So let me start by saying that the JCW "Stage 1" kit is awesome!! I love the sound, I love the look and I love the "seat-of-the-pants' difference in the car.

Unfortunately I need to now get quite a few things off of my chest:
1)After a year plus of the kit's availability why is it that 4 out of the 5 Mini dealers in the NY metro area are still quoting the price of the old kit? I have to have my dealer look up a previous install on an '07 in order to get me the right price.

2)Microsoft must be responsible for the computers in these cars as it sux to have to reprogram them. They take hours and/or crash and need to be COMPLETELY reprogrammed (as was the case with mine).

3) Mini service SUX! The amount of money that we paid for our cars, and the SA can't provide a positive consumer experience.

As for the JCW Factory Tuning Kit, my kit was installed on Friday, 10/10/08 and was ordered Friday 10/03/08 and it came with the original, non-shortened JCW Engraved exhaust tips. Dunno what Mini is going to do about the JCW tips, but my SA better know better than to replace mine.

Anyway here is a pic to that shows the tips. Happy Motoring!

 

hey,

Just sent you a PM..

 

Congratulations! I love the Stage 1 kit ... and the engraved tips. Have you had it on the highway yet? That's where I found the biggest change in performance. Much more torque/passing power in 4th, 5th and 6th gears at 3,000-5,000 RPM.

 

I can definitely attest to this. I think the power gains aren't hugely noticeable in 1st and 2nd gear. But once you get into 3rd and above, the power is a big improvement. It's strange this kit... you don't really realize how much of a difference it makes and while it drives similarly to the standard car, it's so much more addicting than the standard car. Every day I love it more...

 

damn it, I'm trying to not buy it

 

I think they're just supposed to install them further under the car, no change in the tips themselves. I'd hope not, that's half the cool factor!

I think maybe you just need a better SA/dealer. Mine knew exactly what I was talking about, how much it was, and how to install it. I've had bad experiences and now I just make a little further drive and so far so good.

 

my SA told me that yeah the tips can be moved in or out, and if people want them out, they'll stay that way.

 

There are quite a few Mini dealers in the NY Metro Area but there are only two that are close to me. I have been very nice to my dealer and not mention them by name, but it is getting to the point where I want to flame them mercilessly. I will post a follow up to this later that has some horror stories in it.

 

I read this and the wait for my MCSa w/the tune kit gets longer... 3rd and above, this is exactly what I want it to do. Dont need more power lower end; car'd drive up its own *** with the torque steer--but on the highway I want to freaking wail baby WAIL

 

I have had the kit on for about two weeks now. The power is improved throughout the power band. It also helped improve the shift points too. Like everyone has said, it just makes the car that much more fun to drive!!
The tips themselves are just held on with a set screw and you can move them in or out.

 

I've been thinking about getting the kit, but my biggest question is when your in manual mode does the kit decrease the time delay between change gears ? If it does then I'm definitely getting it.

 

I think it does. I know just in my everyday driving the shift points seem quicker (going from one gear to the other) and seem to be a little higher as far as the rpm goes (holds the gear a little longer). Anyone else with an auto please throw in your 2 cents worth.

 

What was that price?

 

List price is $2100 + 2 hours install at their shop rate. My dealer (MINI of Grand Rapids) charges a flat $200 for install. Some will deal with you a little on the price of the kit depending on your purchase history and relationship with them.

 

that's the price I was quoted as well. plus some really tricked out badges

 

Any change in gas mileage to speak of?

 

I can't say just yet as I am still on my first fill up after I had the kit put on. So far I am going to say no worse because of what the OBD shows, the miles I have driven and the amount of gas I have left. I will report my findings as I get a couple of more tanks ran through it.

 

Morristown Mini in NJ (and on the web) has the kit discounted 20%

I paid $1680.00 for the kit plus a two hour install, my dealer's labor rate is $115/hour.

YMMV

 

I can see my mpg falling a little - it's so much more satisfying to push a little deeper into the go pedal. But there's no reason it should if you make an effort to drive at the same speed / rpm as before.

 

I found that my mileage went down if I kept the JCW air intake in. When I removed it and installed it in my wife's non-jcw MCS, her mileage went up. When I went back to my M7 super-ags, my mileage went back up with the JCW tuning. Know a couple other folks that did the same and their mileage went up also. I am getting easy over 28 MPG combined with a very heavy lead foot (crazy Italian driver ). Pure highway driving at 75+, getting around 34 MPG Now if I can only slow down a little ...... NEVER

 

After 700 miles with the Stage 1 I have lost 1.5 mpg. The change the JCW makes is awesome imho and I dont mind the loss in mileage at all!!!

Its hard to say if its all the kit but some of the mpg loss has to be the uncontrollable urge to go WOT

 

Still testing mine as I have only ran one full tank through it since it has been on. But oh what fun it is!

 

The FUN factor is definitely a cause of MPG loss, but you can minimize it by "tightening up the nut behind the wheel" as Click and Clack would say.

I just did a nearly 400 mile round trip rally through CT, and with some "spirited" driving at time, I still averaged 32 MPG as per the OBC.

 

I don't have any before numbers because I got mine installed at the VDC but I'm averaging 34 MPG over the last 11k mi. hand cal, OBC = 35.8

 

Congrats on the kit!

What are the contents of the kit? ECU, exhaust, intake? Is the head exchange the Stage II?