I just got off the phone after an "interesting" conversation with the parts guru @ my Mini dealer.

When I bought my coupé, I also purchased the JCW suspension, which was included in the price of the car as a "we owe". (I wanted the factory warranty.) Fast forward a couple of months, to when I decided it was time for a little follow-up on this, so I called my dealership's parts guy. I explained that I was following up on the "we owe" and wondering about the status of the JCW suspension kit. After a few minutes on hold while he checked on my car, checked on my "case" with Mini USA, etc. he got back to me.

Long story short, at this time there is no better suspension for the coupé than the one it comes from the factory with. It's effectively got the JCW suspension from the hardtop already: uprated front and rear anti-sway bars, uprated springs, struts, etc. There is a JCW suspension which is apparently listed as "in production" but there's no estimated date for when it actually might see the light of day. The last time there was an update on the JCW suspension was a few weeks ago, and that was just a "still 'in production', no ETA" note.

At this point, I'm going to be patient for a while longer. (I might as well, since they already have my money. ) But if I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have bothered.

<sigh>

 

Interesting info. I assume you didn't order the "sport suspension" option because you wanted the more expensive dealer added JCW kit. Now they're essentially telling you that you already have it, that you wasted your money, and they have no clue as to when the setup you paid for can be installed? I know what I'd do (assuming you like the car as is): I'd ask for my money back. They haven't delivered the goods and they took your dough. Get it back!

 

I haven't decided yet, but yeah.

Reading between the lines of our conversation, the parts guru made me think that there's not even a "sport" option available at this time, since my coupé already has the equivalent of the hatchback's JCW suspension. I'm tempted to pay them a visit this weekend to have a conversation...

 

You may just need to wait a bit longer. From this article on motoringfile:
http://www.motoringfile.com/2012/05/...oupe-roadster/

"Likewise the JCW Suspension will also be coming to the Coupe later this year. "

FWIW.

 

The parts guy was probably spewing BS as your car does not have JCW suspension. It is a dealer installed option. Either you have stock or sports suspension from the factory only. There are slight differences between the Coupe and hatch setups, but I have not seen anywhere that would suggest that Coupe "Sports suspension" = Hatch "JCW suspension".

 

I too placed the order with the JCW suspension, but when no part number was available upon delivery my dealer took it off so I didn't have to pay for it up front. Your dealer took advantage of being able to hold the cash.
I finally gave up about a month ago and went with the NM springs and H-sport Competition rear sway bar.

 

After a lot of digging on realoem, I'm thinking you're pretty much right, walk0080. Coupe S and JCW models have uprated anti-sway bars (over the base coupe), but the sport struts/springs are obviously different, and presumably also the JCW components, when available.

However, the JCW suspension kit still doesn't exist at this time.

 

Well, when I ordered, the car had just been released, so I'm willing to wait a while. I'm starting to get impatient, though.

As a kind of interesting aside, I noticed on realoem that the stock anti-sway bar on the S and JCW coupés is a 22.5 mm, so your Hotchkiss rear bar is, umm, pretty much the same, ignoring the zerk fittings and adjustability.

 

No, it's actually 18mm. I'm not sure what you saw, but when I go to realoem this is what I see :


No. Description Supplement Qty From Up To Part Number Price Notes Photo
01 Stabilizer, rear D=18MM 1 33556772787 $129.55

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...58&hg=33&fg=45

 

The factory Sport Suspension hatchback option has an 18mm rear bar as I recall. Most 3rd party rear ASBs start at 19mm.

 

The Guru is wrong! The Coupe is available with standard suspension or Sport suspension. Easy way to check what you have is to get some calipers and measure your rear sway bar.

I'd get your money back and buy some good aftermarket stuff. Heck with the dough the JCW suspension costs you could probably go with coilovers and a great sway bar and still have money left over.

 

Yes. I verified the sport suspension rear sway bar is 18mm with a set of calipers when I swapped it out and lowered my Coupe.

 

I will guess I was thinking of the front suspension, which has the 22.5 mm bar.

As for those suggesting just getting my money back and buying something in the aftermarket, I'm seriously considering it. But I want to get the JCW suspension for two reasons: it will have the factory warranty, and it will be engineered specifically for the coupe. Neither of those will be true with an aftermarket suspension. (Well, anti-sway bars will be specifically designed for the coupe, but springs and struts? Not so likely...)

It will also probably be a bit softer than most aftermarket suspensions, which is not a bad thing. As a general rule, I want the softest suspension that will get the job done; softer means more compliant which means it handles minor upsets better.

 

I still have my stock sway bar and compared it tonight to the H-Sport bar. I don't have a caliper, but rough measurement the H-sport is over 1/4 inch larger than the stock one which would equate to 7 mm or so larger.

 

been on this since ordering mine in 11/11 and delivery in 2/12 ....but here is the latest. Supposedly all been tested, and the delay is in the homologation paperwork. As of this week...
"As of 7/5/12, per Germany, it's almost ready to go"

I WANT MY RED SPRINGS!

 

And if the 5/17/2012 report by Motoringfile is correct WTH does the configurator still have the JCW suspension as an option on the roadster?

"Likewise the JCW Suspension will also be coming to the Coupe later this year. The roadster won’t be getting the suspension however due to the projected low volume likely sold."

http://www.motoringfile.com/2012/05/...oupe-roadster/

With every passing year it appears more and more that BMW is emulating Mercedes.
Our customers enjoy negotiating price with our dealers.
We don't expect our customers to track the Z4.
The EDLC works better than a limited slip differential.
Marketing rubbish.

 

Why would the roadster need a different part set than the Coupe? All I want out of the kit are the springs....mostly cause they're red and I don't want to lower my car more than half an inch or I'd scrape something fierce around home. LOL

 

have they released the JCW suspension yet? any part nums?

 

In a word, no.

 

You did this a year+ ago and am still waiting??!?!?!? Get your money back and buy a seriously better suspension!

 

In a word.....thanks! :-)

So what is so different with the coupe that its so delayed?

 

I got my money back quite a while ago (end of August, so 5 months after delivery). My plan is to do some suspension work this summer. One restriction is that I really don't want the car lowered much, as I have clearance problems entering/exiting the parking lot at work as it is (I have to attack the transitions at an angle if I don't want to scrape the splitter on the ground).

That was a factor in my decision to order the car with the JCW suspension in the first place, since the JCW suspension is specced to lower the car ~ 1/2" and anything I might do in the way of coilovers is going to go lower than that.

I ask about this every now and then, and my dealer speculates lack of demand. If they're going to sell 50 JCW suspensions country-wide, there's no point in going through the process required to get the parts approved; it would cost more than they'd make selling the parts. What I think is stupid (rising nearly to the level of fraud) is that you can still submit a build order that includes the JCW suspension for the coupe, it will be accepted, the car will be built and shipped, and the JCW suspension will be backordered.

 

So any answer on this? Is there a JCW suspension for the coupe? If so what are the upgrades? Anyone have it installed?

 

Yes there is.

33500429708 JCW Sport Suspension Kit - Priced As Kit

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/33500429708/



Then You will need the corresponding Red JCW springs. They are weighted to the vehicle and options. You will need to PM you Vin and some common options, like Auto AC, Manual or Auto transmission, Xenon headlights...etc. Checks and balance. Then you get the spring part numbers 2 for the front 2 for the rear and you are good to go.




Thanks

 

Thoughts on the kit? ever drive in a coupe with it?

would I need a dealer to install it to maintain warranty?