THIS THREAD I WANT RESERVED FOR OWNERS AND FUTURE OWNERS OF THE JCW TUNING KIT. PLEASE KEEP YOUR BASHING OF JCW OR TALK OF OTHER "CHEAPER" OPTIONS TO ANOTHER THREAD.
THANK YOU!


The next item on my list of mods is the JCW Tuning Kit. This week I am getting back my MINI with the JCW Suspension Kit. Then I am immediately installing the M7 Ultimate Grill, and on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week installing my JCW Strut Brace I got from the UK.
I have been waiting and wanting the JCW Kit for a while. I always have dreamed of a beefier MINI, one that slams you against the seat when you floor it, but while doing this is smooth and almost factory like. I have a few questions that I cannot seem to get answered, that I would love to know:

Does the JCW Kit accelerate faster than stock (I have an '05)?
^ If it does, does anyone have any numbers?? (JCW says 0-62mph in 6.4)
Is the exhaust louder than stock?
Is the engine whine/noise increased in the cabin?
How noticeable is the power increase?
And finally when I get it where is the best place on the back to place the badges?

Thanks
Mike

 

Mike,

I removed all my badges.

I do not feel the upgrade is any louder than stock...actually, I cannot remember. It's not objectionable by any stretch!

Yes, the difference is quite noticeable mid range to top end - with 93 octane. My car will pull on an otherwise stock pre 04 with authority from 70mph and beyond; the additional power and revised 3rd, 4th and 5th gears help here.

On a really good day with 'broken-in' 05 JCW ( 93 octane) you might achieve high 5's or low 6's to 60mph. I would also be willing to bet that the 05 JCW will crawl up on 100mph by the quarter mile - on a good day, not with a heat soaked IC. There is a perceptible performance difference between 91 and 93 octane. Throttle tip-in is much crisper and punchier as is wide open throttle.

I had my kit installed at about 6,000 miles. I've got just over 31,000 miles on the car now. No problems.

I do not 0-60 my car, but I do spend a lot of time accelerating from that point and above. It is quite a commuter car.

My 17" BBS wheels are mated to traditional tires. The 16" wheels and all-season run-flats are reserved for winter. There is a difference, albeit subtle, in accelerating and braking; a wheel and tire combo that is 15-18 pounds lighter per wheel can only help with a light, somewhat torqued starved car. My car weighs 2,563 lbs. without me and half a tank. I weigh 170lbs.

Hope this helps.

Michael

 

Addressing the sound questions -
I have just the CAI and exhaust. I feel that the whine of the supercharger is much louder inside the car after the flap opens @ 4500rpm then it was stock. Regarding the exhaust: I don't notice the difference in sound from inside the car, but a friend who had heard it stock remarked on how different it sounded when I pulled away one day after dropping him off. He really liked it and said it sounded 'sporty' and deeper. The exhaust doesn't even have many miles on it, so I'm looking forward to it breaking in more and likely even sounding fuller.

 

Wish I could help on this one but I can honestly say that I've never seen the boot end of a JCW while driving .

 

I have a 2003 and got the first JCW kit when they offered it, at 12k miles. It's the upgraded super charger, head, new exhaust system, and plugs, but not the suspension or intake. Well worth the money. Prior to the kit, power didn't really kick in until around 4.5k, but now the powerband is really smoothed out; I don't have to shift nearly as much. Go for it!

 

Mike, the previous posters pretty much nailed it, but I would add that this upgrade won't 'slam you into the seat', as you put it. It builds power in a nice linear fashion, and since you have an '05, you'll really notice the power above 4500 rpm even in first gear. As Meb did, I deleted the badges, and have them in a box on my desk. Just don't want to get that attention, but I always enjoy seeing another JCW, as the badges look cool.

One other thought, if you have the mod bug (don't we all), don't think the JCW kit will be enough. Just like money and sex, we can never have too much power!

 

I have a 04 with the works, I will first chime in on the exhaust. I does have a diffrent tone and does sound good, but I felt as though it was quiter than stock, so instead of spending 800.00 to change i had the resonator removed for 39.00. it completely change the car. The first thing i noticed is I was getting a good solid 3 more miles to the gallon, then I noticed I lost 1.5 pounds off boost which means the car is processing the air better and not causing a back pressure, and last but not least the sound if freakin awesome, when i take the rpms up it sound like an animal. but when cruisn down the free way you cant hear the extra noise. Now depends on if you want to stay with the stock jcw cai, you wont hear any extra s/c whine intill the flap opens, but sence my kit didnt come with the upgrade package I put in the alta CAI which had the best sound to a power hungary person there could be. I just had the upgraded injectors and ecu done and I can tell a diffrence, the throttle is crisp and responsive, along with nology wires and scream demon coil pack its very responsive. add light weight race wheel and a alta intercooler and it gives you the feel that its throwing you in the seat. And I love it!!! I am not sure if this helps, but its my experiance.


