@KYDan where is the mode switch? My 2014 S is at the base ring around shifter.


@Beemerchef I guess the one mode they mention in the press release is for the DSC, called GP mode. Maybe you hold the DSC switch for a few seconds or something. Wouldn't really matter in daily driving I'd think, until you're really pushing limits.

 

Forgot to post this. Similar to the PDF from Mini UK linked above. They were handing these little tri-fold brochures out- looks like something that will be available in dealerships too.

 

I'll be grabbing that rear lower sub brace as it connects the 4 points together (floor board to the rear links)- nothing else out there does that. I was going to build one out of angle iron but the factory is way nicer. Might do the front tie bar if it's cheap enough.
Article say 10mm lower, same as JCW pro kit.
20mm wider track at front only?
Carbon fender flares? Why not copy what the Renault 5 Turbo did in the 80's? It's still unique and congrad's to all that have it on order.

 

[QUOTE=MikeMJCW;4505477
Carbon fender flares? Why not copy what the Renault 5 Turbo did in the 80's? It's still unique and congrad's to all that have it on order.[/QUOTE]
Says fender flares are "carbon fiber reinforced plastic".

 

They're using the material leftover from the production of the i3 and i8 to make them.

 

@TheBigNewt I think CFRP is just the technical term for what we call carbon fiber. I know that's what they call it in Japan, for one. And fiberglass is FRP.

The CF on these flares though is probably just a decorative skin more or less. The structure under is plastic.

@MikeJCW If I recall, the press release says 8mm wider at rear. I wonder why not more, but I guess they found what works.

JCW Pro kit is adjustable, pretty sure you can go lower than 10mm safely.

 

Yes, you are absolutely right. I saw that in the Schmee150 video he posted.

 

I am going to suggest that we all have the “GP” mode or something very close to it. On my 2012 S and on my 2019 JCW a quick press and release of the DSC switch will put the system into “traction” mode. The manual says that this is for when a bit of wheel spin is desired such as in snowy conditions. This is a great mode for the track. While not quite ideal for the track, I use it all the time (the guard rails are too close on the tracks I go to and can’t afford for a mistake to put me into them) and I have achieved a bit of a 4 wheel drift with the car without the traction control kicking in... On the other hand it has corrected a mistake or two...

 

Ok - Here is someone who is excited about getting a GP3. Not a bad review of it, with a test ride...

 

What seats are those? Recaro? Do I see alcantara in some of those pics?

 

Seats "look like" the alcantara in my 18 JCW. If it came in a stick I'd probably be at the dealer now.

 

The reviews (video and written) are saying the seats are out of the JCW with a GP logo...

But clearly there are 2 levels of seats for the JCW; mine with the moveable head rests and the ones with the fixed head rests. Mine are clearly the lower ones. The GP seats appear to be the upper level..

 

That's a shame. You'd think that when they put so much effort in track capabilities they'd also fit some special seats...

And there's no Sparco/Recaro option for F56 (any model) like there was for R53 and R56?

 

Well, I just submitted my reservation. Lets hope I get it

 

Did your dealership tell you what your place on their submissions is? 300 are allotted to the US, but I have not found any information on how they well be allotted. I think there are about 100 dealerships, but some are much larger than others and I have never heard from any dealership about how many they expect to receive.

 

No word yet. Interestingly enough though: When I was there earlier this week I was told that there are 500 allotted for the US. But yeah, nobody knows how many each dealership will get.

 

Everything that I have read or seen has been 300 for the U.S.. And, that is what my dealership told me it was as well.

 

300 out of 3,000 seems really low for the US. But I have no idea how we rank in overall sales.

 

How much weight did they save? What is the actual weight?

 

It's not much lighter, I think the rep said something like 10 kilos. The only thing I can think of that reduces weight is the rear seat delete. Other than that, you're adding... strut bar, undercarriage bracing, cargo bar, wing, fenders even. Oh, and the auto trans too, if you want to compare to a manual!

Save a bunch of weight if you skip AC though, if that's possible...

 

So 2700 lbs or more?

 

Really don't know. I guess if you configure a JCW with the same trans and no sunroof, it's gonna be really similar.

 

Seats are one of those things in a car that cost a small fortune to certify to all the standards that are out there. So, while it is unfortunate that they didn’t do an alternate seat, it is very understandable that, for 3000 cars, they didn’t do up a new one. Quite frankly, I think the JCW are quite good as is, for a street seat. So, not a bad thing for the GP, in my opinion.

As for Sparco seat options for the MINI, as a MINI option, I am not aware of any. There was a European MINI Recaro seat option for the R56, but they were not certified for the US (I had a set, bought from the UK). There was a US Recaro option, but that was just a more highly bolstered version of the base seat. Not really good for the track like the European Recaro was. Probably not as good as the current JCW seat options.

 

This was a post from the UK about the process in Great Britain. It really does not impact us here in the US as far as I know. But, I thought I would share it with the forum as it may work similarly here.
Richard FergusonMartin Shaw I live in Nottingham, but I ordered my car from Barons in Farnborough, Hampshire. I’ve bought a few MINIs from them in the past, and BMW/MINI HQ is just down the road. This is the email from MINI:

Good Afternoon

We are pleased to confirm that the below customer(s), who you have submitted their interest on our register, have been successful in securing a MINI John Cooper Works GP.

Richard Ferguson

Please can you confirm by 31st December 2019 if your customer(s) would like to proceed with an order, and which specification they would like out of the following two options:
•MINI John Cooper Works GP
•MINI John Cooper Works GP with Touring Package

Sales Planning will centrally order these cars and you will be allocated your IVS order number in January 2020.

Please be reminded of the following conditions when confirming your orders:
• You will not be able to amend the specification once the car has been ordered, so please ensure the spec is correct before submitting.
• No customer name changes will be permitted. In the event of your customer cancelling, written cancellation should be sent to Sales Planning as soon as possible. In this instance the vehicle will be offered to the next customer on the waiting list.
• No stock or DO order types are allowed due to the limited volumes of this model.
• Due to legislative changes all GPs must be registered by the end of 2020.

 

Very interesting! Is there any info as to when he placed the order? The process he's going through and the result sound pretty much like what I've been told for us here in the US