Just had the JCW Tuning kit installed and was under the impression that it used the same exhaust as the JCW Factory. While the sound was about the same I was shocked to see that the JCW Tuning Kit's nice engraved tips (also looks larger too) are not to be found on the JCW Factory. I could see this being the other way around but why would the Tuning kit have such nice tips and the Factory's be plain? I only looked closely at one JCW Factory car so maybe it was missing or changed for some reason. Here is a pic of mine (not the best but you can clearly see the nice engraving) and do the Factory JCW come with the same tips and if not why not?

You are correct. The exhausts are totally different (different tips, different front muffler, different rear muffler and no cat on the factory JCW exhaust) and they sound different as well. Can't say why other than they were designed for slightly different cars.

How do you like the sound of your exhaust? Have you tried it on the highway yet?

I have the same set up,and am pleased with the sound,not as loud as the Stage one on my 07.Q

No cat on factory JCW exhaust? Wonder what that big melon is right after the turbo...

No second cat after the downpipe

So they are different which is understandable. However what's not and is strange is the kit has such nice details and the Factory doesn't.

Also the sound is much improved. The standard S is all but silent. My last 2 cars (S2000 & SLK55 AMG) had great OEM sound and it was really missing when I bought my MINI. I have driven on the Interstate at cursing speed and it is even louder (in cabin) than in town. Using cruse control when extra fuel is needed (like uphill) or defueling (downhill) it is very audible but when it plains out it goes near silent.

There IS one cat... there is NO second cat as the S has. That is part of the difference b/w S and JCW factory exhaust.

It is a cat but they only have one, where I think my R56 MCS actually has 2 power robbers!

It was sarcasm. lol

I think the engraved tips were only on the earlier JCW kits and that the later kits (as well as factory JCW) don't have the engraving. I have the engraving and, I agree, it's very classy.

I just had mine installed (and ordered from MINI) a couple of weeks ago. So when did MINI change to later kits, last week?

The differences are: no second CAT, a really large resonator (removes the drone) and a much larger muffler (quieter and better flowing). The pipes are the same diameter. I switched over about a year ago to the 2009 JCW exhaust and love it.

JCW Stage one Kit muffler:




2009 JCW Muffler:

where are you guys buying the stock jcw exhaust and waht are the prices

I'm late jumping into this thread...
The tuning kit includes separate ornamental tips that are screwed on the exhaust ends. However the factory JCW exhaust does not have separately attached "tips", only the pipes coming out of the muffler. It is easy to engrave separate tip pieces, but with the factory JCW it would be more costly and difficult to engrave directly on the exhaust pipes and ensure they are oriented correctly when welded onto the muffler.

I have to admit I was quite disappointed when I first saw a factory JCW and I noticed the rather plain tips, much prefer my tuning kit tips. Having said that, the factory JCW has so many other features I would really like!

I prefer the overall sound of the factory JCW exhaust over the tuning kit version. Just my 2 cents and I have owned both.

DITTO! The factory JCW exhaust sounds much better IMHO! Also much better flowing!

Anyone know where to get a factory jcw exhaust? Minus the junk yard?

You can oreder it from the dealer. The part numbers are listed at www.realoem.com.

So the dealer sells both factory and stage 1 exhausts? Cool. thanks

I think the Stage One exhaust is only available with the JCW Tuning Kit but I could be wrong on that.

If you order the JCW original exhaust... Realoem shows that there are tips to it and if you go to the dealer they say the same! However looking at the exhaust there are no aditional tips on it...

I ordered the exhaust already, but still waiting on it... Hope I don't have to do the exhaust tips tho!!

Can anyone help me with this? Otherwise I can call thru the tips as well...

Factory JCW exhaust does not have separate tips. On RealOEM they use the same diagram for JCW as they do for a regular S exhaust, but notice there is no part number for tips (item #7) for the factory JCW model. Interesting that the standard and factory JCW exhausts are listed with the same price, but the stage 1 version is more than twice as much!

Standard S: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...03&hg=18&fg=20
Factory JCW: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...03&hg=18&fg=20
Stage 1 kit: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...52&hg=11&fg=95

The Factory JCW tips must have changed, mine seem larger than pictured above, and are somewhat slash cut than the ones pictured above.

They look right to me. It's the same as on my MINI.