Hey guys, I wasn't really sure where to put this, so hopefully this is fine here!

I am currently in the process of selling my Land Rover, so I can get a MINI, I've been wanting one since they came out on the market, and my wife didn't like them. After taking her for a test drive, she is all about me getting one, and I am so psyched.

I'm not too sure if I am going to buy brand new or gently used, like a few of the ones on here within the marketplace. My questions are this?

If I am going to modify the car, should I just get the Cooper S, or the JCW package?

Is there a big advantage of the JCW though it is already modified and won't void the warranty?

I know many of your are going to agree/disagree, but I just want to get a feeler for this, as I am hoping to get a MINI within the next month or two.

Thanks!!!

 

then get the S and save the JCW $ for other parts, you will save in the long run (he types as he prepares for the flame onslot from the JCW crowd). IF you want a faster car, and are warranty paranoid, get the JCW, drive it until you're out of warranty, then start modding away!

JCW stuff works pretty well, it's the price/performance ratio that has some of us less enthusiastic for the works stuff.

But the upside of the JCW is you get some badges, and get to be a member of Team Craptastic!

Matt

 

if you have the cash to afford a JCW, then go for it. Its smoother than a stock S and a heck more powerful with warranty to boot. No worries about stability or studdering since its all from the JCW factory

 

Another reason for the JCW package, is that if you decide to run autocross, you'll be in the stock classes.

 

If you are going to buy new and you don't want any issues to occur regarding your new car warranty, then JCW is the way to go. Think of the price of the JCW option as the cost of convenience (no fights with dealer/MINI regarding denial of warranty).

It gets into a bit of a grey area if you are wanting to mod and can accept issues with the mods you put on the car. Then you are looking at the fun factor of the mod vs. the possible denial of warranty. If you get a gently used edition, then there could be some additional savings (vs. the cost of a new car) that could further cushion the warranty denial hit.

At the end of the discussion, it really comes down to your desire to take on a risk of warranty denial as the decision factor.

 

Which stock class? Its doubtfull any of the local mini guys here would let someone with JCW run in g-stock.

 

SCCA currently has the '06 in B-Stock. Remains to be seen if it stays there.

 

I did pulley/intake/bypass valve/ignition/ECU/Exhaust mods on my MCS while still on warranty and never had a single issue with warranty and/or dealer.

I'd say keep your $$$ and get aftermarket parts instead.

But JCW has a great racing background... It's really up to you if you want to spend a lot of money on a factory tuned kit and still have your warranty, or want to go the aftermarket-route and find a mods-friendly dealer...

 

I have been leaning more towards a gently used MINI, then a brand new one. To be completely honest, of all the cars that I have owned, I have never used the warranty that they had. I'm not sure about the MINI, but it seems to be a quite reliable car and has had very few issues. Am I wrong saying this?

If I get the used, I might try to see if I can find a used MINI with the JCW already on it, but if not, then I just get the Cooper S and have fun modding it.

 

The warranty question is the biggest one... and whether you have a penchant for modding.

The other, less critical "factor" is the smoothness. The JCW drives buttery smooth and "refined". Some people don't care, but some like that. There were literally thousands of hours put into testing the JCW kit to make it feel seamless.

The cost difference is also obviously plays into this, although the availability of factory JCW install has gone part-way towards reducing that, since you aren't paying labor costs.

My suggestion - drive a JCW and see how you like it. Some people LOVE the difference and justify the increased cost... other people like it but decide that the standard MCS is the better value, and don't mind the aftermarket route.

Me - I love my JCW bits, and I wouldn't change a thing... although I would have gotten the factory install option if it was available at the time (2005).

There was a very recent JCW "long term" review done by Gabriel Bridger (a.k.a. Gabe), who owns & operates MotoringFile - the premier MINI news site. (NAM is the premier MINI discussion site, at least in North America). I recommend going through the review:

JCW MCS Long-term Review: Part 1
JCW MCS Long-term Review: Part 2
JCW MCS Long-term Review: Part 3
JCW MCS Long-term Review: Part 4
JCW MCS Long-term Review: Wrap-up

 

wat did you do? put the supercharger pulley on the crank pulley?

