I just had the JCW Stage 1 kit installed on my 2008 MCS. I also had a few NM Engineering parts installed as well. Read on for my first impressions below

NM Discharge pipe:


NM Air charge pipe:


NM Short shift kit:


First Impressions:

APPEARANCE
From an appearance standpoint, I LOVE the look of the new JCW exhaust!! In addition, the JCW badges add a point of understated difference to the discerning eye . The new JCW intake and NM tubing are all very well crafted and clean looking. There is also a little JCW official registration badge on top of the valve cover. Very classy.
SOUND
As far as sound goes, I was expecting at least a little bit of burble, pop upon deceleration from the new exhaust. I can't hear any. The exhaust does sound much throatier and deeper. It kind of sounds like someone put a bigger engine in my car . While you hear a throatier deeper note with more bass so to speak under light acceleration, on WOT, the sound is very deep and substantial. Not overbearing or loud, just deeper and satisfying. I really don't hear the JCW intake since it is a closed system. I do hear a bit more of the turbo blowoff now on deceleration, but it's not too loud, it's just right. The car simply sounds like a high performance car now. I have read of others complaining about drone at cruising speeds. I don't hear that. I do hear a deeper and noticeable sound than I did before, but it is a very satisfying sound.
PERFORMANCE
All I can say is WOW! The car pulls A LOT HARDER than before. While I still have my low end torque in tact, at 1,500 rpm or so and up, it just feels so much more aspirated and literally pushes you back further into your seat. The newfound power is incredibly smooth. At first I thought that it felt better but not THAT big of a deal. Then on my second drive I looked at the speed. I was accelerating much, much quicker than before. It was just so smooth that I had not noticed it. It doesn't feel like it is struggling now on WOT for more air. It can gulp in all the air that it wants now, and the result is an IMPRESSIVE increase in midrange and top end performance. While the car used to run out of steam near 6,000 rpm, it now just keeps pulling and pulling. NM engineering told me that the air charge pipe can add 10-15 hp, and the discharge can add another 7-10 hp. I don't know if that is true or not, but as a complete package, it must make a difference. Last but not least is the NM shift kit. I LOVE IT. It is a MUST HAVE! The shift throws are short, crisp, and tight. I can't say enough positive things about this kit. Make sure that if you order it that you also get the shift linkage cover as well. This will help to protect your linkage from moisture and dust, and isolate outside sounds.

Every time I hop in my car now, I feel like I am driving a brand new car. Sure it's a lot of money, but it's sure less expensive than buying a new one!

If you have any specific questions about my mods, ask. I am very willing to take pics or give additional thoughts .


Greg

p.s. Pic below is an old pic before the mods

 

NICE I do not hear a drone either...and I've driven my mini 1,200 miles for 12 hours straight!! No Drone!! just run flat tire noise

 

If you ever get a chance, could you shoot video of your exhaust sound? Just curious why yours pops and mine doesn't.

IGNORE: Just found your clip in another thread

 

sound slike a good invertment

 

Did you have your dealer install the NME pipes when the Stage 1 Kit was done? Just curious if they gave you the old "warrenty void" threats. Goode review, nice MINI

 

My dealer, MINI of Tempe, also installed the NM pipes and shift kit as they are an authorized dealer. They told me that everything has a 2 year warranty. That's the time left on my factory warranty. They even had a decked out NM MINI in their showroom. Thank you for the kind words!
Greg

 

Not the best sound quality unfortunately. I need to get an external microphone.

http://vimeo.com/17290306

 

Ditto
On the run flat noise...Finally found out the run flats are what is causeing my bluetooth sound to break up at highway speeds.

 

Ok, so I have now lived with my JCW stage 1 for a while, and I now notice the constant "drone" from the new exhaust. Most of the time I can live with it, but when I have company in the car, it's a bit too much. I guess it's just a little too much "bass" sounding for normal driving. Is there a nice compromise between flat out loud burble and pop, the stock exhaust which is too quiet, and this exhaust which has too much drone?

Curious minds want to know...

Greg

 

I just live with it. From the research I did before installing the S1 exhaust is that it has a much more aggressive sound than the stock JCW exhaust and that it does drone more. 2 things that will help:
1) Always have the rear seats up with the boot cover on. Huge difference without them on
2) Have a bit of insulation in the rear boot area. I have a charcoal towel that I use on the rear seats (when folded down) to put under my hockey bag, I also have the rear boot OEM liner and under that I have a very thin/light cut out of laminate flooring underlay.

With the stuff in the boot, rear seats up and boot cover on I find it quite nice, except when I really step on it

The only other alternative is a different exhaust, but I love the etched JCW tips

 

As Rixter knows, I swapped out my stage JCW stage 1 exhaust for the factory JCW exhaust. I bought both pieces from my dealer. I sold my JCW stage 1 exhaust on NAM and could have sold it 30 times over.

I personally prefer the factory JCW exhaust. It is generally not as loud as the stage 1 exhaust and the tone is a bit different... but absolutely NO highway drone. My ears are much happier!

Your mileage my vary. BTW, I have also read where lots of stage 1 JCW exhaust owners are very happy and don't have any issues with the drone.

 

I have no drone but I have an auto and Clubman S. Maybe it's the longer exhaust on the Clubman that quiets it down?
Not sure what is causing the drone for other people. I have notices the mufflers have gotten a little throatier and time has gone on.

 

I just had the Stage 1 JCW kit installed on my 2008 Clubman S. I noticed it has more of a rumble when I'm outside the car facing the exhaust tips. On the inside though I haven't noticed a difference at various speeds. I do have winter tires on so the noise they make may be covering up the exhaust note. I do wonder though if there is a difference between the Cooper S and Clubman S design that would account for a difference of the exhaust with the JCW kits. My brief listening to both seem to indicate this.

 

Maybe because the Clubby is so much longer, when you're inside you don't hear the exhaust. Like being in a stretch limo

 

How about a hearse for short people. Luckily mine's not black...

 

Funny. I have an Astro Black Clubman S with JCW Stage 1. I have seriously thought about getting personalized plates that read CLN HRS. I'm waiting for 7 letter plates so I can put in for STRETCH.