How about if everyone removes all their badges "we don't need no stinkin badges..."

 

In the end if you add all the JCW kits to your S, you will have a MINI Cooper S JCW, but not a factory MINI JCW which has a different serial number from the S. Either way is fine if you're happy!

Here is an article which describes some of the differences of the factory JCW:

http://www.motoringfile.com/2008/07/...orks-in-depth/

 

No a factory JCW does not get a COA since the VIN serial number is specific for a JCW.

 

OK, but the tune kit does get a COA signed by Michael Cooper. got mine put on today, first 09 auto at my dealership. there's even a special way the badges have to be displayed on the grille, as opposed to where the factory ones go. but man do my exhaust tips stick out

And all I have to say after driving home is Wow. coupled with the front strut brace and JCW rear sway bar (on std susp) the car just seems to track better under all that torquey acceleration.

If MINI ever offers a factory JCW with some kind of 7-8 spd dsg-type hi-perf autotranny, I'll be the first in line.

 

I have a 09 JCW and I just looked at the plate on the door jamb. I clearly states MINi Cooper S. Why not MINI Cooper JCW?

Good going MINI/BMW for confusing the heck out of your loyal buyers/enthusiats.

 

Trust the VIN number I guess!

 

I wondered the same thing. Just wait, next year they will revise it to MINI Cooper JCW and we can have more confusion!!

 

It's funny how times change. Today its easy to argue the idea of an MCS Stage I not being a true JCW but 10/11 months ago, I remember a lot of us thinking differently.

I think the minute that you have the Stage 1 kit, it should be considered JCW. Maybe an MCS JCW but still a JCW.

Just my two cents here...

 

This is the consensus. Altho I had some JCW components on my car before the tune kit was installed, it was not a JCW. But when the tune kit was installed--and I had the COA signed by Michael Cooper in my hand--it officially became a JCW

 

The MCS with a Stage 1 kit is just that..a MCS with a JCW stage 1 kit and the Factory JCW is a Factory JCW. No matter what you do you can't make a MCS a factory JCW. They share diffrent parts...there is nothing wrong with either but it is what it is. You can't sell a MCS with a stage 1 kit as a Factory JCW.

 

Agreed! My MCS is debadged...soon to be completely debadged, hood and hatch Mini logos included. For now just the "Cooper S" is off. I want no badges and even after I get the Stage 1 kit (soon) I want zero way of telling it has that by looking at the car. Just my personal preference.

 

True, the only difference is one is a factory produced model the other is not. Then also the stage I and II issues pertain. As long as MINI sells kits to convert MCSs to JCW you can say you have a JCW, but not a factory JCW. I think several MF articles explained the differences fairly well!
The 2009 year is also a defining point for JCW classification.

 

Uh, I never claimed to be selling my/any MCS JCW as a *factory* car. Jeez!

 

Both the MINI Cooper S JCW and the MINI Cooper JCW are JCW cars, obviously, but they are different JCW cars. If it is tuned by JCW it is a JCW car, simple as that. :-)

But I agree to some extent that it is the MINI Cooper JCW that is the real deal, although not making the MINI Cooper S JCW a not real deal (just as there were both a Mini Cooper and a Mini Cooper S of the early mk:s which were two different levels of tuning by John Cooper (Cooper being the equivalent of JCW today)).

 

I don't think that was anyones intent, we just now have several levels of the JCW product.

+1 But a MINI Cooper S JCW is no less a JCW.

 

I have the JCW Stage 1 on my MCS automatic, because i wanted an automatic instead of the manual.The other reason is, you get more bang for the buck,going this route.This car also has the JCW Aero Kit,suspension,spoiler,hood scoop,so if this car meets the requirements of a JCW, it's like beauty,in the eyes of the beholder.My JCW badge is inside above the glove box,also the MCS badge has been removed from the rear end.Why did i do all of the above,not because i wanted a "JCW', just because i could,simple as that.Q

 

DUDE....not saying your selling but you asked the question when you have a JCW...Point was you will never have a factory JCW....rather a MCS with a Dealer installed JCW kit...

 

Exactly how and why I did it, when I first started scoping the factory JCW and no auto was offered, I went the tune kit route, along with piecemeal JCW rear susp. upgrades and a strut brace, and have zero regrets. It's not factory, but it's the next most desirable level. Ive also noticed my dealer is bending over backwards to make sure everything is perfect. My exhaust was thunking about some, so they bumped a couple other cars out of the service que to get me in and fix the problem.

What I hope doesnt happen are owners with factory cars developing superiority complexes over those that dont. After all, we are all badged JCW'ers at different levels.

 

I took this route myself. The only thing I have left on the car is the MINI logo front and rear. The only other thing I changed was adding the JCW side scuttles and I only changed those because I like the cleaner, no S logo look of the JCW scuttle.

 

Doesn't JCW stage 1 kit include JCW emblems? And you have the answer in your question - "Obviously if you order a JCW from the factory, you have a JCW mini."

I just found the info on JCW stage 1 at this forum and find it just an amasing deal.

You get power boost, you get JCW emblems to whoever it is important. You do not reach factory JCW performance level, but do not forget - just a MCS is lighter than JCW. So it might be better suited (and faster) for some tight autocross courses.

And do not forget - factory JCW will most likely cost you more to insure than justa MCS not speaking of upfront cost.

So I think in a couple of years when standard MCS performance will feel like not enough, stage 1 would be a way to go

 

Factory specs for unladen weight is 2668 for the S versus 2701 for the JCW, I doubt that is enough to really affect performance. And I just changed my insurance from my 2008 S to my 2009 JCW and there is not "classification" difference. Although I have heard it said here that the VIN numbers are different, my insurance company lists my new one as an "S" so I don't think there is any difference in the numbering system.

 

that's funny, when I got my 09 my ins agent asked me if it was an S or a JCW, so I guess they're in the know. Next time we chat I'll ask her if there's any diff in the premiums between the two.

 

To me (my opinion only, not some kind of "official NAM stance"), an R56 MCS with the Stage 1 JCW tuning kit, the JCW big brake kit and the JCW suspension is more of a JCW MINI than the "factory JCW" with the stock suspension.

The factory JCW should never have been permitted to have the base MCS suspension, IMO. It should have come with the JCW suspension as standard, and the sport suspension available as a no-cost option for those who want something a bit softer (although the JCW suspension is still pretty complaint to begin with).

After all, what is the major "performance" selling point of a MINI? It's the handling... not the power. To sell the "highest" trim of a MINI with the lowest suspension option is ridiculous.

Just my opinion...

 

I don't get what the big deal is. It's your car. If you have a JCW upgrade then put the badge on. If you want it on the right side replacing the "Cooper S" logo, do it. If someone calls you a poser, flip 'em off or something. Who cares? It's your ride, not theirs! You're not a poser for doing something like that. If you have the stuff under the hood, it's all good.

 

I'd be curious to find out what the insurance difference is... please share!