Should I keep everything mini cooper or should i start adding aftermarket parts? I have a 06 MCS and want to add alot to it. The JCW parts are costly and i want to get this car MEAN... what does everyone think about it? Should I start working on it and say screw the warrenty or not? PLEASE HELP... thanks Spike

 

even if I had a JCW package i'll probably end up using aftermarket for a broader choice.

 

JCW only takes you so far, and then what will you do?

If you want it to go to 11...you will need to go aftermarket, I mean once you are at 10 you have no where else to go...

 

I'll be in Norfolk, VA next month (doing installations at a pulley party), and we warranty everything as well. I would be happy to get you to the JCW power mark at a fraction of the cost - feel free to give us a call on Monday.

Hope that helps!
Randy
303-683-4424

 

I was going to do a M7 16%sc pulley and 2% crank pulley with a AGS intake. Then down the road a Borla race exhaust. I will stop there for now... I would be happy with that stuff... Spike

 

That's all very well and good, but will it be pedigreed? Will it be smooth and refined? Will you get a numbered certificate to frame for your wall? Will you get two, yes two, badges so that people can tell you have a JCW coming and going? Will your car retain it's original value to the end of time?

I think not, Mr. Webb.............

 

After spending $5k with Randy, I asked him if I could have a sticker... but he was out. I worked on an 06 JCW the other day, and it looked a little bling'd out to me, with all those badges and red calipers. I have no doubt that Randy will stand behind any component he has installed on my car, as opposed to the dealer, who I wouldn't trust with my dirty laundry. And if anyone has a pedigree (and who's not a dog) it would be Randy.
Still, folks have their right to think and say anything they want (sort of...)
cheers,

 

People, keep it clean... just seeing what people think about uping the pulleys, and intake. Thats all. I think I am going to do the work my self.. Start it on a friday and end whenever i get done... Thanks for the info guys... Spike

 

good luck on the pulley. I looked at the engine. Looked for the stock pulley, then said, huh. If I do this I'm bringing it in to be done :D.

 

But I didn't have a choice. JCW wasn't out yet when I ordered.
If you go aftermarket, you'll save some $, but won't me a member of ....
"TEAM CRAPTASTIC!!!!"

I'm sure you'll touch a lot of raw nerves on this one. But WTF?!?!?

And if you do the install yourself, I Don't think you get the warranty on the works stuff.

Whatever you do, have lots of fun! But if this is your first SC car to mod, read a book on tuning cars with blowers, it will help you make informed choices, no matter what path you choose.

Matt

 

If you can live sans warranty, go aftermarket. Much more bang for the buck, innovative programs and pieces and the allure of the unknown.

I've found it more enjoyable to do the research on various manufacturers' widgets rather than just go to my MINI dealer and get the JCW kit.

It's a matter of choice and risk management; if you're willing to choose the aftermarket and can handle the loss of warranty coverage go for it.

 

Aha! Just as I suspected........no badges!

There shouldn't be any raw nerves here if everyone understands up front that we are talking about a car............

 

For those of you who don't know Skiploader, pay no attention to his whimsical snipes. I am actually very close to him (leaving the door open for that one), and his wife too for that matter. He has a totally equipped WMS car.

On the badges front, we are actually finally working with someone in Arizona to make the badges - I think we might get somewhere with them finally! It will be a valve cover badge and rear boot badge - optional of course.

Hope that helps!
Randy

 

Going aftermarket is definitely the better bang-for-your-buck route in the short term. However, come re-sale time you will either have the task of returning it to stock (OK, if your mechanically inclined and can do all the work yourself) or lucking-out and finding someone who is happy to buy a used modded car (more difficult than people will have you believe).

Also, in general, you will only get a small fraction of the money back for aftermarket parts if you leave them installed and, in some cases, it will hurt the re-sale value of your car. I'm facing this dilemma now with my modded S4. Because of this, my MINI will be decked out with JCW paraphanalia for piece of mind now, and in the future, come resale or trade-in.

 

I completely agree with the value of the parts - you just won't see what you put into the car when it comes time for resale.

Now the unfortunate news - the same goes for the JCW. We just aren't seeing a premium for the JCW kit over a similarly maintained and mileaged Cooper S.

That both helps and hurts - it allows you to do what you want with the car from a resale value point of view (as long as it is reputable aftermarket parts), but it tells you that the money you will spend should be looked at as "fun" money and not an investment in the car.

Hope that helps!
Randy

 

Yeah, thanks for all the info guys. The only bad part is that the JCW kit is a good amount extra. Also they don't come with the real JCW seats, like the ones in UK. Soo I am happy with the car, but I want to add alittle more boost and a nice sounding intake. I will probably own this car till it dies, cause I enjoy it so much.

Now on adding extra boost, with a crank pulley and SC reduction pulley, Where can I go to research on those subjects? thanks for all the help guys... Spike

 

Here's a good place to start. Also, take a look in our forums under Product Evaluations and News Flash.

Also, feel free to contact us Monday and ask any questions that you don;t have answers to.

Hope that helps!

Randy

 

What do you think about this. I was going to put the M7 2% crank pulley, M7 16% reduction pulley, The AGS Pro intake w/ 62mm throttle body, and oil catch can. Then down the road I am going to add a Borla race exhaust. Thats all i want to do. That isn't going to be too bad for the motor is it? thanks for the help. Jason Aka Spike

 

I've met Randy and my one purchasing experience with him gave me a very warm and fuzzy feeling.
But on my MINI, I got with dealership install of factory approved parts (ie: JCW).

Why? Because if anything ever misbehaves, I absolutely don't want that sick feeling in my stomach "what if the dealership says it's not warranteed" ... but I guess I am lucky enough to be able to pay for the peace of mind.

I have compared JCW with aftermarket a couple of times (admittedly a year and more ago so aftermarket may have changed):
#1 the JCW is "smoother" / "more refined" - hard to describe but not hard to experience. Worth the extra $$$, probably not on its own.
#2 the JCW torque curve is better than a similarly equipped aftermarket car at the lower 3000-4000 rev range - but maybe aftermarket engine updates are better now, or if you go for something wild like 230+ top end, presumably you get the benefit of that all up the rev band.

Finally, again and again I see indications that you really should update the engine computer if you change the pulley - otherwise you don't get the full benefit, and the long term effect of stock programming with aftermarket air flows can be bad.

 

1. You spelled my screen name wrong, Roandy.

2. No one will ever know I'm driving a WMS-Equipped car because I have no badges.

3. I love JCW, stock and aftermarket-equipped cars alike. I just get a kick out of people who get upset over the whole stupid debate.

4. While Roandy Webbe will honor his warranty, your local BMW/Mini hack shop may not.

 

I'm gonna send you extra large badging - and I expect you to use them (I won't make any recommendations on how though)...

Hope that helps!
Roandy

 

Its getting real hot in here...

 

This coming from someone in Miami!

You should come out to a pulley party - they always are a hoot!

It is a shame that deflection and all the nuances of spoken language can't be conveyed on the internet - this is pretty funny stuff .

Randy

 

look at my sig, do like how i did, combine best of the both. My car runs really quick, and smooth as well. My next Mini is going to be a new generation JCW and I will soup that one up with aftermarket touches.

 

Badges, we ain’t got no badges, we don’t need no badges, I don’t got to show you any stinking badges.