I noticed that Mini offers 2 aero kits.
1 factory installed, and one in the acessory section listed as a JCW Aero kit.

Is this the same kit, or are they different?

 

I imagine this topic has been covered a good few times, but here it is again.

They are two different kits.
The factory kit is known as the "Aero Kit" and the dealer-installed kit is known as the "JCW Aero Kit". The dealer-installed kit is a lot more aggressive and (in my experience) much more popular, with good reason.

Photos for comparison here: http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/02/...ffical-photos/

My vote goes to the JCW kit!

 

Thanks, that's what I needed to know.

 

And for 2009, the factory Aero kit will include body painted wheel trim (instead of the partial black).

 

Don't get me wrong, i'm biased toward the factory aerokit...but has anyone noticed that whenever they show the two aerokits anywhere, the JCW is on a track or on a car that's moving fast somewhere with great lighting and some nice photoshop effects, but the factory aerokit is on some car that looks poorly rendered sitting in dead space somewhere. Not a very good comparison if you ask me, but then again no one asked me lol.

I started a thread a while ago for the factory aerokit owners to post pics, but it didn't really take off lol.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=126230

 

When I chose the JCW aero kit my MA showed me two different styles - I chose the one with the 'fingers' on the side skirts -- looks wonderful! Ask to see both & then choose.

 

Yep, going with the JCW kit on the dark silver with black & web spokes.

 

What's the other style look like?

 

When my MA showed me, there was no doubt in my mind -- the other one was "plainer" more generic looking to my eyes, so I picked the more custom looking one -- sorry I can't do better on explaining, but, really -- ask to see both before you ink your order in person.

 

OEM aero kit pictures:
http://www.motoringunderground.com/f...31&postcount=7

JCW aero kit pictures:
http://www.motoringunderground.com/f...26&postcount=3

 

It definitely isn't the first picture (the yellow Mini) -- it's the kit on the red Mini -- if you look carefully you can see the 'fingers' toward the rear tires.

 

Awesome thread. Those pics were exactly what I needed to make a decision. The Mini configurator isn't real clear on what the two kits look like.

Thanks

 

Oh I thought you meant there were 2 different versions of the JCW kit. I was worried they were going to try and sell you an incomplete kit.