2005 JCW US Accessories Update

Luke Sep 20th, 2004 Link

I read on mini2.com that the reason why the JCW Seats are available in the US is because the US test dummy doesn't fit in them.

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Matt Sep 20th, 2004 Link

i can see a gray market import for “off road use only!”

out motoring perhaps?

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Gabe Sep 20th, 2004 Link

Yeah I heard that too.

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Wraith Sep 20th, 2004 Link

the JCW/Brembo kit sounds like fun

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Luke Sep 20th, 2004 Link

I wish they would offer the seats here. The mcs seats offer me no lateral support at all when cornering.

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MassMINI Sep 20th, 2004 Link

Questions on the cold air intake…

1) It's for MCS, MC, both? 2) Like the full JCW kit it will not void warranty? 3) Price guesses?

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GBMiniGirl Sep 20th, 2004 Link

Will the JCW CAI come automatically with the new JCW kits?

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Mike Sep 20th, 2004 Link

GBMiniGirl, yes.

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gz Sep 20th, 2004 Link

Can the JCW brakes be retrofit?

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dgszweda Sep 20th, 2004 Link

Gabe,

Any rumors on the pricing of the JCW kit for 2005? Is it going to be the same cost as the last years, as indicated by the European kit? Is it still going to be 10hours of work?

Any rumors??????

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michael Boice Sep 20th, 2004 Link

…if the new JCW kit has 210 hp, and the new JCW intake adds 5hp +/-, I would think it is not part of the 05 JCW kit…or else the kit would produce 215 hp, yes?

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dgszweda Sep 20th, 2004 Link

Michael,

No, you are incorrect. The old JCW kit produced 200hp. The new one with added intake and injectors produces 210hp. That means the intake produces 5hp and the injectors contribute another 5hp to the kit.

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Steve Sep 20th, 2004 Link

I really hope that the intake is available for the Cooper!

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Dillon Sep 20th, 2004 Link

…oh well,I talked to one of the advisors at H.A.MINI in Atlanta,and he informed me of the fact that the seats would not be sold in the U.S. because of the fact that it would not have the airbags in it like the ones in the MINIs now…

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Josh Sep 20th, 2004 Link

I want the JCW suspension and intake for my MC. I missed out on the SS+ when I got my car, so I figure that would have been $550 and another $550 is worth it for a JCW system.

Will those parts raise or lower the resale value of the car? Becuase i know most aftermarket parts lower it, but since these are from Mini….i dunno

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pete Sep 20th, 2004 Link

sorry everyone here with an mc, but i don't think the jcw cold air intake system will be available for the cooper since the cooper's air filter is mounted in a different spot than the mcs.:-(

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Gabe Sep 20th, 2004 Link

The intake shown and listed is for the MCS. No word on something similar for the MC…

dgszweda – here's the rumor:

It will be the same price with the same 10 hours of install time.

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Greg Sep 21st, 2004 Link

Out of curiosity, does anyone know if a dealer will give you a price break on labor if you order a new 2005 MCS with JCW Works and Supsension Kits? Do the installations overlap in labor at all?

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Paul C. Sep 21st, 2004 Link

I guess if you have the money burn away! Webb Motorsports did me good at a pulley party and I can use the rest of my cash for gas, clothing, rent, dinner, lunch, breakfast, movie, plane tickets,message,a used clunker,deposit for another mini,etc,etc,etc…….. you get the message. Let's see what JCWorks does on a track and compare it to the after market. Hhmmmm????

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Zach Senders Sep 21st, 2004 Link

Let me get this straight. The JCW Works kit will already include cold air intake, and the intake available seperately is intended for people who dont but the full kit?

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michael Boice Sep 21st, 2004 Link

Zach,

If you thread thru the above, the 05 JCW kit does not include the JCW intake. JCW kit = 210hp + 5 additional hp with the JCW intake – purchased seperately. I think I have it straight now.

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Gabe Sep 21st, 2004 Link

As stated in earlier articles about the 2005 kit… the new kit will contain the cold air intake. This is one of the additions that makes it more powerful.

For more information be sure to do a search on JCW in the search bar above.

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dgszweda Sep 21st, 2004 Link

Michael,

You are incorrect. The new JCW kit comes with the intake. You can read about it here http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/09/09/thecoopersjcwkitofficialinformation

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dgszweda Sep 21st, 2004 Link

PaulC,

Not to get into a JCW vs. Aftermarket argument, because I think that aftermarket has some pros as well as cons, and that the JCW is not for everyone because of people's different priorities, but with the addition of the intake and the injectors and the fact that the price is going to stay the same, it is not so bad of a deal anymore.

If we break down the cost for common aftermarket accessories for a replacement for the $4500 JCW kit it would come to this:

Alta Intake: $260 Pulley (Alta): $120 Injectors (M7): $400 Exhaust (Miltek): $800 Head: $1000 ECU: $600 Colder Plugs: $50 Sticker: $15

The total is @$3250

The JCW is still $1250, but you add in the full warranty, the pedigree and resale value of the kit, and the fact that JCW will be around for the life of the car, has some further value to it. So I don't think the kit is way out there in price.

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Paul C. Sep 21st, 2004 Link

I don't disagee with what your saying however your telling me that the resale value of the car is going to reflect the $5500 to $6500 you spent putting on this kit!? The big con your saying is exactly that but the truth most of us know is that the car if properly tuned through an aftermarket will outlast the warrenty of the standard warrrenty period with or without the JCW kit installed. If you don't plan on keeping the car for a long time or if it's being leased then go for it because then it's more justified as the dealer will take most of the hit and not you.

