So I here and see allot of people say they have a JCW Mini. Specifically a MCS. So what exactly makes a Mini a JCW Mini? Can someone say they have a JCW Mini if they slap on some JCW rims only? Or can they say they have a JCW Mini if they slap on a JCW body kit?

I seen a posting on Craigslist of a person selling a "JCW MCS". All that I seen that was JCW related on the car was some floor mats. That's about it.

I own a 2007 MCS. I have JCW R105 rims, JCW Aero body kit, JCW mats, JCW Tuning Kit and so on. Can I say or claim I own a JCW Mini?

What say you guys?

 

I'd say the biggest thing that makes a "JCW" a "JCW" is the tuning kit.

Lots of added "JCW" stuff does not make one a "JCW". (I have JCW seats, wheel, and interior trim...).. I'd never say that "I own a JCW" nor would I add external badges to my car saying so.

JCWs come in two flavors - Factory JCWs (FJCW), and built JCWs.. "Built" is subjective. I'd love to get the body kit and tuning kit.. If I had them with the interior I have I'd say I would have a "built" a JCW.

 

The turbo is a different turbo on a FJCW is it not...the tuning kit and that are to me what make the difference...I bought mine with the JCW aero package all around, but its not a JCW...and I would never think of claiming it was.

 

The main things that are different are:

bigger turbocharger

exhaust

intake manifold

Pistons

brakes

Springs and shocks

The VIN will indicate that it is a John Cooper Works MINI, if you check it with the factory data base.

Dave

 

At least in 2011+, the JCW is a different trim level than the base Cooper or the Cooper S.

 

Just for clarification, do you mean Exahust manifold? I'm pretty sure the intake manifold is the same, but I know the exhaust manifold is different.

 

It's really simple. If it came from the factory as a JCW then it is. (and the VIN will tell you) If you add all the JCW parts, you still have a MIni Cooper S. (a hot rod Mini, but a MINI s none the less)

 

Per MINI's own definition, any Factory JCW or Cooper S with tuning kit qualifies as a JCW.

 

I agree. The tuning kit makes it a JCW. What other mod/upgrade/add on, or whatever you want to call it, gives you a Certificate of Authenticity from John Cooper Works or Mike Cooper?

 

pshhhawww to MINI's definitions! They also say change your oil every 10,000 miles!!!

 

Does anyone know how I can check my VIN and see if it's a a FJCW?

I personally have never seen or heard of a FJCW. I have never heard of a Mini coming off the factory line as a JCW. I think all Mini Coopers come off the line as a base or an S and the JCW parts are added later. Then from what others have said, the tuning kit makes it a JCW and ONLY the tuning kit. That's how my Mini came to get it's JCW badges. The tuning kit comes with the badges along with the exhaust, CAI, etc., I don't know of any other upgrade on the Mini that comes with a certificate of authenticity and JCW badges.

 

I agree 100%!!! It kind of annoys me when someone says or claims they have a JCW Mini when they really don't. I've spent thousands of my hard earned money to be lucky enough to own a genuine JCW Mini Cooper.

 

Oh yeah FJCW has been around since 2009. They have several parts that differentiate them from the MCS. The biggest kicker being the larger Turbo. The MCS has a 38mm Turbo and the JCW has a larger 40mm turbo. There are several other things but, for the 2nd Gen vehicles the version of JCW people really want is the fJCW.

 

Also to clarify, the fJCW is in fact made at the facotry. These parts are not added after being built. However, the JCW Tuning kit is an ADD on. The exhaust that comes with the tuning kit is just a muffler and not the full fJCW exhaust. The JCW tune basically just changes a map, similar to any other tune you can buy.

 

I believe when my tuning kit was installed, the exhaust along with the muffler was swapped out. To be exact, the pipe/exhaust from CAT back was replaced. Not just the muffler. My ECU was also re-mapped. I was given a CD from BMW/Mini with it's new mapping code. I guess for backup. Pretty cool how they do it.

 

You are correct, there is a little piping with the muffler, however your MCS still has 2 Catalytic Converters (because by federal law a dealer may not permanently remove a Cat, even if its not monitored). A fJCW only has 1 catalytic converter. And since it was shipped that way from factory, thats why its ok to only have one (in the eyes of the law)

 

Interesting. Thanks for the info. This is good to know. If and when I do sell my Mini, I can sell it as a genuine JCW Mini and hopefully it will sound like I know what I'm talking about.

Thanks for everyone's replies.

 

2013 fJCW with N18 motor has two cats.

 

Duly noted. Here is the difference between the N14 exhaust and the N18 exhaust:




Looks like they decided they liked 2 cats instead of one. Orrrrr perhaps the Emissions Lords stepped in and demanded 2.

 

A factory JCW is the only "real" JCW given that it comes with parts that are hard to swap out. It even decodes the VIN at most insurance companies as: "Mini John Cooper Works Hardtop". This is different than a Mini S. I am NOT ragging on 'S' owners!!! The JCW tuning kit is just that: a JCW tuning kit.

Think about when someone buys a 911, and upgrades everything to make it into a GT3, even going so far as to build the block, reinforce the chassis, do everything right! This car STILL IS NOT A GT3 and Porsche owners will be very clear about this.

I understand that all the Cooper 'S' owners with JCW tuning kits as well as everyone who has spent thousands on OEM JCW parts at a Mini dealership (I have bought tons, and I have an fJCW already!!!) will be disappointed, but your car is either a Cooper S or a Cooper JCW.

For R53s, all JCWs are Cooper S. Not so for R56.

 

The latter for sure

 

No, not disappointed. Just wanted to make clear and understand what we all have in our garage. So I can say that I have a "built" JCW Mini. Not a factory JCW. Makes perfect sense. When I come to sell my Mini, I can explain and make clear to the buyer what I'm selling.

And it looks like I'm going to sell my Mini. I only have 70,000 miles on my 07 MCS and I've already had to repair allot. More than I want too. But that's for another post.

 

What you're selling is a Cooper S model with JCW accessories

 

Ok

 

What he said!

I've owned a lot of MINIs, both Justa, S, and JCWs and would never dream of representing anything other than the factory JCW as a "JCW".

One other obvious differentiator when looking at a car is the brakes. To add the JCW brakes to an S is crazy expensive (parts list at over $2k), so I'd be surprised to see very many people do that mod even though MINI offers it.
Not that it's not worth doing (love the JCW brakes), but aftermarket big brake kits can be much less expensive, or better for the price.

If you add the tune, brakes, aero kit, wheels, interior etc. to an S, you would have been better off just buying the factory JCW to start with.