I agree with sticking with factory, but I was only talking about the fact that the JCW stuff could be a bit more aggressive. This is just to warn people up front about what they're going to get that's all.To each their own!

 

Put one on my auto about 1200 miles in (not available at delivery) and I certainly noticed a difference, esp. at launch to 2K and above 4000 rpm on the highway. It changed the car's personality 100%.

plus the exhaust note tends to get a little louder with age, and it sounds sooooo cool driving under overpasses and in tunnels.

Not disappointed in the least.

 

Plus one.Q

 

Just to check names here -- "jcw stage 1", that's the "JCW Tuning Kit" one can order for $2100ish (although I saw the parts for $1600), yes?

I am mildly interested in it in the future. I reailze it is a lot of $$ but factory and all that, I value. Thanks for the heads up however that it isn't very much, I actually did expect the 'exhaust' replacement to be larger than you indicate.

 

Here we go again with this nonsense. For the record:

The differences between a MINI JCW and a MINI Cooper S

Engine
More aggressive ECU tuning
Turbo back exhaust system. The exhaust and catalytic converter have been reworked and enlarged to aid the unrestricted flow and reduction in back pressure. Also NO second cat.
Upgraded turbocharger - larger and strengthened twin-scroll turbocharger and exhaust manifold resulting in a pressure increase from 0.9 to 1.3 bar
Upgraded pistons
Upgraded Getrag transmission
Upgraded clutch and throwout bearing
6 speed manual only
208hp

# Upgraded engine components:The engine is fitted with reinforced and specifically ground pistons as well as a cylinder head with optimized rigidity and modified gasket. The cylinder head wall thickness is increased to reduce potential stress during peak output. The intake valves and valve seat rings are also made of a specially resilient material, and compared to the engine of the MINI Cooper S there is a slight reduction in compression. The air filter, air mass sensor, exhaust system and catalytic converter have been modified so as to achieve a power-enhancing dethrottling on the induction and exhaust side. The through-flow capacity of the clean air duct to the turbocharger has also been increased.

BRAKES
4 piston red Brembo brakes with painted JCW logo and larger rotors, red rear calipers and larger rotors
12.4" rotors-front
11.0" rotors-rear

BADGING
JCW badge on front lower grill
JCW badge on the right side of boot replacing the Cooper S badge
JCW flag badge on the lower right side of the secret compartment
JCW door sills

DTC (dynamic traction control)
EDLC (electronic differential lock control)
17" Challenge Alloy Wheels. JCW logo on each wheel's center cap
160MPH Speedo
Gear shift **** with red shift pattern
Choice of piano black or fluid interior surfaces
Anthracite headliner


Outside of the US, the rest of the world DOES get a factory JCW with the JCW aero kit. Ask our Canadian friends how it ships from the factory.


I drove my friends stock 2008 Cooper S manaual last night and he drove my JCW. The difference is night and day. He came over to me after driving my car and said "HOLY SH*T!! What a huge difference between your car an mine, you have so much more power. better clutch and gearbox and way better brakes."

 

This perfectly makes my point: way too many people fall for the above listed marketing staff but in real driving world it translates to minor difference. Of course Mini, as any other manufacturer wants you to feel special about all these special features and differences that your car has for only one reason: so you can justify buying a JCW vs Cooper S and continue buying and buying.
You want a faster car get a Porsche, M3, etc... Mini is still a Mini and isn't that fast anyway, don't get me wrong it's a lot of fun and a lot more fun than faster cars but Mini's fun isn't much about speed it's about taking corners with speed, everyone knows it.

 

Thread Cleaned. Please keep the 'Factory JCW Elitism' to yourselves, as it does not further the conversation. If anything it creates a fracture within the MINI Community as a whole.

How about a little history lesson. This is mainly directed to all those that think that a factory JCW is the only thing that deserves the title 'John Cooper Works.'

