I am thinkg about getting a JCW intake. Doese anyone have any thoughts about it that you would not mind sharing.

Thanks

 

I have it and enjoy it. If you want more power and sound for less money, buy the ALTA, not the JCW. If you like the idea of keeping your car "stock" with MINI parts, then the JCW makes sense.

It is fun when the flap opens at 4,500 rpm, but I'd like to change mine to have it open all of the time (which some people on this board have done).

Search the topic as well, you'll find a bunch of opinions as well as other intakes to compare it to.

mb

 

The filters for the JCW are also very expensive. You never need to replace the alta filters.

 

From my, admittedly limited, experiences reading this board (don't even own a MINI yet), it seems that, from the numbers, the only real advantages with JCW are full warranty retention, and a name that's been associated with MINI's for 40+ years now?

Anyway, generally it seems you can get superior performing products, with good build quality, for significantly less money than JCW stuff. I believe the same applies to this intake.

 

Exactly That and the fact that the dealer can't void a waranty just because you have an intake. If you wana burn money for less power, JCW is the airbox for you.

Im not JCW bashing. Look at my sig and youl see i love JCW parts for things that the waranty matters on. In a case like this though, its better to get the alta. The sound is incredible.

 

i've actually gone from alta to jcw. main reason is the sound, which did seem great at the beginning, but after awhile i got tired of the whine whenever i gassed it. it almost drowns out the exhaust. enter a tunnel, underpass, or narrow valley, and it really screeches.

with the jcw, if you wanna hear the s/c whine, just rev it past 4500 rpm. below that, it's stock quiet, allowing me to hear the sweet sound of my milltek exhaust.

as far as power goes...i know the numbers say alta is better, but personally, i'm not quite convinced. now when i switched to the jcw, i did it along with the larger injectors and updated ecu. so not quite a fair way to compare them.

one other thing...with the alta i remember hearing the air being sucked in when shifting, which is one thing i missed with the jcw initially. but upon closer listening with the jcw, i can also hear air being sucked in when shifting. not sure if that says anything with regards to the air intake capability of either one.

as far as looks...the alta definitely stands out due to its bright red foam and open-top design. $$$-wise, alta wins also.

i've also recently added the m7 bonnet scoop, which i think certainly helps, especially considering much of my driving is done at highway speeds. i do sometimes wonder how it would work and sound with the alta, ie. if the "air-gulping" would be any greater.

 

the hood scoop only guides air to the Inter Cooler, it doesn't affect the engine air intake...

 

I've had both the JCW and a Rouge (which is a turner motor sports/madness style).. I can say that after having the JCW on for 5k and then switching to the Rouge, I prefer the the Rouge, and the increased sound, which now sucks air in the cowl opening the dealer made for the JCW filter. I also made the JCW have the flap open all the time by removing it, but still it wasn't loud enough for me. The Rouge CAI appears to have better throttle response, but that is purely subjective. The sound with the cowl modification is louder than the JCW but not too loud in my opinion. I haven't driven in a car with the ALTA. I am not a jcw basher either, currently I own a 2005 with the JCW tuning kit and JCW suspension. Also, I owed a 2004 with the 2002 to 2004 JCW tuning kit and used the rouge CAI on that car too. I like having both CAI's and can return the car to stock if I want, but prefer the rouge.

 

I would agree with this. SC whine can be real annoying on a long trip. I've driven a SC MR2 cross country twice and it got real old, real quick. With the JCW, you only hear it when you want it. Besides, the real sounds comes from the exhaust.

 

One thing we all forgot to mention is that the JCW intake, since it is a JCW product, is by definition: Craptastic. If you're not sure what that means, search "JCW is crap", or something similar.

mb

 

Hey MB,

Why not just tell us? :impatient

 

Dead wrong.


I bought the JCW so I have it nice and quiet when I want it that way. My other car has an open cone and I'm tired of the constant noise.

 

sorry but last time I checked the hood scoop (center, front) it only leads air to the IC. The airbox is fed by the opening & tube in and behind the upper grill...

perhaps we are not talking about the same thing?

 

Just a quick question, I may have missed this in previous threads- but does the JCW intake make any difference before 4500rpm? Or is it basically the stock box until 4500rpm?

 

Nope, you're right, I'm a total ******* and wasn't thinking!!

 

Mine is basically stock under 4500, but JCW claims a couple ft./lbs. of torque.

 

Does anyone know if the JCW intake is CARB certified for us over-regulated folks in California?

 

Ok, there was a thread a few weeks ago where someone wrote that he was sick of everyone calling JCW stuff "crap". It spawned an entire sarcastic thread where people bemoaned their "crappy" vehicles and modifications. One member went so far to make a team (Team Craptastic).

I think that is what it was all about, maybe the founding member of team craptastic can chime in here...

mb

edit: here it is, in all of its crapalicious glory: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...light=JCW+Crap

 

Thanks for the scoop, MB. Sorry, I couldn't help myself. I just hope that JCW intake will work with the rest of the JCW kit I just placed an order for.

 

Yes it is. The entire JCW Engine Kit is CARB certified, it has to be, it is now a factory option.