Hi,

I am a brand new member, trying to buy a JCW Hardtop (2011) and since I have always been a "performance buff," Acura Integras and Saab Aero, I sure could use some help.

No one at the local dealer, in sales or service, nor at Mini Customer Care can tell me very much about the two suspension options, (Sport/Stiffer Suspension and The JCW Sport Suspension) how they differ from each other and from the OEM. Of course everyone knows the price but what I am buying for that price seems to be a bit of a mystery.

Actually for this reason I joined the "club," prior to becomming a member.

I would also appreciate any advice on getting the "front rotors drilled" at the factory, rather than as an aftermarket acquisition. I had drilled or slotted rotors on my Saab and they were great and lasted forever.

Finally, is the "suspension cross-brace" worth the cost or is it in the way every time the car needs to be serviced?

Hope someone can help me.
Thanks,
Ballyrick PS..... I wrote a similar thread on 1st Gear but did not get
many responses.

 

Ballyrick,

I think you will find most people on this forum will say you can get better performance for you money via after-market.

I can't remember which is which; but I seem to recall one of the options does just the sway-bars (front & rear); and the other option does springs & shocks.

The stiffest rear sway-bar for the jCW is still less than most after-market bars (which cost less ... if you install it yourself). The front is probably better addressed by camber plates than a stiffer sway bar (though - if you want the front bar changed - better to do it from the factory - as this is a much more involved install after the fact).

There are several spring choices as well. I am partial to NM Engineering based on my reading of this forum... but lots of opinion here - I think most differ by the amount the lower the car. JCW Option springs drop the car 1/2 inch (I think... certainly something less than 1"). Shocks - I haven't done yet myself - but expect to in the future. Both Knoi & Blistein seem to be popular. Of course - if you have the money - I think full Coil-Overs are the best 'sport' suspension you can get.

I'll let someone else answer the cross-brace question (I don't have any expernience here, and haven't done much reading. I do have one friend with a Mini who likes his cross-brace better than sway bars... FWIW)

 

Oh - one other suggestion:

Go to the specific 2nd Gen/Mod/Suspension forum
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...uspension-192/

And post your question there - but under a different title... "About to Buy" doesn't necessarily catch people's attention. But if you are on the Suspencision forum - and use a title something like: "Which Sway Bars & Springs Should I Buy"... or anything that states what you are looking for - I think you will get LOTS of input

 

JCW suspension is just a Cooper S suspension. There is nothing different. Sport suspension is a spring set and Zephyr is right, you'll get more bang for your money as the factory kit has gotten a bad rap. Read up at MotoringFile - they review it too.

I suggest you go stock, it's really stiff and hardly needs more unless you are making a track-day car.

Welcome aboard!

 

Thanks Peeti, Thanks Zephyr,(and for the "tips")

Something you wrote Peeti has me puzzled. When you said "JCW suspension is just a Cooper S suspension, did you mean the OEM factory suspension that is stock on the JCW, is the same as the "S" or were you referring to the costly option called the JCW Sport Suspension?

From what I have seen on line and from the sales dept. at the dealer, there are two options available (besides stock); the "Sport suspension," ($500) stiffer springs and ??? and the JCW Sport suspension," ($1300) which, from the price alone I am guessing, must include bigger bars, better bushings stiffer springs and better quality struts?

I appreciate all the advice but could you clarify?

It seems to me, that since I cannot provide the labor, as good as some of the aftermarket products might be, first paying the factory for stock and then paying for an aftermarket upgrade, plus labor, gets very expensive. This is why, unless the JCW Sport Suspension option is an awful choice, I lean in that direction. But I still am unsre what it includes.

Regards,
Ballyrick

 

There's the 'base' suspension that comes with all 3 cars ( justa, S and JCW). The factory option sports suspension has different stiffer shocks/springs, thicker front and rear swaybars. The third option is the dealer installed JCW sports suspension which has yet another set of even stiffer shocks/springs and even thicker front/rear swaybars.

 

So I just looked at the configurator....

Starting with the bast JCW platform - I see the "Sport Suspension" under "Performance/Safety & Handling" adds Springs; Dampers (struts); & Bars for $500. I do not see any other options for a base JCW car (specifically - don't know what the $1300 option is you are refering to...)

Regardless - if you are trying to save $$; and can't find someone in a local club to help you work on your car; then you would be hard pressed to get as much for $500 as you can with this option. An after market bar is $200 - $250. I've seen people on this site quote installation from $150 to $250. Springs are also $200+ and installation for these - i've seen quoted from $250 to $450. Haven't even touched the front bar and struts.

So it looks like you can get a really good set-up from the start for $500. Or you can save your pennies over time; and get an even better set-up for $1000.

Even then - if you just buy the base JCW with no suspension options (which is where I started) - you have a FANTASTIC handling car! Can't go wrong

 

The $1300 JCW option is under JCW accessories...Performance section I believe. All those are dealer installed options.

 

Thank you everyone;
If you look at the Mini USA site and "build" your JCW Hardtop, the $1307 JCW Suspension is shown along side the options for "drilled rotors" and the "suspension cross brace." Let me know if you cannot find it.

I am advised by two dealers that the JCW Suspension can be factory installed and a third dealer contradicts the other two.

Awaiting word from the district rep.in my area. .....LOL

 

Got it now Don't know why I missed it before.
Not sure exactly what it entails; but regardless - for $1300 you can do better after-market for both parts and installation.
My two bits...

 

Well, you can order the JCW suspension kit for $900 from Morristown Mini from waht I've seen people post. And then remember it also includes a front sway bar in addition to the rear.
If I end up upgrading my suspension, I'll probably go with teh JCW suspension. I'm not really into the slammed look, so I don't really care about the drop that everyone seems to want with the aftermarket stuff.

 

I've always heard that its only a dealer isntalled option. But just to be sure before mine goes into production, I'm going to have to call my MA just to confirm. Cause if it can be done at the factory, I'll drop the sports suspension option and add the JCW one for sure.