Anyone have any information on this package? This is JCW stuff (not the JCM Bilstein coil over kit) so I'm assuming it would be warranty-proof and available through dealers. Looks like this kit does NOT include springs... interesting.


Sports Suspension
JCW450
The John Cooper Works Sports Chassis for the MINI is designed to give ambitious sporty drivers an emotional and safe driving experience. The tighter sporty chassis tuning combined with the lowering of the car creates a fantastic feel behind the wheel. The suspension kit is available with or without stabilser bars. Please check with your MINI dealer for the correct version to fit your car. Front and rear JCW Springs must also be ordered seperately which are dependant on the vehicles weight.

MINI Part No. 31300308861 (with stabiliser bars) or 31300308862 (without stabiliser bars). Front and rear springs also required

 

of course - the JCW webpage is down right now

So what is the suspension package? If it's not inherently swaybars or springs, what could the magical ingredients be? Cost....warranty?

 

Probly fairie dust..............

 

The JCW site? The UK one or is there a US one?

 

This is cool they're actually accounting for weight differences. This has been a noticable problem with both factory and aftermarket spring sets.

I envision Four part numbers for springs: Cooper base, Cooper Sunroof, Cooper S base, and Cooper S sunroof. That's my prediction. I still don't know what the JCW kit consists of, since you have to order springs seperately

 

I, for one, am very interested. Perhaps it's time to give Mike Cooper a ring.

 

XAlfa,


Have you given them a ring yet? Anyone heard anything new on these?

 

Part of this is wrong...factory springs are all different based on what options you have. :smile: But you are right that aftermarket springs do not do this.

 

This is taken off of MINI2.com

"New sports suspension uses specially developed components for outstanding road-holding, including short and stiff coil springs to reduce the car's ground clearance, allowing ever faster cornering, without compromising safety. Prices start at £495 for MINI Cooper S and £615 for MINI Cooper models. Also, a new cross-brace in the engine compartment adds stability by reducing body vibration."

I think you guys are miss-reading the "have to order springs separatley" I think that just means you have to tell them which springs you need based on weight, but they are included in the package. Chances are its springs, sways, and strut brace.

 

From MINI2, the kits (JCW for 2005 and upgrade for earlier version, and the suspension kit) will be announced on Sept. 23rd with availability at the end of the month. Their brake package and strut will be available in early 2005.


I called MINI this morning, and they basically verified the above.

 

JCW suspension kit(with sway bars) is available here,(we dn't have the option to order without sway bars,probably u'll)costing 1000eur without installation charges and as mentioned springs,yes you have to order springs separetly according to your car's weight(+300eur)...also I cann't able to reach the info whether sway bar dia 19 or 22(back) 27(front) etc.

I wonder if it can compete with Koni,h&r,eibach or same quality after market product...

 

It will probably be able to compete in performance but not price...

the thing they dont understand i guess is that fewer people will be worried about sustaining the warranty on their suspension stuff like they were about the engine...its much easier to do the work yourself on suspension whereas the engine would be tougher.

 

So to coincide with the Paris Motor Show, the MINI International website has opened a new section with (brief) official info, video and imagery of the 05 JCW kits and accessories.

Looks very tempting but i'm dreading the $$$
Hopefully won't have to wait too long to get some reviews on it all.

Here's the link...
http://www.mini.com/com/en/general/homepage/index.jsp

 

hmmm, this sounds very interresting

 

did anyone notice the jcw air filter
do all cars have a second air intake? or is it just for the jcw one

cant wait untill their are rip-off prices posted

 

There is some really cool stuff here.

 

The parts guy at a local dealer here in CA quoted me $1400 in parts for a JCW suspension upgrade that would include springs and struts only. Seems a bit pricey to me. According to him, the kits aren't available quite yet in the US, but should be very soon.

 

Just received a pdf on the JCW suspension kit and it looks like it's only compatible with cars built after 7/04. I would post the pdf, but don't see an attachment option. Let me know if there is a way to do this.

 

Do you mean something like this?

 

If you're interested, I sent the pdf to Gabe and he posted it on Motoringfile.

 

Not as bad as you think. $565 for the dampers and $380 for the springs. Considering Randy Webb gets $610 for a set of Konis and $250 for some H&R springs, the JCW parts are in the ballpark.

An $85 premium for factory hop-up parts isn't bad. But, these springs don't lower the car that much (10mm) and you still have to pay MINI tech labor prices if you want the warranty on these parts. It boils down to personal preference and if you value springs that are more closely matched to the weight of your particular car.

That being said, it looks like this suspension will only work on cars produced after 07/04.

 

I'm going to my dealer sometime this week to ask it it will fit my March build '04. If it doesn't fit I'm selling it.

 

Darkness - Let us know what you find out.

 

Ok. I stopped by the dealer today and we made about 20 phone calls all over the world trying to find out more information on the suspension. We send a email to like the head guy behind JCW in america, and I should recieve a email soon telling me if it will fit pre-07/04 Minis. That's all I could get :(

 

Cool. Thanks for looking into this. Keep us posted.