My JCW tuning kit #62 was installed this week. As a 2X former Works owner (03' & 05" R53) my initial impressions are in context:

-R56 Works kit (air box, filter, software and catback exhaust) cost $2150 installed. Thanks to the very fine folks at Moritz Mini North Texas, great job. Very fair price. And also many THANKS Sherri at Mini of Dallas for snagging the Kit! She is the best!!

-Good news: Works car has great feel & driveability. Very real and dynamic synergy of components w/ the whole being greater than the sum of it's parts. The throttle response, turbo boost, quickness of RPM spool up and drop off and basic QUALITY of driving experience seems more focused. Fine-tuned, messaged or refined, whatever description works best, the R56 WORKS tuning kit is very much a sharper tool and a more seamless work of engineering. Not sure the general Mini public would spend the additional $2000+ for this extra margin of refinement but the Works car has it in spades.

-Sports mode and steering (yes, steering.) Sports mode is a bit more livable w/ less hyperactive throttle/pedal response and slightly more servo-electric boost to make steering feel more lively. In both "regular" and sport mode the steering is less heavy and dead on-center.. The Works software reflash seems to be changing the steering boost (more boost at low speeds) w/ just enough added play at low speeds that the car now has a snappy steering feel more like the R53. Just a tad lighter to throw and more limber (a point one of the Morttz folks observed.) Throttle response is more direct and immediate in both R and S modes .

-Power gains: It would be an overstatement to say the Works tuning kit "transforms" the R56 but there is more pull, more grunt and much smoother power delivery than the stock R56. The effortless and powerful feel of the R56 Works kit is very impressive and the passing ability is simply amazing. At all speeds the Works car delivers an instant & effortless blast of turbo boost. Sorry to say the best performance results are at jail time speeds.

Descriptively the Works tuning package seems to "unleash" the car and brings out hidden or hinted-at virtues. It more a matter of squeezing out the best performance and doing it w/ real class & BMW-like polish.

-Exhaust: moderately louder, deeper and nice rich tone. It is easier to hear shift points and enjoy the aural feedback of the car. One interesting note, the JCW exhaust attenuates the natural resonance of the powerplant and the result is a terrific Purr & gruff at all speeds. It's like the car is speaking to you. The Works exhaust is not going to be loud enough for some but I think it's just right for daily driving & better than the R53 Works exhaust in it's tone & volume.

Bottom line: I have enjoyed all of my R53 Works cars but this is the very best of the lot and it is a faster by a good margin. It is a refinement of an already great car & one that is well worth the expense. As it now stands I have no plans to do other mods to my car, very happy as is.

PS: I do have 17", 14lb Enkei & very good Bridgestone non-runflats to top it off.

 

Thanks for the thorough review. But how would it affect the steering?

 

I'm not saying that it does or doesn't (as I don't own a R56 JCW kit), but everything in the new MINI is indeed computer controlled and so I can easily see how a software update/tweak could do that.

 

Wow, what a terrific review! You're kinda making me rethink my decision to skip the kit and go aftermarket. Maybe I'll tell my delaer I can get the kit in Dallas (just 1 state over!) for only $2150 installed and see if they budge on their price.

Thanks again!

 

marksmith.

I am curious about your impression of the JCW kit in the upper reaches of the rev band. I have to say that the MCS definitely feels a little flat above 5000 rpm or so (which, oddly, seems to contradict impressions described in several different magazines like C & D and R & T) and seems to "run out of breath". This may be a function of coming from a 2005 RSX S which came alive at 5800 rpm onward to its 8100 rpm redline... or it may just be the nature of the MCS power curve and will take some getting used to. Either way, I would like some assurance that the JCW Stage 1 kit "addresses" this issue before I lay down $2300 and order it.

 

-Servo electric power steering is controlled via the software. Usually in cars like VW & Aud's the boost is described as a numeric value (1-8 in my old A3.) If one can find the file/program it can be dialed up or down. I had the service tech set my A3 "down" backing off the boost. Mini too can be re-programmed up or down to increase or decrease steering boost.
-RPM & boost: Works tuning kit seems to be getting more boost at higher rpms but like all turbos' at some point in drops off sharply. The Works car seems to drop at app 5800 rpm. Never the less there is more boost & torque on tap within a certain range. The Works car has plenty if it, more than stock for sure.

 

Thanks for the informative review. How long did the dealer take to install the kit?

 

Moritz is amazing. They did it in app. 1.7 hours. Software was downloaded via the dealers computer. A CD comes w/ the kit is just for the owners in case another service center or Mini dealer overwrites it.
Moritz is fantastic but to be honest the parts were purchased from another dealer (Mini of Dallas.)

 

Do you have the JCW body kit? I've only seen pics of cars with the JCW body kit, with the engine kit. I'd be interested to see some pics if you have the stock Cooper S body kit. Just to see how the rear exhaust and badges look.

 

Mark,
I'd be interested to see what kind of gas mileage you are getting now with the JCW kit installed. Let us know after a few tanks. Thanks.

 

Yes. I am very interested in this as well. I know if one is considering the WORKS pkg then they probably shouldnt give too much of a rip about gas mileage. However, in the end I am curious and WORKS or no WORKS the car is going to be used off the track more than on.

Let us know!

 

Just a tad premature but I'm guessing the mileage will improve a bit if one drives accordingly. I doubt it will worsen unless it's driven at the extremes.
(in my experience, oddly, well tuned direct injected turbo engines w/ moderate boost, less restrictive exhaust and good intakes tend to run more efficiently.) I will report back. So far very good numbers on the OBC.

 

Good review. I'm thinking to have JCW's kit too, but I'm wondering how well it will work with Alta's intercooler.

 

Thanks marksmith for the excellent review!

Much food for thought here... JCW kit looks very impressive in it's performance.

Thanks again!

Enjoy & Motor On!

 

Werd. +1

 

Hope this helps. Marksmiths review sums up the kit really well and as for fuel consumption i'm back up to where I was before the kit was fitted, 32 mpg.

 

Sometimes I wonder whether people even bother reading before posting. For the umpteenth time both here and on motoringfile Mini has stated unequivocally that the JCW Stage 1 tuning kit has absolutely no effect whatsoever on MPG.

 

Dude, who pissed in your cheerios?


Welcome to the world of internet forums. The same 5 tidbits of information get passed around and regurgitated for months until new bits of information come along. The same questions get asked and answered countless times every day! Apparently you don't spend much time on forums.

Just take it in stride and you'll be a much happier NAM member.

 

Mozza,

By your statement, you would also find no use in non-JCW MINI owners' real world MPG findings, choosing instead to rely on a Motoring File review or Motor Trend test.
Heck, why read this thread about the JCW kit; hasn't it all been said in the Motoring File article?

 

+1

 

what's needed here is a nice group hug.

 

I just need the re-flash, got the other two major parts of the kit already

 

Gee, I thought that was funny

 

Great review. Thanks.

I'm picking mine up tomorrow!

 

Unless someone has made tuning available for the R56, you have to buy the JCW kit in order to get the software. Each kit comes with a VIN specific cd for the car that the kit was ordered for.

Also, the JCW upgrade software has no effect on the steering. The JCW software is DME only.