when they go off and ruin a fresh wash/detail.

 

As for the HD and the Sirius, I would have never ordered the Sirius, even if it was a $50 bill. Now if they had a liftetime subscription, thrown in free of course, then maybe. But I'm still not a fan of any of the subscription radio options. Now on the other hand the HD, that I might pay extra for, but not $500 like it was last year. The H&K sound system, in my estimation is a must. With what you get for the $750, you could never get after market, then installed for the price. As for more on the Xenons', I still just hate the looks of them, but if they let you see better at night, without blinding everyone else, then they may be worth the extra $300 for me Afterall, I am paying $250 for a stupid Universal Garage Door Opener, which you have to pay another $250 for the Auto Dimming inside mirror, so in actuality, I'm paying $500 just to be able to push a button to open my garage, which next year will be a waste, because the 38 hotrod will be in there and my wife's Jeep will be on the other side. So, Mini outside. Guess that's why I got an outdoor car cover for the lil Guy.

 

I've never been blinded by oem/factory xenons. Its the crappy aftermarket kits/colored bulbs that some people use in their vehicles that make it hard on incoming traffic.

 

You say that as if you know it to be a fact. Do you know this as fact? or are you just assuming it is like whatever other car you are thinking of?

If you are an official MINI mechanic I'll take your word for it. Otherwise you are just guessing.

The veterans around here do not believe they can easily detect ECU changes. I have seen no reports on NAM of someone getting busted from having a flashed ECU. I have had my car in for service several times with a tune loaded and they never even blinked.

Blow up your engine and they may look a little deeper.