2 years back when I had the JCW stage 1 Tuning done on my Mini, I know the dealer updates the software in the car to adjust for the extra ponies we get from the intake and exhaust. Anyone know how to check to see if the update was really done? Assuming it was, I would also like to insure it does not get overwritten when I bring the car in for service.

 

You could just take it to the dealer and ask what flash is i the car. I think that is about the easiest way.

You should have a tuning kit badge with a serial number on your valve cover. There is also a sticker on the B pillar in side the door opening on the driver side, although some techs forget to stick that one on. Both let the tech know that the kit is installed and to be mindful of the parts and tune.

At the same time though I would just bring it up prior to them doing a flash just to make sure.

 

I am at the dealer now, having them take a look at the cold start issue and reprogram the ECU. I do have all of the badging but did not know how to confirm that the ECU was upgraded.

 

It should have had a very noticable power increase after the kit was installed.

 

yeah it will feel a lot slower than before

 

If you noticed it having quite a bit more power than before they definitely updated the ECU. You wouldn't really feel much from the intake and exhaust alone.

I think you are worrying too much about them overwriting the tune in the future. They'll know it has the kit.

 

I have a few questions about the tuning. What dose it come with? what dose it do? and how much is it?

 

JCW AIR FILTER SYSTEM
JCW STAINLESS STEEL SPORTS EXHAUST
JCW EXHAUST MANIFOLD
JCW FILTER AIR GUIDE
MODIFIED ENGINE ELECTRONICS SYSTEM
JCW ACTIVATION CODE FOR ENGINE CONTROL UNIT (CHASSIS SPECIFIC)
JCW EMBLEMS FOR FRONT GRILLE AND TAILGATE
JCW ENGINE BADGE WITH SERIAL KIT NUMBER
JCW CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY

roughly $2400

Will give you about 165-170 WHP and 180-190 WTQ

Not really worth it IMO

 

Those numbers sound like some stock numbers I've seen. I think they are probably a a good bit low.

Also IslandMaser might have a different opinion of worth since his warranty was voided over aftermarket tuning on his blown engine. He wouldn't be in that position had he had the JCW kit. *note I am not trying to bring his problems into this thread - I just used him as a recent example of one of the big plus sides of the JCW kit - retained warranty.

 

But he had a factory JCW.....

 

Those numbers are pretty much what you would see from a mustang dyno with the JCW kit. I've tested several cars with this kit already and saw similar numbers. You may see higher numbers on another dyno, but the base line would be higher too.

The main point of this kit is power and sound. The bulk of which is provided from the intake and axle back exhaust. Together they can be installed and provide 90% of what the kit does as a whole. However when bought separate they cost about $1300 less total and still are covered under warranty. At that point the question needs to be asked if the extremely marginal gain the kit provides is worth $1300 more. To me it's not.

 

True, but he did use aftermarket tuning. If he had left it stock JCW mini wouldn't be able to deny his warranty.

 

There are other tuning kits out there that make more power and will cost you less, but unless you are already out of warranty, or you are very comfortable having you warranty voided, I would stick with the factory kit. My Clubman hick-up'd over the weekend,with a yellow engine light on now and the car is running very rough and sputtering. I think I lost the High Pressure Fuel Pump and it's getting towed to the dealer (400 miles away at MINI's expense). I'm very happy that I have the kit and still have the factory warranty.

 

+1 on the JCW Stage 1...love the power! The power is NOT coming 90% from the exhaust and the intake...this is MINIMUL at best. The power is coming from the ECU flash.

I have it and Have my warranty in tact. Other tunes MAY produce more power, but they also are putting more stress on parts.

 

Well I did have my ECU flashed when I brought it in to have my service last week. I also have the chain tensioner replaced.

Two things I have noticed.
1) Car sounds much quieter than before I brought it in.
2) Still have plenty of power to spin my runflats in 1st and 2nd gear.

But I still want to know what version is running in my Car. Just something that is bugging me.

 

Honestly if it makes you happy then that's all that matters. I'm not trying to tear down any one who has bought or wants to buy it. I've just dyno'd many cars with this kit and seen people very disappointed with the results.

The JCW line has some great parts for the R56 and my car has most of them. Some I would consider to be the best options on the market, others not so much. The tuning kit for me and many other just does not live up to the $2400 price tag attached to it.

