I have 2600 miles on my 06 JCW with port installed JCW suspension and strut brace. I littlerally ate through a set of front tires in this time. I took my car to a race shop to see how bad I was in terms of allingment. The port install SUCKED. I was .55 inches toe on left front and and .56 on right front. No wonder I destroyed the tires. I thought that the twitchyness was just my nerves in coming from an AWD car. I was wrong.

Anyone else seen such madness?

Thanks to Roger Kraus Racing in Castro Valley for litterally setting me straight.

 

 

"Port"? Please define.

No issues with mine after 8k. Installed by an "independent" shop.

 

I think he means installed onshore?

Anyway, WOW, that IS way out... And, it would make the car twitchy as heck!

 

Yeah, when it comes off the boat, they have what I call "port delivery services" there is a real name for it, but I dont know it. Thats where the JCW suspension was installed...

 

Huh. Sounds sketchy. I like to talk to the people who work on my car.

 

this was a VDC install, before the car ever gets to teh dealership. Its the BMW/MINI plant in Port Humene

 

Apparently the cost of install or components or both is less at the Port. But I'm not sure who works there You had a 1/2" toe out and I had a 1/2" toe in. My car tracked like a train and yours was all over. Your car's turn-in was incredible and mine went to sleep I feel for you for sure

So in the end, it was not the components, but the set-up?

 

Correct, just got back from the track. Had proper alignment this time and a new set of Toyo Proxies. I think Im in love all over again with this car. Its very very good. Im planted and sorted with my steering input, the car is stable, does what I want it to do, its tossable if I want to be a jerk to it and just sits down nicely when Im smooth.

I motion for no more VDC JCW installs.

 

I hate to bump a very old thread, but does anyone have documentation on VDC aka port installed strut braces ?!?

is there a master list of what the port install options were on 2006 mini r53's ?

 

@mega72, I don't know of a public master list. These involve "add-on" options that are not installed at the factory. For an R53, it would include things like aero kit, JCW suspension kit and brakes, iPod adapter. These are options usually done by the dealer after the car arrives, but a dealer could arrange to have the VDC do it beforehand. Some options I haven't heard of being done at the VDC, like the R53 JCW tuning kit. What are you trying to find out, and why does it matter?

 

If the strut brace and jcw suspension and jcw rear wing were ever vdc installed that makes then OK for sccaracing

 

so I found numerous posts on the jcw springs being port installed, but this is the only one that said he had the strut brace also port installed

anyone know for sure if the strut brace was port installed by bmw/mini before it got to the dealer?