standard MCS owners are encountering? Seems the common themes are: intermittent SES lights, yoyo idle, power cutting out while on the move. Could the upgrades involved in installing the JCW kit do away with these common issues OR are JCW owners not posting about their issues?

Been lurking on this site for some time basically because I *still* can't decide between a Mini or an A3. Been a long time Audi owner. While Audi's are far from perfect I have 'grown accustomed' to their shortcomings.

The A3 would be the sensible choice, the Mini would be a toy.

 

I'm an MCS owner with none of the problems you mentioned.
But the A3 is a nice car. Good choice either way.

 

He said JCW owners.

 

Hmmm, problems...I have experienced:
-Excessive Wheel Spin
-Snapping of the head back against the headrest
-Fighting with my wife to drive MY car!
-Aching cheeks from smiling so much
-Ear strain from listening for the extra whine at 4500 rpm


No SES or YoYO or other problems.... only a buttload of fun!!!

 

I have an 2002 MCS with JCW that was installed at 24,000 miles. I now have 65,500 miles with no problems.

I had no issues before installing the JCW kit.

The JCW kit just made a great driving car better.

 

05 JCW w/ 3k miles. Upon cold start I will occaisionally get 1 or 2 yo-yos but after 20 seconds it's smooth as butter. No other issues other than all my stuff flying off the seat into the door from high-g cornering.

 

05 JCW with 6800 miles. I get an occasional rough idle a few seconds after cold start. It lasts for 2-3 seconds and then smooths out. I've had one instance where it was very rough on initial startup on a cool morning. I simply shut off the key, restarted and everything was fine.

A_Sr.

 

You're not making the decision any easier. *Just* when I'm ready to plop money down on the A3, I see a Mini cruise by then I'm back at square one. Either would be nice choice, but the Mini...

 

... would be alot more fun!

Sorry, but I just had to do it!

Mikey

 

Confused? I would go with a JCW all day long. I might get confused if we had S3 in US, now that is a different ball game.

 

Mine has almost 10K miles and does the same thing. I just barely blip the throttle and it smooths out. Probably just a bit cold natured. People who are really upset by this must be young enough to have only driven fuel injected cars. It isn't bad enough to even be mildly annoying.

Rawhyde

 

Ditto everyone's reply, the only issue I've seen is rough cold start up occasionally. Never seen any of the issues you mentioned. Mine is an '05.

 

No problems other than occasional cold start rough idle which smooths self out in 5 seconds.... I probably wouldn't have commented as it is very minor, without being prompted by other jcw owners....

other mini related problems, such as rattles, etc, remain but it is very very easy to forget about them from the joy this little car offers.....

 

I have almost 10K (yes and I only got it in March)... I get a little stumble after that car has been sitting for a while (8+ hours)... but it is when the AC ramps up....

 

2000 miles and I have not experienced any problems.

 

I had a 2005 JCW MCS and it only lasted 168 miles before it totally crapped out. Luck of the draw I guess. BMW/MINI had to buy the POS back. It was a real mess that took nearly six months to clean up. It left a pretty sour taste in my mouth for MINI's in general, but that being said, I am happy with my current replacement 2005 non-JCW MCS (although it's got the dreaded "clicking syndrom" coming from either the axle shafts or the bloody Web-Spokes! ).

 

well, im not a JCW owner but I am an ex-audi-er. while I loved my A4 i wouldn't trade my Mini for another one ever. This is simply the most fun car I've ever driven. (And all the women at the coffee house think its cute, mad brownie points for me )

 

80K JCW miles on "THDUKE" an 03 IB/W total miles on car is 98K and no problems to report even after 24 track days this year so far.

EDIT 24 total track days only 21 on "THDUKE" the other 3 days was at Skip Barber racing.

 

Once you go Mini, you'll never go back .

 

I know you were looking for JCW people, but hopefully this is at least slightly apropos. I'm currently on my second MINI (2002 MCS, following a 2001 MC), and I was toying with the idea of a Lotus Elise. I tried and I tried, and I just could not imagine myself driving anything other than a MINI.



My 2006 JCW MCS order is going in for the October builds.