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JCW GarageInterested in John Cooper Works (JCW) parts for your 1st Generation MINI? This is where JCW upgrades and accessories for the Cooper (R50), Cabrio (R52), and Cooper S (R53) MINIs are discussed.
Since the pre 2006 JCW engine package SC cars all received kits, and those kits were most likely still produced well after production of the cars stopped … and even the ‘factory’ first Gen cars had JCW certificates with only numbers on them and just blank spaces for VIN/date … seems no way to track officially what went where??
Heck, my cert is still sealed in the plastic bag from Germany and had never been marked up.
ita seems a waste of time for BMW/MINI to have gone through all of this effort… on these inexpensive cars… to go with a numbering system at all.
Seems like many first Gen owners hope that BMW admin is somehow holding back secret files that contain all the numbers and the associated VINs 😛 … who knows, maybe they do exist in the catacombs of the BMW databases somewhere … just waiting for the emergence of a ‘Modern Mini Factory Heritage Shop’
I think that OBS is onto a good ‘ballpark’ number here… at least a minimum number … prob safe to say 18-25,000 produced for first Gen SC cars kitted by dealer/factory.
More pondering time kill this morning by taking the small sample size of JCW's sold on BaT (where # could be discerned) and compiling them in sequential order then running the VIN through bimmer.work to get build date.
Rather interesting results.
dealer kits:
S1269 - Nov 15, 2002
S2726 - Apr 2, 2003
S2743 - May 26, 2004
S2785 - Apr 10, 2003
S5071 - Apr 22, 2004
S5191 - Jun 8, 2004
S6058 - Jun 22, 2004
S7743 - Mar 12, 2006
S8643 - Apr 13, 2006
S8966 - Nov 28, 2005
S9481 - May 25, 2004
Interesting that my 2006 R52 JCW car was made on September 13th, 2006 with the JCW plate number of 16060 (as compared to the 14373 made on the 14th in your list)
WRT comments and data, curious at what point MINI dealers refused to continue installing 1st gen JCW tuning kits based on vehicle age and total mileage, with consideration of warranting that work? After that (through 2017?) complete kits only sold over the counter without installation (or installed without guarantee beyond basic workmanship)? Agreed, those kit numbers wouldn't have a VIN associated. The one OBS shows listed on eBay UK as an example.
Interesting that my 2006 R52 JCW car was made on September 13th, 2006 with the JCW plate number of 16060 (as compared to the 14373 made on the 14th in your list)
GP's were put together in Italy, so they probably shipped the parts & JCW kits there well ahead.
I'd like to chip in my JCW R53 located in The Netherlands.
It is kit number S370 and was originally fitted by the BMW dealer in june 2003.
The car was (probably) used as a showroom example at the dealership because it as first registered to the first owner in 2004.
I've bought it it in a pitty state about two years ago (engine and gearbox taken out and in pieces, pistons and parts missing and such).
It appears the engine has been rebored to 77.25 and a lot of parts and brackets are painted/powdercoated red.
Story behind it that it was stored from around 2009ish to 2019 in a garagebox and had to go because the property was sold.
I have just finished a completely new engine build and it is running again.
Did find a news story though about Plant Oxford regarding the paint process,
a couple of months earlier they changed over to a new process - IPP...
Compared with previous technology, the Integral Paint Process completely eliminates the primer coat application and oven stage. The primer function is now transferred to one of two newly developed base coat layers. During this "wet on wet" application of the two layers, the first layer integrates all the functions and qualities of the primer-surfacer while the second base coat covers the optical attributes such as colour, effect and depth. A clear coat is applied on top of the base coat, as before. In this way the new IPP system achieves the same high standards as conventional paint processes in terms of optical and protective qualities.
I have another R50 that has the JCW carbon 5-piece dashboard installed and also (what I believe also JCW) the alcantara dashboard top.
What do you all think: should I transfer these parts to the JCW R53 or leave as is ?
GP's were put together in Italy, so they probably shipped the parts & JCW kits there well ahead.
Since JCW were factory built option for 2006, shipping JCW kits to Bertone in Italy would have been illogical. Instead, shipping the "body in white" with preassembled JCW-spec engine, transmission and driveline plus all unique parts specific to the GP for final assembly much more logical.
