Sections: Reviews Feb 7th, 2005 65 Comments 
Here’s another review we’ve all been waiting to read. MotoringFile reader (and MINI Motoring Advisor) Sean Bartnik gives us a review of his brandnew 2005 LSD equipped Cooper S:
On the evening of Friday, February 4, I finally took delivery of my new 2005 MINI Cooper S. The car had arrived at the dealership a couple days earlier, but I decided to have some goodies installed before delivery: the iPod interface adapter, the illuminated door sills, and, most importantly, the John Cooper Works Sport Suspension. It was sad to leave my 2003 Cooper S in the trade line and walk away, but the ‘05 seems to have a knack for making those feelings disapper.
MotoringFile readers all surely know that for the 2005 model year, MINI made some changes to the Cooper S. The horsepower rating was increased from 163 to 168, but the big news was in changes made to the gearing of the 6-speed Getrag transmission. All the gear ratios were lowered to increase the car’s performance in terms of acceleration. I didn’t expect there to be a huge difference in how the ‘05 drove, but I was completely wrong. And never have I been happier to be wrong. The ‘05 Cooper S feels like an entirely different car. From the moment I got back from test driving one I knew I needed to say goodbye to the ‘03 and get myself an ‘05. I also knew from my experience in autocross that the car could really use a limited-slip differential. After driving the ‘05 and finding how easy it was to break the front tires loose in first, second, and third gears (and that was in a straight line, nevermind when exiting a turn!), so it was good news to find out that MINI was making a limited-slip differential available as an option starting with January 2005 production. Once the details were finalized as far as pricing, I placed my order.
My Cooper S was scheduled for week one production and here is the specification I finally settled on:
2005 MINI Cooper S
Jet Black
Space Gray/Panther Black Cloth
Anthracite Headliner
Interior Surface Anthracite
Convenience Package
Cold Weather Package
Sport Package with Web-Spoke Wheels
Limited-Slip Differential
Multifunction Steering Wheel with Cruise Control
Chrome Line Interior
Chrome Line Exterior
Roof in Body Color
Dual-Pane Panoramic Sunroof
Rear Fog Lamp
Cockpit Chrono Package
Harmon/Kardon Sound System
Now that I’ve got a few miles on the odometer, I can offer some of my initial driving impressions about the 2005 Cooper S, the limited-slip differential, and the JCW suspension.
The revised gearing makes a phenomenal difference in the character of the car. Acceleration is instant and sudden and the car exhibits none of the off-the-line “bogginess” that the ‘04 and earlier cars seemed to have. Especially in the lower gears, you can easily surprise yourself with how rapidly you have reached your intended speed (or how rapidly you overshot your intended speed).
It’s been said that power is nothing without control, and that is where the limited-slip differential comes in. The older models had a tendency to simply spin the inside front tire into oblivion when exiting a tight corner under throttle. While impressive and kind of fun, it had the effect of really limiting your corner exit speed. It was, as Shakespeare might have put it, a lot of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
The limited-slip differential does a fantastic job of letting you put that power down to the ground where it can actually do you some good. The LSD is made by GKN and is what they call a cone-clutch type. It allows a 30% difference in front wheel relative speed before it engages and transmits torque from the wheel that is slipping to the wheel that is gripping. From what I’ve read, it seems that this LSD is designed so that it does not suffer from clutch wear like a typical clutch-type LSD. Additionally, it works on deceleration as well as acceleration.
That’s all well and good, but here’s the simple part: it’s EXCELLENT. On tight corner exits where my ‘03 would just spin its inside front wheel, you can actually feel the LSD send the power over to the other side and pull you through. This greatly improves the fun factor of my commute to and from work as there are a few turns where I can now exit with some serious speed thanks to the ability to actually get the power down through the rubber to the road. What I’ve also found to be nice is that I haven’t really noticed any torque steer when the LSD kicks in. It seems to be pretty transparent in operation except that you notice you are exiting on hard throttle a lot faster than you used to be able to. What’s also nice is that the LSD raises the threshold at which ASC or DSC intervenes, simply by virtue of what it does. So if you are prone to drive with ASC or DSC enabled, you can have a little more fun before the electronic nanny kicks in. For those of you who deactivate ASC or DSC every time you get in the car, this won’t matter.
The LSD is an excellent option for anyone who tends to drive a little more “assertively” than your average driver. For anyone who autocrosses, the LSD is a must-have, as it is for anyone who opts for the John Cooper Works tuning kit. Also, those who live in areas that get snow or ice in the winter might also do well to purchase the LSD option. LSD can be a lot of help on slippery surfaces, allowing you to get moving or keep moving where the standard open differential can leave you stuck with one wheel spinning on ice or snow and the other wheel not doing anything to help out. For $500 it’s definitely a no-brainer, considering that an aftermarket LSD will run you at least twice as much.
Another option that bears some consideration is the John Cooper Works Sport Suspension. This suspension kit was announced recently and is a dealer-installed item. The kit is available for both the Cooper and the Cooper S. On the Cooper, the kit includes new struts, springs, and sway bars and retails for $1120 for the parts plus whatever your dealer charges for the labor and for an alignment. For the Cooper S, the kit includes only struts and springs because it makes use of the existing Sport Suspension Plus sway bars. So for the Cooper S, the kit is only $945 in parts plus labor. (If you have a Cooper with Sport Suspension Plus, you use the Cooper S kit as opposed to the Cooper kit.) Part of the benefit of this suspension is that there are 3 different front springs and 3 different rear springs. The set of springs that goes on your car is determined by what options you have on the car. In other words, the suspension is perfectly tailored to the weight of your individual car.