The 'John Cooper Works' brand was founded in 2000 by John Cooper. At this time the only MINI available was the MINI Cooper. There was no S at this time. Shortly after John Cooper began JCW he passed away, and control of the company went to his son, Michael Cooper.
The first JCW was a MINI Cooper which contained a ported head, air filter, injection tube, cat-back exhaust, ECU tune and JCW emblems. These upgrades only yielded an extra 11 horsepower, giving the MINI Cooper JCW a total of 124bhp. In 2004 this JCW Kit was discontinued and replaced with the JCW Sound Kit for the MINI Cooper. The Sound Kit contained an upgraded intake and cat-back exhaust, ECU remap and JCW emblems.
In 2003 the JCW Kit for the MINI Cooper S came out, containing much the same as the original JCW kit for the Cooper. It contained a ported and gas-flowed head, upgraded supercharger, upgraded intake system, spark plugs, exhaust, remapped ECU, and emblems now including an individually numbered engine plate. This kit was only available as a dealer add-on just like the Cooper JCW Kit and the Cooper Sound Kit.
Until 2005 there was no way to order a JCW MINI Cooper S from the factory. In late 2005 the MINI Cooper S JCW Kit was available from the factory, as well as a dealer add-on. In 2005 the Cooper S Sound Kit was also introduced, consisting of an intake and cat-back exhaust.
In 2006, along side the launch of the R56, the JCW Tuning Kit was released for the MINI Cooper S. This kit includes an upgraded induction system, exhaust and ECU remap. In mid-2008 the Factory JCW was released. The factory JCW features a larger turbo, larger exhaust and sportier ECU map, along with stronger components around the vehicle to handle the extra power.
As you can see, the JCW brand has grown a lot from its inception almost 10 years ago. To say that the factory JCW is the only thing worthy of carrying the JCW is grossly mis-enformed. There is room in the JCW family for all MINIs that are sporting any John Cooper Works performance upgrade, whether it comes from the factory, the dealer, or from a fellow MINI enthusiast. To single out, or exclude any group simply because their JCW wasn't ordered from factory goes directly against what the MINI Community was built around.

 

Does this kind of nonsense go on over at the BMW forums with M cars and the Audi forums with S cars. I really don't think so because those sub brands are clearly differentiated. John Copper Works as a sub brand is not.

And for the record there is no elitism coming from me. I bought what I bought because that was the MINI that was right for me. And I am happy I spent the extra money on a factory JCW.

 

Thanks for this!

 

Well said

 

very well said

 

Agree but sticking to the correct nomenclature to properly differentiate is also important.

You have a JCW Factory or a (MINI S) JCW (Stage 1) Tuning Kit. This should still be adhered to so as to not cause confusion or animosity.

 

The factory car should be called a John Cooper Works just as MINI named it and MINIS modified with JCW accessories should be called a JCW .

Last time I looked at mini usa John Cooper Works are a seperate model line from Cooper and Cooper S model lines.


I do agree that there is love and room for all minis on Nam and have no intention of bashing any Mini product on this forum but the community needs to understand each Mini model has a unique personality and name.

 

My understanding is that the JCW engine itself has some different ( stronger ) specs. But as for the Stage 1 kit, if you want the warrnty, it's the only way to go. If you don't care about the warranty or your car is over 3 years old without extended warranty coverage, then aftermarket plus tune will get you more bang for the buck.

 

That's a relatively recent development. During the 1st gen, the factory JCW was selected like a package or option under Cooper S in the configurator.

MINI themselves messed up the marque because they used the terms JCW and John Cooper Works in a vague and loose fashion for years. It will take a long time before JCW is popularly perceived as a separate model line (like an M car). Currently JCW like a designer label that they'll slap on any product.

 

in a way i kinda feel the same...its the dam warrenty that they close you on. not what you get for your money...there was way more bang for that buck... but there goes those free oil changes and brakes!

 

mini one
mini cooper
mini cooper s
mini cooper s JCW
mini JCW

 

from what Ive read here and on other forums it seems the JCW tune kit provides a lot more bang for the buck with the automatics than the manuals. Like Ive said, I noticed a HUGE difference between my car pre- and after tune kit. Maybe it's because the tune kit also remaps the tranny's shift points to less economy and more performance--that is, if U drive in D all the time. Only times Ive done that is a couple laps around my local track (prefer M mode for that) and the standing 1/4 mile, where the shift remapping really stands out.

 

I agree:

MINI JCW = factory coupe, clubbie, or cabrio

MCS JCW = manual coupe, clubbie or vert with the tune kit

MCSa JCW = automatic coupe, clubbie, or cabrio w/tune kit

 

I wish there was a boost controller for the R56 where we could just dial in LOW, MED, HIGH boost settings. Got this for my '93 300ZX twin turbo and really really miss it on the MINI. :-(

 

I was wondering exactly what the JCW Kit included and this thread really spelled it out. Thanks. Weird how the MINIUSA website really doesn't list the components. The kit must be a real money maker for the company because I don't see 16000-2100$ worth of materials in the kit; what I see is a lot of profit margin but I guess that's par for the course for mini. Just my two cents.

 

The components are published:

JCW Airbox
JCW Exhaust
JCW ECU Software

That is it.

 

Had my Stage 1 JCW for almost 2 years. Not a single CEL & runs great.
Now about that "cold start diesel noise"

 

Okay...What is a "CEL"?

I have seen that before but can't figure it out!

Kevin

 

CEL is the check engine light. lol.