I have another R50 that has the JCW carbon 5-piece dashboard installed and also (what I believe also JCW) the alcantara dashboard top.
What do you all think: should I transfer these parts to the JCW R53 or leave as is ?
I would be tempted to put the carbon dash in the R53, unless the R50 is a special JCW edition then I'd leave it as is because those are even more rare than the R53 version.
Originally Posted by MCS4FUN
Since JCW were factory built option for 2006, shipping JCW kits to Bertone in Italy would have been illogical. Instead, shipping the "body in white" with preassembled JCW-spec engine, transmission and driveline plus all unique parts specific to the GP for final assembly much more logical.
Good point, that is a possibility, gonna search out further details now, may check the Graham Robson book first to revisit what he wrote.
Have been wanting to get this Bertone book because I know the GP is featured,
but haven't found a copy copacetic with my skinflint nature yet,
will wait for a tattered 'reading copy' to show up somewhere
LOL
This morning I've continued compiling kit #'s and vins,
only added a handful though,
and sometimes it's impossible,
like with this GP - WMWRE93596YB72154 -
where the rocker badge was replaced with a Madness version:
Sold Jan 16th 2020 at Bonhams in Scottsdale Arizona for $21,280.
*Rare and desirable John Cooper Works GP Mini tuned by Mini Madness
*Staggering performance with superb handling characteristics
*Just over 4,000 miles from new
*One of just 415 examples produced for the U.S. Market
Est 250bhp a 7,500rpm
This vicious Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works GP is one of just 415 examples made for the U.S. Market. The John Cooper Works GP featured a special aero package, carbon fiber rear spoiler, revised suspension and brakes, rear seat delete, tuned engine management system and a limited-slip differential. Combined with the Mini Cooper's excellent handing and driving characteristics it became a true race car for the road. The car was equipped with a supercharged 1.6-liter SOHC inline four-cylinder engine, sending power to the front wheels via a 6-speed manual transaxle. All examples built were assembled by Bertone in Italy and finished in Thunder Blue with silver roof. The example offered here has been treated to further performance upgrades such as an OSG Clutch, flywheel and short shifter, high flow cylinder head, MOMO seats and steering wheel. Receipts show over $28,000 worth of upgrades were performed by Mini Madness in Hillsboro, OR. The accident-free Carfax shows three previous owners and that the car has been in Texas, Colorado and Michigan, while covering only 4,033 miles as shown on the odometer at the time of cataloguing. Here is a rare opportunity, to acquire a low mileage example of these limited edition, extremely fast little John Cooper Works GP "hot hatch's".
I would be tempted to put the carbon dash in the R53, unless the R50 is a special JCW edition then I'd leave it as is because those are even more rare than the R53 version.
I don't thjnk the R50 was equiped with that dash originally, although both cars (R50 and R53) are from the same production week and year and are almost identical in livery.
There's another JCW dash kit for sale locally so maybe buy that one instead and put it in the R53 and leave the R50 as it is.
It's not perse the carbon look that I iike but just the JCW logo in/on it. The R53 is a keepers car anyway so I'd like to equip it with some nice/usefull JCW items.
Interesting images of that modded GP's engine bay and odometer at time of Bonhams sale...
The water-to-air intercooler is quite similar to that installed on my R53 in 2006, other than crackle red finish and coolant line fittings location. Might have been later version made by same manufacturer? Mine being branded Mini Motors, which ultimately was absorbed as part of Minia Mania in 2008. I wrote MM inquiring about that intercooler but never got a response. Possibly Mini Madness sourced their intercoolers from same. Also noting the mileage of 4033 shown which was identical to mine when purchased May 2021. Not implying anything by that other than coincidence, with mine being modded R53 vs R53 JCW GP spec.
Many do not consider the MINI GP1 a real works car as it was produced after the JCW name was sold to bmw and this model constructed in italy, where as many of us here in the UK have JCW models born at the West Sussex HQ of Mike Cooper in sussex so has the provenance beyond reproach
Interesting images of that modded GP's engine bay and odometer at time of Bonhams sale...
