Hi all!

I just recently orders a 2013 Mini Cooper S (she is in production as I write this...absolutely cannot wait!!!!) pepper white, blk/blk, 6 spd, sport pkg (with the blk conical wheels), tech pkg, and premium pkg II. It's my first Cooper and I have a few questions for those of you with more experience than I with this car.

1. I am considering adding the JCW tuning kit before I take delivery. Has anyone added this dealer option and, if so, what are your impressions of its enhancements? What parts are changed when adding the JCW tuning kit? There isn't a wealth of information available about this; Mini seems to keep it a bit mysterious. I believe the factory JCW editions also have an uprated clutch/transmission that the S editions do not enjoy. Will the JCW tuning kit upgrade create any issues for the clutch or transmission in the car?

The cost of the tuning kit is $3360 including installation. Does anyone know what all this includes? Is it just intake and ECU changes or does to also include a new exhaust system? Is that exhaust system simply cat-back or is it an upgrade all the way back to the manifold? What real world performance changes may I expect?

I ask all this as my previous vehicle is VW GTI with several APR upgrades. However, the DSG didn't fare so well all with the uprated engine tuning (didn't like the increased torque) and I am concerned the Cooper S might suffer the same potential problems. Should I be worried about this? The one fact I really like about the JCW tuning kit is that it does not impact the factory warranty.

2. I like the conical wheels that Mini offers and am not planning on changing these. Will the JCW big brake kit fit with these wheels? It doesn't appear it does but I cannot confirm this. This is not an immediate mod I plan but I would like to know my best options.

3. Does anyone here have experience with Ralph Schomp Mini in Denver, CO? For sales, they have been great but most dealerships are with sales. How are they regarding service? Are there better independent Mini specialists in the Denver area?

Thanks in advance for any and all assistance. David.

 

David,

I am purchasing my R59 from Schomp's. I have heard nothing but good things from them on service. Be sure and join MINI 5280, there are lots of very knowledgeable owners in that group and they do a lot of fun rides. They can help you with any question you might have about MINI's. They are hosting MINI's in the Mountains in August.

 

Thank you the info; I plan on reaching out to Mini5280 when I acquire the car. Are you in Denver?

 

I'm in Texas but my mother in law and sister in law live up there, both own MINI's. To get a MINI, I have to go to Denver, OKC or Dallas and they are all at least 4 hours away so I chose Denver since i have family there. No club here either so I am a member of 5280. They have lots of great drives and activities. We are going on a drive to Seattle and the Oregon coast at the first of June. Have you gone to the club forums and found 5280? Lots of info there and the calendar. They meet at least once a month. The prez is old81 on here. My R59 is to be arriving in Denver sometime in early April. When is yours coming in?

 

Mine is only in production at this point in time (3 days); so, I have some time to nervously await arrival of my new baby! I suspect it won't be here until May maybe.

I'm from Dallas which is why I asked about Texas.

 

When I bought my "S" new back in 2002 the JCW kit wasn't even an option, but I did wind up having the dealer install it once the JCW option became available. So I have had both the "S" and the JCW long enough to give a good comparison. Plus I've done a number of other upgrades that further enhanced my JCW. I don't know what the new JCW upgrade costs but back in 2002 it was something about + or - 4,500.00. Comparing the S to the JCW the price was a bit high for the upgrade but the difference is quite fantastic, the JCW is a completely different car than the S. as I mentioned I've done a number of additional upgrades, all have greatly enhanced the cars performance, but the one upgrade I never did totally was to add the JCW brake kit and I believe this is a necessary upgrade for a JCW equipped car. I did do a complete braided hose upgrade and added high performance brake pads, both of which contributed nicely by improving the cars stopping and handling overall but it hasn't been enough, so I would recommend also doing the JCW brake upgrade. From all the feedback I've read about the Brembo upgrade, it sounds like its a bit too much for the car unless you are going to track it regularly. I tracked mine several times while living in GB and wish I had gone further. Remember you can only go as fast as can stop and if you can't stop fast, it really doesn't matter how fast you can go, cause you'll never be able to really push your car to its limits. GO FOR THE BRAKE UPGRADE!

 

The confidence you get in your car's handling performance when you know you have an outstanding brake package can't be beat.

 

If it is coming to Denver, the ship trip takes 21 days.

 

Hank,

Thanks for the advice. Yes, a brake upgrade is going to be important at some point. However, I want to see how good, or not good, the factory brakes are first. I'm also not sure the JCW brake upgrade is available for my wheels. The Mini Configurator doesn't say "no..you can't do this" but it does react differently went I select a different wheel option.

MB2020,

I am in Denver now; I'm originally from Dallas. I was curious as to the time frame of delivery once the car was on a boat.

 

To echo this, I have spent a couple of weeks with my new S and find that the brakes are the weak point of the car. I was initially planning to go with the tuning kit as my first upgrade, but I'm starting to reconsider my choice and might start with the brake upgrade kit. I have the JCW factory exterior package with 17" wheels which should accommodate the brake kit.

 

Hank, sycd,

I completely agree with you both about the importance of brakes. However, I do not believe the JCW brake kit for 17" wheels fits the 17" Conical wheel option found in the sport package. The 16" kit is nothing more than drilled and slotted discs! After some digging, I found this:

"Please note that the brake only fits to limited wheel stylings: R97, R104, R108, R111, R112, R113, R114". I'm thinking the 17" Conical Spoke wheels are R121 or something along those lines.

I may have to go aftermarket (considering Stoptech and Wilwood) for an upgraded braking system since I really wish to keep the factory wheels.

 

Yep! Mine came with the R112 which are compatible. If I had to upgrade the wheels I would stick with OEM to make sure the new brakes fit. But that can bring up the cost of the upgrade by quite a bit.

 

If you think the Mini brakes are weak, your other car must be something with 6 pot Brembo's... The brakes are fine for most uses. They've got good bite, and stopping power. Your problem is probably the tires. Unless you are tracking the car, or being a complete hoon driving up and down mountains, the stock brakes work fine. With a change of pad compound, they are fit for track days. My only issue with them is the dust. It's an issue with all German cars. (yes, a Mini is a German car...) And that can be fixed with a pad compound change. What issues are you having with the stock brakes? I just replaced my rotors and pads at 35K miles. The front pads were were toast, the rears were slightly better Both sets of rotors were well worn and rusty. I went with ECS Cermet coated, slotted rotors, and EBC red stuff pads. I'll post about them after I finish bedding the pads.

I believe the tuning kit replaces the airbox with the JCW, the exhaust manifold, the cat back, and tuning.

 

I just had my pads replaced by MINI at 30K miles as part of the 36K mile maintenance program - the rotors were still within spec. I am considering Wilwood when it comes time for me to do it again. I'll no doubt need rotors at that time.

 

I love the R112s!!!!! Good for you great taste!

 

+1

 

I had the JCW tuning kit installed this year and have no regrets, pricey but well worth it. There's a good thread on it here, little old but still good info: JCW Tuning Kit Thread

 

My previous car was an M3, so not the average daily driver, but even our other car, a V8 X5 seems better brake bite.