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The unique traction control is BMW’s ARB system. The front brakes and calipers on the GP are the same design as the F54 and F60 JCW and are fundamentally different to the F56 JCW calipers (I own both). However, the GP uses “steel” brakes, which likely refer to the pistons inside the calipers, as previous JCW calipers have used plastic pistons. Rear brakes are same size and design as F56 JCW and therefore S, however, they work much better thank to the functioning rear wing (I’ve actually already got bug guts where the wing presses the air down on the top of the car, it works). There are only 2 options, and US cars had no option, you either got the track variant (with racing tires, without an) or the touring variant (summer tires,with ac). Brake pads and sway bars are better than stock JCW but no different between track and touring variant.
you missed the solid motor mount. It also has the GP traction control mode. The fenders and geometry mean you can fit 235 width tires without messing with the fenders. The steering response is different than other cars because it has no sport mode. Also this is a small thing, but the 3D printed paddle shifters are larger than the plastic ones on the F56 JCW. However, it makes a huge difference. I’m missing a few other things as well
Good post... I think this makes the list of GP goodies pretty complete and in one spot...
I would just note concerning your statement:
However, the GP uses “steel” brakes, which likely refer to the pistons inside the calipers, as previous JCW calipers have used plastic pistons.
The previous JCW calipers (R56 JCS) used sintered metal brake pistons in their front brakes. These would sometimes fail (chip and/or crumble) with hard use and people would replace them with stainless steel pistons. The current F56 JCW uses some sort of steel piston, having observed mine closely (not sure if they are sintered or not). They do have rubber dust boots that tend to disintegrate with the heat of track use.
When I read the MINI (or was it a reviewer’s comment?) statement about the GP 3 using “steel brakes” I took that to mean they are using a steel alloy rotor that is different from what is used in the other MINIs. Maybe a harder alloy or cryo treated, or both. Predominantly brake rotors that are metal are some form of steel (I have heard of aluminum and stainless rotor, but those would be very uncommon). Sometimes they are referred to as “iron” but iron by itself would not be usable; it is always alloyed with other elements, which makes it a “steel”. So the MINI statement doesn’t make sense on it own.
The previous JCW calipers (R56 JCS) used sintered metal brake pistons in their front brakes. These would sometimes fail (chip and/or crumble) with hard use and people would replace them with stainless steel pistons. The current F56 JCW uses some sort of steel piston, having observed mine closely (not sure if they are sintered or not). They do have rubber dust boots that tend to disintegrate with the heat of track use.
Hey, I believe we are a bit confused. Please see here the "plastic" pistons I am referring to.
I installed F56 JCW brakes on my Cooper S, and I am certain they used the same design. It is my understanding they replaced these pistons with fully steel pistons that won't melt on the track.
Otherwise, all good information about brakes, the often do use low carbon steels as the stainless steels have poor heat transfer rates due to the carbon, and rust is less important than heat transfer.
why should he ? He even offered me TÜV registration at his place, the fitment is more than proper. Only 5 percent have to be corrected, by MINI but we bot don't care anyhow. He has done so many fitments. and I give a F....the tires are much better than the standard ones, I am sure even better than the 225 TD, so sorry.
Finally, it was more measuring what is possible. I prefer a 17-inch wheel. I would say my present wheel 8x17 clears the disc, easy with the GP2 6 Pots
Hey, I believe we are a bit confused. Please see here the "plastic" pistons I am referring to.
I installed F56 JCW brakes on my Cooper S, and I am certain they used the same design. It is my understanding they replaced these pistons with fully steel pistons that won't melt on the track.
Otherwise, all good information about brakes, the often do use low carbon steels as the stainless steels have poor heat transfer rates due to the carbon, and rust is less important than heat transfer.
i stand corrected - Sneed does call them “plastic”. I had read in other posts that these pistons were a sintered metal and they cracked and chipped with use. Hence my comment.
The Sneed pistons are stainless steel, which, as you note, has a low heat transfer coefficient, and there is less heat transferee into the brake fluid.
Having plastic in my calipers on my JCW is going to suck big time, knowing how hot brake will get at WGI. Why does BMW/MINI with the aid of Brembo, who should know better, put this crap into a car that is supposed to be a performance car? I wonder what LAP Motors put into the calipers of their F56 MINI JCW race cars??? No plastic in the F56 JCW caliper piston that I could find... See my comment here...
Last edited by Eddie07S; Sep 5, 2020 at 08:58 AM.
