I know I could have posted this in the JCW forum, but I wanted to know if any of us R57 owners have either done, or are planning to install the JCW Stage 1 kit?

I'm considering it, and I found out today that my local dealer can match the $1680 price found on Morristown's Web site, plus 3 hours of labor.

Just wondering if the new exhaust note will be too loud for topless motoring?

But more importantly, I read that you get back the famous pop and burble sounds that Mini removed from the 2nd gen Mini's...

 

I got my dealer to match the $1680 price from Morristown, plus do it for 3 hrs of labor. I might just go ahead and get it done.

 

It is on my short list....

 

I would be interested inthe resultsa as well. I don't want it too noisey either considering the top down motoring. But I like the Burple

 

Mullman, My mini is on the boat and coming into Charleston in a lil more than a week! I hope, my MA is not very helpful and ASK mini is closed to day to confirm it got on a boat.

 

Well, I've decided that I'm going to get it. Dealer will honor the special price until this Wednesday, so I'm going to purchase it. I'll have it installed in a few weeks when the dealer fixes my passenger side weather striping. It keeps coming off, and they have ordered the part to replace it, but it's still on back order.

I hear that you get the burble and pop (althought it's not like the Generation 1 supercharger version) and ofcourse you get a better sounding exhaust note. It should sound awesome when you're topless, but I also like how the exhaust tips extend beyond the body kit. I will ask them NOT to do the required shortening of the muffler tips on the JCW muffler. I figure I'll never stand that close to the car since our boot opens downward, unlike the hardtop which open up, so you're much closer to the exhaust tips.

I'll post pictures, sounds and a brief write-up when it's all said and done.

Updated: I found this video on YouTube. Makes you want the Stage 1 even more, doesn't it??
URL = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7Ooh-U5RnE

 

Purchased it. $1680 for parts, and 3 hrs for labor. Should be installed in a week or two.

 

My kit has arrived. Installation is scheduled for next Sat... Can't wait!

 

Woot!
We're going to need some pics along the way...

 

So, I instead of watiing till Saturday, I took the day of work, and will have the dealer do the install tomorrow starting 8am Pacific Time. They have the kit all ready.So, I'll be posting pictures after it's all done.BTW, according to the instructions, the placement of the JCW badge is different for Stage 1 vehicles, and Factory JCW, and I like where it goes in the Factory JCW, so I'm going to try and get the dealer to put the emblems in the Factory JCW location instead. Who knows if they will really do it, but I'll try.

 

Could you take an audio recording of the stock S exhaust, then again with the JCW Tuning Kit added for comparison?

 

I don't think that they *can* put them where the Factory JCW badges go according to the rules. I will be curious to see if you get anywhere with it.

I stand (rather sit) corrected - seems that if you ask nicely some dealers will do what you want. Good to know!

 

He can ask for the badges in hand, not installed, and then install them in the factory location himself.

 

Sooooooo...how is the 'new' ride?

 

So, today was the day that my JCW Stage 1 (Engine Tuning Kit) got installed. Let me summarize this in three letters:

OMG!!!!!

Installation took approximately 4.5 hours, but I had them do more than just the JCW Stage 1 Kit. I had them do my engine break-in oil change (my choice), and do some minor realignment of my JCW Aero Kit (front only).

Ultimately, the JCW Stage 1 kit is absolutely awesome. Awesome sounding exhaust when starting, when accelerating, and when driving at a consistent speed when topless and when the top is up.

Q: Is it much louder?
It is somewhat louder, not loud enough to annoy the neighbours, but enough to hear the awesome sounds topless and with the top on. From the sound, you know this isn't your regular "S". I would even venture in the "I can feel the exhaust note as I accelerate" statement.

Q: Does it look absolutely awesome?
Damn right. That 'beer can tips' stock "S" exhaust is gone, and the JCW exhaust stick out just enough so you can see the JCW logo engraved in the top of the tips. The back view and side views are just awesome. I de-badged my "S" the first week I had the car, and the new JCW badges look awesome against Interchange Yellow.

Q: How does it drive?
Well, let me start of saying that the "S" had lots of power, but when as I left the dealer's lot after it was all said and done, I could feel so much more pull above the 2500 RPM range, in almost every gear, but most notable in 1st and 2nd. Acceleration was fantastic, and I haven't tested it in SPORT yet. I'll do that later this afternoon.

