So, I have the opportunity to buy the JCW tuning kit for my car for $1600 installed.

Worth it? Should I do it?

 

Is your MINI still under warranty? If so, then my answer is MAYBE. Otherwise no.

 

Still under warranty, and about to extend both the warranty and maintenance plan. This is from the dealer and dealer installed.

 

Ask your dealer on their stance on mods and mention the Magnusson Moss act. That should give you an idea on how close you can skirt on self mods/how comfortable you are on risking your warranty. Another important factor is whether you work on your MINI. If you don't, then get it. If you do, I'd be hard pressed to get it.

 

What year is your MINI? If it's 2011 or later, I'd say go for it. That's far and away the best price I have heard of for this. Everyone with 2010's (N14) and older always recommend mods, but those of us with the N18 know it's just not that simple for our cars.

 

My car is a 2010. So, I guess that is the N14? Should I go for it? I have the wife's permission, just want to be sure it's something I should do.

@IzzyG, As of right now, I do not work on my Mini. I am using the maintenance plan, and I will be extending that to 100,000 miles.

This car is my commuter, and I drive about 36,000 miles a year. Does the JCW kit have a significant impact on fuel mileage?

 

With the N14, you have lots more tuning options available to you that can provide better results at a lower cost. I'd do more research first. If warranty is important, it might be a good option.

 

I'm a firm believer that the MINI's gas mileage really depends on your driving style vs the factory/JCW tune. For example, a friend has an MCS and drives in the city, averaging below 28mpg. I have the factory JCW and routinely get 33mpg(I don't drive like a gramma either but I live in the burbs). So I highly doubt you'll see a drop in mpg with a JCW tune(well maybe in the first month or so since you'll be "testing" it out). More importantly, you have a cool wife. Gathered enough brownie points to cash them in huh ;p

 

I would agree mostly with IzzyG... But I have two other question for you. 1) How important is a warranty to you? 2) How big a deal is $1600?

I personally would go for the kit because the warranty is very important to me and the money much less so. $1600 installed is like more than $1,000 less then usual. I would consider that a good deal!

Now to be completely up front, I did many Mods myself that were not the kind that cause a lot of warranty problems but they have caused a little. I added a NM CAI system, and a Miltek exhaust but then again I never had an offer for the JCW Kit at $1,600 installed.

 

This is the first car I've ever owned with a warranty, lol. So, yea, I'd like to keep the warranty intact. $1600 is not a problem for me. I did a little reading and they do say that this has NO impact on warranty.

I'm an old school racer, bikes, cars, boats, jet skis.... I've always fixed and modded and built myself. But, I've never had a car this new and under warranty. So, this is kinda a new deal for me considering factory mods.

 

Because you can afford the $1600 and wish to keep the warranty, I say buy the JCW kit. Mini has done all the thinking and testing for you. So it will all work well together. If you did your own build up, you would be doing a lot of research on your own to make sure your new parts didn't fight each other.

 

Kev... Do yourself and your cool wife a favor and just get the kit, a blown engine for your car would be in the $6-7,000 range! I don't think the wife would be really cool with that if you voided the warranty.

All the Factory Mods that MINI sells do not void the new car warranty.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

Okay. The bartender here at the bar said the same thing, lol. He's a car guy also.

So, I called the dealer from the bar to claim it, but they were closed. I've got an appointment there Monday morning anyway, so I'll get it then. Maybe I can get them to install it Monday too.

Freakin' excited!

 

Nope, not that simple at all...

 

I have a MCS 07 with JCW Kit.

Here is my thoughts on the JCW Kit. I ran the JCW Kit ECU Map for 4 years until I got a canned tune from ALTA.

1. Consume a lot more engine oil after the kit
2. Nice exhaust note, a bit louder. (My 07 MCS does not have pop / burble and JCW Stage 1 Exhaust does not add any pop / burble)
3. Keep factory warranty (During warranty I had timing belt, theorostat, waterpump, sunroof, ball joints all fixed)
4. JCW Stage 1 Intake (Cone filter) is one of the better intakes out there.
5. JCW ECU Tune is noticeable compare to stock MCS tune. A lot more low end torque and around 1400 to 3500 rpm.
6. Lose around 2 MPG with the same driving habits. (I'm 100% sure cause I have a excel spreadsheet documenting my fill ups and calculate by hand using formulas.)

Is it worth it? Not really and here is why. You are paying 2000+ with install for essentially a Exhaust / Intake and ECU Software. Most of the power comes from the ECU Map which you can get now with many after market tools / vendors.

JCW Stage 1 Exhaust (Chrome tip) does not sound as good as the Factory JCW Exhaust (No chrome tip). [More person preference.]

If I could go back in time, I would just purchase the Factory JCW Exhaust with JCW or DoS Intake. Pick up a remote tune like a second hand Access Port or have it tuned locally. You can uninstall it and dealer won't notice a thing. =D

Just my 2 cent.

 

He's paying 1600 bucks.

Everything aftermarket is overly priced, stick with the JCW tune bc u commute a lot.. And the oil problem is your problem...not his

 

Just looking to purchase a new Mini S. Is it better / cost effective to add the JCW kit to the S version or just pay the additional cost upfront and get the JCW from the factory? I like a nice exhaust note. Gas mileage is not a deal breaker - I just want a fun and spirited ride. Replaced a 2001 TT with my 2007 BMW and have missed the fun of the TT. I think the Mini might be comparable? Thx

 

Spend the extra and get the factory JCW. It has other upgrades, including brakes, clutch and slightly beefier engine to properly handle the extra power. The kits are primarily for those of us who either wanted JCW after we already had an S, and it also used to be for those who wanted JCW like power but needed an AT. Now the AT and JCW combo isn't an issue. There are lots of threads about "I wish I'd have gotten a JCW".

 

Spend a bit more and get the Factory JCW.

Factory JCW have forge piston, better clutch, loud and more pop exhaust, JCW Kit and 4 pot Brembo.

 

Factory JCW>MCS JCW

Those who say otherwise have an MCS and are in denial ;p Obviously this is when money isn't an issue.

 

Sold! Getting installed today!

 

Keep us posted on your thought of before and after. Good luck.

 

Will do. The wife made me let her be the one to drive it home from the dealer.... Small price to pay I guess.

 

Aarrgg, still on the lift. They are having some sort of computer problem with loading the tune and are having to get help from mini headquarters.

 

cool! are u in socal by any chance? maybe we can get a similar deal