He all,
I recently bought a 08' MCS w/ JCW tuning kit.
Unfortunately, the person who installed it didn't sign and date the certificate of authenticity. I spoke to both the dealers that did all the service on this vehicle, but both dealers shown no record of installation.

Here are my questions:
1. Can one order this kit and install it in his/her own garage?
2. Is this a dealer install only kit?
3. Is there an national registry for JCW tuning kit?

Thanks in advance all.

 

I am having the same problem. I have no date or location of install. My guess is it came like that from the factory.

 

Maybe some MCS's produced in early 2008 (before the JCW tuning kit was released) has the kits installed for road test?

The reason I say this is because on my service record, it shows an exhaust extension being installed right around August 2008. This was the same time that Mini officially release the JCW tunning kit. So needless to say, my kit (S01463) must have been installed prior to the official release on the tuning kits, making it a test kit or a pre-production kit.

Also, when I bought my MCS, it was only advertised as a "Mini Cooper S", not a Mini Cooper S w/ John Copper Works Tuning kit, R105 wheels, JCW suspension and tower brace. They could have sold this car for, at least, $2k more for the added components, but it was sold as standard MCS.

I'm still confused...why would there be no records?
These kits are dealer order and install only, right?

The investigation continues...

conrad0102, what year and color is your MCS-JCW? Is it an early 2008 production car also?

 

Mine is a March 2007 model (Figured out the month by some BMW VIN look up site). Silver with a black top, black mirrors, two black racing stripes and the black R105's I have the JCW badges and the JCW install certificate but there is no date or signature on it =\

 

Do you have the JCW intake and the muffler? And is the JCW stage 1 serial number affixed to the engine? If you have the number on the engine, is it the same number as on the certificate.

 

Yeah, I have the certificate and the Engine badge (both numbers match), i have the JCW exhaust, and intake. all stage 1 but my certificate just doesn't have an install date, location, or anything. the only signature on the cert. is John Coopers lol.

 

I have everything @conrad0102 have and I also have the install date on the certificate and a little note inside my engine with install date.

 

Maybe someone bought the kit, but never had the software updated?
The 1st kits came with a disc that the dealer used to load the engine software updates; later kits did not. The later kits had the dealer hook directly to BMW's computers to update the software. If you have the certificate, you can bet someone had bought the entire kit. The software was probably never loaded; if it had been, it will show on your service record. Changing the exhaust and intake anyone can do, probably no record of that. If the certificate was never "redeemed", you can probably just go to the dealership and have them load the software onto your car, completing the installation of the kit.



The kits do get broken up, too.

I have the intake, and the exhaust that I bought on the marketplace here on NAM. My intention is to spend the money I saved from buying the entire kit, and using it to buy a much better tune. This might also be th eprevious owners intention?

 

About the software... i do have a CD in my glove box..

there is no doubt in my mind that i have the full JCW stage 1 kit because the MCS i test drove was slower than the one i got and mine is faster than my friends stock 07 S

 

CD will be your "key" used by the dealer to register and update your MINI's computer to make it an r56 JCW.

Give your dealer the registration number, if it hasnt been installed, go get it done.

Last owner might have just installed the kit parts (exhaust and intake) he got online from a dealership, but never went back to his own dealer to pay to have the computer updated.

As long as the CD hasnt been used, you are AOK.

 

sweet. more power is always good. I actually got a $100 gift certificate/rebate from the dealership in the mail so I'm already planning on getting a free oil change, I'll have them check when i get up there. Thanks for the input and the help!

 

me too!
i have the intake and the exhaust as well as the tower brace, black R105 and the JCW suspension as well.

 

I also have a CD, but my CD says "Stables" on it.
I guess the previous kept the original CD and left a burnt copy with the car.

conrrad0102,
does your CD cover have German writing & your VIN number?