The JCW kit is very "safe" in its performance mod to the car, taking the entire car into consideration the hp gains past the 200 hp mark are hard to put to the pavement at a safe speed without the addition of a limited slip. the hp is lost in the smoke produced from the tires! And yes there is always the top end of the car but having mine in the upper 130's on a few occations the car can be a little scarry at that speed, in the factory trim The madness rear sway bar, 225 45 17 kumho mx's and the camber/alignment changes have made it more stable in this area. As I posted early in this post I have to date recorded a baseline 1/4 mile of 14.7@95 with only the CAI mod the rest of the car was bone stock even the runflats. Now with the LSD I think that will fall dramatically as my prior 60ft times were 2.6-2.8 seconds!
I have heard of some problems with the smaller pullys but not on the street, the grassroots MINI suffered a blown head gasket and repeated blown off I/C hoses after adding their smaller pully they road raced the car at sustained high rpms. The 19% pully clearly states for street use only as extended 6000 + rpm runs will overheat the engine and supercharger! I race my car in SCCA solo II autocrosses and the pully would hurt my classing more than it would help performance. Even with the JCW package and the LSD I can light both front tires and leave long streches of black marks with R compound racing tires the spinning is contained to 10-20 feet with a 4k launch slightly feathering the clutch. I still see traction as a major problem with higher horsepower without some new rim offsets to allow 245 + tires to clear the wheel wells of the Mini.

 

I never understood this logic. For one, you'll be modding an older car. Second, the only way you'll be denied warranty coverage is if the aftermarket part caused the problem. And if that's the case, you'll have to pay if you go aftermarket both if done during warranty or after. If the aftermarket part isn't the cause of the problem, your warranty will still cover everything yet it won't if you wait and mod after warranty. Makes no sense to me. All you are doing is paying double for your aftermarket mods b/c you drove 50k miles without them yet the mods will still cost you the same.

 

One of the benefits of JCW has just been debunked. MINI dealers are now selling at a discount their JCW kits that fit 2003 to 2004 MCS's to clear them out to get ready for the new 2005 JCW kits about to come out. JCW kits are apparently all different and only for your specific year of MCS.

I always thought one of the main benefits of JCW was that, even beyond warranty you could always take it to any MINI dealer for work. And you still can. But what if you have an accident and your car is damaged and parts of your JCW need replacing. Or they just break. It looks like the dealer may not be able to replace JCW parts, as they don't seem to want to stock any of them. I no longer see as much a benefit of JCW. It's not dealer stuff, but in truth aftermarket that is only mildly supported by their dealers. The only salvatation would be if JCW themselves in England keeps older JCW kits stocked in a warehouse somewhere, just for when someone needs them around the world. What are the odds of that happening?

 

Its amazing to me how mis-informed people can be about any product offered on the market today. Concerning the JCW kits, all one has to do is read articles about a subject (probably 50% true) or call or e-mail companies about the product they offer.

For those who are interested in the JCW kit, besides being able to talk with Mike Cooper or Tony Brooks at John Cooper Works about their products, if you get the "GOMINI" magazine, the latest issue has articles about their facilities and an interview with Mike.

Its interesting what they had to do to get BMW's approval for the kits, and why some things were left undone.

For myself, I found it interesting about the benefits a header with long primary runners would make, and the performance impact it would have on the MINI.

 

What you state is correct....The DEALERS are clearing out their inventory of the pre-2005 kits. The vast majority of JCW kits are installed at the point of purchase of the vehicle (dealer installs prior to delivery). It wouldn't make any sense for the kits to be stocked at the dealer level anymore....the '05's are here. The parts distribution centers will still have the parts available.

 

Ok you guys, I'm wrong about the lack of serviceability. So, if you can still get parts down the road, then all is good. Having the Parts Distribution Centers to store parts makes the difference. This is the largest benefit (to me). But it does sound like, if you had an earlier MCS and wanted to add JCW later on, that you would not be able to -- unless you got the dealer to get you the parts piece meal. I wonder if that would cost more?

So, are you guys saying that 10 years down the road or even 20 years down the road that you could get parts for your JCW? If so, then I believe in the legitimacy of JCW with the MINI. However, I've heard that BMW has a history of not being able to support older models. I'm not saying this is absolutely true, but I read it in a magazine somewhere. This is all food for thought since we are on the subject. :smile:

 

Unless I've missed something, the difference between the early and later JCW kits was the exhaust hangers... not something that should create a problem for anybody who knows how to install an exhaust system, just fab some new hangers if you have to.

As to parts.... I have a 1971 BMW R75/5 motorcycle and every piece of the bike is still made or stocked by BMW. One could, if they wanted to, build an entire BRAND NEW /5 if they had the time and money without going aftermarket for anything but maybe tires. If it's anything for cars like it is their bikes, the parts may become too expensive to purchase but they are still available.

 

Here's my review: http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/05/...mcs_kit_review

 

Not to go off topic, but what really amazes me is that a JCW Cooper kit is still being considered for release in the US. It'll take it from 115hp to 132. Why? Wouldn't most folks simply go with an MCS if just more power is desired??? I could see this might be good for certain racing applications(???) but how many are really in that category??

For an MCS, one big advantage w/ the JCW kit is warranty-related. For a Cooper this isn't so...just get an MCS!!! (...racers excluded.)

 

The JCW kit for the Cooper was released for the US market last spring with a full warranty (like the MCS JCW).

 

jds- What jds is saying is that you can't get faster with the MCS w/o potential warranty concerns. With the Cooper, you CAN go faster w/o warranty concerns - you can just upgrade to an S. He wasn't saying the JCW Cooper doesn't have a warranty. Just that it is a moot point.

