Hi all.

I'm trying to figure out what to order on my Mini. I don't have unlimited funds so I figured I'd ask this group about the benifits of ordering with JCW. I know I'll add the LSD even if I go without JCW. Are there better after market kits? The Mini will be a daily driver and probably never see the track. I think I want to go the SC route, so I'm guessing I'd need to be ordering soon. So many options. What to do...what to so...Thanks!

 

My opinion, if you have the cash, go for it. I didn't want to spend that much more on my MINI... with what I ordered, my total $$ came out to ~32k. I went with the below options and couldn't be happier with a car.

 

Dont do it! Its not worth it! Buy a stage kit from MINImania. Its way more bang for your buck!

http://new.minimania.com/web/SUBTYPE..._Inventory.cfm

 

Please don't take this the wrong way..........use the search function. There are a gazilion threads on this exact-same topic.

My advice, drive a stock MCS and a JCW-MCS before you buy (preferably back-to-back); you might be amazed at the difference (or lack thereof) in performance between the two, especially if you're not intending to track the car. For me, the added JCW performance over a stock MCS for most daily situations isn't worth the inordinate amount of $$. I've nothing against the JCW tuning kit per se and I have no experience of aftermarket alternatives.

Stock MCS with LSD and optioned to keep the weight down (no sunroof, no S-lites etc) might be something to think about.

 

The benefits of JCW are that you keep your factory warrenties intact. Also, if you decide you want the kit later it'll cost an extra $1800 for installation. If you want the JCW, get factory installed.

If you go with a "stage kit" that will work too. Any aftermarket kit builder will have a warrenty on their product so you're covered there. But, if you blow the engine I wouldn't expect Mini to drop in a new one gratis. IMO

When getting any aftermarket parts installed make sure that you go to a fully vetted and recommended shop: get it done right the first time.

Either way you go you'll have a screamin' mini I LOVE my JCW!

NOTE: If you get the JCW you'll be an instant member of team craptastic

 

I love mine, I"d do it again in a heartbeat.

Then again I wasn't concerned with getting the maximum amount of power for the lowest dollar figure but rather wanting something well put together, hassle-free, warrantied, balanced, etc.

No regrets at all.

 

Well... the comparable Mini Mania Stage 3 kit is about the same money as the JCW, actually - $4100, versus $4500 full retail for the JCW engine kit. Installation for the Mania kit would be $1500 minimum. That's $5600.

For another $700 you get similar engine performance, uprated front brakes, the ability to roll the cost into your loan, and full warranty. In comparing these two options, the JCW is a no brainer, as they say. But Mini Mania stuff is way over priced, imo.

 

I'd get the JCW kit, but avoid the JCW wheels.

 

Thats probably not sage advice.

Take a look at the components. Do a survey across enthusiasts. How many buy the Minimania CAM vice Shrick? OR the CAI? Its also 4100 Why not just get JCW for that kind of money and have the MINI warranty? Ultrick?

My dealer tried to sell me that vice JCW ... no way.

 

I bought the JCW but I like going fast, I figured it would be a good base to start adding to. The other selling point for me was I could get all the JCW parts financed so I didn't have to worry about saving a couple grand to buy a stage kit. Now,after I ordered the JCW, I've done research and every one like the way the JCW feels well rounded over other tuner cars such as hartge etc...

I feel if you're not really going to drive your car, not neccesarily at the track, but just very spirited driving just save your money and buy the regular S, if its not enough buy a pulley.

 

The JCW kit is a well engineered performance option for the mini with a factory blessing. Fully warranted and comes with a certain amount of prestigue.
It's all real nice if you are willing to spend the asking price..
I like to tweak my cars... so I took the aftermarket route.. A pulley, exhaust system and intake will run you about 1/5 the price... and provide similar performance depending on the pulley/intake used. The money saved can be applied to any repairs needed or more upgrades. The aftermarket has proven itself in performance and reliability..
I enjoy the car more when I have less $$$ invested in it....

 

Thanks for the responses. I'll also try a search for some more background information. I do like the idea of a factory warranty with JCW kit and I am a fan of HP. Guess I just need to "bite the bullet" and go with the JCW option.
Thanks again!

 

I struggled with this decision as well a few months ago until I drove a JCW. Don't let people fool you, there is a big difference! The engine is smoother, not "cammy" at all, pulls smoothly all the way from idle vs the MCS which doesn't really kick in until about 3500 rpm. And though the trip to 60 may only be a half second or so quicker, above 60 the JCW will pull away steadily, remember there is nearly a 40HP difference! Advantage of JCW over aftermarket is that I have well rounded performance out of the box, financed and fully blessed by the warranty.

