Hey everyone names Richie. About a month ago I got my 2012 jcw shipped in from Texas (living in NY) and I'm in love!
I am familiar with cars and some of the technical stuff but I'm still learning and learning a lot more about minis everyday.
But the question is, I was super interested in the Alta down pipe back exhaust about two weeks ago I put in the intake they make and it sounds awesome. But I was wondering on reviews about it and in the long run is there anything else needed to be done to help my Car run better with it (for ex an OCC, spark plugs injectors) I know I don't need them right away but I'm trying to mod more and more but need to find out the point when to add those extra parts! Thanks everyone. Here's some snaps of the jcw !

 

WELCOME!
my name is also richie and i have a 2010 mini. i was like you where i was going to start modifying it asap, but i just honestly fell in love with the way it was stock. the only thing i have bought for mine is the coilover suspension that i have yet to put on. sorry i have no words concerning your exhaust, but just wanted to share my 2 cents

 

Hey I appreciate the feed back! But actually what type of coils do you have on yours because down the line I was thinking about getting them and aftermarket wheels but finding 4x100 is hard sometimes but thanks for the feedback

 

A lot of people would go with KW v1 or v2 depending on how you plan to drive it. I am working with a budget so I went with ST Suspensions, which is a sister company with KW. I had mine installed last week and I love it for spirited driving and occasional autocross.

Welcome to the forum, BTW.

 

Did that lower at all because I was looking for like an inch or two but appreciate it thanks !

 

Yes, the recommended drop range for the ST suspensions is 1.2 - 2.2 inches. I dropped mine for 1.2 inches. Dampening is, just like KW v1, prefigured so I didn't need to mess with it.

I had also installed a thicker rear sway bar, which I also loved. Let me know if you have any questions. So far most people on the forum are very helpful.

D

 

I went with the BC racing coilovers - since mine is a daily driver i needed comfort. but these can go super low and the reviews on them are amazing. i will be installing them tonight actually.

as for wheels i am super picky in that department. can not stand fake or knock off wheels. so i am on the hunt for some nice VOLK or WORK wheels. although the ENKEI RPF1 look mighty fine

 

Thanks everyone ! Yea not anytime soon but I want to drop it about 1.5-2 inches to take away that annoying wheel gap. And for wheels it's so difficult because the 4x100 pattern so right I did look up 2 volk wheels that have that but life and wheels get very picky lol

 

I'd recommend Koni adjustables and H&R springs, sublime ride and definitely closes that wheel gap

 

Yea that was the other option I was thinking about and with those I can save some money lol but I'm gunna have to wait to winter comes and goes living in lovely NY but appreciate it

 

Take a look at the selection Tire Rack offers. Search by your car make / model etc. They narrow down the selection to our 4X100 pattern.

 

Welcome. Where in NY are you? I'm in the area as well.

I'll be the old-man here and say, what are your goals? Certainly there are items to look out for, but knowing your goals can make parts/tuning/etc an easier question.

For me, my JCW Clubby is my DD (see signature), so I just wanted a bit of extra power, and reliability. I went with an AP off the shelf tune to add a few HP, and replaced the recirc valve, as the stock unit can sometimes have issues (mine was close to death, I realized when taking it out).

Plugs, etc are probably a good idea. The JCW recommended service interval is 30k miles. If you don't know the history, might as well change them. I also did brakes, upgrading to EBC pads, and some uprated rotors.

 

I'm in dutchess county, yea I kinda want to give it some good power just to have some fun, then do some suspension work and wheels to make her look nice. But where the question comes from is just wanting to do more performance parts and adding more and more Hp I don't want to skip any steps just in case with internals or anything because I want the car to be in as best shape as possible

 

I first started with the CAI and turbo inlet hardpipe, then focused on the exterior (tints, headlights, tailights, euro plate and rims)

Once the Accessport came out, I waited almost a year just to read the reviews on the forums, plus I didn't want to pay $900. After a while, I found a good deal on the AP and then bought my downpipe and exhaust so the tune and exhaust could go hand in hand.

