I

 

The tuning kit is well worth the money for the R56. You can feel and hear the difference. The power is incredible.

 

Glad to hear your happy with it

I'm really looking forward to the factory installed JCW kit (as mentioned on motoringfile today) this has been the rumored stage 2 kit. Includes the following:

Upgraded/Optimized Turbo
Upgraded/Optimized Pistons
Upgraded Air Intake (same as dealer installed kit)
Revised 6 speed Manual Transmission
Upgraded Clutch
Four Piston Front Brakes / Upgraded rear pads
Upgraded Full Cat-back JCW Exhaust
Fully Optimized ECU
JCW Logos and door sills
LSD (Limited Slip Differential) and DSC
JCW “Challenge Spoke” light weight alloy wheels (seen in the photo above)
260 km/h speedometer limit (as opposed to the normal speedometer on the Cooper S with a limit of 240 km/h)

 

aaaaarrrrrrrrrrrgghhhhh!!!

from the way that sounds, you have to get the stage 2 factory installed. it doesnt sounds like current r56 owners will be able to get it installed later. please tell me im wrong.

i say this because they keep saying "factory" and that they are going to be marketed as "separate cars" and thing like that. sounds like they want to keep us slower than these new cars. i guess that made my alta vs. jcw decision. unless im wrong, which i hope i am.

 

You aren't wrong. Sorry.

It's been rumored for months that there would be a factory JCW car. The most recent story on MF is (according to MF) the official specs.

 

Yep, as far as I know it's a factory only car, but I'm really curious to know just how much it will cost, I would say that the Alta route is certainly a worthwhile option. I'm looking forward to attending the Alta grand opening later this month, that should be fun

 

weak.

they have to do it at the factory, why cant they do it at the dealership? sure i would pay more, but im not quite ready for all that performance anyway. so upgrading later would have been a great option.

 

Not weak at all--it would be prohibitively expensive to all of that at the dealer; much simpler and cheaper to put it out as a factory kit. What they've done with the R56 is a bit more involved from a mechanical standpoint than the R53--it would be so cost prohibitive to do what they've done at the dealer, no one would buy it--its unrealistic to consider this as a dealer add on.

You could do it cheaper aftermarket via a good mechanic, but it still aint gonna be cheap...

 

Yea, all it would take is replacing the transmission, rebuilding or replacing the engine, new turbo & intake, new ECU, and a few other things. Probably cheaper to sell your car and buy the factory version.

 

 

The factory kit is a great deal. I agree with the previous post. If you built this car aftermarket the additions would expensive. My guess is 10,000 dollars. The press release also gives us clues that building a Mini with Alta bolt ons to 220 HP with the factory, Turbo,Motor,Transmission and Clutch is not a good idea. I think the stock R56 is safe at 200hp or less and now we know why the original tuning kit was only 189hp.

My only complaint is - They have a release date for the factory car in June but Still no release date for the Auto JCW Tuning Kit.

Where is the JCW Tuning Kit for the Auto. Does anyone have an idea

 

There will not be a JCW stage II kit for the auto--look what the kit includes--its simply not possible in the current configuration. The JCW stage II will strictly be a manual kit. You will still be able to get a stage I for an automatic though.

 

Just to be clear, the press release doesn't come out until early March This is an exclusive MF report

 

And thanks a ton for the info Gabe!

 

I've been waiting to order an '08 S for a while now, wanting the Stage I kit. Today I spoke with several MA's at Mini of Dallas and they all said that the Stage I kit for the auto simply is not going to happen. I don't know why there has been so much misinformation about this, but they all agreed that there is ZERO chance of getting it. Sucks, because that's the main reason I've been waiting for about 6 months to place an order...
Jon

 

Given that there are members here on NAM with the JCW Tuning Kit for their MCSa's, I just can't imagine that's true. Try checking with other dealers.

 

Hmm, hadn't heard that either about the stage I not being available--I thought the release of the Stage I for automatics was delayed but not discarded--maybe Gabe will chime back in.

From what I understand, and I could be wrong, the stage I's that are on the automatics weren't originally intended for automatics, but were installed at the dealer sort of illicitly, but I could be wrong.

In either case, I seriously doubt that the Stage I has been nixed for the auto--all the parts are completely compatible with the automatic transmission, unlike the Stage II kit.

 

Quick update, I called several more dealerships:

Mini Of San Fran: MA said there is no word on any availability and says it is "highly unlikely" that it will exist.

Mini Of LA: MA Joshua (very nice guy) almost stopped me in my tracks when I inquired about it, and said not to waste time waiting because the current kit would require modifications for an auto. He said that he was certain that there was no chance of it happening.

Bob Smith Mini Of Beverly Hills: MA was borderline-rude when I inquired and almost acted like I was crazy for thinking there would be an auto kit. "it will be manual shift only" was his quote.

Mini of Tacoma WA: MA Aaron (very nice guy) was familiar with my predicament. He said that he was pretty sure that a kit was in the works, but emissions requirements (similar to previous models) were keeping the kit from coming out any time soon, if at all.

Mini Of Las Vegas: MA Jason wasn't totally sure, but said it was "his understanding that there would be no such availability." He then called me back about 15 minutes later and said his people had heard of it being worked on, but availability was certainly not right around the corner.

Brecht Mini, Escondido: MA Michael said he would call me back. It took him less than 2 minutes to return my call and said his tech-advisors said there was no chance whatsoever of it happening.

Note, I have no idea if any of this information is fact or fiction, I'm just reporting what dealers are telling me.

 

It is officially delayed.

You are 100% correct sir.

100% correct again.

 

MCSa drivers--

I have the JCW stage 1 kit on an auto trans R56. Nothing illicit. I heard about someone else on thios board in another state having his car JCWed and went to my dealer and asked them to order a kit. At first they said--not available yet but they would call MINI and give it a try. Gave them my VIN and 4 days later the kit was installed. I was surprised when it came and suprised when they called to tell me the install went perfectly and to come pick up the JCW MCSa.

It is not a kit for a manual trans car installed on an auto trans car. The auto trans program is totally different in non sport mode and the head tech told me a module appeared during installation saying UPDATE AUTO TRANS.

I have the software disc and a certificate of authenticity.

Perhaps a few kits snuck out before the official release.. I am not sure how but I am not complaining.
NOBODY WAS COERCED...I just spit in the wind and got lucky.

PS..there are auto trans JCW MCS cars in Europe and Canada. They are probably just delayed as Gabe has suggested. Hang in there. I doubt the comments listed above STATING IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN. These guys just want you to stop bothering them till they have something to sell you.
Gabe ( in particular) and a number of people on this board know more than alot of MAs.

ps..ITS A VERY WORTHWHILE UPGRADE...and Gabe--my offer is still open to let you check it out. You know where to find me.

 

I have been in contact with Mini Corporate on the issue of the JCW Tuning Kit for the Auto Trans. My most recent correspondence had a much different tone than the first one. The first of the year corporate replied the kit should be available very soon. The most recent communication was much more depressing. The e-mail stated they are having problems getting approvals and although the project has not been scratched there is no timetable for a release. After reading the previous post I am beginning to think the kit will never come out.

I have the JCW Body Kit and Suspension and really want the tuning kit to complete the car but if it is not going to come out I just wish they would say so. I am not nearly excited about the alternatives but they will have to do.