I think I may have discovered why the car feels so much better JCWed. It appears they have programmed it to start in first gear rather than second as before.

If you move the lever over to manual and click it to shift up a gear it goes to M2, therefore, it must be starting in first. Unfortunately, there is no gear indication in non- sport mode but I think that is part of the re-programing, Very noticeable.

If anyway has a JCW MCS R56, check it out and see what you think...

 

Very cool! I always thought it was kinda strange that the automatic, in the S especially, is programmed to start in second gear. Makes the engine feel so bogged down, especially from a stop but also through a range of speeds. Thankfully the problem can be eradicated by using the sport button, but still.

Question - has your fuel mileage changed any since the tune??? That is my one reason for not using the sport button (and hence first gear) all the time. Could also be that I drive more aggressively in sport, but it causes about a 3-5mpg hit!

 

so far the OBC is showing a 2 mpg hit. I will wait till I fill up to decide for sure.
I used to go about 100 miles till the first light went out---this time it was about 80 miles. Not scientific but ...
My guess...yes, this is going to cost hydrocarbons. Worth it.

 

Yea, for just 2mpg, definitely worth it! Especially when we get such great fuel economy with the MINI anyway.

Makes me curious though if there was a way to rig the transmission to where it started in 2nd gear again, if that would would reduce the hit any. I guess one could just use manual mode and start it off in 2nd every time that way, but I can't imagine such a test would be quite as accurate.

Have you noted the shift points to be a good bit higher as well? I recognize in sport mode with a non-JCW auto, the trans doesn't let RPM's fall below 2,000 (except at a stop of course) and 6th gear is locked out. Also the downshifts as you're decelerating and/or braking tend to be very prominent. Anything similar???

 

Its a little tough to fully experiment considering the Midwest weather at the moment is a bit dicey.

Quick answers. It does downshift smoother (similar to using the paddles). I found the sport mode downshifts "jerky" when not using full manual shifting.
I think it holds the gears in non sport mode similar to sport mode.

Yes --you can leave it in auto mode and just upclick to have it start in second gear. That is how I found out it was starting in first. That might save gas (if you want to).

I will post more as weather allows. For myself, I doubt if I will use sport mode much. I think the software on the JCW has put about 80% of sport mode (minus the steering ) into non sport mode. Non sport with paddle shifting when desired should be jst fine for me.

Yes--it was nice when I was getting 30 mpg but my 04 CVT only got 25-26 and my other car is burning gas at the rate of 16-17 mpg so 26 mpg is fine considering how this puppy performs by comparison.

The JCW kit is the gift that keeps on giving--credit card bills, that is.
Still worth it. This JCW automatic is a much more aggressive little car than the non JCW automatic R56.

 

Not sure if that's true. I've been using manual sport mode since the beginning and it always shifted to 2nd on my first upshift from m2. Heck, sometimes now it goes to third or 4th before I even start to shift. I've noticed this when it gets really cold.