The more you read on the forums, the easier it'll become.

 

I appreciate it yea it's a slow project ahead but next spring the tune will come lol

 

What a great looking car! Is this your first MINI? You are in for a great adventure. If you would like some info on future upgrades like coilovers, brakes, accessories, please take a look here. Let us know if we can help in any way!

http://new.minimania.com/Search_Results/JCW/All

Drive Hard. Drive Safe. Keep Grinning.

 

I like your wheels. Fact I was going to powder coat mine black. Those are the 17" Challenge wheels. Want to sell or trade?

You're JCW looks sweet. Go easy on the mods. Just do your research. And then wait couple months. hahaha Down pipe. Intercooler. Tower supports. Are good. Stiffer suspension than it already has? really.

Had one dude hate me for saying this because he's making drug dealer type cash from selling this software to idiots but wouldn't mess with the ECU. It's a JCW. Designed for track. Unless the car is a project and you have a daily driver. Fact I'd leave the airbox alone. Curious why you had to go to Texas to buy a used JCW.

 

Hey dude yea hate to disappoint but not looking to sell why wheels at the moment. I'm actually going to be powder coating them white. Yea and it was kinda funny I was in the heat of the moment with a new car so I wanted to do anything and everything but I've done some research and the process has really slowed down lol. And I was really interested in a Jcw but there wasn't one in my area with the color scheme and so I said Texas it is lol and got shipped so sorry to disappoint dude

 

No disappoint. No worries. Yeah I'd leave them black but to each his own. They're good cars and don't need much modding IMO.

Just go back to plan B which is powder coating. About $135 per. I had mine shipped from KC to Austin but I live in Cali hahaha. So I understand shipping a car you have to have. GL

 

If you worry about 4 bolt wheel selection you could look into EBC brakes for an F56(5 bolt) and even have choice of rotor colors. Swap them out as they work with only 1 bolt change.May as well go with studs(Way) while you're at it. Myself,because I have so much invested in wheels and tires and already put on new rotors (slotted.of course) it isn't $$$ wise. I have a2013 JCW on mach v springs,Rota RB 7.5 wheels and 235/40/17 (yes,they fit) and don't have that annoying wheel gap that so many MINI owners worry over.
ISAMIN

 

I have a set of RSe05's from nm Engineering. I had 5 original Challenge wheels and bent 2 or 3 of them, so I decided to do something different. I like the openness of the RSe05's. Makes them much easier to clean compared to the Challenge wheels and they are lighter (16 lb vs. 23 for Challange wheels). They are also intended to be used with the Brembo brakes. Mine are 17" and they are available in 5 colors...

 

I actually like the look of those wheels with the breaks! But I decided to wait probably even longer because after winter I'm going to be powdercoating my wheels white to match the top and most likely buying springs to lower it hopefully little less then 2 inches. But let's hope mine don't bend at all lol but I appreciate the info!

 

I think run-flats contributed to the bent wheels. The sidewalls are so stiff that I think more of the shock from hitting a chuckhole goes into the wheel rather than being absorbed by the tire. Just my guess, anyway. I'm a recent transplant from NYS and the bent wheels happened there and in Michigan. Bought the RSe05's just before I retired and moved to California...

 

Yeah I would leave those wheels black. They look better black. When you illuminate the wheels makes the car look smaller like a toy auto.

I like the handling with RFs and 'll take the stiff sidewalls over pothole concerns. Just avoid potholes. Just had my wheels straightened and powder coated. Just went 3000 miles covering entire upper midwest, down to Texas. Zero potholes.

 

I would like to see, just because the stance look of it I would feel like would look amazing white, and slightly lowered but my other option was to paint then a gloss black again I'll see what I like. I plan on plasti dipping them white just to get a look and for 10$ I can't go wrong for a test look of the wheels