http://motoringfile.com/2007/05/31/r...s-install-pdf/

http://motoringfile.com/2007/02/28/2...lly-announced/

I applaud the apparent decision to have various 'stages' of JCW performance (I'm not interested in any body kits as rumored for the 'stage II'), but since JCW is now a BMW brand, why can't we order the JCW power kit and suspension from the factory? I have a few problems with having them as 'accessories':

- If I get an R56, it will be leased through my company. I want to capture the entire cost of the car in the lease payment. I'm sure others would like to lease/finance the entire cost of the car as well.

- Lack of competence at BMW/Mini service departments. I consider a trip to a dealer service department a last resort for something dire. After countless dealer errors, mistakes, damage, etc., I don't want to turn my brand new, tightly screwed together car over to them to take apart...and have to pay for the privilege.

- One of the reasons I'm considering the Mini is its combination of fun and friendliness to the environment. The exhaust, intake, springs, shocks, and sway bars represent a lot of raw materials that are completely wasted by having these parts replaced upon delivery.

I know the JCW accessories eventually became options on the R53...but after, what, 4 years of production? They expect me to wait that long to get an R56 the way I want it?

 

...if you would have bought the Alta parts (that overlap part of the kit - i.e. sway bar and endlinks b+f) you would have paid about 450$. So - I don't want to say it is a small price - but it is a fair price from the aftermarket point of view.

Now - if you buy the JCW brake kit, the JCW suspension kit and the JCW One kit (intake/exhaust+programming), you pay about... hmmm... 4200$ for the parts and... maybe... 2k-2k5 for the install? Hmmm... That goes about mid 6000 for the whole JCW fiesta (excluding the fancy-schmancy carbon fiber bling-blings). If you add THAT too - you are well in the 8k range...

MMM

 

??? They probably have to ramp up R&D.

Did you think on day 1 everything was going to come out at once? JCW suspensions/brakes weren't available to 2005. This is no different than new models form other car makers.

Why are they doing the cabrios in 2009? ... Ramp up production.

It might be irritating but its life If you don't like visting dealer ... sigh ... maybe the wrong car (or not).

 

My issue isn't with the delay in availability of JCW parts (although Mini prides itself on trillions of combinations available...I guess stripes, folding mirrors, and five kinds of bike racks are higher priorities than real performance in this demographic)...it's that they are continuing to be marketed as 'accessories'.

Edit: With 160+ views and nobody in agreement, I guess I'm alone here...and BMW/Mini knows its customers (or knows they won't complain).

 

Make your self heard and write to MINI USA. This is more effective than posting here.

 

Alan, I'm with you. But for me, it's the JCW aero kit that bugs me ... I posted similarly on MINI2 ... why do I have to pay for a front bumper and side skirts that I don't want, then pay a lot more for what I really wanted in the first place, then pay even more in time and labour to have the new stuff installed at the dealer, only to hold old parts that I never wanted.

Let me order what I want, build it how I want, not get raped financially, and not waste parts that could be used on another car at the factory.

 

Reality. It takes time to get the whole thing done. Just when it is done the mass market next version of the auto comes out, without the JCW packages. It is tough being on any fringe. Ask any GP owner.

 

I agree with doing the JCW at the factory. However, I have a feeling that MINI could already be able to build JCW cars, and dealers in the states are asking them not to. Think of it this way... the profit on JCW parts is alot, and the labor is completely arbitary. Ie, if MINI says it takes 3 hours to install an exhaust, and the mechanic can do it in half an hour, the dealership will still bill you for 3 hours because that is what the book says. Therefore, dealers make alot more money building you a JCW car than if the factory builds it. Make sense?

I'd like the ECU and exhaust from JCW, only because installing them at a dealer would keep my warrenty intact. And it would be nice to have a slightly more throaty exhaust. We'll see how that works out.

 

I would, too... except the correct price is $1375. BEFORE installation (which should be another $250-300).

The $875 figure mentioned was the amount OVER the MINI Sport Suspension.

Still cheaper than a full coilover set-up... but it sounds like it lowers the R56 a 1/2 inch. Not much on a car that NEEDS it, bad.

 

My mistake. That makes it less attractive. So - it will be... hmmm - 1800$ - provided that they charge the usual 100$/hour for 4 hours... Hmmm...

I think I'll stick for now with the Alta rear sway bar, and do the other things (if needed) down the line.


MMM

 

I could have said ... hmm, I dont want the OEM head, just gimme the JCW head but life don't work that way.

BTW, this goes on elsewhere ... I believe its simply R&D and then production and you asked: I guess stripes, folding mirrors, and five kinds of bike racks are higher priorities than real performance in this demographic

Exactly. That stuff sells the cars and what is heavily marketed. With 160K or so cars in the US, how many care about JCW stuff ... especially since many "enthusiasts" wont pay the higher prices and go aftermarket? Those "stripes" and bike racks meants for the masses ARE the main business. They pay the bills. Performance parts ... Nice to have but MINIs will sell without them (and clearly do)

 

I guess I'm in the minroity on this one, but I like what Mini did with JCW to offer it as "options". I usually keep my car for a long time and I like the idea that I have a nice factory designed upgrade path for my car. So far I have not come close to reaching the limits, but over time I will get better driving and maybe in 1-2 years I would want the JCW upgrades.

