Can someone help me with finding the best price on a JCW brake kit? I keep reading about 15% to 20% discounts but the best I've found is 10% off. Where is this 20% off kit, or is it a myth?

I think the best you can get on JCW parts is 15% off ...

http://forums1.roadfly.com/mini/foru...6340724-4.html

save your money. I have not heard anything good about these brakes

Sweet video Onasled what track was that at and what type of camera set up did you have? I will be taking my car to the Nurburgring next year and have to get a camera set up in my car just like that, thanks Have you done anything to your suspension?

Now regarding the JCW brake set up, for the money the value is definately there while not throwing the car out of balance especially if you can do the install yourself. Are there better brake set ups sure but for a lot more money, no? What other suggestions might you have?

I believe the brakes got reviewed on motoring file. I don't think they said anything bad about them.

That is a good video. I was wondering if anyone ever passed YOU?! LOL

Nice job on the driving. Turn in is decisive and smooth. Confidence is high and the car is put on the line nearly every lap. Very little hunting and wandering. Compared to some others the use of all the road is huge! But not in a wasted manner. Smooth and flowing. Been doing this a while huh?

I've had mine for quite a while now and I absolutely love them. For the $900 they cost me, I don't think that they can be beat. They totally smoke the stock MC(S) brakes that's for sure. I have two 05 MCS' (one with the JCW brakes and one with out) and there's a HUGE difference between the two cars as far as braking goes. For street use, I think that you'd be hard pressed to find a better set of brakes for the money.

I have been consistently dissapointed with EVERY single aftermarket part I have ever put on any of my cars. That includes a Willwood brake kit on my RX-8. Having worked for Honda I know firsthand the difference between factory tested parts and aftermarket. I am just happy Mini offers a brake upgrade and most of the actual owner reviews I have read have been very positive. Opinion only matters if it's backed with experience. MINIAC, thanks for the link.

i have the brake kit and love it - a lot! go for it - you won't be dissapointed - they rule.

cheers - drew

Okay, so now that we've settled that, back to the original question...has anyone tried Classic to see if they offer their 20% discount on the JCW brakes?

It's just me I guess, but for $900 you CAN do a whole lot better. If you like spending $900 for fancy red paint on a single piston, antiquated caliper and tiny rotors then I guess the JCW kit is just what your looking for.

All JCW stuff is ridiculously priced, IMHO of course.

This is what I got for the same price of the red paint on the JCWs. http://www.tceperformanceproducts.co...s.pl?record=13

I would strongly recommend that you at least consider the same.

nice video. I have to agree. JCW parts are way overpriced and dont justify to at least consider much better set ups.
I was wondering, what about a set of Brembo brakes? They are expensive I know, but if you want the red on your brakes...might as well have something to stop that puppy!
**Its not my ride...just did a google image search**

Known Dave for a number of years. He's a Stoptech guy. I'll guess that "may" be what you are looking at. Hard to make out the logo. Or maybe he's just moving onto selling other brand kits now as well.

As I said before: Been there, done that. Aftermarket may be fine for you but I have had nothing but substandard experience with non-factory parts including Wilwood. Factory parts are, partially, more expensive than aftermarket parts because of the extensive and rigorous testing that goes into them before an auto manufacturer will put there name on it and back it with their warranty. I prefer that security and consistency to the need to out-brake cobras at my next track event.

The only people I see bitching about the JCW parts are the ones who don't own them. If, for some unfortunate reason, I become the exception I'll be sure to let you know.

Seeing as you wish to continue to add the Wilwood tag to these posts I can only assume you wish to insight a reply on my behalf defending the product.

Actually I'll take a middle ground approach. I think perhaps that you equally overstate the the "extensive testing and rigorous testing" a bit. I highly doubt that some of the 'official factory parts' or 'factory approved' parts see much more testing than other manufactures. In fact I'd say it's probably as much of a 'greased palm' than a test. Just as many manufacture do the MINI has aligned itself with a number of aftermarket supplier who best fit their mold. Think in terms of those parts currently or formerly in the Ford SVT catalog for example; Cams, Intakes, Axles, and even Brakes- at one time the Wilwood kit was the staple of the Mustang performance add ons. Was it really better than the JFZ one it replaced? Or the Baer one that came along? Of course not. It was what the manufacture made best arrangements with at the time. In short; don't read more into a 'factory approved' part than it may deserve.

As for ANY caliper being better than the factory or the 'factory approved' replacement....Let's be honest and say that any iron caliper will outlast an aluminum body caliper in the long run. Just by nature the design and materials will be around for years in the junkyard where the aluminum caliper will have given its life cycle years before. Is this a bad thing? There is a misconception that aftermarket parts mean longer life. Because you paid more for it and it's a "Performance" part it will last a lifetime. If one were to apply that same reasoning to tires you'd have some issues!

Brakes are intended to provide a certain level of need for a particular application. Stock calipers will be covered by warantee for many miles as the factory knows the parts is simply not going to have problems. Makes sense. On the other hand aftermarket calipers are not going to be waranteed because the intended use of the product puts it into a much harsher enviroment than the stock part where use, installation, care and service are not as closely monitored by many users.

