I just got this message from MINIUSA.COM.




Introducing the 200 Horsepower John Cooper Works tuning kit
for the MINI Cooper S, commonly referred to as simply, the
"Works." As in "Wow. That's some serious whup-*** you have
working under your bonnet." To answer any questions you
might have, we've arranged a live chat with Mike Cooper, son
of the legendary F1 constructor John Cooper and current head
of John Cooper Works, the perfect partner for developing
this impressive performance boosting tuning kit.*


WHEN: May 7th, 12-1 PM EST
WHERE: The MINI International website
WHAT: Live Web Chat about the Works.
WOW: Chat participants have a chance
to win John Cooper related prizes.

 

Here's the pic from the message header:

 

See also:

JCW thread on Performance Mods

 

Remember the kit costs $4500
Add 10 hours of labor
then remember you're giving MINI your stock supercharger and stock head.


Here are the two questions I'd like to see answered

Question 1: For $4500 why doesn't the U.S. Spec JCW kit only address the engine? Why aren't there changes to the suspension, wheels, tires, and seats for the U.S. Spec Kit?


Question 2: The Stock Supercharger and Head have to be returned in the process of the kit install.

 

Dave's question #2 does make one wonder. Are they using these "cores" to rebuild into the souped up parts? Sure does not seem likely.

Used for warranty work? Hope not. Maybe there is some value as used parts, but until the initail warrantees are up.

Maybe they don't want their parts at a swap meet, or on your garage floor! :smile:

 

I got that today, too. Here is what I wrote back in answer:

>>Thank you for the update. If you ever get the price down to a more realistic level, I'm sure you'll have plenty of interest in this conversion. As it is, judging from what the people using current aftermarket items do, it just seems like there's a $2000 surcharge just to keep your warranty valid.<<

It may not get them to do anything about the price. but it's how I see it.

>>Question 2: The Stock Supercharger and Head have to be returned in the process of the kit install.<<

I saw someone else said they get to keep the parts (forget whether it was here or Mini2) but I think I caught that they were in Canada. There they really pay a premium for the kit.

 

I got the same message and the thought of 200 hp and full warrenty looks inviting.
However, the price and nothing listed that will control the wheel spin on acceration kind of temper my enthusiasm. Hey BMW, lower the price and add some power train mods to make this worth while.

 

I predict that that chat is going to get ugly in a jiffy.

 

I think the JCW kit for the MCS is sort of a "Slap on the face" to current MCS owners. To me the JCW package is sort of an admission that the MCS after all is still underpowered, so might as well spend another $4,500+ to make it the car it should have been in the first place.

I think that by making the JCW an aftermarket, dealer installed bolt on, just gives an opportunity to MINI to jack up the prices and get profit from dissapointed and power hungry MCS owners that were sold a car with the premise of "Superior" performance when in the end the Supercharger just made it a bit better than a regular Cooper but not near full fledged sport car territory.

Here is my message to BMW: Instead of selling us a very good but grossly overpriced performance kit, instead, make the MCS output standard 200HP issue. From a financial standpoint I see why you want to sell a 163HP MCS "Light" but from logic standpoint it makes no sense. If the LCW kit bits and pieces were to be offered from factory, I am sure the cost per car would only increase $2K to $3K max. Buyers would still get a MCS capable of ripping apart losta more expensive cars outhtere for a reasonably price increase. People are more willing to pay $3K extra from a factory install than $4,500+ from a dealer aftermarket job.

The current stock MCS is a great deal at $3K over the current Cooper....you get the Supercharger, better suspension, seats, exterior bits, etc. But the $4,500+ gap between a stock MCS to a JCW MCS is even less justifiable to my wallet...just 37HP more, a few mods here and there, but nothing else distintinctive.

If MINI installed the JCW kit from factory you would still get full warranty on it, so I don't buy the argument that BMW's warranty coverage of the JCW kit alone justifies the hefty price tag, no way Jose!.

There is a reason why the JCW kit will not be imported for the regular Cooper model. I have read that the kit is not all that and very expensive as well.

I think the JCW kit is interesting but I have find myself insulted by the admission price.

 

Cooper4us! ! ! I totally agree.

 

Cooper4us I can't tell if you even agree with yourself. Which is it?

1.Power hungry MCS owners were sold a car with the premise of "Superior" performance when in the end the Supercharger just made it a bit better than a regular Cooper
or

2.The current stock MCS is a great deal at $3K over the current Cooper....you get the Supercharger, better suspension, seats, exterior bits, etc.

I agree with the second point, but question the first. Personally I am far from "dissapointed" in the performance of The MCS. Very far from it. The car certainly does not feel underpowered to me. Underpowered compared to what?

I would agree the JCW kit seems to be overpriced, especially for the modest gains in performance. I also agree a less expensive factory built JCW MINI would be more attractive than the premium price aftermarket replacement. I also doubt this will happen unless the MPG figures are not hurt. But for me the main thing diminishing the allure of the JCW kit is just how brilliant the stock MCS is just as it comes.

