So if a 15% smaller pulley can add so much power, why doesn't it come like that from the factory? Are their any issues bmw is worried about? long term concerns? change in driveability? increased wear and tear on the engine?
Anybody know or care to take a guess? :smile:

 

Simple...Because the lions share of the horsepower improvement with the JCW package ($5500.) is the super charger with a smaller pulley. They had to leave some horsepower improvements in the bank in order to profit later.
I have had the pulley on my car for over 10,000 miles. I have 22,000 on her with no engine problems. If I had known the pulley was going to make such a difference in all around drivability, I would have done it sooner

 

Don't think I'll be quite as cynical as Brother here. I think that MINI actually designed the MCS to operate around 160 hp, this being sufficiently better than the 115 hp Cooper as to satisfy 90% of MCS owners. There is added safety/reliability in the larger pulley, as operation doesn't get so near the maximum engineered stresses as we modders put it with the reduction pulley. BWM is more than satisfied if 90% of MCS owners find sufficient power. Maybe of the remaining 10% who do mod, some 5% - 10% of them will opt for the JCW kit. That way, we can all be happy campers. I don't mind the warranty loss, as I've saved $5,000, and I still operate my MCS within the tolerance limits set by Eaton and BMW.

 

I keep seeing knocks on JCW MCS kits...

I agree the price is too steep. But one thing I think to be a big improvement in the kit is the friction-reducing coating applied to the charger internals. It goes unmentioned a lot but greatly increases the efficiency, especially long-term.

Long-term reliability, warranty, exclusivity.... are harder to knock IMO.

(This from a guy wanting to mod the hockey-sticks outta his MC... )

_________________
-goin440 IB/IB MC on 17" Volks

 

But let's not get carried away here...the coating only helps A TAD with efficiency. IT DOES NOT INCREASE SUPERCHARGER LONGEVITY! It really doesn't. Even Eaton will tell you that. Heck, even Mike Cooper said that in a magazine article!!!