I was poking around the John Cooper Works website yesterday, and noticed that they sell tuning kits for both the Cooper and the Cooper S in the U.K. They even sell the Cooper kit to MINI owners in Mexico, which is near my neck of the woods (California).

Odd that they didn't choose to sell the Cooper kit stateside. Do you have any idea why?

John Cooper Works - tuning kits for sale

 

<rant>
Probably because of the lawsuit-happy nature of the US. Most places, if I sell you something and warn you that it has the possibility of causing damage to you (say...because you can't handle the extra power in your car), that is enough to protect me from being sued when you wrap yourself around a telegraph pole. In the States, you can sue me because I let you buy it from me, even though you are obviously incompetent.
</rant>
Also probably because the major justification for the price of the Works kit in the US is that it keeps the factory warranty. MINI is not going to warrantee something installed by the Joe Blow Mechanics shop, or by Bill the MINI owner himself.

 

Great question! I would buy the Works for my Cooper now if it were available here. I hope MINI USA is listening.

 

It is an emissions issue. The JCW package for the Cooper was evidently deemed as too "dirty" for sale here.

 

I heard it was because J.C. Whitney threatend to sue them for using their trade mark JCW..

Imagine that!!

 

That's possible, dandp. I hadn't considered the emissions issue.

But Agro, I'm not sure that not allowing people to put the Works package in their Coopers is any more likely to prevent accidents - after all, people can put the JCW in their Cooper S's and drive stupidly. I was looking at the photos of that guy in Hong Kong (or Singapore?) who completely totaled his JCW/S after less than a week.

If people want to drive like wingnuts, they can do it in a Taurus, an Echo, OR a MINI Cooper

 

I'd be all over that for my cooper. henceforth, im praying everynight.

 

JCW Cooper still has a bit less oomph than a stock MCS. (However, I suspect the intial torque increase would put it on par and make it a more fun drive). Also, sale price would run in the area of a well spec'd S. So, IMO its a marketing plan. When a Cooper owner wishes to get more factory-backed performance, it would incline them to trade up to a MCS---or BMW. A MCS can opt for the overly-expensive JCW package, at a large profit to MINI. Atleast this is what I speculate.

Yeah, JCW should be offered. Especially when the young target market wants factory performance (think TRD or Mugen, etc.). IMO, the least they could do is intialyze a JCW Cooper spec series through MINIUSA and BMWCC. But I fear it would be easiler to request real service representatives.

I agree with dandp on emissions. The kit is exhaust, intake, chip, and a free-er-flowing head.

 

As the Great Wag once said, "***** and ye shall receive."

I'll bet that when there is enough of an outcry, MINI will bring the Cooper JCW kit across the pond. Call your dealer, MINIUSA, post on MCO. Remember, "the squeeky wheel gets the grease."

 

>>It is an emissions issue. The JCW package for the Cooper was evidently deemed as too "dirty" for sale here.


I keep hearing about emission issues but you still see the BIG RIGS rolling down the highway spewing out tons of polutants out of those big stacks. Whats up with that??? Can you buy a JCW kit from JCW directly??

 

I don't think so, Nobull60. The quoted prices on the website are in British pounds only.

 

Ah I wouldn't buy a JCW kit anyway. My car is faster then a JCW fitted car already. And I still have money in my pocket for more mods or anything else I want to spend some bucks on. JCW is just not worth the $$ they are charging IMHO.

 

JCW factor has more to do with factory warranty, future collectability and status. An original Shelby with matching numbered parts is always going to fetch more $$$ than a guy who made a look alike. Same goes for an origianl BMW M3 or Audi S4. You can buy performance parts to make the no M's or S's go faster (and body kits as well) But the badging and factory blessed kit is what has the cachet.

 

The kit for Cooper and the kit for Cooper S are entirely different. That said, some of us would like to see a factory backed effort supporting the Cooper. Just because some of us wish to mod our Coopers doesn't mean we should have got an MCS, let alone even want one.

