Just wanted some input. I've got a 2006 MCS and I was thinking about the JCW suspension, I've got a Works so it would only be the springs and struts. Don't plan on any track days or any major lowering. I do plan to use a Aero Kit in the future. What are pros and cons? Thanks

 

Is your dealer a Dinan certified installer? If so, look at the Dinan suspension Package. Might be worth lookin.

 

Pros: Better handling AND better ride
Cons: It ain't free.

The JCW Suspension is good - get it, you won't regret it. It's a wonderful street setup.

 

I was thinking of making almost the exact same post

Pros: It's good
Cons: It costs money

We'll need a more pointed question to provide useful feedback, I'm afraid.

 

Here are some more pointed questions for the people with the suspension.

Why did you go for it specifically?

What is your experience on the street and on the track if applicable?

Did you consider the Dinan suspension package as well, and if so, why did you dismiss it?

Do you have any additions to your JCW suspension, ie...camber plates, rear sway bar, etc...

Thanks!

mb

 

As I'll explain later in the post, my suspension is not straight JCW...

The original struts on my car were starting to feel a little used up after around 80,000 miles, so I was shopping for a replacement. Replacing all four struts with original equipment was not that much cheaper than going with the JCW suspension. I also priced out Koni / Eibach / Bilstein / H&R etc and while not much more (including springs) than the JCW, the drop in ride height would have been incompatible with winter driving in northern Vermont. If the ride height issue didn't exist, I probably would have gone with something like H&R springs and Bilstein dampers.

On the street - things are pretty darned good. There's a little more noise when hitting expansions joints and such, but the ride doesn't feel much rougher. Some have said the ride is smoother. My original suspension is the old spec before they softened things up. Not sure how that factors into things. If I had earplugs in and couldn't hear the sounds, I probably would say the ride is the same or perhaps a little better with the JCW suspension.

On the track, it's great. Sure, coilovers that are tuned right (PSS9) would be better, but between the cost and ride height issues, that cannot be on my car. I had a BMWCCA instructor very surprised that my car didn't have R-compound tires on it after a few session on the track. Works great autocrossing, works great on tight, techincal tracks, and works great on fast open tracks.

Never considered Dinan.

Helix front camber plates at -2.0°, which make a big difference, and Helix 22.5mm rear swaybar / stock sports suspension front swaybar (the small one).

 

I have the JCW suspension with Webbs extreme rear sway bar. I do track days and i Think it works very well on the street and track. It will lower your car about an inch and an half, it makes the handling alot better. I like to stay with factory if i can, it seems to fit better. On track days i seem to be able to stay with the rest of the cars just fine, no one leaves me in the turns.

 

isn't the JCW suspension is suppose to only lower the car 10mm ?

 

I have the JCW suspension (dealership installed) and my car is about 1/2" lower than stock. You'd have to really study it to see the difference in ride height. As for the ride quality, I only drove my '06 MCS JCW for about 25 miles before returning it to the dealer for the JCW suspension upgrade. Granted, that's not much of a test drive, but it seems as though the JCW suspension is smoother than OEM. I haven't tracked or auto-crossed the car.

In a heartbeat, I would repeat the choice of JCW, even at the higher cost compared to brand x y or z which is always being touted as better products by many NAM gearheads. I wouldn't challenge anyone's claims that there are better and less expensive products. Probably true, but I have peace of mind that when and if something doesn't work right, MINI is not going to point the finger at 3rd party mods.

My JCW mods are quite noticeable, but mellow enough that I can still use the car as my all-purpose daily driver with reasonable comfort and reliability.

 

Hey Chopper,

I forgot to mention that I prefer the aesthetics of a 1.5-2" drop over my JCW suspension, but as a daily driver in the Midwest, navigating through an occasional snow would be a challenge with aggresively-lowered MINIs.

In spite of the really good debates over various brand components, I am still happy with the JCW set-up because it is well balanced and very suitable for the street. I live in a city with HORRIBLE streets with an endless supply of huge metal plates that the utility and city street crews use for temporary road patches. That's one of the reasons that I don't use 17" wheels.

If I were building a car for track or auto cross, I'd pay lots of attention to individual components and buy each brand based on compatibility and performance specs. I'd have fewer, maybe no JCW parts.

Hope you love the Works package as much as I have!

 

Funny you say that because I've spoken to people who have gone that route and recommend the unified system that the JCW/Dinan suspensions offer. They got me thinking.

mb

 

I have an 05 mcs. It is an early production model and i got it in august of 04, one of the first ones off the ship. I was planning on aftermarket stuff but my dad said that he would pay for the factory stuff becasue it usually fits better and is backed by mini. I had the car untill january 05 before the works stuff went on. I got the engine kit and the suspension. To keep it simple, the suspension does harshen the ride. It is smoother though. It definitely feels better than my cousins 03 mcs (stock) but when i hit bumps it hits harder than his. Also it is lower. I live in NJ and the roads arent great, i ocasionally bottom out, but u get used to it and avoiding it. Also it only scrapes the bottom plasic of the bumper which u cant even see. If u drive the car on the street and plan for the aero kit, no way. Dont get it. I wanted it, but i realized that i would have broken off the front bumper by now with the suspension. It does infact lower ur car noticably and has a better stance. I love the suspension but i have hit some nasty pot holes with it and did bend one of my rims this past summer. Now i am up in boston for college and if ur in the north east u might want to reconsider the suspension. The roads here are even worse than NJ. But if u like me and love ur car, its a great up grade, not many people have it so its sort of exclusive, and the car looks sick being lowered just a little. I personally dont like some of the aftermarket lowering kits that lower the back more than the front making the car look like the back suspension is blown out. Enough of my twosence, get the suspension if ur really torn, u wont be dissapointed.

 

Chopper:

Interesting... Out of curiousity, I'd like to hear from folks who have the Dinan suspension set-up.

As previously mentioned, my MINI is my only car and it needs to be reliable, "comfortable" and as stress free as possible. Thus far, JCW components fits that need exceptionally well. In past years I've owned my share of bone-jarring, slammed auto cross cars that I drove for transportation, too. There comes an age in life when you decide that softer, "mellow" suspensions and higher road clearance is actually good.

I know this is off topic, but I'm trying really hard to be a one-car owner and shed the expense of maintaining a daily driver and a toy sports car. The JCW MCS is satisfying me in both respects!

 

I forgot to mention i have the aero kit. It sets a little lower than the stock front end. The lowest point in the front is about 5 1/2 inchs off the ground.

 

I've got a JCW setup in the garage awaiting install. I hope it improves handling but maintains that sweet balance with ride comfort.

 

Let us know what you think when you get it installed!

mb

 

Can someone explain the funtion of the plastic? from my point of view it's on the back, and doesn't affect the front black plastic.

In my experience is the same issue with a 1" lowered. And sometimes with stock.

 

it's an airdam....either providing some front downforce or more likely directed air up to the radiator or engine bay.