Is this kit worth the money for the extra horsepower? Is it reliable over the long term?

Thanks for the help.

 

WELCOME!

here is a quick link for more details In my opinion if you are going for hp/$ no, otherwise yes.

 

I have driven a MCS equipped with the JCW kit and it is torquier (155 pounds feet vs 177) and faster up in the powerband than a stock MCS. However, a stock 163HP MCS is not a slow car by any stretch of the imagination...the JCW takes it to the next level.

The JCW upgrade is a dealer installed option. The kit retails for $4500 plus 9-10 hours of labor to install it (Check your dealer's hourly labor rate). There are core exchange fees for parts that need to be exchange. Then again check with your dealer as I am not familiar with that aspect of the transaction.

Depending on your performance expectations and by test driving both stock mcs and JCW MCS back to back, you can come to a determination whether this pricey upgrade is worth to you the added expense or not. I personally find the stock 163HP MCS more than sufficient for my everyday driving needs/wants, but other people strongly believe that a MCS should not have less than 200HP on tap, so it is personal preference.

The JCW kit is fully covered by MINI's limited warranty so there you have an advantage of fully modding the car and not risking losing your warranty. Other MCS owners have opted for the aftermaket route and upgraded the stock pulley, intake, ECU and exhaust system but it is a bit of a risk when it comes to the warranty should you experience a problem caused by an aftermarket mod.

If you are interested in the JCW kit, send me a PM and I'll give you some valuable info.

 

Worth the money for the power? Versus aftermarket, No. If you need to consider warranty, then; Yes. I'd say reliability is only slightly effected; namely I'd recommend changing the blower not every 100k, but every 92.7k miles (not a big diff, I know). (figure obtained from 13.8% pulley diameter reduction versus stock MCS)

 

Would a stock JCW car be faster (however you want to define it) than a stock MCS with a 19% pulley?

 

early apex.
the power you get from the JCW, is most noticeable from 4500K up. I think my MCS pulls better from the line than a stock MCS, yet that's not the real beauty of any MINI, its the having the powerband in the mid and high enid of the powerband. Getting to the corner, and back out.

I suppose the 19% pulley would spin faster and crank out mor power up higher, but is that usable? I don't
know. fella's your opinions?

I do know the parts that make up the JCW kit are tuned to work together. More so that picking up
aftermarket bits and combining them a step at a time.

Hey what ever happen to Dinan HP kit that was announced last summer? It is suppose to be warrantee supported too.

 

>>Would a stock JCW car be faster (however you want to define it) than a stock MCS with a 19% pulley?


I decided against the $6,000 JCW kit ($4,500 + $1,500 for install) and went with the 19% pulley, Intake, Borla Race Exhaust. I believe my 19% is just as fast if not faster than a JCW, and the best part is... I only spent $1,200 instead of $6,000.

RaceCarDriver

 

>>
>>I suppose the 19% pulley would spin faster and crank out mor power up higher, but is that usable? I don't
>>know. fella's your opinions?
>>

The 19% pulley gives you lots of torque down low. You can feel the torque at 2K and are amazed are the torque at 3 and 4k.

RaceCarDriver