From CarandDriver.com

"Many people are already calling JCW Mini’s M performance arm, but we’ll wait to hop aboard that bandwagon. An M car with a tepid 17-hp boost over the base model would send people screaming into the streets to roll cars onto their roofs, light them on fire, and proclaim the end of the world, damn the tear gas. But that’s what the 2008 Mini Cooper S JCW gets, is a 17-hp boost from the Cooper S’s 172 to 189."

ONLY 17HP! That is LAME!

"This conservative gain is due to the sorts of weekend tweaks you might do on a lazy six- (or twelve-) pack Saturday in your driveway: a sport exhaust, an air cleaner, and an optimized engine controller. Like the Porsche 911 Turbo, the JCW gives the Cooper S’s turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder an “overboost” function, which allows the engine to temporarily produce a higher peak torque under full throttle—199 vs. the usual 184, increases of 22 and 7 lb-ft, respectively, over a base Cooper S."

I'm glad I didn't want one anyway! My '05 MCS makes more power than this!

~RM2k5

 

Please read this http://motoringfile.com/2007/02/28/2...lly-announced/. This is only the kit installed at the dealer and not the full JCW MCS that will be available in 2008.

 

I see nothing in that article other than a quick comment by Gabe that indicates this ISN'T the JCW kit. ? Did I miss it?

As far as I can read both on C&D.com, motoringfile, and elsewhere, this is THE JCW kit for the time being...

let me know if I missed it.

RM2k5

edit: found the link to the information... THANKS!

 

Thread title edited to reflect R56, not 2007/2008, since this does not apply to R52 convertibles.

Also, see this: http://motoringfile.com/2007/02/26/f...jcw-vehicless/

and this: http://motoringfile.com/2007/02/27/2...rade-revealed/

 

The annoucnement on motoringfile says the horsepower is 192 not 189. This is only the "Stage 1" JCW package, the second is rumored to be "M" level. I personnally think this kit is a good idea, it makes a descent improvement and keeps a good balance of torque and horsepower. People need to look at more than the horsepower number their is more to tuning than some stupid number. Smoothing out and the power band and improving throttle response are both very beneficial aspects that can be easily over looked by people who can only see a single number. JCW knows that these aspects are beneficial and includeds them in their cars. This stage one is also estimated to cost about $2K, thats not to much to ask for gaining the performance as well as keeping factory quailty and warrenty.

 

How quickly people forget... JCW isn't lame. It's crap. :D

 

If that stage 1 is well priced, I think we'll see a lot of people go for it. I drove the R56 and it was a lot faster than my R53 with a Dinan S1 (no pulley). But then again, I'm not a big power guy, otherwise I would have been more smitten with the R56. Maybe that answers why MINI or JCW or BMW-M doesn't go for big power in the MINI - it's not really what the platform is about.

Come to think of it - had JCW offered a stage one kit for the r53(like the Dinan S1 - intake, exhaust, ecu) at a fair price, I probably would have gone for it. I know I could have bought those things seperately, blah blah.

mb

 

Thank you, some one remmebered why we bought a mini and not a mustang

 

If my currancy conversion is correct (as well as the speculations elsewhere)... should be about $2000 installed.

For a mild hosepower gain that's OK... but did you see the torque increase? It's more impressive. Seems like the new car is being tuned to have that as it's shining charactoristic vs. top end HP.

Sounds like a good deal to me.

 

Agreed - the torque alone could make it well worth the price. It'll be interesting to see how Dinan responds to the stage 1 JCW kit - what are they going to do differently/better at a similar price point and power point?

mb

 

ooooo Dinan I didnt even think about what their going to do

 

Are you guys ever going to stop call JCW CRAP



if 42 bhp gain was CRAP ... I guess this is ... just a little bitty poop?

 

This again brings up the concept that BMW really knows how to sell the R56. As has been said here and mini2 people will buy this first stage for some horsepower AND torque gains, while still keeping their warranty. Sure you could do the same thing cheaper and arguably better aftermarket, but some people need their warranty. It certainly will be interesting to see what the second stage is. Think about this as well. The fact that JCW is opening the intake and freeing up the exhaust proves that the aftermarket is going in the right direction as far as starting points with the R56. Again that they are dropping the JCW shows that they realize it sits to high for enthusiast. If I could at some point a la carte drop my MINI via JCW I would love to so to keep my warranty. Just my $.02

 

Apparently it's not quite as lame as this thread's title would indicate.

 

It was just to hook you... got your attention, didn't it?

 

Sure did I couldn't wait to open this one.

 

Bingo! I feel this statement nails it on the head!

 

http://www.leftlanenews.com/mini-coo...uning-kit.html

 

I have to agree with you.. If I had wanted a tire shredding, quarter mile killer, I would have gotten a Tang, Vette, GTO or many other horsepower cars. The Mini is a quick, very nimble fun car to drive. Yes I like to get as much reliable HP as I can, but if I wanted 400 horses I wouldn't have sold my Vette.. PS: The Mini gets 30mpg on the road too...

 

Yep... and there's a reason I never sold my Mustang when I bought my MINI. I have future plans for that puppy... I just need to stop spending dough on the MINI first! (tough to do )

Future (one day) plans for the (1995 GT) Mustang include a completely new engine... goal... 500 RWHP.

 

Oh, I did forget to mention that I did keep the BMW3 and the V8 boat and the V8 Tahoe....

 

And most people forget that the Mustang was originally more akin to the MINI than a GTO. In fact, now that I think about it, the concept, target market, marketing, and product execution of the early ('64-1/2-'66) Mustangs were VERY similar to the MINI..... other than being based on the Falcon economy car platform.

The original Mustang was a "sporty" car, with lots of options and accessories, not a horsepower hero. If you wanted real horsepower in 1965, you didn't buy a 306hp Shelby, you bought a 425hp Hemi Coronet (closer to 500hp, in reality), a 427 Galaxie (also 425hp) or a 425hp 396 Corvette.

 

I dont know about you guys but I happened to test drive the Mini before I bought it.. If I wanted a neck snapping torque monster I would have bought a GTO

 

Exactly...Who doesn't love to drive a TR-6....or a James Dean Porsche...or a MGB...etc, etc..Oh yea , a 76' 280Z!

 

What's wrong with some of us wanting BOTH handling performance AND power?

I don't want a straight-line 500 HP car that can't handle the twisties. Just my personal preferance. But I wouldn't mind a 200 HP fun-box that'll tear up the back roads, though... and enough torque on tap to FEEL the pull of the car on corner exits. I don't want or expect "neck snapping" power... just enough to entertain my sences.

To me, the fun of having (relatively) big power ( in wheter type of car you choose) is the balancing act: When you get a car that makes more power than the suspention or chassis or LSD or tires will handle... it's more of a thrill to drive. It demands more focus to apply... and provides bigger rewards when done properly.

The only down side is the impact on the pocketbook. Once you find a weakness (tires, for example) there becomes an incentive to upgrade other areas of the car to compensate.