In my experience the parts that make people happy with this kit are the intake and exhaust. With out them most people will not tell the difference from a stock MCS and one with just the kits flash, certainly not a $1300 difference any way. However with just the JCW intake and exhaust there is a difference people can see, hear and feel. That's why i said they are 90% of the kit and a better buy at almost half the cost and the same warranty.

You should ask the dealer that did the most recent flash, it's probably the easiest way for you right now. Other then that you would need some one with the ability to scan the ecu and tell you it's operational parameters.

 

Yours is an informed and valued opinion (not without bias as are all opinions) but I would respectfully disagree with your contention that the JCW tuning is really just an intake and exhaust. While it is absolutely true that just about any tuner worth their salt can squeeze more power out of the prince engine I have yet to see one that matches the finesse and balance of the factory tune. The JCW kit is not about dyno bragging rights for web-racers... It's about increasing usable thrust and amplifying the playful nature of the Cooper while remaining livable and reliable. On the auto in particular the JCW tune makes an astounding difference, the intake and exhaust are secondary as they offer little change in restriction over stock and are really there more for acoustics.

I do agree that some people probably mistakenly buy the JCW tune for the "numbers"... those are the same type of people who would find their way to your doorstop and to a dyno... only to be disappointed. In science this is know as "selection bias".

 

I can say 1st hand that the JCW Tune really smoothed out and quieted down the engine. Pre tune...the engine had that distinctive...tick, tick, tick like all coopers S' have. It was annoying and loud. After the tune, mine was running next to a buddy with an 08 Cooper s and he said wow,it's so much quieter.

As a JCW S1 owner, I got it, paid for it (got a good deal) and never looked back. Well worth it for me.

The aftermarket tunes continue to have problems with the auto transmission. The JCW is flawless.

 

I also have the JCW Kit and IMHO I don't think it's worth it. It's a sunk cost so whatever...

With that said

I also got my timing chain replaced 11-31-7-534-833

@Rockridge

I'm looking at my invoice right now and I don't see the part about ECU flashing. Did they flash your ECU without telling you or did you specifically told them to flash it with the newest one?

 

Please don't mistake my opinions of the stage 1 kit as a ploy to sell aftermarket parts. The only alternatives I have offered are to buy some of the same factory parts for less or not do anything at all. It seems the only people that show real interest in this kit are either concerned with warranty or of a MINI purist mind set. So I don't like to push the aftermarket on them and is why I have not even mentioned it until now. I understand having a vendor tag makes this assumption for me but my opinions of this kit are based solely on having had it and not liking it.

It's an unfair assumption that people disappointed with this kit are simple web racers interested in bragging rights. This is actually one of the furthest things from the truth for most of the people I deal with. While I can agree that there is a portion of the market for this kit, the people that fall into it are no better then those who don't and truthfully are on a smaller end of the scale. Most of our customers are driving enthusiast, some own other cars like M3's, Porches, and Vette's, but they like to drive their MINI's just as much. For them the kit did little to improve there driving experience thus their disappointment.

Also when I dyno a car I typical put no emphasis on peak numbers as they tend to mean nothing. It's the gain that matters and I explain this to every one I do a dyno run for with any parts. The disappointment really sets in when you already feel little change in the car and then see a dyno chart that confirms it. This may be as simple as the customer expecting to much from the product, but $2400 can do that to any one.

 

If most of your customers are using the experience of a powerful rear drive sports car such as a 'Vette, M3, or late model Porsche as a yard stick to measure their 1.6L playful, cheeky FWD economy cars I don't envy your trying to please them and no, there is no way they would be satisfied with a JCW tune (selection bias again).

 

 

The Service Advisor and I talked about it in regards to with now famous automatic window opening problem. The two items that were Warranty (including this one) have no details on the invoice.

 

I admit that before purchasing the tune, I was looking at options from Alta. In the end, I decided to get a little extra kick, without affecting the factory warranty. That is what was important to me. I will never Dyno my car, but like the extra growl the car has.

 

I freely admit my leanings are "purist"... having said that my MCSa went from 0 - 60 times of 6.8's to right around 6.5 the few times I've tested (no brake torque, no rolling start) with the JCW kit so it's making more steam somewhere. More importantly it definitely has more midrange urgency and thrust - It's more fun but still a MINI. I found the changes noticeable, others may not.