Q: Did the dealer place the JCW badge in the locations of my choice?
Yes. The dealer had no problem installing the badges where I wanted, which are in the Factory JCW locations (both on the boot and on the JCW Aero Kit lower grill). Normally they wouldn't place it on the JCW Aero Kit lower grill, because they said that it would need to be removed to get to the grill below, but because I timed both the Stage 1 Kit and the re-alignment at the same time, they had no objection to install it there. I'll post pictures later this afternoon.

Q: What does the engine badge say?
It says Tuning Kit #: R56S04244

Q: What did I get to take home?
I got the certificate with a stamped "Mike Cooper" signature in a plastic bag. It also has the JCW serial number stamped on it as well. More importantly, I got the CD with the upgraded ECU code which is coded for my VIN. I found it interesting that it's just a regular burned CD rather than a commercial looking CD, but then again the data on it is coded to my VIN, so Mini USA had to create a custom CD for my vehicle. I was told that it's always a good idea to bring that CD with you during every dealer visit just in case it needs to be reloaded (which shouldn't be the case, hopefully).

Q: What is the Tuning Kit Number that was installed?
The certificate and the engine bay badge says it's Tuning Kit #: R56S04244. According to the dealer there is no specific tuning kit for the R57, so they all start with R56S for the 09 "S" Convertible. I'm guessing that MiniUSA has sold 4244 R56/R57 tuning kits since it was available? If that's true, Minis with the Tuning Kit seem to be very unique when compared to the total number Mini's sold in the US.

Q: What part number did the dealer order for your Tuning Kit?
They ordered 11-12-2-152-458 and I can't locate it in REALOEM.

Q: If you have the JCW strut brace, does it need to be removed to replace the air box?
I have one, and my dealer said they had to temporarly remove it to replace the airbox with the JCW one. They re-installed the JCW strut brace after the airbox was replaced.

Q: Is it worth it?
Absolutely. I enjoyed the first 7 weeks with my "S" Convertible, but now it's beyond awesome, and for me it was absolutely worth it.

Q: How much does it costs?
The MSRP price I believe is $2100, but I had my dealer match Morristown's price of $1680 + tax. MiniUSA sets the minimum labour at 2 hour, but my dealer charges 3 hours as a rule of thumb, however I had a 20% off coupon from my dealer for accessory installs by the dealer within the first 60 days of ownership, which was perfect for me, as I'm short 1 week from 60 days, so they accepted the 20% off coupon and yes the JCW Engine Tuning Kit is considered a dealer installed accessory.

Q: Are you still smiling now that you have it installed?
Yes I am. From the dealer's lot all the way home and then all through a quick spirited drive through the East Bay hills and valleys.

If you have any specific questions, just let me know.

 

Hey Jeremy,

Sorry I didn't have an opportunity to take any recording before hand, but I found a bunch on YouTube.

 

enjoy it! the exhaust will get a bit louder after about 1000 miles or so

 

So you got the Stage 1 kit installed for 20% off $1680? plus 3 hrs labor? That sounds like a good deal. I might have to try for that as well before my 60 days are up.

Looking forward to your pictures and the sound clip. Make it something my wife will like to hear! She will drive it as well and will take it to work.

 

thats what i asked the dealer to do (same dealer)

 

Sorry, my entry above may not have been very clear.

MiniUSA MSRP is $2199.99. My dealer has a price of $1890, but I asked them if they could match Morristown's price of $1680 and the parts manager said sure thing, so I purchased it at that point for $1680 + tax.

Next I checked with service, and they told me it's 3 hours of labor at $164/hr, so that was $492.00. I then had a dealer coupon that knocked 20% of the labour total, which brought it down to $393 approximately for installation.

 

If the dealer would not install it in the location I wanted, I was going to do it myself after the fact, but I was lucky. They did not object to my request.

 

Pics!

 

Not the greatest pictures as they were taken while the Mini was in the garage, but here are some. I'll post outdoor sunlight ones later on this afternoon.






The interesting part on the below picture is that the flash went off, but the JCW number didn't appear on the badge. I posted it above in the text writeup, but for some reason the engraving didn't appear in the flash picture below.





The below pictures also shows the JCW Strut Brace I had installed when I picked up my Mini. The JCW logo is on the driver side of the brace rather than in the center which is why it's not visbile in the picture.

 

Hmmm... interesting to see the JCW kit now shipping with the updated JCW badges. I'm still torn between the two versions of the badges. Still, it's a great looking kit.

 

Interesting. I hadn't noticed the new badges. The engraving on the actual muffler tips are also based on the new badge. I'm going to check my strut bar to see if it's also the new one.

Updated: I just checked my JCW strut bar, and the JCW Aero Kit door sills and they all have the updated JCW logo.