It's a blast! If you can afford it, do it!!<img>

 

[QUOTE=Mini-Wingnut]I'm trying to figure out what to order on my Mini. I don't have unlimited funds so I figured I'd ask this group about the benifits of ordering with JCW.

As several have mentioned the JCW is well engineered and fully warranteed. Having had students in MINIs on track days, I can assure you the JCW brakes and LSD are very important parts of the package. Getting more HP is no sweat with the pulley and chip mod, but how well will a stock engine hold up?
The big chunk of extra cash for the JCW will probably pay back well on resale, if that's an issue. Dealers in CA usually ask for a big ADP (additional dealer profit) on these cars and the cars depreciate very little. I figure that finding one without markup I got a nice deal that will repay for itself in resale because of the uniqueness of the JCW while many aftermarket mods have little positive effect on resale.

 

Unless you are building a true track car or really want to mod a car (in this case buy used and as cheap as possible) I would go with the JCW...... I have written a lot on the subject....the warranty issue is huge.....even my car which is highly modded and quite fast for a non turbo is not "fast" like a Viper.... the idea IMO is to have a "fun" car to "sport" around in....if it's more than that contact "onasled" or look at his posts...... The JCW is well integrated.....without a lot of potential issues......like i said...if you want to highly mod a car buy used and have at it but it makes no sense to me to buy a new car with warranty and then throw that away for marginal gains.....the difference in performance can easily be made up in driving school.......just MO

 

And don't forget that JCW components are complete crap.

 

Don't be fooled yourself... Adding a 15% pulley makes a HUGE difference in performance. There is no more off idle lag and it pulls every bit as smooth as the JCW... The JCW might be faster though... mainly because your wallet will be that much lighter...

 

[quote=JimsWorksMini]So many misconceptions... The LSD is an option on the MCS and is not part of the JCW package. The stock MCS engine is the same on the MCS as it is for the JCW except for the cylinder head. so it will hold up the same... As far as resale value... I haven't seen the JCW values anywhere near what they should be in resale...
The dealer will sell them for more but when trade in times comes... its just not there

 

I drove a car with a 15% pulley, it was NOT as smooth or as quick as the JCW. Granted, it was better than stock and a cheap way to get closer to the power of the JCW. To get the full power of a JCW via the aftermarket takes nearly the same amount of money (unless you install yourself), in which case you might as well get the warranty with it. Do some research and this will bear out to be true.

In fact at MOTD I was playing in the twisties with someone who had a 15% pulley and CAI and he could not keep up with me on the straights.

 

[quote=mikem53]Uh... yes it is. You appear to have a few misconceptions yourself.

 

Mike, have you actually driven a JCW, especially a 2005 or 2006? And I don't just mean around the block... a pullied MCS is NOWHERE NEAR as smooth as the JCW implementation, in my experience... and I HAVE driven both.It is both. You can get the LSD without the factory JCW, of course... but the LSD is automatically included if you buy the factory JCW, as are the JCW brakes. I think you misread Mini-Wingnut's words anyway - he was saying that it is very important that MINI includes the brakes and LSD as part of the package... that for reasons of additional safety and control with the extra JCW power, it was a very sensible decision on MINI's part to package them together.

 

You probably work out even vs aftermarket... since you pay a pretty good premium for JCW. However, I was surprised to find out that a MCS loses more value if it has JCW.

I asked what the lease residuals were on the JCW vs the MCS, just to get an indication of what Mini thought the car would be worth down the road. The JCW was 4% below the MCS (58% vs 62% after 3 yrs). That would mean the JCW add-ons should have a 42ish% residual to bring the whole car down to 58%.

I was also on the fence with JCW.... this fact tipped me over.

 

If your modding a car you will lose far more than that % wise I take it for granted that my resale on my performance parts is less than 25% bolted on the car..... worth more parted out.....

I have an 02 with 54K the cost of the mod parts is over $20K....

somewhere along the line the joy of the performance has a cost.....

 

Interesting.....My question is this for the JCW kits added at the dealer or for the factory installed JCW option? That may make a difference. Or, if it doesn't, perhaps Mini thinks that people with JCW kits installed will be harder on their cars??? It will be interesting to see how this plays out when NADA's 06 prices come out.

Bottom line for me making the decision (06 factory JCW or not) was the out of the box performance and warranty. The only mods I plan on are non run-flat tires and possibly a beefier rear anti-rall bar (i'll wait until the warranty period is over on that as well). I am very happy with my JCW, and though I feel that it's overpriced by about 2 grand, I didn't want to be left wanting for more until the warranty ran out on a regular MCS.

 

But after 30 years, an original JCW will completely kick a$$ in value. These will be THE first-gen new Minis to own long term. No question.