I've always understood that the late 2006 MCS models had differences that the ones made early in the model year. I have a 06/06 and have a few additions so far, but my tuner(s) hasn't mentioned any problems with what I've installed. I've noticed that Dinan upgraded their site and is now separating suspension kits for the entire 2006 model year for example. I think I saw somewhere that there was a difference in the brakes, although I don't recall whether it was true or not.

What other differences should I expect?

 

When ordering wheels for my '06 (November build) on tirerack.com the site asked if the car was built before or after 5/06. Not sure why.

Dean.

 

Here is the reason guys... If you late '06 MCS was built around October-November 2006 (Towards the tail end of production), your car was fitted with JCW brakes. Yep that is correct, even if you didn't order a factory JCW car or a JCW GP, your bone stock R53 S will have JCW brakes, which are similar to those in the GP and the R56 S. Hope this helps!

 

For real ?!

Hot dawg

You know, I had read a lot of comments about the R56 brakes being better, but always wondered how that could be possible given how good my brakes are. The R56's that I drove didn't seem to stop any better.

Now I know why.

Thank you.

Dean.

 

The later models also have larger lug bolts: http://www.motoringfile.com/mini-r50r53-buyers-guide/

I also noticed a extra pair of tie down loops in the boot and a [ section lower rear control arms.

 

The funny thing is I have checked with several different MINI owners I have meet with October and later MINI's, including myself, and have yet to find the JCW brake thing to be true. All of them had the smaller rotors.

 

The JCW brakes in very late build '06 MCS was like a "bonus" for getting one of the very last of the previous model. The JCW brake thing in late '06s has been widely discussed and confimed by the Whiteroofradio guys and Motoringfile.

 

My MINI was an 09/06 build and I did not get the JCW Brakes, so it could be the last quarter of the year. Maybe just the December build being that it is close to the holidays. Like ClubmanS said, nice parting gift!

 

it was probably due to the fact that they were upgrading the brakes for the next model year and ran out of old style brakes.
since they were upgrading, they probably just used what was on the shelf

 

We'll I have a late October build and don't have them.

 

I have a November build if i remember right...what's the easiest way to tell if I have the JCW brakes? If i do have them will I still be able to get Hawk HPS pads that'll fit?

 

FWIW...the installation of my aftermarket navi/stereo head unit and amp was delayed because the installers claimed that the wiring system they uncovered did not match with what they had on file for '06 models. Both dealer and installer speculated that it could be due to the late year build and the fact that R56's were just around the corner.

 

If you have them, they're very obvious. Painted red, with a JCW logo on them.

John

 

I have a very late 06 build, 11/06 production, so late in fact it's from the Wednesday of the last build week according to MINI. The car did not come with JCW brakes. I've compared the rotor sizes and the calipers to make 100% sure.

The lugs were changed from 12mm to 14mm starting with 07/06 build cars according to the MINI Parts manuals.

 

Do you have a link? I've searched all over MF and haven't found this proof but did find a lot of people on here (like in this thread) with late '06 builds that don't have the brakes.

 

Then I don't have them.

This is starting to sound like urban legend.

Dean.

 

Some other differences:

Sometime between April and September '06, the factory switched over to the "Euro" boost radio, made by Siemens, rather than the standard Boost radio made by Alpine. My wife's car has the early version, mine has the later version.

The Euro version has a much larger volume **** and a different layout to the buttons, but otherwise works the same as the standard Boost and uses the same wiring harness.

Also, at some point between April and September, the factory started including the AUX stereo input for free on the cabrios, whether it was ordered or not. Probably just another case of using up what they had lying around, since the R56 cars weren't going to use them.

 

It was hit or miss on the last couple of weeks of production in November of '06. I've personally seen them on a late '06 car and was originally told about it by someone working on the line at the factory.

And they are not red but silver like the stock R56 MCS brakes so the only obvious difference is size.

 

Oh. That's encouraging. Do you know the difference in size ?

Dean.

 

Mine was built 11/06, no JCW brakes.

Installed them later on.

 

This statement should pretty much wrap it up.

 

another myth crushed by the mythbusters!
JCW Brake upgrade from the factory on the 1st gen "NOT PLAUSABLE"

 

Well, just because Gnatster's car doesn't have them, that doesn't mean that the factory didn't run low for a day or two earlier in the month and substitute some JCW brakes to keep the line moving until the next shipment of brakes arrived.

I'm a little puzzled as to why the factory would run out of "standard" brakes in the first place, though. It's not as if the R50/R53 were the last models to use those brakes - the R52s continue to use them to this day.

 

Right, that is what sort of has me puzzled to. I cant think of reason why they would run out.

 

Interesting...

I'm looking at the ETK and used my VIN.

The rotor used from 07/06 to the end of R53 production is 276x22mm and is part # 34-11-6-774-984

Up to 07/06 the rotor is the same diameter 276x22 but is part # 34-11-1-502-891. I'm going to speculate the difference is the diameter of the Lug Bolt holes.

Now if we do the same for the JCW brakes we find the same change at the same time. The JCW rotor is 294x22. Pre 07/06 we have 34-11-6-768-933 and post 07/06 34-11-6-774-986. The part # for the entire kit also makes a change in 07/06.

There is no indication in any of the notes that there may be some MINI's with the JCW part #'s as OEM. I'll look back at TSB's from the time frame in question tomorrow.

The notes do indicate the actual date of the change is 7/12/06