I just got the JCW suspenion installed on Friday.

Car rides great. The ride is very smooth and compliant softer than I'd expected, until you go to corner and it firms up nicely.

I love the progressive springs etc. Changing lanes is pleasure...no role or pitch like it had with the standard suspension. I'll post pictures soon.

 

Congrats! I was going to get the JCW suspension but my dealer is clueless. I asked about how springs have to be ordered based on the cars VIN but they were like "JCW suspension doesn't include springs".. so I said screw the warranty..

Looking forward to the pics

 

Humm...that is strange they would say springs are not included, because it says in the brochure that you have to order them separate from the suspension kit. I think they are $105 a spring.

 

how much did the whole kit and install run you? I'm thinking of getting a mini and I'm considering the JCW suspension. I've currently got a lowered 99 accord with Tein SS coilovers so I'm already used to having a slightly stiffer ride than stock. so would you say its almost stock in ride feel for normal driving? did the drop get rid of all the fender gap? is the suspension now covered by warranty? and are alignments covered under warranty now? sorry for all the questions. if you could I'd love to see some pics of the drop. thanks

 

Drop should only be about .5" inch from stock but that is one of the things I like about the JCW kit. Not too low! I plan to have my installed soon.

Dealer install is expensive but it can be done much cheaper elsewhere.

Morristown Mini sells the entire kit with springs for around $1050. Can't recall the exact price. This includes VIN specific springs, struts and front and rear sway bars. I think it is a great price for just the parts!

 

anyone have pics of the .5" drop?

define expensive for an install?

 

Try this review with pictures. Others on this great site as well.

http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/09/...ion-long-term/

 

springs come with the kit.

when i asked for my original suspension to take home, i got 4 springs, 4 struts and 2 sway bars..

oh and original springs were black. new jcw springs are red.

 

good find, thanks for the link

 

The suspension kit in its own box has no springs (if you read the motoring file install instruction you'll see that the springs have to be ordered separately - there are 3 different types for different specs of the vehicle).

The suspension kit includes the shocks, bump stops, and front and rear sway bars.

The springs are also linear rate not progressive.

I should know, I have a box sitting in my spare room and a JCW car in the garage ... and my wife works for Mini ..

 

Wife works for Mini... Nice. Ask her to find out the spring rate for the JCW springs if installed in a '08 MCS 6spd. Thanks.

 

A little confused here....are the springs (that you need to specify) included in the price? Or do you have to buy them extra?

 

lol, yea now Im getting a little confused myself.
i bought my mini about a month ago. i got the 08 MCS
and had the jcw suspension kit AND sport suspension kit
installed. from what i understand, the sport suspension
kit alone is only the upgraded sway bars. and jcw suspension
kit includes the springs right? ( i have red springs) so im
guessing those are it right? unless the stock springs for
mcs's are red?
either way, i love the car! handles like a dream.
also have the jcw engine upgrade too. oW!

 

not sure why the confusion...

I got my car on July 2nd. When i ordered, i didnt get the sport suspension, so the car came with the basic suspension.

I had the dealer install the JCW suspension and the strut bar in the bonnet.

I didnt have to say anything other than i want the JCW suspension package.

I made sure to tell them I wanted my stock suspension to take home.

So....

When i picked up the car, they had my old suspension in a box for me. It had 4 black springs, 4 struts and 2 sway bars..

I looked at my car and it had new struts, new red springs and new sway bars..

So, MCS stock springs are black and the JCW springs are red.


that clear it up?

Alex

 

amen

 

you always have to keep the OEM parts, someone is always looking to go back to stock.

So what did the full cost of the JCW suspension package run you including the install? I was just thinking of doing the spring/strut combo, but if its not much more to get the full suspension that would be worth it for me.

 

Does anyone have the sway bar sizes for the JCW? If you have them, stock and sport would be great too. Thanks.

 

I don't have the sizes but have seen them posted before. Try a search. I know the rear is 18.5 and I believe the front might be 24. I know the rear is correct at 18.5.

 

I will have to look at home, it is on the paperwork and I dont remember.

 

cool, if you don't mind I'd be intrested to hear roughly what it cost as an option. thanks

 

With installation it cost me $2,145.
$875 Suspension Kit (4 struts, bushings, 2 stablizer bars etc.)
$420 Springs (4)
$103 Tax
$600 Labor
$149 (4 Wheel Alignment)

It doesn't drop it a lot but enough to notice...about half and inch. The ride is smooth as the base suspension but with more suspension control no wallowing like before. The suspenion has tightend up any lateral movement and you really feel the bit as soon as you go into a turn.

 

That is a reasonable install price from a Mini dealer. I have seen this quoted much higher by other dealers. It is amazing how much the install price varies from dealer to dealer.

 

It seems to me that you spent too much $. Why get the sport suspension, you could have just got the DSC and the JCW suspension and saved $.

 

I think I can interpret this now with the information below:

For $875 + $420 (equals $1295) I get the JCW.

The JCW is listed at the dealer parts section for $1295. Same price.

So the answer is, you have to specify your VIN to get the right four springs (for $420) and add them to $875 for the kit and that is the kit.

So I assume when I order the kit they will ask for my VIN, and I will be given the whole kit.

I think that that is right.

I have swapped out struts (w/springs) before on a car, would the MINI be alot more difficult? This looks like something that I could install myself.

If I could (and did) would that void my warranty?

Thoughts (on the install, mostly)

 

Yep $2145 was the price I paid too.

again i didnt have to specify that i wanted springs. I just assumed and they came with.

If you are worried, i would just make sure when you put in to have it installed that you say, "hey, I am getting springs, struts and sway's right?".

That should settle you being worried.

cheers, you will love it!

Alex