 

For some people, its because of insurance reasons. The MCS premiums are
too much.

 

I am currently considering the JCW kit for my '05 MCS. I am considering it for three reasons:

• performance
• warranty
• pedigree

Currently at this time, no one has been able to match the "factory-like" performance of the JCW. There hasn't been a magazine review yet that tops anything over the JCW. Sure some other kits are faster and some are cheaper, but none of them seem to yet have the total feel the JCW has.

Currently at this time, none of the other kits currently retain the factory warranty. Some carry warranties, exclusive to themselves, but none by Mini.

At this time, the JCW kit is the only one to offer a pedigree above others. By this I mean, none of them carry the history that the JCW does with the Mini heritage. Also, the resale value I believe will always be higher on a JCW than a pieced together system.

I think these three factors speak volumes about the kit. I do realize that it is expensive, and that you can get certain aspects of the kit for a cheaper price. And for many people this is okay. But nothing out there yet, matches all of the points of the JCW at any price. If someone is looking for something official, with a history and some nice performance to match, I don't think you can go wrong with the JCW.

 

One word: AUTOBOX . Remember 90% of Americans can't drive stick ! That's why there are rumors about a CVT Cooper S for the US market.

 

The Cooper s with the automatic option is slated to be available in Jan 05 along with the limmited slip option. I have read that it will also have the paddle shifters on the back of the steering wheel like the BMWs, although I prefer to "row my own" :smile: this is a good option for those who drive in city traffic all day, as long as they realize the power loss that comes with an auto tranny.

 

I wish the auto MCS was going to be a CVT, but alas it will just be a regular automatic ,albeit with paddle shifters :smile:. But that's still a good thing to offer :smile:. I really wish MINI would offer a sequential manual transmission (clutchless manual) for the MCS. After driving my CVT MC yesterday morning for the first time this summer without the A/C on (69 degrees), I realize just how good the CVT shifts in manual mode - crisp and quick (sequential like)

No word yet on whether MINI will offer the JCW for the MCS auto.

 

Time to get out the crystal ball:

Will an MCS with the JCW kit bring more in resale value than a stock MCS?
I believe so, but how much more? Enough to justify the added expense? Only time will tell about that.

Will an MCS with aftermarket mods bring more or less than a stock MCS?
My past experience has been that aftermarket mods make a car worth less on resale than a stock one. Your experience may be different.

My car is 10 months old and has just over 11,000 miles on it. I have left it stock because I keep hoping I'll find a way to get the JCW treatment. After analyzing my motives, I have come to this realization. I'm holding out for the JCW kit simply because I WANT it. No other reasons are necessary.

Good luck with your decision.

 

Cool...so far there are over 6000 reasons for me not to buy one..but if it was reduced to 3000 reasons then it would be top on my list!

 

17HP will make a difference in the Cooper. And for many, selling the car or trading it in is a more expensive proposition than doing an upgrade. Some prefer the looks of the Cooper, but would like it a bit quicker. I'm not sure I personally would have gone that route were it available when I was modding my Cooper, but there are some who might like the exclusivity of owning a JCW Cooper and don't mind paying the $$$ for it. Besides, MINI is in the business to make $$$....

 

Not much if any.... I have a 2002 MCS with 36k miles on it, the JCW kit, dinan throttle body, and ProMINI air intake.... the dealer is offering be about $18k-$19k for it as tradein towards a new cabriolet.

If sold on the private market it would fetch around $25k where I live I think, but the dealership has even told me to not expect to see anything out financially from the performance mods. It could potentially even make it HARDER to sell, as people will assume the car has been thrashed....

I am sure this will be even worse for cars with aftermarket mods....

I hope I am wrong though.

 

A couple of things. First, I wouldn't expect much of a trade value on anything against a new cabriolet. Dealers tend to very proud of their new models.

Second, by having the Dinan throttle body and the ProMINI air intake, you cross over into the realm of aftermarket mods. My point was about a JCW MCS with no aftermarket parts added. My experience has been that aftermarket mods usually result in lower resale value.

It's all a crap shoot. I just recently saw a guy sell an '04 MCS with 5k miles at the used car dealers' auction for around $2,000 more than the car listed for new. Go figure.

 

I don't think dealers base their tradein offer on what car you are buying, but what they think they can sell the tradein for. And Dinan is not aftermarket any more than JCW is.... the air intake you have a point about though.

 

Just put back on the stock intake back and throttle body back on..no one would know the difference. Plus, in CA, both are illegal devices anyway and likely will need to come off when the car is smogged.

http://www.craigslist.org/eby/car/43709772.html

 

you are so right and the wise man of the mini village......

 

This thread is very funny, lot’s of love on both sides with the bottom line still unclear. The truth is there isn't an answer but more a feeling of reassurance or understanding.

If you go JCW you have the warranty and the reassurance. If you go aftermarket, it's all about the understanding of modding a car. If you choose badly, bad parts or wrong combo then you THINK the entire aftermarket idea is bad. In this case your probably not one for it however don't tell somebody they shouldn’t do it.

Truth, modded Mini's still get warrantied but the crap shoot is how understanding your dealer is. If they have mod understanding tech guys then they themselves can reassure you that mods don't mean "cheap", "bad", or "less refined".

If you have the money go JCW but don't pull out the serial number with the JCW badge to show prestige over a modded mini…… One day you might see more of the back end of that modded Mini then you might care for.

This topic has some motoringfiles.com guys also up in arms……check it out here http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/09/...ssories_update