,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

Your car has the "JCW Tuning Kit", but isn't a "Factory JCW".

To add a little more info, Factory JCWs have the big red brakes (like you mentioned), JCW-specific Dash Trim, A JCW emblem in the lower grill, etc.

 

That sux. I know it is faster than my friends '07 S. It runs really good though. I'm happy with it. Fun car. So is the Tuning Kit a dealer installed option? I feel like a poser with the JCW badges on there now. I might remove them. Kinds like having a STI badge on a base WRX.

 

Well, it's definitely faster than a stock S. The Kit moves the car from 172hp to 189hp, so it's a significant bump, roughly 10% more power.

Yes, the tuning kit is a dealer installed option. It comes with the Intake, Exhaust, and Tune.

Regarding being a "poser", the JCW badges are added as part of the MINI-supplied kit, so it wouldn't personally consider it equivalent to simply swapping the badges on a base WRX. That's my opinion, of course.

Also, it doesn't REMOVE the Cooper S badge from the back or the "S" side scuttles, so it's not claiming to be something that it's not. It *IS* a Cooper S with the JCW Tuning Kit.

 

I see. Thanks for the info. It does have the JCW 18" wheels that I really like. I'm ready to start the modding. I bought the car from an Acura Dealership. It was a one owner car with low miles and perfect condition. It has all the service records and I got a decent deal on it.

 

I would just enjoy that car if I were you. A Dealer installed JCW package is very expensive and does a nice job of increasing torque as well as horsepower. Up until 2009 there were no Factory JCW's There were only installed JCW package kits. Your car looks great with the driving lights and those black 18inch wheels, The Black sport stripes are really good looking. Leave the badges on it because it really is a JCW.

PS: My 2009 Factory JCW don't even have the JCW badge under the hood.


--------------------If I did not have the JCW cross bar there would be no sign of this being a JCW until you drove it.---------------------------------

 

Thanks I feel better now. Yours looks great. I need one of those strut bars now. Not sure what mods I want to go with first. I made a few grand off my trade in so I'm ready to do something. I owned a '06 WRX with STI turbo and intercooler with a Cobb tuner. I wish Cobb made a tuner for the Mini. There are the best. My WRX was faster but my MCS is a lot more fun to drive. I love it! I would like to get around 225-250 hp eventually.

 

Most who own a factory JCW probably wouldn't admit it publicly, but even ours are essentially glorified Cooper S's...

The red Brembo brakes and other such accouterments could probably be easily added to yours if you were so inclined. About the only thing yours is lacking that ours have are: 208 Hp, a stouter manual transmission, and a little interior "bling" (shift pattern printed in red rather than silver on the shift ****; little checkered flag badge on the secret compartment lid; specialized door sill kickpads; etc.).

Like "ronnie948" said: drive it and enjoy it! In essence, it is a genuine JCW Hardtop, 'cause the JCW tuning kit was all that was available in 2007...!

 

That's interesting - I knew that you could get an R53/R52 factory JCW car starting in 2006, but I didn't realize that the option went away on the R56 when it was first introduced.

 

I thnk the factory JCW also has different pistons, modified head, and different or modified turbo.

 

Yes, you may be correct; was kind-of lumping all of the factory engine mods into "208 Hp" to save on typing...

 

It's a different turbo, cam, and catless exhaust (well, one cat).


I go to a lot of track events with STi's so I gotta ask, how fast is your MCS through the turns compared to the STi? In a straight line it's not too close but I know a guy with a R53 running JCW suspension, pulley, and R-compounds can kind of keep up with what I assume are mostly stock Subarus. Are you gonna wear down the runflats or trade up to some sportier tires?

 

My MCS handles a lot better than my 06 Suby. I even had Whiteline front/rear sway bars and solid endlinks and some other stuff. I want to get rid of my runflats either this weekend or next. Hopefully I will be a ble to get something out of them to help pay for the new tires.

 

I had a puncture in one of my tires so rather then spend $324.00 +tax and shipping for one tire I replaced all four for $829.00 installed and balanced with a $70.00 rebate from Michelin.

I put on Michelin Exalta PE2 215/45/17 non runflats. I have not really flogged them yet but I'm sure they are going to be better handling then the runflats I had. They are the same exact weight as the runflats I took off even though they are wider & taller. (22pounds) One thing I did test out "THEY DO NOT HYDROPLANE" I tried to get them to act bad in a flood type rain and could not. Great rain tires.

As far as being quick and handling great I can only say that My 2009 Factory JCW is about 100% better then the 1998 Corvette I had before. It does not have the top speed of the Corvette but it does get from 40 to 140 a whole lot faster. It is much more just plain "FUN" and way more comfortable.

I can't compare to a modified Mini S because I have never driven one. All I know is I really like everything about my car and for the price I paid it was well worth the $29,700 price tag brand spanking new. One thing people don't realize is the Factory 2009 up JCW engines are Made in Germany as well as the Transmissions. The engines & transmissions along with a slew of parts are beefier and just not the same as on a Mini S. Of course you can modify the S to be faster but will it still get 32+ miles to a gallon? Will it still be as drivable on the street? From what I have read on these forums, The answer seems to be "NO".

You should just enjoy your JCW and have fun driving it to it's limits. You will be surprised at how fast and fun it is.

 

NeverEnuff...you are kinda in the same boat as me. I picked up a 2008 MCS w/JCW package as well and I learned that it wasn't a "Factory JCW" when I joined this board.

Fortunately for me, the previous owner put on JCW Kit, JCW Suspension, JCW Brake Kit from the Dealer so it's ALMOST a JCW Factory Minus Aero Kit and More Powerful Engine.

I even have the R109 JCW Wheels....which I think are pretty rare because they cost so much from the dealer. LOL...

 

NeverEnuff,

Your lucky day, Alta is coming out with a new ECU Tune that is supposed to be great for JCW turbo cars. Check it out.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...cu-tuning.html

 

If its anything like the Cobb Accessport I had on my WRX, it will be great.