Opinions please? Should I go to the dealer and get the JCW upgrade or go aftermarket?

Thanks

 

Depends on your personal stance.

Do you want to spend a little more part-for-part, that increases power slightly and still hold a factory warranty?
Or want to have more bang-for-the-buck (like aftermarket ECU programming) and running the risk of voiding any existing warranty?

The kicker is that if you're outside the covered warranty period, and you keep good tabs on your preventative maintenance, then the aftermarket provides an impressive outcome.

- Erik

 

Year and month your car was built?

If newer than 10/10 your only available option that does not require removal of your ECU for reprogramming and possible damage is the dealer installed JCW option.

If older than 10/10 and you don't care if your warranty might be affected, then go aftermarket. If warranty is a concern, then again your only option is the dealer installed JCW option.

Good luck with your decision.

 

It is a 2012 Mini Cooper S. Are you saying that I can only do a JCW kit?

 

Me? Yes, that's EXACTLY what I am saying if warranty matters.

 

Yeah, warranty matters a lot to me because engine replacement is $$$ I normally wouldn't care but apparently the more money I make the more the government wants to steal from me.

 

2012 ECU (except for JCW) are locked so that avenue currently is a non-starter.

Several threads about this already. Depends on the type of person you are I guess. I went factory JCW rather than buy an S and the JCW or aftermarket bits - but that is just me.

Considering what you get with the JCW kit, aftermarket is probably a better deal.

 

AfterMarket makes your car more creative plus you have more fun :D

 

There is also the argument that with JCW the intake, exhaust and ECU are a package that is tuned to run together. You bolt the parts on and its good to go. With aftermarket you make do a part at a time and then go back for a ecu tune. It all depends on how you are with your car and if dealer service or warranty is in the cards for you.

 

But, for a 2012 there is no aftermarket tuning. (at least not flash, and probably not for a while...)