I'm not trying to start a flame war because like I said if you have the money go ahead but the long term return on investment isn't what the dealer will make it out to be.

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dgszweda Sep 21st, 2004 Link

PaulC,

I agree, and the JCW isn't for everyone. I truly believe there are excellent reasons going aftermarket. My first car I went aftermarket, and it worked great.

I think the resale will reflect the $5500-$6000 for the kit. Not that we will get $6000 return investment, but I think more will be returned percentage wise from a JCW than a similiarly equipped aftermarket kit (percentage wise).

Again, this is only one reason to buy the kit. Some people going aftermarket are not so interested in return on investment for a number of reasons and that is fine.

What is good is that there are so many options out there for so many different tastes.

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Rocketboy Sep 21st, 2004 Link

Better yet, why not ask someone who has had both aftermarket upgrades, and a JCW kit. I haven't, but I know somone who has, and there is a difference. If anything, the JCW kit is MUCH smoother than the aftermarket parts. And if you wanted, I'm sure it wouldn't be a big stretch to say that if the engine works smoother, it's taking less abuse from the new parts.

Either way, I think it only causes strife in the MINI community when someone brings up the 'My upgrades are better than yours' arguemnt.

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Paul C. Sep 21st, 2004 Link

OK,OK, big group hug!!!!

:)

Sorry, didn't think I would start this kind of debate. I guess I'm just happy I didn't buy the kit and happy I went to Webb's Pulley party, too much enthusiasm for MY Mini. No STRIFE INTENDED.

I think it's great they have a kit but like everyone else I'm a bit disappointed they had to go a way over on the price.

I didn't think this would be such a sensitive topic; first time I've posted my opinion on the JCW package on any forum. I'll vote silently next time. Sorry to anyone I’ve offended.

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Zach Senders Sep 21st, 2004 Link

Well the bhp for an 04MCS was 160, 200 with the kit,and now the BHP is 167 with 210 on the kit. It isnt 10 bhp gain on the kit, but 3! How would this translate into a cold air intake being added?

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meanboy Sep 22nd, 2004 Link

Rocketboy, I hope you aren't trying to say that the aftermarket parts won't last a long time because many people have thousands of miles on them without failures. A nam member had put 60k miles on his car with a 15% pulley and other mods and over 100k on his 2002 MCS. Seems to be still going strong.

http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/showthread.php?p=355598#post355598

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Rocketboy Sep 23rd, 2004 Link

I said, in the long run, if the engine runs smoother, one can extrapolate that the engine is taking less stress. I'm not saying that there's some sort of reported rate of failure for the aftermarket parts, but just help show that yes, the JCW kit costs more, but there's more to consider than just price vs. horsepower. Remember, John Cooper Works has full access to the MINI, where the aftermarket suppliers are working on MINIs that they have access to, and are BMW approved.
To put it another way, if you have a PC, i'm sure you've run into non-ActiveX tested drivers. Does this mean that they work any better or worse than ActiveX tested drivers? Not always, it just depends on how well they are made. And I'm not trying to say that the aftermarket parts are badly made.

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JCW guy Sep 24th, 2004 Link

You JCW haters make me laugh, you are just pissed you couldn't afford it. LOSERS. Don't be jealous and stop talking shit.

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Gabe Sep 24th, 2004 Link

Hey let's keep this above the belt fellas…

BTW if anyone wants a subject JCW MCS review from someone who doesn't own one read ours: motoringfile.com/2004/05/05/thejohncooperworksmcskitreview

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Paul C. Sep 30th, 2004 Link

Just when you thought this thread was dead!!!!!!!

Hey JCW guy, nice response!!! Lots of thought!!!! How about this?

You AFTERMARKET haters make me laugh, you're just pissed you paid too much. LOSERS, Don't be jealous and sop talking poopoo.

I couldn't resist because I think this is just a fluke post by a fun loving mini owner having some fun.

Anyway, we can do this forever but let me state this, If you go to the drug store and buy name brand verses the drug store brand knowing the results are the same you'll probably have your illness taken care of at the price you choose. Pick what you like, spend what you like, feel the Mini love Modded or Factory!! Bottom line, we love our Mini's and like them free and unique whatever we pay!!!!

Another big group hug!!! :)

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Joseph Warfield Feb 27th, 2005 Link

Hey gang, just wanted to thank you all for your contribution to this board. I have read your posts for some time, before and after the incpetion of my 05 MCS. I recently added the JCW Kit. IMO, completely worth it. I have never been so happy in any car- such a blast. The mama takes off droping it into 2nd gear! Yet my point, giiven that perhaps rash move to add it on, at least from the financial perspective, as I know from the performance perspective, it rocks hands down- your posts aided in my decision. My question today- I am looking to also upgrade to the JCW Sport Suspension and to new JCW Brakes, which I think would look “HOT” behind the JCW 18″ Star Spokes. Any updated comment on the JCW SS and Brakes offered for 05? Anyone notice a difference in performance versus cost for install etc… Truly worth the duckets? Would anyone have any recomendations as opposed to the Mini Parts and install or should I refrain from deviating here and stick to the MINI Parts only? Thanks for your time in advance, have a great one! Regards, Joe W. in Miami, FL.

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Kelsey Haley Oct 18th, 2005 Link

I think that all of the JCW kits are grossly overpriced for the power increase. Go to minimania.com For little less you can get a kit for 245hp and for a little over 7 grande you can get a kit with 265hp. Also check out the SPI twincharger.

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