 

The JCW kit for the "S" is expensive because of the work that went into designing and making the kit.Most of the kit is made up of parts that require time and effort to build.The reworked cylinder head is ported and polished.The valves are bigger.The supercharger vanes are re-worked for better efficiency.Go to any quality engine re-building shop and you will find that work like this is expensive.

Some people were also wondering why they don't get the old parts back.I think it's because JCW rebuilds the returned cores(the old parts)and turns them into new kits for other Mini's.

I was wondering myself why the works kit for the Cooper is not available for the US.It turns out the kit failed to meet noise reuirements and pollution emissions testing.The works kit had to be changed for the rest of the world because of the exhaust noise.Old Cooper kits were rated 132 PS while the new kits are rated 126 PS.Torque with the Cooper kits is still much higher than the torque on the US cars,but horsepower wise their all the same now.

I called up JCW on Thursday.It turns out that even it you wanted to buy a stand alone kit for the Cooper and have a Mini tuner install it,you can't.I guess MiniUSA told them not to sell them here.

 

Oilman930- Do you know for a fact that the supercharger is reworked? And if so how? What is done to the vanes?

 

>>Do you know for a fact that the supercharger is reworked? And if so how? What is done to the vanes?<<

Supposedly the vanes are better because they're teflon coated. It lets them build to tighter tolerances for better sealing, hence better air flow.

>>I was wondering myself why the works kit for the Cooper is not available for the US.<<

The JCW kit is (will be) available in the US. The price going around is $4500 plus installation. One of the things you have to question (along with the price) is why there are people who can get the same 200 hp, or more, without headwork and upgraded supercharger. Yes, R&D is expensive. But the aftermarket companies spend money on R&D, too. Yet, it still a lot cheaper to build your car on aftermarket parts. As I stated earlier, it's like we're being forced to pay a $2000 preminum just to keep the warranty intact. :???:

 

It's the same supercharger! Is anyone prepared to say that MINI/JCW isn't just taking these old superchargers and heads and retrofitting them (installing a reduction pulley and porting/polishing the head) for other customers. That's my guess. Otherwise, why take the parts back? Do you really believe MINI/JCW just wants to keep your garage free of a couple extra parts. You paid for the supercharger and the head. Be sure to remember to add that to the cost of the kit! It's not $4500 if you also have to hand over your original parts.

The more I learn about this kit, the more I resent MINI/JCW.

 

Did anyone catch the live chat? I tried but missed it cause it wasnt at
12-1 EST but at 1800-1900 CET. when is that CET? since the nation is on daylight savings time...I screwed up royally, as in did a big Prince Charles. missed it after taking time off work to see it.

what happened? was it a jumbo infomercial? or did the truth come clear?

 

Hi everybody and what's left of the January Clubbers....a few weeks ago I took a private tour of Dinan, the BMW tuner in Morgan Hill, California. Steve Dinan gave a tour to 30+- BMW E30 owners on the 25th Anniversary of the chassis.

Being the only MCS owner in the bunch, (thats another story) I asked a few questions about the Chili Red MCS in the shop. While I can't tell you exactly what I heard, (they would have to kill me) Keep on Motoring.

 

great news...about Dinan did he mention cost...ballpark $$
less than JCW?
thanks for sharing. :smile:

 

Anyone interested PM me...I know the cheapest place in the country
to get it done. Get a written price and they'll beat it.....

 

Hhhhmmm, interesting comments here.
May I add a few?

MCS Superchargers: to my knowledge the standard MCS SC has teflon coated vanes, but the JCW has ceramic coated vanes, not telfon coated vanes. That allows for tighter vane tolerances and more consistent boost pressure. So, the differences I believe are th 15% reduction pulley and different vane coatings.

'Standard' MCS: I do agree, the standard MCS is a great car, and offers great bang for the buck! That's why I bought it, not because I expected supercar performance. I test drove the MC and MCS, ordered the MCS and got exactly what I wanted.

Want more performance? You can get it in several ways. Go aftermarket and you can get a similar upgrade to JCW for about a little under 1/2 the price. You may even get more hp. However, I have yet to see a ported and polished head in teh aftermarket. I do believe that the 2-2.5k premium of the JCW kit over an aftermarket combo is more than just the payment for the warranty. It is the more extensive testing of the complete package including P&P head, but in addition one major consideration may be resale value of the car. A 200 hp aftermarket car will never fetch the same price as a JCW car. So, you could look at the JCW kit as an investment in resale value, with good warranty. I myself am seriously considering teh JCW kit. It's pricey, but I thinkit will be worth it. However, others may be happier with aftermarket. If my MCS was closer to the end of the warranty period, and I would be fairly certain I would not sell it for a long time, I would also go aftermarket.
Just my 2c worth...

Markus