Just recently picked up a 2002 JCW and I'd love to make the car my own, make it unique!

I'm currently looking at getting a:
119mm rear sway bar
cold air intake
performance headers
a way to make my exhaust louder without causing a drone or make it sound like a Civic
(any recommendations are more than welcome for each of these, new to the Mini world)

any other recommended mods would be greatly appreciated also!

 

Intake choices:

aFe (CARB Certified)
Alta Performance
DDMWorks
M7 (CARB Ceritified)
OEM (JCW)

You might also check to see if Orranje ships their Stealth CAI to the US.

 

Do you already have the JCW intake? If so dont change it out just remove the flap.

 

Based on the 2002 model year of the OP's car I assumed it had the early JCW Tuning Kit without the intake and larger fuel injectors.

 

I don't think I do, I don't think this is the refresh JCW that they did, or if it was ever taken in for the refresh

 

A possible problem worth noting.
If you have an actual JCW cylinder head...getting an aftermarket header may only partially help exhaust flow.

You will NEED to verify that the new header flange is the same size or slightly larger port opening than the JCW exhaust port opening.
The OEM header is smaller than the JCW exhaust port...thus making the enlarged JCW port mostly useless.

I bought an aftermarket header, nice (although a 4 into 1 design), with a converter, "ok" collector design, nice primary tube size...BUT the header flange (to head) ports are the same size as the OEM header flange ports. Again mostly useless on a JCW (or custom ported) cylinder head.

For your own good, verify the port opening sizes, You may need to do some grinding on the header flange to gain a benefit from an aftermarket header.

Mike

 

Awesome thank you! I'll definitely look into that, because of that work and research the header would probably be the last thing I'm going to do.

 

Here's what the JCW airbox looks like ...

 

Nope, I don't have that one, sadly

 

Orranje ships to the US. I just purchased one and it's being made so it will be here in a couple weeks.

 

I have the JCW one on my 2006 JCW motor and its great, I deflapped it. I also had the GTT Stealth on one of my other MINI's (an 2005) both work and fit great and are very affordable. I think the GTT cost about 40$ to ship here.

 

Well go with the Hsport comp bar as going with the 19mm will leave you wanting more as it won't be enough.
https://www.waymotorworks.com/h-spor...-sway-bar.html

For intake go DDMworks as it fits perfect and actually works
https://www.waymotorworks.com/ddm-in...per-s-r53.html

Headers are very little gain if any for the money, but if you go that way the milltek works well
https://www.waymotorworks.com/millte...fold-pipe.html

But I feel an 2% larger ATI damper will replace your stock crank pulley which is known to fail, but also give you a little bump in boost to make more power
https://www.waymotorworks.com/super-...ulley-r53.html

Then when you get further our Mild cam works great with the JCW head
https://www.waymotorworks.com/way-mi...t-r52-r53.html

 

Engine mounts, all of them.
Detroit Tuned Bypass Valve
Service your Supercharger before it dries up.

You can have the resonator taken out of the JCW exhaust, if you have one. It will make it a little louder for a very small price.

 

All of these mods are great advice...the one thing that isn't mentioned is to do a compression test first. Then if you find problems, do a leak-down test. This will get you a baseline as to the condition of your engine AND then, mod away...

 

 

 

Sure. Vibra-Technics top mount, BSH Lower, and Powerflex Poly insert for the trans mount.

https://www.detroittuned.com/detroit...-bypass-valve/

 

One thought on motor mounts...
I would NOT...replace all of the mounts with urethane on a "driver". If it were a track car, yes.
I've seen way too many "weakest link" parts breakage over the years, to go full stiff on an engine, transmission, or engine-trans. combination like the Mini.
SOMETHING...has to flex..!

You car, your money, me the top half is urethane, the bottom is stock rubber.

Mike

 

I'd put all three Vibratechnics mounts in, fast road are so much better than OEM with no vibration and way less elasticity under throttle jerking the car around. If you want firmer for track but still with a lot of road use you can fit the race top and gearbox mounts but keep the lower one, as the race lower is what brings the vibration, it's a good compromise for a faster road car with some track use. It's great even on the road, keeping more of the energy driving forward but you may not like the cabin noise/vibes at idle.