My MINI is an '02 R53.
The car has been sitting idle for a while but I am ready to get it back on the road. The clock shows only 67K miles so it still has a lot of life left!
I am considering doing a JCW upgrade but I am not certain where to begin.
I am not even sure if kits are still available to do the "official" upgrade.
Thoughts??

 

For the cost and time it would be much more cost effective and even make more power to go with aftermarket parts rather than a JCW kit.

I would start with a pulley kit
https://www.waymotorworks.com/wmw-pulley-package.html

Intake
https://www.waymotorworks.com/ddm-in...per-s-r53.html

And Exhaust
https://www.waymotorworks.com/millte...w-exhaust.html

Those 3 mods together would make it as fast as an 02 JCW if not faster but cost a fraction of what the JCW kit would be.

 

Agreed. I bought my JCW car mainly for the limited slip. Most of the other performance upgrades can be done more cost effectively with different aftermarket parts.

Plus the JCW exhaust is not great.

 

Injectors?

Regards,
Jerry

 

If you want to get an aftermarket tune I'd say go for injectors as well but plenty of people run the aforementioned combination with stock R53 injectors.

 

I concur, as someone who spent the extra for the factory JCW option, had my car not been an unexpected purchase, I would have done some research and went aftermarket instead,, no doubt.
The factory JCW option is great, if you never plan on doing any mods at all, but if you are, there are many less expensive and better performing options available.

 

You don't need injectors till you do a cam or head work. So save your money.

 

Always.

 

Yeah, I'm very happy with my non-JCW. I have the exact combo WMW recommended above (bought from WMW) and I always have a huge grin when driving my MINI.

I'm tempted to do a cam, 450's, and tune - but honestly the P/I/E really gets you 90% of the way...

 

A stiffer rear sway bar, a 17% pulley and new struts/coilovers (if the originals are still in place) and you will be pleasantly surprised. Throw on a Detroit Tuned BPV and the smiles might start putting lines on your face.

The big thing, IMO, that the facelift Gen1 JCWs have is the LSD.

 

You're referring to the aero kit that is part of the package, right WNW?

 

Yes, BUT it was optional on facelift 05-06's on the S models (non-JCW's). Hence why I'm in love with my slicktop LSD...I got it cheap since it was a non-JCW and was able to do a few simple bolt ons... helped keep the budget reasonable.

Or just buy a S with a blown clutch cheap and do the LSD at the same time.

 

LSD is the limited slip differential that came out in 05. It eliminates most of the torque steer until you add some mods to tweak the HP/Torque.

 

The aero body kits are pretty much all gone. Just some add on parts here and there. Some interior parts/engine kits still left. If you find them on our site, get them as lots of it has gone NLA

 

There are few reasons to go for legit, "Period Correct" JCW conversions. I did it to Olivia when the engine blew - had a dealer install it and everything. I did it because of a rule change up here for modified engines and insurance. A "Factory" [dealer] package is not a problem, but aftermarket items were.

Another reason is for the smugness we get from overpaying for the upgrade. It's not worth it, if all you want is performance. Spend $2K less and have the same or more power.

All three of my girls are JCW's, and I do my best to keep two of them OE - mostly for the inevitable comments on resale "wow a virgin R53 JCW".

 

You're not allowed to modify cars where you live?

 

Lol. When I got into the MINI market in 2010, insurance laws changed up here. I had a 225whp 2006 that I was purchasing that day, and the insurance company (and every subsequent one I called, before investigating further) asked the most awesome question, "does the car have any modifications that increase the speed or horsepower". Well, of course it did. And that became the learning experience I so did not want in my life.

They've laxed a bit since, but I already moved on, and am one of those hated JCW purists now.

 

I've never been asked that question by an insurance company. If I was, I probably wouldn't be buying their product.

 

Yeup, but unfortunately at the time, it was a newly implemented rule required by ALL insurance companies to ask new clients and newly insured vehicles. I know this, because I called every one. Short of facility insurance, there was no company in Ontario that would insure it at that time (without the owner lying to them).

I didn't have a choice of who's product to buy, as no one would sell it unless it was Facility Insurance (which they're required by law to offer).

Fortunately that rule/requirement has since become less important or is gone as they're not asking anymore.