Back in November of 2019, I placed an order for a new MINI JCW GP. In April of 2020, I was laid off due to the COVID pandemic. In July of that year, the car I ordered (1594) arrived, and still hopeful I would find a new job I took a test drive. Unfortunately, the job market in CA at the time was bad. Really bad. I had to cancel my order and get my deposit back. Yesterday (364 days since I was laid off) I got a new job and today I picked up MINI JCW GP, number 1594 from the dealer.

I have an extensive list of mods I need to do, but for now, she rests peacefully in my garage.

 

Awesome... congrats on all fronts !!!



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Nice to hear of a so happy ending after a hard time that is unfortunately not over for many. It's amazing you got the same car you ordered after a year so it means they really don't sell well.

At about the same time, I was very close buying one but the dealer was so lazy and not interested to make a deal, I just crossed the street and bought a new BMW M240i and never had a regret.

I still miss my JCW Coupe from time to time but from what I read I don't think I would have been happy with a GP3.

 

I don’t really understand how you’re equating these two things. The value of the car is easily 45k as used cars go for near that. There’s 15 of 575 left new (so 2.5% left). Just because you wanted to be cheap and missed out, don’t spread confusion.

 

First mod today - Window tinting.

It is going to be a long road to get her where I want her.

 

Congrats on all counts! Sounds like this MINI was meant to be yours come hell or high water 😁

 

I also had the "GP" logo at the bottom of the doors removed. It looked far too "boy racer" for me. Yes, I know the rest does as well, but I have a plan to tame that.

Oh, and for those who want to know:

Limo Black on the rear 3 windows
20% on the front two windows and a 20% strip on the top of the windscreen

I will be ordering the Eventuri air intake kit, Rennline pedal kit, Sprint Booster, and Stud Conversion kit this week.

 

"Oh ****!' handle and driver-side sunshade arrived yesterday along with the blacked-out indicators. I will be fitting them this weekend.

 

I like how stuff like this works out in the end! Post some pics as you mod it...

 

Congrats on getting your GP3!!! I'm very curious how the pedal kit and Sprint Booster work for you, and what, if any, difference they make.

 

I had both on my previous MINI. The pedal kit is partly for looks, but they are also "grippier". The SprintBooster makes the throttle response SOOO much quicker. The newer one has finer adjustments than my last one. Also, the fact there is no "Sport" mode will get fixed by the SprintBooster.

 

There's no "Sport" mode, true, but there is "GP" mode, which is the equivalent of "Sport" mode. It turns off some nannies and gives a little more pep to the long/skinny pedal. There's also a "Sport" mode for the transmission, just in case you haven't had a chance to play with all the modes. I've found 9 "modes" so far:

Boring mode: Put it in drive and go.
Less Boring mode: Manual shift with the paddles or gear shift.
Sport boring mode: Put the transmission in "Sport" mode and go
GP boring mode: Toggle the GP toggle, put it in drive and go
GP sport mode: Toggle the GP toggle, put the transmission in "Sport" mode and go.
GP fun mode: Toggle the GP toggle, manual shift when you go.
Funner boring mode: Toggle DSC off, put it in drive and go
Funner GP mode: Toggle DSC off, put the transmission in sport mode and go
Best mode: Toggle DSC off, manual shift when you go (me 100% of the time...unless my dogs are in the car)

 

Fitted the SprintBooster yesterday. After driving around locally for 30 minutes playing with the settings I settled on Track 9, which was what my JCW was set to. It removes the "dead" area at the beginning of acceleration. The throttle pedal is now an On/Off switch which I like.

Also fitted the MINI black belt/waistline yesterday. It took less than 15 minutes. Super easy and it is how the car should have come from the factory.

The Rennline pedals will be fitted next weekend since there is drilling involved and I am waiting on some battery-powered lights to help with the process.

 

Yeah, when I went to order my car - it comes now with all-black exterior bits except the beltline/waistline. Not sure why that wasn't included. Pretty lame not to include at the factory.

 

Ordered new NM Eng. RSe11R wheels, TPMs, and touchup paint. Once arrived I will be transferring the Hankooks to them than organizing the stud replacement install.

 

Those look nice.
If you get a chance to weigh the RSe11R wheels, it'd be cool to know what they weigh. The website doesn't say.

I like the gloss black and wish they had a gloss black for the Rse05.

 

Congrats, happy you were still able to get your GP3

 

Surprise! The Eventuri air intake showed up yesterday. After the wheels are fitting today I'll be installing that next.

 

Been awhile since I added anything here. Been super busy, but I now have on order a Remus Exhaust for the GP3. I am also upgrading to a Racechip. As soon as I get them I'll post my reviews.

Stay tuned.

 

Racechip installed over the weekend. If cumulative upgrades count, then my car now has 350hp and 400lb-ft. The Remus exhaust will take about 90 days to reach me, so it'll be awhile before a review of it. As for the Racechip, first impressions are favourable. Definitely the "butt-dyno" feels more HP and torque. I'll drive for another week or so before a longer, in-depth review. For now, here is a review I wrote 5 years ago:

Comparison - NM Eng Power Module vs RaceChip

 

I just have a lazy question, which number did you selected on your setting?
Right now I am setting at 5, is there a better one for the torque?


Lazy GP3-2581

 

Are you asking about the setting on the RaceChip or the Sprintbooster?

 

Racechip

 

My settings for the Racechip are:

• ECO - 2
• Race - 5
• Track - 7

Most of the week I use ECO since I am in stop go traffic. At the weekends I use Track.

As far as HP and Torque numbers:

• Base - 306HP, 331 Torque
• Modded (without Racechip) - 321HP, 346 Torque
• Modded (with Racechip) - 352HP, 396 Torque

These numbers are unverified. Butt-Dyno only and cheap math.

 

Thank you so much for the info.
will try tonight