JCW JCW Engine Kit (R56) - installed, reviewed, impressions!!!
Samroberto... now that you've had the JCW kit for a week or so do you still like it as much? I read somewhere in this forum someone thought the exhaust was kind of loud on the expressway. Thats my only real concern. I planning to sell my plug-n-play chip and go the same way you did. Just wonder about the noise level. Nice write up by the way.
No, it's with absolute truth and certainty that I say, I am thrilled as the day I brought it home.
And....
well, my previous Magnaflow'd mini was LOUD on the free way.. This ?? ... hehehe ... PERFECT !!!!!!NO droning. ever. In fact I love decelerating just so I can hear it. The tone, honestly, is perfect. It could be a touch louder for my tastes,
BUT
according to some JCW and Alta exhaust owners, it gets even beefier and slightly more audible as you wear it in ... So I'm definitely looking FORWARD to that stage. ...
And, the exhaust and noise level being your concern,
all your wildest fears will be smoothed over with the JCW. breath a sigh of relief. The noise is excellently subtle with distinct tonality
.. Again, I even think it might be even MORE fantastic, a touch louder. I don't think you would be disappointed at all.// Cheers,
Sam
cool! What other mods you have in mind ? I'm looking at an Alta foam filter, boost tubes, and the new JCW inlet tube we've been reading about.. Eventually an intercooler...
1st Gear
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 49
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The Alta intake and boost tubes. Then intercooler. Gets pretty hot here in Little Rock. Though I think the IC will get a heat dispersant coating. A place down in Texas does it. Its supposed to cool off to the low 90's tomrrow. So heat control is important here.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jan 2008
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so the JCW kit is worth every penny 
I just started to save for it and after I get the kit I'll also add the alta boost tubes, CAI, and turbo inlet hose also maybe if I can somehow con my parents into getting me the plug and play ECU.
BUTTTTT I'm going to deck my car out in JCW I want the strut brace, brake kit, and aero kit... Thats not too too much to ask for also H&R springs, I have a list I'll just make a forum and keep everyone informed on my project and take pictures along the way... this is going to be the first car I'll ever mod my R56 S im already getting excited and saved so far $1300
I just started to save for it and after I get the kit I'll also add the alta boost tubes, CAI, and turbo inlet hose also maybe if I can somehow con my parents into getting me the plug and play ECU. BUTTTTT I'm going to deck my car out in JCW I want the strut brace, brake kit, and aero kit... Thats not too too much to ask for also H&R springs, I have a list I'll just make a forum and keep everyone informed on my project and take pictures along the way... this is going to be the first car I'll ever mod my R56 S im already getting excited and saved so far $1300
Hey Spunk sounds good !!! You will LOVE ... the JCW ... really, I'm a young guy too, and it's not the easiest pill to swallow, but I love it, and would recommend it to anyone.
A couple things I thought of in your post : - You may or may not want to go with the CAI, I had the DDM and it was fantastic, the sound of the turbo whine and bypass was so addicting, but I did switch to the JCW intake because after all you DO have to buy it and it was lying around in my garage.. So I put it on and I really like it, a little bit more sound than stock, not like the DDM though. Of course you can just get the Alta, love it for a while, then switch or just keep it on anyway... all personal taste really.
Plug n Play ECU ... Hmmm....
I ALMOST got one at their special price but passed, especially when I considered the JCW ecu tuning. THe jcw tuning is fantastic, you will unbelievably notice the new power in the car. I am not even sure that the Alta plug n play ECU will work on a JCW-ECU'd car .... Might want to check on that but to my knowledge your r56 needs to think like a stock computer.. not jcw... If you CAN do both, well, that's your call, and you may or may not get nearly as high gains from the Alta AFTER the car already "thinks" with better performance due to the JCW ....
Good luck with the saving !!! ... It was real hard for me too especially when I saw the ALta PnP and other pieces, but I finally outlasted and it's worth it worth it worth it worth it worth it
I'll be looking at Alta tubing next as well Although, I've ordered the JCW Turbo Inlet Tube, as per the other recent thread, and I'll be going with the Alta BOOST tubes, and some other stuff. Just have to talk with Adam for a deal 
You will LOVE ... the JCW ... really, I'm a young guy too, and it's not the easiest pill to swallow, but I love it, and would recommend it to anyone.A couple things I thought of in your post : - You may or may not want to go with the CAI, I had the DDM and it was fantastic, the sound of the turbo whine and bypass was so addicting, but I did switch to the JCW intake because after all you DO have to buy it and it was lying around in my garage.. So I put it on and I really like it, a little bit more sound than stock, not like the DDM though. Of course you can just get the Alta, love it for a while, then switch or just keep it on anyway
... all personal taste really.Plug n Play ECU ... Hmmm....
I ALMOST got one at their special price but passed, especially when I considered the JCW ecu tuning. THe jcw tuning is fantastic, you will unbelievably notice the new power in the car. I am not even sure that the Alta plug n play ECU will work on a JCW-ECU'd car .... Might want to check on that but to my knowledge your r56 needs to think like a stock computer.. not jcw... If you CAN do both, well, that's your call, and you may or may not get nearly as high gains from the Alta AFTER the car already "thinks" with better performance due to the JCW ....Good luck with the saving !!!
... It was real hard for me too especially when I saw the ALta PnP and other pieces, but I finally outlasted and it's worth it worth it worth it worth it worth it I'll be looking at Alta tubing next as well
Although, I've ordered the JCW Turbo Inlet Tube, as per the other recent thread, and I'll be going with the Alta BOOST tubes, and some other stuff. Just have to talk with Adam for a deal
Proud owner of JCW tuning kit 1, alta boost tubes, inlet tube, intercooler...
also have the cross coilovers...
m7 ram-2 just arrive along with the strut tower plates..
ddm street intake (which I'll have the mini madness filter on it, not the foam one) and ram air on the way.
lovin every bit of driving it.
Looking at potentially doing the invidia catback and a SSK.
not sure what else I'll do till the chip tuners get their act to together.
also have the cross coilovers...
m7 ram-2 just arrive along with the strut tower plates..
ddm street intake (which I'll have the mini madness filter on it, not the foam one) and ram air on the way.
lovin every bit of driving it.
Looking at potentially doing the invidia catback and a SSK.
not sure what else I'll do till the chip tuners get their act to together.
2nd Gear
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 90
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From: Millersville, Maryland
Thanks Mark, looks like we were both shorted. I'm not going to let this go without a fight. It sounds silly but I want what I paid for. You got a great deal but I don't have the spare time you have.
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 521
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From: Charlotte, NC
Yeah man the clubman S is the same engine as the R56 Cooper S. The will be happy to take your money for the JCW.
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 891
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From: Calgary, AB
This is supposed to be coming "soon", but I believe the hold-up is around finalizing the exhaust. Everything else should be the same the R56...
I am thinking about buying this kit too. Everyone still happy with the kit after getting a few miles on it? Do you feel like the power has increased any after your initial install?
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,359
Likes: 1
From: New Jersey
Anyone hear a specific date/month? I'll be ordering a Clubman S soon so probably be a November/December delivery.
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 891
Likes: 0
From: Calgary, AB
Nothing confirmed, but the scuttlebutt (sp?) seems to be Q4 2008 for the R55 JCW Engine kit, and Q1 2009 for the R55 JCW Aero kit...
It is installed and well worth it! Just smoother power overall. The exhaust sounds great too! Off idle throttle response is much improved too, feels like the sport button is on all the time. Very happy even though I have only had it on for less than a day!