Besides, my Cooper will smoke your S to 60

 

>>>>
>>Not once did I mention of say anything negative about the Cooper. So your statement is without substance. And secondly put your money ware your mouth is. Talk is cheap. I will smoke your Cooper. No doubt!!


_________________
2002 MINI COOPER "S" 203HP

 

>>JCW factor has more to do with factory warranty, future collectability and status. An original Shelby with matching numbered parts is always going to fetch more $$$ than a guy who made a look alike. Same goes for an origianl BMW M3 or Audi S4. You can buy performance parts to make the no M's or S's go faster (and body kits as well) But the badging and factory blessed kit is what has the cachet.

I hear what your saying but somehow I don't think the MINI JCW will ever be in the same catagory as a Shelby. Would be nice though but HIGHLY unlikely.

 

Looks like a K&N air filter comes with the JCW MC kit. I never believed there was any power increase from the addition of a K&N filter.....but they've made a lot of money claiming "up to" 15HP. Can't ECU tuning be done cheaply? I know people with Miata's and other cars who have a plug in tuning device they can use to control almost any engine function. Is anything like this available for the MINI.


Basically, what cheap mods, if any, can be done to give the MC just a little more power?

 

iwannamini: i asked the same question as a whole thread. Minihune (God of all answers) responded perfectly... and in fact put me on my current upgrade path (search for his exact post in my thread)

I'm doing all my cosmetic mods first (I want all white lenses [tails, sides, 3rd brake]) and some other things..

then I'm going to get an intake (mostly for sound, but a little performance) and a rear sway bar for insane handling. Of course, his best advice im skipping due to budget - which was light wheels. I'm trying to stay under $1000 total for my mods
Cosmetic: ~400
Intake: ~200
Rear Sway: ~200ish
thats 800 and leave me with some extra.. which I'l most likely save till i can get the helix exhaust. of course, this is all pending someone tells me how my dealer (mini of the mainline) reacts to mods with regards to my warranty (also see a thread of mine)

Let me know what you come up with - im interested to hear how cooper owners who have not yet modded choose to mod

 

I don't expect it to either - BUT you have to admit there is now a segment in society that craves uniqueness, exclusivity. A JCW MCS at a meet gets attention by those who know. Whether that is the owners intent or not, it can turn heads. Just like someone running HRE wheels or wearing a Vacheron on their wrist...perhaps BMW is trying to create an icon with the JCW name, who knows.

 

Well if this makes you feel better, the JCW kit for the Cooper is over $3500 USD in Mexico, and you only gain 15 HP. talk about expensive power.

If I add up the price of my Salt Cooper to the 3500 JCW I´m already on MCS territory which still beats a JCW Cooper without even trying...

 

ok, if you really want what the JCW for the MC has then do it yourself and save some bucks. I now have everything but the chip and I ended up with more than the JCW and spending less ( or just as much). Once GIAC has their chip done ( I'll wait for the MC) I should have ~155 at the wheels. How do I know this. I friend in the UK has done exactly the same thing as me (except power chip)and it was dyno'd at 155 at the wheels (BHP). That plus the loss thru the tranny and you are on par with a stock S. All for...
Head - 1800
MillTek exh man - 850
Chip - ~700
Helix Cat Back - 500
K&N Intake - 200
Cam -500

btw, for the price of a flight to UK (400) I was able to pick up the head, cam, and manifold for almost 500 USD less than sold for here.

Get a MC with the sport pack and SS+ suspension and viola S performance in a sharper looking car with only ~ an extra grand out of pocket.


There are issues with the midlands tranny so wait for the 04s if your still contemplating it.

 

>>
>> Get a MC with the sport pack and SS+ suspension and viola S performance in a sharper looking car with only ~ an extra grand out of pocket.
>>
>>

over the cost of a comparably equiped S (i.e MC + ~4k)