I drove an R56 equipped with the JCW software, I'm seriously tempted to pull the trigger. The price is a lot more palatable than the previous JCW kit in the R53.

That said, this is an upgrade that I won't get resale out of most likely. Also, are their bigger gains to be made by the aftermarket community?

Are the piggyback ECUs truly going around the ECU or are the ECUs figuring out they have someone on their back and cleverly modifying the parameters to put it back in "stock" mode.

Inquiring minds (me) would like to know!

 

A. You won't get resale out of aftermarket upgrades either (probably will hurt the value)

B. The JCW is more expensive than comparable, more effective and (some say) better aftermarket alternatives

C. Sorry but I have to bring it up... The JCW is covered under factory warranty, and

D. If you are at all interested in the heritage of the MINI, then the JCW also a better option.

I chose the JCW for option because of C & D. It's plenty fast for me and I like the sound of the exhaust.

 

You figure an airbox is $300, ecu is $600, stainless steel exhaust is $900, plus labor, you're within $300 with a warranty - so I'd say it's no more expensive.

I know.. this is MINI #7 for me - MINI #5 was an 06 MCS JCW.

Maybe I'm deaf but I noticed almost no difference in sound quality between a stock R56 and a JCW R56.

 

Like mentioned above people are getting better gains from the aftermarket.

My issue with the aftermarket though are the following:
1. I'm not a huge fan of piggyback ECU solutions as I'd much rather a reflash of the software into the ECU. Piggyback's do seem to work really well on the E90 and E92 BMW's though so maybe I'm just being overly critical.
2. My other issue with aftermarket ECU solutions is with turbocharged cars they are tuned for big power and you usually get a rather large torque peak that tapers down whereas the JCW software seems to offer a much smoother power curve which I prefer.

Now to play devils advocate...

1. The Alta turboback exhaust will probably give you similiar gains as the JCW stage 1
2. The Alta turboback and their unichip and the JCW car will be seeing your tailights. Is that worth the lack of a warranty? Only you can make that call.

Neither will add value to your car but I think identical cars one with a JCW kit and one with an aftermarket kit the JCW car will fetch a higher price.

Personally if you have the cash and you don't feel you'd go further with modifications I'd go JCW.
Mike

 

Ditto, which is the biggest reason I went with the ALTA setup.

I didn't get to drive an R56 JCW, but I got to ride in one (not the same I know, but it was the owner of the dealership's car), and I was rather unimpressed with the sound. Even when the guy was really getting on it, it didn't sound much different than a stock R56.

The car already has gobs of power and torque stock, WAY more than I found myself able to use in my day to day driving around town. I really just wanted to open her up a bit and make my MINI sound as fast as it really is, which I was able to accomplish with the ALTA stuff, and then some! Plus even with just their intake, catback exhaust, and turbo inlet hose, I'm probably making close to the same power as a JCW, and it sounds 10x better.

 

The question used to be easier to answer with the R53 MINI. The JCW kit was so cost-prohibitive, that it was really easy to decide to go aftermarket, and safe several thousands, and get virtually the same power output.

With the R56, the JCW kit is cheaper, and now would be something I'd personally go with, if I were ordering a new MINI right now. I'd be less inclined to go straight aftermarket, (though I'm sure I would have some aftermarket parts, even on my JCW car)...

 

It seems like the JCW option would be the best way to go if you are concerned about resale at all - which it appears you are. You can definitely expect greater gains from the aftermarket - just check out Alta's website and their charts. It really comes down to how MUCH more power you are looking for because $2300.00 will result in similar gains either way...

Keep in mind that, if you want the really BIG power, it will cost you considerably more than the JCW Stage 1 kit.

 

Just to clarify... I said I like it. I didn't say it was different. Carry on.

 

I have been driving my JCW now for about 6 weeks,the car is just stupid fun to drive,a car really should not be this much fun,I am leaving some rather expensive stablemates idle because of it..If some of you are worried about sound,Add the Alta tubing which takes the muffler off the line from the turbo and the Inlet tube...My car literally growls ,you can hear the turbo windup and the Exhaust is fine,It's not the loudest but who cares...All I can say is that it is,smooth and fun all the way up in acceleration.I took the car back to my dealer to let the GM drive after I put the Alta stuff on and he was impressed to say the least ...The JCW kit is basically the software and I really believe that the car has adapted to its new found ability to breath with the Alta tubes...Good luck with your decision,but the JCW is certainly powerful enough and in Warranty,and you get the confidence of hopefully having no hassels with the car.Just enjoy the car....

 

I have an Alta Turbo Inlet hose, Homemade Intake on the car (I have the Alta CAI and boost tube kit sitting under the xmas tree ..so those will be on xmas day or at least the cai haha) ...But I plan to do the Alta Turboback this summer...Which leads to my questions :

What does the jcw reflash do? Would it do anything without the other jcw components?