Does this make the aftermarket caliper a bad product? In your case perhaps it does. The needs and wants of what you find important are not as clearly defined. On the other hand, those who want lighter weight, improved thermal capacity, better modulation and a far greater opportunity to tune their brakes the aftermarket calipers offer a much broader assortment of parts to choose from. Your analogy would have one not wanting to put Kumitohomo F1-R tires on their car because....well they won't last as long or they rub a bit under hard cornering, they hydroplane too much on the street...or...? While you may be correct the needs of the buyer may be such that those compromises are worth the risk.

I'm not saying aftermarket parts are good or bad. Defining what makes that part BETTER than stock however is often in the eye of the purchaser. The aftermarket addresses the target needs of what that manufacture feels is in their markets need. With regard to the brakes I offer four levels of kits that each has its pros and cons. And from research well before I did this I can assure you that I can pick apart all the other kits out there (as well as my own) to what the pros and cons are too each. But to put a blanket statement on them as you have is a bit short sighted.

There has been no 'blanket statement' made by this guy. He started the topic asking about pricing of the JCW brake kit. He preimptively clarified that he was not trying to be convinced that his choice was better or worse than aftermarket.

Even still, the aftermarket crowd did exactly that--no response about where to get the best JCW brake price, but posts knocking his choice.

He then made this statement:
"Aftermarket may be fine for you but I have had nothing but substandard experience with non-factory parts including Wilwood." That's not a blanket statement such as "Wilwood is utter crap in every application." He merely expressed his personal preference based on his personal experience.

The salacious remark that caused me to post was this one: "In fact I'd say it's probably as much of a 'greased palm' than a test."

Unfounded liable, and completely unprofessional. Certainly not "fact" as the comment claims to be. Comments like these make me question the integrity, honesty, competency, and professionalism of the company behind them.

As Tarzan pointed out (Thank you) I never asked for anyones opinion other than where to get the best price on the JCW. Since people felt the need to come to my thread and call me out for wanting to buy the "Overpriced" JCW kit I responded.

I am so tired of internet opinion base on THEORY instead of actual experience. If you have owned and used a JCW kit please let me know, otherwise, go start your own thread. I have had direct experience with Wilwood's product so I feel qualified to opiniate on that particular brand. The kit didn't perform any better than my factory brakes and had various vibration and noise problems. It was lighter by a significant degree but I didn't have the time or money to track done all it's shortcomings and fix them.

When I worked at Honda I delt with many a vendor producing products for the Unit and Accessory divisions. The quickest way to chase off a potential supplier was to throw the Honda test requirements manual at them. The testing requirements are extreme to the point of absurdity at some levels. My palm was never "greased" to get around the requirements. Honda doesn't sell anything for their cars labeled "For off-road use only." Neither, as far as I can tell does BMW or Mini. Ford, however, does. You can look at each companies products and develop your own opinion about their supplier quality standards.

Aftermarket brake kits are an assortment of parts, brought together to match to an application as best they can. A factory setup is designed to work with a specific offset, hub, brakeline, mastercylinder, ABS system, etc. A caliper, for example, that fits a variety of cars and was originally designed for racing use is not. Therein lies the rub. 98% of my driving is on the street. I don't care to compromise the feel and quality of my factory brakes to cut a few feet of braking at the end of a straight at a thrice yearly, non-competetive track event.

The products Todd sells are extreme overkill for a street application and short of competetive racing I don't see a need for myself.

BTW I bought the kit from Sterling for $905 shipped. A big to Herb in the parts department there.

I'll be sure to post up my experience with the kit after giving it a good run.

A very interesting and profound statement. I too have never seen anyone owning JCW products complaining about them ... only those who "brag" about getting the parts cheaper/better etc.

Glad you got them from Herb. He had three sets left while most other dealers around here have been waiting months to get them with the latest being no brakes until October because MINI is looking for a new vendor for the paint. I got them installed last friday and have only driven 50 miles but can say they "feel" stronger, whatever that means. Supposed to brake easy for the first 200 miles.

One dealer also offered me Wilwood brakes since the JCW are on "hold" which I turned down because: I could care less about racing, and I also know they are not going to be worth anything at resale time (and neither may the JCW brake kit either).

A$$ 0 post like this is one reason so many vendor don't post here on this site any longer. Good job .....

Onasled,

What is your problem? You come to this thread to spout off about my choice of brake kit, which you have never personally experienced, come back a second time to verify that I am making the "wrong" choice, and now a third time to crumb on someone who raises some valid points. Video taping yourself on the track doesn't make you God's authority on all things Mini. Lighten up, or, as I stated: Start your own thread.

Maybe the reason that some vendors no longer post is because people started screaming for facts to back certain claims and standardiztion of tests so that consumers can make an apples to apples comparison

Bravo! This is the best write-up I have seen on why someone would (should ) choose OEM over Aftermarket. Those who work for OEM's know the level of quality that a manufacturer expects. Very few aftermarket companies would EVER qualify to be a supplier to an OEM and there is a reason for that.

Now that this is completely off-topic and the dark clouds are gathering i hope that rlfletch, you continue to post in these debates on NAM i think they are benefical to people who are trying to decide how to modify their MINI