Some NAM member have been quoted some rather high install times by their dealers. I did a little web surfing and found that the "official" install time for the JCW Tuning Kit is approx. 2 hours for US Cars. For the Tuning Kit fact sheet, see http://www.minipeople.ru/images/PIDoc22654.pdf
Hopefully a copy of this document will allow NAM members to get their dealers to "re-look" at their estimates and give more reasonable install rates.

 

Good Post,Thanks.

 

That sheet has been around but dealers don't care

 

I've seen several installation labor times reported for installing the JCW Stage 1 Tuning Kit including from motoringfile.com showing 2.0 hours for the installation but even the posted link shows this:

Unfortunately that leaves the door open for Mini dealerships to charge that time (good) or even more if they want (bad).

 

My dealer in Houston won't go below 4 hours, not sure if this sheet will help.

 

Ditto. Woodlands MINI just installed mine for 4 hours labor - came out to just under $500.

 

man that dealer is ripping U guys off. I have mine installed on 12/16 and was told/paid for 2 hours labor; an hour to remove/install the exhaust-airbox-badges and another hour to reflash the VIN-unique ECU.

Is this some kind of stealthy markup, or are they just slow?

 

I'm wondering if some dealers are charging extra if your MINI needs to download additional upgrades before they can do the ecu upgrade which they shouldn't cause that should be under warranty. If worse comes to worse, install the intake and exhause yourself. SHouldn't take too long. If you're not handy with tools, a good shop can do both for less than $100 and under an hour. Then just have the dealer do the ecu download. They can't charge you for labor other than download then.

 

My MINI had been serviced two weeks earlier - oil and filter, warranty work on my seat, etc., so any updates were already taken care of, unless of course they changed something during the two weeks. But yes, I agree with you, they're just jerking us around, pricewise.

The service at the Woodlands was impeccable though: watched a movie on a big screen tv, ate donuts and kolaches, drank fresh ground coffee, read several issues of MC2 and the Moss MINI catalog. Since my garage is being renovated at the moment, it was worth the $500 to me.

 

Is there a similar chart for the JCW Sport Suspension kit?

 

I'm hoping to have my JCW TK installed this Saturday. I was told that a special exist temporarily of no labor charge. BTW, I asked about the bulletin stated install time of 2 hrs and was told that does not include time for reprogram of ECU. Nonetheless, since my install fee will be zero, then I say they can talk as long as needed.

 

Here is a link to the install sheet for the JCW suspension kit. http://motoringfile.com/files/JCW_suspension_R56.PDF On page 4 it shows all the components of the kit. On page 1 it states the the "official" install time for the kit is 4 hours plus 2 additional hours for alignment and adjustment.

 

Got mine installed today at Mini of the Woodlands. I was able to negotiate it to a 3 hour charge after arguing with the service manger: $346 for installation. I still paid too much, they were done after little over 2 hours including washing the car. Got a good deal on the kit thou so overall I am happy.

 

Dealer charged me 2.5 hours.

 

Thank you for that link.

I have now had the kit installed at the dealer. It took them 8.5 hours to complete the install. Good thing we had an agreement on a fixed price based on the "official" install time.

 

I am going to buy my Tuning Kit from Morristown Mini next week and have them ship to So Cal. When I asked them what the install time was, they told me it was 4 hours. I am having installed here at Crevier Mini where I bought the car and they quoted me $350. With the discount from Moss Mini for the kit, that comes out to just over list price for everthing, so I am pretty happy with that.

 

That's why they have Coffee Machines at the MINI Dealerships...For every 40 minutes worth of work they get 20 for coffee breaks.

 

OK, so for those who have the kit installed how do you like it? How about some pictures.