 

It regulates how the turbo makes boost as well as the fuel/air mixture, timing, etc. The end result is that it makes more power up top and smooths out the power and torque curves. You know that 3000rpm hole in the stock S? It goes away.

Unfortunately, the JCW Engine Tunine Kit is just that... a kit. You cannot buy just the intake, exhaust or ECU. It's an all-or-nothing deal.

As to the OP... check the modifications/drivetrain section as this has been discussed at leangth over there. Probably more information that you could stand on the subject. There's even a fresh dyno chart for the JCW some helpful soul posted this past week.

 

The reflash is really where the power is made as it more then likely increases the boost and adjusts the timing accordingly.
Mike

 

I debated this decision myself for a while after getting my MINI. The price of the JCW kit (especially from Morristown MINI where it can be had for right at the 2 grand mark, installed!) is not at all bad, the gains are proven, I didn't know the first thing about tuning and with this being my first new car (I'm 20) the last thing I'd want to do is kill my warranty. Not to mention I couldn't afford forking over $3939.92 plus only God knows how much in installation for the entire ALTA package (ECU, turbo back, CAI, boost tube upgrade, turbo inlet hose and FMIC). Yes, I know a MINI with all of that would be far faster than a JCW stage I, but for me it's always all or nothing.

However in the end performance won out over impatience (or putting myself in debt). For me warranty is not a huge concern as all of these parts are bolt on, come with their own warranty and I kept all the OEM parts. So I opted to go the aftermarket route via ALTA and had the CAI, boost tubes and turbo inlet hose (plus a 19mm rear sway bar to boot) installed on my MINI and will be getting the turbo back exhaust next month, FMIC come Spring (I live in the NE so significant gains wouldn't be reaped in the cold) and ECU whenever it's made available for the auto trans.

Just with these parts my MINI performs noticeably better, sounds amazing and looks great under the hood. More importantly I didn't have to put anything on my credit card and saved enough to now be spending the holidays in Rio.

As has been said, if you prize performance first go aftermarket as the JCW kit simply cannot touch it. However if you have major warranty/resale concerns or just want to make your MINI marginally faster, JCW is your best bet. I guess if you're looking at a dollar/performance ratio the JCW kit may still be more expensive, but given how addictive the aftermarket quickly gets (just ask almost anyone here on NAM who have purchased anything from ALTA :lol) over the long run going JCW would definitely have been/will be cheaper for me. Regardless, no regrets!!!

 

I just wanted the reflash haha when I called my dealership about installing aftermarket parts he said they'd install a jcw exhaust without the whole kit. (policy on aftermarket parts https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=123143). That is why I was asking just about the ecu reflash. Most mods with horsepower I'm gonna do is the FMIC and Turboback from Alta. I might go JCW suspenion down the road. I'm looking for some help with picking out some new mods https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...=1#post1933085 .

 

Yea, if they offered just the reflash I'd purchase it in a second. In the meantime I guess I'll be going for the ALTA piggyback ECU... I'm really surprised to hear your dealer would sale you just the JCW exhaust. Did they give a price?
Can't wait to get my ALTA turbo back and FMIC on; gonna be even more of a screamer than it already is.

 

Very happy with my JCW package and I agree with all the points made by STLMINI. Have fun with your decision.

 

Maybe they have one in stock from a customer that did the JCW kit, but went with another company's exhaust? Otherwise, you're not getting 'em individually.

So you're concerned about your warranty... but are going for an aftermarket ECU? I can see many dealers looking past bolt-on parts... but and ECU? That's pretty brave.

 

Well that's actually my one reservation about the ECU and (other than the fact that it's not yet available) the only reason why I don't yet have it. However with it being a piggyback unit, I can easily revert to stock and take it out of the car before bringing it in for service. It has been tested and the MINI does not store memory regarding the ECU long enough to tattle on me.

 

Of course if you talk about it here, MINI could find out. They have been known to research suspicious warranty claims.

 

Woops, so I guess it doesn't take the MINI tattling on me as I can do that all by myself.

Well I don't have the ECU installed yet.

 

Who tested that? After seeing some of the minute details the ECU does store, I have a hard time beliving that fuel/air mixture, timing and boost information wouldn't be in there somewhere. I'm sceptical.

 

It was somewhere here on NAM where I read it. If I find the thread I'll post a link.

 

Krut, I like my JCW tuning and think it performs and sounds better. Pm me if you want to drive it sometime to compare. I'm a little wary of the aftermarket ecu's. Even MINI doesn't have the car figured out completely, witness the large numbers of problems people have had with the engine light on and inability to diagnose, me included. So I would want at least to be able to put it back on to them to fix under warranty if something goes wrong.