I'm thinking of ordering the JCW Tuning Kit (NOT the Sound Kit) for my 2004 MC. I found one for several hundred dollars below msrp. I have never met anyone who has this kit on their MINI Cooper. So my question is: Does anyone here have the kit and if so, how do you like it?

(I know I could have gotten an S for the same price, but I am not interested in an S. I also know I could go aftermarket for less, but I want to keep my MC entirely OEM.)

Thanks,
James

 

I know people over at Mini2.com have done it. Its mostly the brits and europeans that modify MCs with OEM parts.

 

What kit is this?

 

The JCW kit was available for a very short time, from about May 2004 until they changed to MY 2005 in July of 2004. It includes a new cylinder head, air filter, cover injection tube, side & rear emblem, and the sport exhaust. The horsepower goes from 115 to 126 and torque to 114. But it is supposed to increase midrange torque.

5 hours labor to install is better than I was quoted. I'll have to check on that.

James

 

I'm curious about this as well.
I have read (somewhere )that some dealers may still have a few in stock. I also have not met anyone that actually has this kit, but they did make one and it did make it to the U.S., for a short while.
For me, OEM just makes me happy.

 

No one has it? I guess it would be even more rare than I thought.

James

 

This kit used to be on the JCW web page. They no longer talk about it. There was mention here on NAM about a special at a dealership in Tennesee it was priced under $1100. I have thought about getting this but am just not sure it's worth it. I could buyt a new air filter and exhaust then get MTH and get mnore power for less money. But I admit JCW is intriguing.


Art

 

Still no replies.

I have the original PDF brochure for this kit if you want it.

James

 

I suspect it died because of lack of interest. I mean JCW was only an 11hp gain, suggesting that the stock MC was a pretty hot set-up itself. Those who want more power have the MCS and its iterations, so JCW was really providing for a non-existent market. I mean at $1,100 for the kit, plus at least 5 hours labor, you'd be paying for more than the difference between the MC and MCS with forty some fewer hp when you were done. Poor bang for the buck, another much more powerful alternative available from MINI = RIP JWC for MC.

 

I have driven said MC JCW in England, over 6k miles.
The off the line is real good, on the freeway's it has excellent mid range power 50-90mph.
It does not have the poke of the MCS/JCW, so with the MS/JCW all you have to do is down shift....the exhaust note is half as loud as MISFITOY's

 

What do you mean by "POKE"?



Art

 

mininana has it on the Metroplexmini.org board, but she is hardly online. You may want to PM her.

The Dallas dealers aren't discounting the kit, yet. I'd love to get it, but the $$$ is still too high. If they would meet me half way between the price difference of an MC and an MCS. I'd do it.

I've considered the "Sound Kit" as a nice OEM cosmetic mod, but I've heard it only fits 05 and after. That could be wrong information.

 

"Poke" (the pokiness of a car) (the ability to accelerate fast)

 

will the kit fit 05 mini coopers?

 

I don't think the kit fits a 2005 MC.

I'm not really interested in the debate between the the JCW MC vs. buying an MCS. For many reasons, I don't want an MCS. I'd just like to know how many people have the kit and how it performs. Thanks for the replies, I'll try to hunt down some of the people I have leads for.

James

 

gotta be careful....poke is already a car term used to explain tires that poke outside of the fenders due to lowe offset.

 

The context that I was speaking in, Is In English(Cornish), not Americanizes

Here are some site i found interesting....


http://eclectech.co.uk/poke-a-sheep.php

http://www.platinumgrit.com/pokethebunny.htm

http://www.gamesville.com/html_poke/poke_penguin.htm

http://www.websters-online-dictionar...h/po/poke.html

 

 

I had the JCW Tuning Kit installed in my MC this morning. My initial impression is very good. It has improved my MC in three major ways:

1. Initial hesitation from start is gone.
2. Power is more noticeable in the 2000-4000 rpm range.
3. The sound is deeper with a slight burble, but not too loud.

The install took exactly the quoted time of 5 hours.

I'm very satified so far.

 

If you don't mind how nmuch did it cost you?



Art

 

I was able to get it at dealer cost, several hundred less than the $2,650 retail price from MINI.

James

 

Now that sounds good. After the weekend will you please make some more info on your overall impression of the upgrade?



Art

 

I will. It might even appear on MotoringFile. :smile:

James

 

For those intrested in the "Cooper"JCW kit and there local dealer dose not have one. Then you can find it here http://myminiparts.com/proddetail.php?prod=MCJCW&cat=13

 

MyMini has it for less than MINI retail. The photo is of my engine bay.

James