When a car is fitted with the JCW body kit that is an S model does the exterior look exactly the same as a JCW model? The reason I ask is I don't need to extra horsepower of a JCW and giving an S with a JCW exterior package will save me a lot of money.

 

I have an S with the JCW body kit. Look for some of my other posts and you should find plenty of pics. Mine even came with John Cooper Works sill plates. There's a couple of JCW specific badges missing. You can see that it doesn't have the JCW brakes if you look closely, but only the real MINI nerds (guilty as charged, officer) would know, and the non-MINI people won't care. The exhaust tips are another giveaway to the aficionado.
If you like it, buy it. I have an absolute blast in mine, and I don't think I'd be any happier if it was a JCW, just a little poorer...

 

The JCW kit on a roadster s is the best $2000.00 you could ever spend. Look at all you get in the kit. The 17 inch wheels are not cheap. The day I got her home.

 

While I'm obviously biased, I agree that the investment is money well spent.

Actually, very few people realize that the Factory JCW exterior and interior trim (not the dealer-installed kit), are available options on the Cooper R59 too, not just on the "S."

That makes us a rare breed indeed...



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thanks for all the replies everyone, this definitely gives me a better idea! Does anyone have a pepper white pic with the JCW exterior kit with the black challenge wheels?

 

I still enjoy this pics of your Roadster, Gil-galad every time I see it.

 

I love the JCW kit on the Cooper Roadster. The smooth lines of the Cooper compliment the kit better than the "S", imo.

It sucks to be one of the first ones to order the Roadster. It wasn't available on my order sheet. Blast.

 

Couple of recent shots with the Challenge spoke wheels on:

 

Has anyone put the rear GP diffuser on theirs yet? I'm considering this, but I want to know what it looks like...

 

 

Wow, that looks great! I'm considering having them modify the S bumper to put the GP Diffuser on. My car came with rear fog lights and I don't want to have to purchase new lights for this.

 

I personally think that the GP diffuser looks great on Roadsters with color like yours, Gil-galad. I'm not sure I like it on Midnight Black (no offense BlueToy).

 

One day it will be warm enough to fit mine and we can get your opinions on the GP2 on Lightning Blue...

 

It looks great on midnight black. Like all black cars, nothing looks better when it's clean.

 

I'm sure it will look just as fantastic on Lightning Blue, spiney.

 

In all honesty I which I could be as enthusiastic of the JCW body kit as you all are . . .

I'm a bit of a perfectionist on certain things like aesthetics, so personally I've always been on the fence with it the JCW body. There are things I like on the JCW better, while there are some I prefer on the S.
The side trims is an obvious win for the JCW for me. The S is a hair boring, even with a single plastic rubber piece they could have done a little better.
While I appreciate the sporty feel of the JCW front end, I found it overall less refined than the S. I'm not a big fan of the square like bulges (just faste) nor of the lack of precision of the spoiler outer corners that seems a little bit cheaply resolved. I do like the entent in widening the front base which gives more presence to the car. And there is a little bit too many details on the S, some of which could have been cleaned up a little.
But overall I do like the resolution of the design better on the S.
When I think about it I have almost all of the similar critic to the rear.

I think MINI didn't need 3 body styles. They should have created a sporty body kit that has the characteristic of the JCW while it has the refinement and design quality of the S. The JCW distinction could have easily been left to performance upgrades which are a better use of the extra money imo, and with the marker labels.

But I understand, what I'm saying isn't necessarily the most popular point of view on this subject but I like to give my honest take on all this as food for thought or simply for the fun of the conversation

 

I hope I didn't offended anyone in my remarks or made a stranger of myself

 

It's just an opinion, we all have them...

I saw a picture in the LXM Facebook group of an S with just the side skirts and it looked great. So many options, there really is something for everyone!

 

very true

 

Yes it does, and here's the proof!