Yes, I am bringing up an old thread again. I have seen many disparate quotes for hours to install the JCW suspension. I asked Mini of Sterling a few months ago and was quoted 14 hours to install. I was discounted 2 hours because they were already doing an alignment (for a total of 12). I wasn't thrilled with the quote - so I found the document from Mini stating the install time as 5 hours.

Well, Mini of Sterling finally called me back and said that they could reduce it to 10 hours. I told them that I would take my business elsewhere.

So - does anyone know of a decent shop in the Washington, DC area that I can eventually take my MCS to?

Thanks,
~Christina

 

I can't recommend a place in the DC area but from experience I know that it can easily be done in 5 hours. I wouldn't accept anything more than that.

 

Suspension install??? MAYBE an hour per corner, but IMO if you're paying more than $300- $350 for the whole job you're paying too much. Does that include an alignment? That's another $75-$100 if not.

I'm in CA so can't recommend a shop, but find a decent independent shop that knows MINIs. Anything over 4 hours billed time is ridiculous.

 

Hey they have to train the new guys on someones car!

 

My dealership says 5 hours.

I would check the Mini USA site for the next closest dealership.

 

Holy cow! I've done coilovers on all four corners on my Volvo in 5-hours ALL BY MYSELF IN MY DRIVEWAY! It's pretty much the same set-up. McPhearson up front. Not a multi-link rear, but I actually think the MINI's rear would be even easier/faster to swap. Had to pay the local tire shop to do an alignment ($50), but the overall price was right.

I can't imagine that it would take 5-hours on a lift with all the nice BMW tools at your (ie. their) disposal. 12-14 hours!?! That's absurd .

 

ridiculous.....with the right tools and a lift, this can be done in 2hrs.

thats a major rip-off!

 

rip off is correct. Ask bmw club for help. I am sure there are plenty of local members who can do it for a lot less.

 

I'm in Annapolis and I could probably do it for you on a sunday. The only thing I couldn't do would be an alignment. What all does the jcw kit include?

 

Hi Christina,

You should check out the DC Metro Mini forum here on NAM sometime. But, a number of us have been looking for reputable garages in the DC area and so far we are most excited about Funktion Auto and Mach V. Both are in Sterling, VA. I was also originally going to get the JCW suspension as well and got pricing for that work from Funktion, recently. You can PM me for more details if you'd like. GOod luck

 

It includes 4 shocks, 4 dampers, front and rear sway bars(with required mounting parts), and other nuts that you replace when you change the parts....springs need to be ordered separately.

 

The front sway bar probably takes an hour by itself.

 

4 shocks and 4 dampers. Shocks are dampers I thought it came with the shocks and springs already together. This would be a 3 hour job in the driveway to me. Add two hours for the sway bars but I do not think the kit comes with sways just the spring and struts.

 

It comes with 4 "additional" dampers also, totally different than shocks. And it does come with the sway bars and obviously the shocks, but no springs....I have it, so I should know...the past kit for the R53 just came with shocks and springs were separate, but NO sway bars...different for R56 though.

 

So the kit for $1200 comes with 8 struts? Are you supposed to replace the struts only and use the original springs or do they offer different rates?

What about the swaybars? Totally dissing my local source for lack of informations

 

It comes with 4 shock-struts, as well as 4 ,what they call, "additional" dampers which are like little rubber pieces that go on the shocks when you assemble them, and they work in tandem with the shocks and springs. And you must be able to use the stock springs since you have to order the JCW ones separately, or you can get aftermarket ones like Mach V(which is what I have) or H&Rs. And yes it comes with larger front and rear sway bars...1.5mm larger front and rear bars over stock bars.

 

Sounds like the deal!!!!

Where did you get your kit and what did it cost

 

See the confusing part is in the description. They say the springs are red and then tell you that you have to order them separately

The John Cooper Works Sport Suspension for the Cooper and Cooper S is designed to give ambitious, sporty drivers an exciting, yet safe driving experience. The tighter sporty chassis tuning combined with the lower ride height of the car creates a fantastic feel behind the wheel. To create an optical effect distinguishes the suspension tuning, the coil springs have a red finish. The Sport Suspension kit includes four McPherson strut shock absorbers, two stabilizer bars and the required mounting parts. The coil springs need to be ordered separately, depending on the options installed on the individual vehicle.

The coil springs dont have a red finish...there not included

How are they getting a drop with just this kit?

 

I thought the spring were different based on what options you had on the car? Thus they took into account things like the heavier sunroof.

I wish I could remember where I read that. Maybe Motoringfile.

 

I got my kit waaay before my local dealer knew about it cause I got it from a fellow NAM member, diablito, and paid $800...now my local dealer has the kit, as should all, so getting it won't be a problem. The springs are separate, and I think they're $125 each, and they drop the car about .4". So I went with Mach V ones so I could get more of a drop, and a progressive spring, in addition to saving $300.

 

Springs for the half the cost of the whole kit uhm NO

Do they publish the spring rates?

 

(ITEM PART NUMBER M.S.R.P.)

• John Cooper Works Sport Suspension 33 50 0 429 708 $ 875.00
• Coil Spring front (1) 31 33 6 782 728 $ 105.00
• Coil Spring front (1) 31 33 6 782 729 $ 105.00
• Coil Spring front (1) 31 33 6 782 730 $ 105.00
• Coil Spring rear (1) 33 53 6 782 731 $ 105.00
• Coil Spring rear (1) 33 53 6 782 732 $ 105.00
• Coil Spring rear (1) 33 53 6 782 733 $ 105.00

(1) Part number is for one spring. Two front and two rear springs are required for a complete installation.



From here. http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/08/...sed/#more-6054

 

I haven't seen any spring rates published....I have a spring rater at my work that I could use if I wanted to find out any rates.

 

I am guessing there are three different spring rates for differently optioned cars. I have no idea on what those rates could be. I have not been able to find that info. on the net anyway.

 

I intend to install the JCW suspension on a 2008 MSC that arrives in February; but will be using Mach V springs instead of the JCW springs. The local dealer has quoted me $1,115 for the install (and I don't believe that includes the required realignment). At their labor rates that equates to 11.4 hours of labor. I would love to establish a good working relationship with the dealer, but that sounds a bit excessive to me. Is anyone able to offer an alternative suggestion for installation in the Albuquerque, NM area? Thanks in advance; any thoughts/suggestions are appreciated.