Nate
JCWORKS

 

I put the JCW kit on very early on with my car and found the butt dyno portion of the mod to be fairly subtle. As others have noted you're not going get slammed into your seat by the change in torque over a stock MCS. I do think from around 3500-4500 rpm on you definitely notice a difference. The supercharger whine is also definitely more pronounced from that RPM up to redline yet is hardly objectionable (particularly when compared to the god awful shifter rattle I have in my e30 M3 at that RPM upwards)

Exhaust note seems very similar to 05 stock exhuast and my guess is that it probably doesn't do much in terms of ultimate performance over the stock exhaust.

Part Throttle response on my car seems a little ragged with yo-yo sort of behaviour similar to what my GTI VR-6 did after a GIAC chip. I haven't taken it in or reset the ECU. I sorta expect this to be the normal state of affairs, but I could be wrong.

I chose the works package partly due to lack of warranty hassle if i had engine issues and some reports that while it didn't make as much HP as ala carte modded engines it was smoother. After looking at some dyno results I'm not positive that's a true statement. I also work out of my house or travel so I don't put a lot of miles on my cars and keep most cars for at least 7 years so I'll get the full benefit out of the warranty.

If you're absolutely just after as much HP/torque you can get you would be better off doing individual mods from vendors and taking your chances with warranty claims. The risk of big issues is low and the various pro/cons have been discussed ad nauseum on forums. You get a much better bang for your buck and have some flexibility in tuning your car. Doing the JCW kit pretty much fixes you to what it is (unless they happen to come up with other upgrades) otherwise you start down the path of warranty issue stuff if you make changes which is one reason you're paying the big bucks for it to begin with.

I originally wasn't going to have badges on my car but ended up leaving them on there. Mini of Peabody placed the rear one on the drivers side of the boot and the front one on the lower grille. They ended up seeming fairly unobtrusive and matching the Dark Silver fairly well.

So there.. more than you wanted to know...

 

I bought my 02 in August 02 had it for a year (6,000 miles) and got the JCW upgrade as soon as it was available. My JCW install was the dealers second install and the difference was signicant both from power and exhaust note, but I can pretty agree much with what everyone else has said here. I did however add the stage two intake system which increased power considerably but it doesn't throw you into the seat back, I think 62Lincoln put it best.

Now regarding modes, I have always believed in going with the manufacturers program because I felt it offered the most balanced approach and balanced power and handling is very important to me. That said my car has been "out of balance" since doing the JCW engine and intake upgrades. The brakes are inadequate, lets face it, a car can only go as fast as it's brakes can stop it and the stock brakes are definately not adequate so a brake upgrade should be your next move, I know it will be mine. Now, for an inexpensive and easy upgrade that will make a world of difference in the handling catagory will be a rear sway bar. My car moves out so fast on both straight-a-ways and corners I was having trouble keeping the nose down and therefore lossing traction as well as steering control. JCW doesn't make an upgraded rear sway bar which is what the doctor ordered for my cars out of balance performance. The delima I faced was either driving the car out of balance because I wanted to stick with the program or give into the aftermarket mod issue and try something new. Wow, I wish I hadn't waited as long as I did, the Alta rear sway bar (22mm set on the stiffest setting) has made just as much a significant difference in handling as the stage two air intake system

Now all I have to do is decide on what brake set up I should go for next: JCW or Aftermarket

The dealer shop manual for the JCW badging placement instructs installing the rear exterior badge on the drivers side just left of the license plate area and the front badge in lower front grill also on the drivers side. I am proud to display the JCW badging it sets my car off from 95% of all the other Mini's on the road. If I drive something special I enjoy showing it off, I take good care of my car and most people won't screw with me. I hate it when people want to run on the public roads, that's what track days are for

 

I completly agree with MGEAR. Its all about the Balance, and after having the alta 22mm sway bar made a big diffrence, and next week its going in for h-sport springs, I have been told this is a must do job on cars with this kind of power, I dont know much about that statement but I like the idea of the car sitting a little lower. As far as the brakes, Mgear is 100% right, The car needs BBK, I dont think the JCW breaks will give me what I am after, thinking of going with STOP TECK to help slow her down. Sorry dont mean to highjack this tread but putting in my 2cts.


