http://www.mini2.com/forum/general-d...your-help.html

I found this thread at mini2.com. And was kind of shocked!
Horrible news!

They will being closing their doors to the public as of the 4th August this year!

The way i understand it, is that JCW will remain, but from main dealers rather than the small garage themselves. (?)

Sad.

Need some input on this one!

 

Gabe has more about this on MotoringFile

 

Thanks!

Good to hear that this probably will not have any effect on the availability of JCW accessories in the near future!

 

And yet another British motoring institution bites the dust.

 

They are the standard for which other "tuners" have to rise to.... this is terrible.... anyone have a set of JCW CF mirror covers for sale?

 

This is terrible news. I knew it was over when they started installing the JCW kit at the factory. BMW wants to have control of all aspects. How much would would someone like to wage that BMW will phase out the JCW name and phase in the M name in the future? I see it going the direction of AMG and Mercedes - boring.

 

I doubt we'll ever see ///M associated in NAME with MINI, simply because BMW has been very clear about wanting MINI to be a different brand from BMW and having ///M labeled products would muddy that water. However, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see ///M doing the R&D for future "JCW" badged parts.

 

I'll take that bet - I'm in for any amount

 

who knows.... the complexity orf the new engine may be something that JCW could not "mod" as well as the SC engine and the value add was not enough for BMW to continue...... but with all the other areas that need improvement I don't understand why there are not simply refocusing....all that talent with no where to go...makes no sense...maybe they will be an out source R&D house..... I wish them good luck and fortune.

 

Bad Management is what it comes down to.

And very sad news for me. John Cooper would be really sad about this.

 

They worked out a deal to have the JCW name associated with the only parts officially endorsed worldwide by MINI. Then they swung getting those parts installed at the factory, again for worldwide sales. In light of that it's not surprising that not many people want to pay to have the kit installed after the fact at the Works Garage.

Then they sold off the rights to the U.K. Challenge series to an independent promotor.

I'd imagine Mike Cooper made a little bit of money in those deals that should hold him over until he can get back on his feet again.

 

There are SO many things that can be done at a World Reknowned garage, for revenue. The fact that JCW kits get installed at the factory should be used as a side revenue.

Either Mikey has received so much money from the above mentioned deals, and has gone lazy, and feels that factory fitted kits is enough for the Cooper name to live on, then fair enough for him, but I still think it's a mistake for them to close the doors to a shop that stands for everything John Cooper.

Bad/Lazy Management.

 

is that why the jcw accessories are on sale now?

 

It comes down to Dollars and Cents. At the end of the day this is business whether we like it or not. I am sure Mike Cooper wants to retire young and rich and perhaps BMW offered him a mighty juicy offer for the rights to the JCW name, facilities and so on and so forth. In other words, an offer he couldn't have refused.

Being in Mike Cooper's shoes, I would have probably done the same

I don't think JCW was suffering in the marketplace. Quite on the contrary the success and pedigree associated with this turner is what made it an attractive investment to begin with.

I am also not a bit surprised with the sales decline of the dealer installed JCW kit. Ever since MINI made it a factory installed option, it turned it into a no brainer for most buyers. First, a factory installed JCW kit carries with it even higher pedigree and much better resale value, not to mention it is cheaper than paying the astronomical 9+ hours labor charges at the dealer on top of the cost of the kit itself. And best of all, your new MINI doesn't get taken apart to get it installed as it already comes it with

 

on sale where?

 

That tears it, the wife's 06 MC is getting a JCW sound kit, can only add to the value later....... What's next, dogs sleeping with cats, the world is coming to an end people, I'm telling you, I'm standing here beside myself......

 

Agreed from a "romantic" or "Passionate" point of view, but from a strict business perspective, Mike Cooper is cashing in the millions and laughing all the way to the bank.

I would have done the same.

 

A second, or later generation, rarely has the same drive and interest as the entrepreneur (help me spell!!) who built the business. Sometimes, but rarely. Converting the business to funds to pursue their own interests happens a lot........or finding themselves in financial hardships because of that same lack of drive for it.

 

With the 07 switch to the turbo motor JCW did not really have a lot to offer. Maby rather than start up another project he just took the cash and split. Not a hard decision for some.

 

Does anyone have any idea how long/if the engine kits will still be available? I wanted to do the JCW engine kit this fall or spring; I THINK from what I've read, the kits should still be available, it's just the garage thats closing. Hate to see this happen; JC was such a part of the Mini mystique--it somehow made the Mini seem less mainstream, at least to me (and makes me want the JCW kit even more--already have the suspension and brakes scheduled for next week). Hope BMW doesn't screw this up.

 

I would think the cars with the JCW kits just got a bump in value......

 

Thank You, Spidey I knew I did this mod for a good reason, seemed pricey at the time but who knew.........

 

All I have to say is WOW. That was a shocker. I can't believe it. Let's all hope that it is just temporary. JCW has added so much to the new MINI it's incredible. This makes me want to keep everything JCW I have.

All that crap, down the drain... Sorry I had to throw that in.

Mikey

 

JCW isn't going away. Its just added at the dealer and installed at the factory. Nothing new to the consumers really. How many JCW owners got their kits installed at the dealership versus somewhere else? Stateside, we'll see no changes but in the sticker's options list.

After reading the Mike Cooper interview (motoring file?), the way I understood is JCW Garages is still doing the R&D work for JCW kits, BMW is taking JCW global (which it already was anyway), and the actual retail garage in europe is closing.

 

Who knows what will become of the JCW garage, the brand, or the product?

I mean, who would've thought BMW would be selling cars under the Mini Cooper name? To some, it's blashpeme. I know of a couple of british car clubs that will not permit the BMW Mini Cooper to register as a British car for British Car Day meets. There is a really nice meet each Spring in Lewes, Delaware, and they will not let the current Minis on the field. Conversely, the big BCD in Adamstown, MD each June does have a separate class for them.

Ford owns Jaguar. Lotus is owned by Proton (Malaysia) after having been owned by GM and then Bugatti. Lost track of who owns Rover, Bentley, Rolls, etc., but they're not Brits.

Just announced that a Chinese car company has apparently bought the now defunct MG brand, and is planning to actually begin manufacturing cars with the MG badge in a plant to be built in Oklahoma!!!!

http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25381

TVR just went belly up. That pretty much leaves Caterham as the largest remaining truly British car manufacturer.

If the JCW name and brand has any cache left to it, somebody will buy it and work it. It just might not feel the same.