 

They can't care that much about the money if the don't offer JCW options straight from the factory. By offering them from dealers they lose a lot of business to 3rd party suspension/accessory makers. The JCW suspension kit costs almost as much as a (probably) much better set of coilovers. Dealers charge upwards of $150/hour labor, when the going rate elsewhere is about $60. And dealers really aren't in the accessory business, they fix busted Minis all day. I would sure trust a suspension shop to do my aftermarket work over a dealer's service dept. where they fix leaky radiators and windows that won't roll up all day, wouldn't you? They probably get the JCW kit and start reading the directions like some guy at Costco putting together a barbeque grill. I can hear it now:"Hey, you have any idea what the rest of these screws are for?"

 

Never really questioned the dealer's competance... Its got me thinking though. Thanks.

 

Nope - for the R56, you don't have to have the Sport Suspension in order to add the JCW. In fact, if you know you want the JCW suspension, it makes no sense at all to spec the Sport Suspension. This is what Gabe has done - his new R56 is specced without the sport suspension for this exact reason.No, he wasn't. It's $875 + labor, and in fact if you would have ordered the sport suspension anyway, you can effectively deduct that cost, so the differential over the sport suspension turns out to be only $375 + labor!

Not such a bad deal after all, is it?

 

BigNewt, BINGO!

 

I am with you 100%, Alan. I personally dislike the idea of having to pay $100+/hour to have an inexperienced service tech take my brand new MINI apart to install JCW performance upgrades that could've easily been installed at the factory just weeks before.

Why can't MINI have JCW "accessories" installed at the factory and also offer the option to have them installed by dealers at a later date?!?!

 

Higher dealer profit is the answer, nothing else. The accessories catalog is an industry in of itself.

 

It's been pointed out somwhere that that $875 DOES NOT INCLUDE SPRINGS. Which are another $125 per corner depending on the car (MC vs. MCS).

So, the grand total would be $1375.

If I can find it, I will post where I saw the comment eluding to this... or maybe Gabe can chime in on this one and confirm or deny?

 

Yeah, and H&R lowering springs are about $325/set plus install. I don't think that JCW suspension mods interest me in the least. In Phoenix I hope I can just get a coilover set all done for $2400 and that'll be way better than JCW, and not much more money.

 

Sorry - waiting for confirmation before I say anything. This info is just being released.

As far as what is better - IMHO it depends on how and where you use your car. Living in Chicago where we have 3rd world-like roads I'm not sure if I feel comfortable dropping the car like I'd really like to. What I do know is that the JCW suspension performs well on the track, is incredibly livable (more so than the R53 stock suspension) and is pretty affordable. And I know my chances of bottoming out (something my stock R53 does around Chicago) aren't as great as they would be if I dropped it.

That's my take based on my needs.

One word on cost. Shop around. You can get some serious deals if you look around the web and compare prices. Yes MINI's MSRP prices are high. But there are plenty of dealers out there willing to... deal.

BTW these pics of slammed R56s look incredible guys. Well done.

 

If you believe the latest comments on MF (http://motoringfile.com/2007/05/31/r...-pdf/#comments)... MSRP for the JCW suspension is going to be $875 for the shocks, struts and 2 bars + $500 for springs ($125 per corner) + $500 labor to install.

For a grand total of $1875!!!

Granted that's MSRP and there seems to be some negotiating room, but still... it had better be GREAT IMO to spent $1000+ over the cost of sport suspension (which is very-very good in stock form and even better once lowered).

Then again, we all have different needs and ideas as to what's best for our own MINIs.... so, to each his (or her) own.

 

It's not just the R56. If you wanted to get factory JCW on an R53, you had to spec the Sport package for an additional $1400 of decidedly unsporty accessories. JCW retail prices have always been extortionate. I did the dealer-installed tuning kit, but on the other bits my approach was to wait and pick things up on the secondary market, which NAM lubricates very nicely.

Within a year of buying my 04, I had found a set of barely used JCW brakes and an uninstalled suspension kit for about half price. I had a trusted and experienced independent Mini mechanic install both for about half the dealer labor cost. Similar story with my pre-painted Aero kit - slightly used, perfect condition and a fraction of the cost as a new option.

So, my advice would be that if you really want JCW stuff (which is a questionable decision) just be patient.

 

Mini is trying my patience. I had strongly considered an R53 with the factory JCW package (and mandatory sport pkg) when it was finally available. But I rolled the dice that the R56 would be a better car, and I'm confident that it is...but now they're playing the 'accessories' game again, and I'm not interested.

Buying used stuff is no doubt a cheap way to go, but cost isn't one of the key issues I mentioned in my original post.

 

People who wanted to tweak their R53s in the first couple of years of production did so via the aftermarket or by designing and crafting their own mods. If you cannot stomach potentially voiding your warranty, then you must be patient, Grasshopper.