Nate
JCWORKS

 

The JCW TC is NOT going to "slam you against the seat". If you think that, you will be disappointed. Keep dreaming. This is a MINI, not a 911 or a Viper.

Absolutely

Do NOT believe anyone else than JCW. For example, if you look at 0 - 60 MPH numbers from different magazines, driving the same car, they all come up with different numbers. For example Car & Driver is more agreessive (traditionally) than Road & Track.

If your going to believe anyone, believe the company that builds and sells them. You might get one slower, you might get one faster ... you pay the money and take your chances.

NO. See http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...aust+shoot-out
Listening to the JCW exhaust note on the MINI website is VERY misleading. The JCW exhaust is "refined" and muted. Turn on the stereo and the sound disappears. Fold down the rear seats and take out the hanging thing in the boot and you will hear more (but not much). Go to the JCW website and listen to Mike Cooper talk about the exhaust (refined).

A little at low RPMs. Most definitely after 4500. As my wife says, "Make the car SING"

Little at low RPMs. After 4500, it pulls.

Personal choice. I am content where mine are as follows:

Hard to see on black grill but lower bottom right (discrete)



On boot below the cooper S. This is not the traditional spot which is on the left.



Finally, you are wise to balance the car. More HP doesn't do any good without better handling. It also does no good without better brakes. JCW isn't marketing the complete TC, SS, and SP without good reason to balance the car.

 

That's not quite true. Check over over MINI2 where someone dynoed both a Race Borla vice a JCW Exhaust on the same car and the Race Borla was only 2 HP better than the JCW. Go listen to what Mike Cooper says about the JCW exhaust at the JCW website from UK. The JCW exhaust costs about $1500 if parted out. Don't equate a "refined" sounding exhaust with "no HP". You get what you pay for ...:smile: and with the JCW exhaust your getting the refined sound.

 

can anyone post a sound byte with the resonator changed or taken out?

Thanks for the info so far and keep it coming!

Mikey

BTW the slamming against the seat thing came from this thread and CARdiac's first post.

 

Chili,


If you live near Western Ct. or Eastern NY, you can take mine for a ride...touch, feel, hear for yourself.

 

I would second all that's been said. The car is quite a joy to drive, and always leaves me with smile after a ride. The only thing to me that made a noticeable difference was the Miltek (?) header. It helped atlot after 6,000 RPM's to the redline.

I only have the JCW badge at the front. I kept the rear badge in a folder along with the certificate that came with the kit. My license number is "WORKS". The way I read it is "WORKS Cooper S" when looking from the licnese plate to the rest of the logo's on the back. I get alot of comments about why I would want to say that the car actually works.

 

Love mine-very tractable around town, but goes great for autocross or track. Noticable improvement in drivabilty over the stock 05 (I drove both before buying).
Phil

 

Dyno results for my 04'/MCS Works w/ the 05' upgrades:
-At the wheels: 198.1 HP , 171lbs torque. It was a coolish 79 degree am.
-To compare: A full bore Dinan MCS (w/ everything Dinan makes for the car) pulled 188 hp at an earlier dyno event (same shop.)
-I am running running 11.2 lb 17" SSR Comp. wheels which may contribute to the dyno specs (?) - From my perspective having owned 2 Works cars the JCW tuning mod is well worth the cost. Also I would point out the dyno graphs of ALL the Works cars during our several group dyno events are visual testimony to the excellent LINEAR, smooth and seamless power band (both HP & torque) of the Works package (compared to the less impressive, ragged and sometime bizarre dyno graphs of the hodge-podge tweaked MCS or even the Dinan cars.) If anything there is a true synergy in the JCW package that no one has yet matched.

 

[QUOTE=ChiliCooperS]

Does the JCW Kit accelerate faster than stock (I have an '05)? [Quote]

No doubt, it accelerates quicker than stock. One big difference I noticed (I had an '03 MCS with lots of mods, and I now have an '05 JCW) is that the JCW is less prone to heatsoak. When it was hot and muggy out I noticed a big decrease in my '03 MCS's power, but with the JCW on the same type of day the decrease is a lot less.


Seat of the pants mine feels like it is in the low 6's. Maybe 6.2 or 6.3 seconds. On a really cold day (0F) it feels like it is in the high 5's, maybe 5.9 or so.
Yes, but in a cool way. It doesn't drone and when you are cruising it sounds about like stock. When you stomp on it, it gets about 30% or more louder than stock, especially after 4500rpm

Yes, but no more so that going aftermarket. The whine is more noticable because of the pulley replacement, and the faster rpm that the supercharger is spinning.

Like I said above, it is quite noticeable, epecially in the low to mid range.