The water-to-air intercooler is quite similar to that installed on my R53 in 2006, other than crackle red finish and coolant line fittings location. Might have been later version made by same manufacturer? Mine being branded Mini Motors, which ultimately was absorbed as part of Minia Mania in 2008. I wrote MM inquiring about that intercooler but never got a response. Possibly Mini Madness sourced their intercoolers from same. Also noting the mileage of 4033 shown which was identical to mine when purchased May 2021. Not implying anything by that other than coincidence, with mine being modded R53 vs R53 JCW GP spec.
That is interesting!
When I get the time I'll have a look through every copy of MC2 magazine (I have the complete print run) and see if there were ever any adverts or reviews or pics of that style of chargecooler.
Will PM you with pix excerpts if anything turns up.
Originally Posted by jcw210silver
Many do not consider the MINI GP1 a real works car as it was produced after the JCW name was sold to bmw and this model constructed in italy, where as many of us here in the UK have JCW models born at the West Sussex HQ of Mike Cooper in sussex so has the provenance beyond reproach
Valid point.
We were having that debate a little earlier in the thread and indeed the provenance of originating at the Cooper Garages in Sussex is of utmost desirable collectability,
however, we cannot claim that the JCW factory-made R53's are illegitimate can we?
After all,
the kit was developed by Mike Cooper regardless of where it was installed,
and one of the major components was derived from an American engine made in Brazil!
BMW struck the deal to acquire rights to JCW over the holidays of 2006.
newspaper clipping:
"BMW has been working on this deal for some time now, and with the level of involvement in design, engineering and testing steadily increasing, the inevitable has become reality. In a deal set to become effective in January 2007, BMW has acquired the rights to the John Cooper Works name to further strengthen the MINI brand.
In what could easily become MINI's equivalent of the BMW "M' brand, JCW now has the engineering and development resources of BWM at their disposal, ensuring the John Cooper Works models a pivotal role in the overall MINI brand strategy well into the future."
BMW decided to change the logo over to the ugly version in mid-2008...
In between doing laundry and getting ready for out-of-state job roadtrip (sadly not driving my car, will carpool in the boss's Tacoma truck) started going through those MC2 mags and came across this short little article by the esteemed and aforementioned Graham Robson who was a great historian and wonderful writer, as well as being an imminent motoring enthusiast, thought it had some merit here for whatever it's worth so took some quick shots with the phone camera...
Take note of the warning, especially here in USA as small cars continue to plummet in popularity, my local dealer recently closed and I've been bummed about that and worrying further if the future may be as bleak as it seems right now.
Since JCW were factory built option for 2006, shipping JCW kits to Bertone in Italy would have been illogical. Instead, shipping the "body in white" with preassembled JCW-spec engine, transmission and driveline plus all unique parts specific to the GP for final assembly much more logical.
You're probably right. This makes even more sense to why the JCW numbers are much smaller on the GP cars; engines were pre-assembled in Oxford well before shipping to Italy.
Lots of the early Sound and JCW kits have the Cooper Garage Logo and were made in the UK,. my sound kit has that on it. Its on the back side in the plastics mold.
I’m selling my November 2001 JCW Mini Cooper To the best of my knowledge it is conversion number 5 (see pic of engine plaque) but other than that I don’t have any other other proof other than it’s quick! There is no sticker on the ecu, or certificate etc but was told the early ones sometimes didn’t have them? It did have the badges (tailgate and wing vent ones which were genuine) but have been sold. I personally don't really know much about these cars, apart from its great fun to drive! It’s far from perfect, has a crease in drivers door, some stone chips on the bonnet, bit of lacquer peel on the roof, couple of lights up on the dash? Headlining is horrible! But does have air con, climate control, electric windows work fine and got a long mot! Wheels have been changed and are the ones in last pic now asking £1500 or open to sensible offers located in Barnstaple North Devon
Bryan
Last edited by A383Wing; Jan 20, 2022 at 06:05 PM.
^^^ Just watched that video again (bookmarked this time). Agreed on prices of related printed media, however I did pop for one of Frank Stephenson's design sketches recently (received #73 on his limited series of 100). Pretty cool for £35.00 plus postage, which is not much more than cost a logo t-shirt these days... https://www.frankstephenson.com/product/mini-sketch/