Reason: Deleted my rant
why should he ? He even offered me TÜV registration at his place, the fitment is more than proper. Only 5 percent have to be corrected, by MINI but we bot don't care anyhow. He has done so many fitments. and I give a F....the tires are much better than the standard ones, I am sure even better than the 225 TD, so sorry.
Finally, it was more measuring what is possible. I prefer a 17-inch wheel. I would say my present wheel 8x17 clears the disc, easy with the GP2 6 Pots
My dealer is pretty strict when it comes to only installing the size tires on the vehicle that are listed on the door placard, it's nice that yours lets you install non-OEM sized tires.
I did note a few things of interest... when he starts the car, average gas mileage was 17.4 mpg...
And did you see the “g” meter hanging from the rear view mirror? When it is at about a 45 deg angle, the car is cornering at about 1g... He was bookin’ it through that corner...
His comment about the stiff suspension at the end is spot on. Having just spent 3 days on the track with my JCW, I can tell you that the “on the road stiff riding Pro suspension” is too soft for the track... So, yes, the GP, being a “track car” and likely stiffer yet, won’t be the most comfortable car on the road... But it should make for a really good track car, if my JCW is any indication.
FWIW I get 22.5 MPG in town in my 301 HP JCW Mini Clubman. It's pretty much a "stoplight racer" for me! But it gets about 32mpg on the highway like my 2014 JCW Coupe did. (The Coupe got about 27mpg in town)
FWIW I get 22.5 MPG in town in my 301 HP JCW Mini Clubman. It's pretty much a "stoplight racer" for me! But it gets about 32mpg on the highway like my 2014 JCW Coupe did. (The Coupe got about 27mpg in town)
I was wondering about MPG for these new performance Mini since they share the modular technology with the BMW B58 engine I have in my new M240i.
To compare, I get about 21 MPG in town and 29-30 MPG highway being very gentle at least for now. Spirited driving drops everything to an average of 24-25 MPG which is a lot less than I was accustomed with the JCW Coupe.
What is the weight of your Clubman? The M240i is 3519 lbs.
What is the weight of your Clubman? The M240i is 3519 lbs.
My Clubman weighs about the same as your car. The GP3 weighs a lot less (no All4 system, no sunroof or back seat, 8" shorter, lighter wheels). Our Coupes were quite a bit lighter for sure.
My Clubman weighs about the same as your car. The GP3 weighs a lot less (no All4 system, no sunroof or back seat, 8" shorter, lighter wheels). Our Coupes were quite a bit lighter for sure.
3519 seems lite for the clubman as the GVW for the JCW hatch is 3,726 and for the GP# 3,318
Can someone with a GP3 comment on whether it has power folding mirrors? I have a tight garage and I always hit the fold button on my JCW Countryman when pulling in. It would be nice to still have this small luxury.
It partially solves the lack of "Comfort Access" with these little beasties
I put the auto off when stopped on the JCW to never turn off and love it, alas, the GP does not have that option. I assume that there is some sort of Bimmer code that will allow a savvy technician to program it where it does not turn off at every traffic jam or stop light, etc. I do not know how to do this, but surely someone does. We have a couple of BMW shops close by and I imagine that they would gladly oblige me for a price. Any assistance/advice would be appreciated.
I was about to come here to say this. Curb weight is correct weight to understand how much a car weighs. The GP weighs 2755lbs, and the Clubman JCW weighs 3450 lbs.
I was about to come here to say this. Curb weight is correct weight to understand how much a car weighs. The GP weighs 2755lbs, and the Clubman JCW weighs 3450 lbs.
Yeah, the GP weighs just a little more than most of the 2 door R series Minis weighed. My car is a little longer and has the All4 thing too.
An interesting review, but I can't say that I agree with the reviewer as I do love the rawness of the GP3 so far. It is a handful, but oh so much fun! I have not opened it up yet as I only have 300 miles on it, but I have done some spirited runs and it is a hoot! The weather isn't cooperating either!
I put the auto off when stopped on the JCW to never turn off and love it, alas, the GP does not have that option. I assume that there is some sort of Bimmer code that will allow a savvy technician to program it where it does not turn off at every traffic jam or stop light, etc. I do not know how to do this, but surely someone does. We have a couple of BMW shops close by and I imagine that they would gladly oblige me for a price. Any assistance/advice would be appreciated.
An interesting review, but I can't say that I agree with the reviewer as I do love the rawness of the GP3 so far. It is a handful, but oh so much fun! I have not opened it up yet as I only have 300 miles on it, but I have done some spirited runs and it is a hoot! The weather isn't cooperating either!
KYDan - Did I miss a post of yours? You now have a GP3?
I wonder what LAP Motors put into the calipers of their F56 MINI JCW race cars??? 