 

if the Mini Dealer near you does Dinan as well, you could do that stuff. You;d get the dinan warranty, but it's better than none!

Matt

 

Just my two cents........ I have had my "s" for about 3 years now. I was offered the JCW upgrade when it was released and to this day regret not paying the extra for it.

I have now found myself in recent times on the search for a near JCW to replace the standard "s"

-Dan

 

be realistic...a gently used MINI?!

Mine has worked extremely hard for it's 33k miles in almost 4 years...anything but gentle

 

If I was buying again and looking at new or next to new i would go JCW if I could afford it...... those cars have a chance of having collector value and skip all the integration problems...... if you want to mod a car buy older....cheaper.... your going to change everything anyway JMO

 

I purchased my 06 MCS this past Feb. without the JCW kit and immediately regretted it About three weeks later I had JCW engine kit and JCW brakes installed... the whole character of the car changed I can still say that this the only car I've owned where I've wished for no other car!

My only regret is that I should have got the JCW stuff installed as a FACTORY option NOT a dealer option. I would have saved almost $2K in install cost.

IMHO: get the JCW factory installed.

 

You got a lot of answers here and some good info. I'll make this simple.

If you got the option to drop 40 more HP into a MCS that's completely factory warrantied, and can afford it, why would you even think of not getting the power from the factory?

If you had the money, would you buy a stock Mercedes or an AMG Mercedes?

If you had the money, would you get get base version of any Porsche or the S version for more money from the factory

Its all the same thing. If you want more power and got the money, why bother not get it from the factory?

Just a thought and remember, I said, if you got the money.

 

run the ***** away from JCW. For $6k+, you can make much more power building it yourself. The head is very close to stock. The pulley is under 15% reduction, the injectors and airbox can be had for less than a grand. Some dealers will even install the JCW program into your ECU if youve done the mods yourself. Some dealers won't.

If you don't like to work on your car, buy the kit, and be done with it. Also, if cash flow is an issue, getting the JCW into your finace package can ease the cost of the upgrade.... Can't do that with stuff from Webb or Alta.

Matt

 

IMO, if you are interested in the MINI enough to consider the JCW, then you are too interested to buy the JCW. Virtually all the aftermarket parts are less expensive and better quality than the JCW parts.

 

Lots of good input so far, just to add my $.02...

As someone who's been interested in seriously getting a Mini for about a year now, and having just taken the plunge on ordering an 06 MCS...

I'd say just look closely at the JCW package and make sure it's what you want. The factory option is a bundle, you need to make sure you want the whole bundle. If you buy an MCS and have the dealer install the "JCW kit" you can pick and choose what they install. Then go after market for other pieces as you'd like.

 

JCW!!! Well worth every penny!

 

I have '05 MCSa and placed an order for '06 full JCW. This is the last chance to get one, since it's going to be discontinued soon. Go for it!

 

it seems like the majority of you guys think the JCW package is the way to go. Are the aftermarket parts as good of quality as the JCW parts? If I go used, should I expect to get a really beat-up MCS or MCS JCW?

You guys give me a ton to think about, and I really want to have fun with the car and not regret it. I guess I need to talk with the wife, see what she thinks. Not sure if I would even buy new though - just wanted to see what the community thought. Argh! hard decision

 

Lemme muddy the waters for you some more ...

Its really very simple ...

You want factory warranty, go JCW
You want the same power or more and cheaper, go aftermarket but you "may" have warranty problems ... Ever dealer is different ... if you get a mod friendly dealer, no hassles. If not, even a pulley can cause denial of service. Do a search here on ppl with warranty issues and even people taking (or trying to take) BMW to court and failing.

Bottom line ... you pay your money and take your chances.

Best of luck!

 

That was my plan of attack and it worked well. I picked up an '03 MC w/JCW last month and got some great 18" rims and tires thrown in. Used JCWs are hard to find, but they are out there. Funny- no one seems to want to sell them!! Good luck and Go Used!