The JCW suspension has not been designed as an all-out track set-up suspension (if that’s what you’re looking for, this suspension is not for you). Rather, it has been designed to enhance the handling of the car while still providing enough ride comfort for everyday street use. It lowers the car by only 10mm so it’s not putting the suspension down on the bump stops. The coil springs are painted red for easy identification and the struts have the John Cooper Works logo on them.
I ordered this suspension without having experienced it myself. I went on the word of my fellow Motoring Advisors who had attended a MINI event where they got a chance to drive a car with the JCW suspension. After hearing from them and reading the product bulletin I decided that this suspension provides exactly what I want out of a suspension: improved road-holding, a minor drop in ride height, and enough comfort for everyday use, which is important to me since the MINI is my daily driver and my only car.
I was a little apprehensive about ordering it without having driven it before. I was worried that it would be too harsh. I’m happy to report that my worries were unfounded. This suspension is FANTASTIC. It is a bit stiffer than stock but not so much so that I would call it harsh. It’s exactly what I was hoping for. It actually feels like it rides a little smoother than the stock suspension, which is interesting because my point of reference is our ‘05 demo car which has the 16″ wheels and Premium Package. That car feels a little bit harsher than my car with 17″ wheels and the JCW suspension. Perhaps that is because the JCW suspension in my car is better suited to the weight of the vehicle. Another Motoring Advisor out with me in my car commented on that too, so I don’t think it’s just my perception.
The JCW suspension is, however, quite a bit stiffer than stock when it comes to abrupt impacts like frost heaves or potholes, especially when you are moving along at a good speed and hit one. Then you’ll definitely know that you don’t have the stock suspension. If I still lived in Massachusetts I probably would not get the JCW suspension based on the poor condition of the roads up there but down here in Virginia Beach where frost heaves are pretty much nonexistent, the roads are in good enough shape that I won’t be rattling my fillings out.
I haven’t put a whole lot of miles on it yet, but it does seem to be more responsive than the stock suspension and working in tandem with the LSD it really provides some nice cornering potential. I’d highly recommend it to someone who’s looking for an enhanced suspension that’s perfectly tailored for the car as well as being covered by the MINI warranty should something go wrong. The JCW sport suspension cannot be installed on MINIs built before July of 2004 nor can it be installed on the convertible.
The sport suspension does have different alignment specifications than stock, so there is a sticker that goes on the driver’s door jamb to alert your service department that the JCW suspension is installed. While installing the suspension, the service tech noted that the ‘05 MINIs have adjustable rear camber now, so all you folks who like to dial in a little more fun with your rear camber settings can have at it, assuming you have an ‘05.
The main reason I decided to move up to an ‘05 was because of the improved performance, but it just so happens that I got a lot of other nice new goodies as well. I really like the new Convenience Package (ZCV) which is only $400 and includes the rain-sensing windshield wipers, auto-dimming rearview mirror, automatic headlights, and the universal garage door opener.
The automatic headlights I could take or leave, but they work exactly the same as BMW’s do. You have a switch position below the OFF position for AUTO. If you leave the switch in that mode, the headlights will turn on and off by themselves depending on ambient light conditions. There is a note in the owner’s manual that the sensitivity of the auto headlights is programmable. You can still retain full manual control of the headlights (to include turning them off) by moving the switch out of the AUTO position.
I also got the Harmon/Kardon stereo this time around. I wanted it on the last one, but it was not yet available at the time (same reason my last one didn’t have the rain-sensing wipers or auto-dimming rearview mirror). The H/K sounds great and with the iPod Interface Adapter it’s perfect for my listening habits. With the H/K I often hear detail in my songs that I’ve never heard before. I love that!
The new web-spoke wheels are another option I’m thrilled with. I ordered them based only on the tiny little picture I saw on the MINI USA configurator. I could not be happier with them now that I’ve seen them in real life. They are beautiful wheels, and the polished lip of the rim is just gorgeous, especially when it’s sparkling in the sun. These wheels are optional content in the Sport Package and if they are specified they raise the price of the package from $1350 to $1850. The wheels can also be ordered as a stand-alone option for a cost of $1100. They come from the factory only with the performance tires.
Overall I could not be happier with this car. It really came together well and turned out to be absolutely beautiful. The only thing that could improve it would be some nice window tint, and, luckily, that will be happening very soon.
Thanks to Gabe for allowing me to use so much space on MotoringFile for this review.
Congrats Sean. That is absolutely one of the most stunning MINIs I’ve ever seen.
SrBlanco Feb 7th, 2005 Link
Great write up Sean.
I had the opportunity to drive an ‘04 MCS +JCW and thought that it wasnt too much peppier than my early ‘05. I think the gearing change is much more substantial performance wise than people expected it to be.
BTW, I REALLY dig those lighted door sills. Is that an official MINI part and if so what is the part number and price?
-m
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Alastair Feb 7th, 2005 Link
Agree with Gabe, that is a fantastic MINI. I’m sure you will have lots of fun with that one.
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Paul Feb 7th, 2005 Link
That’s exactly my car, color and everything that I have on order – due in about a month, but I didn’t want to take delivery until after the snow’s gone from our midwestern roads. I’m tempted to hold on to my 02 Cooper, or maybe just keep in in the garage until my 10 year old is old enough – it’s been such a good, trusty vehicle.
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Gabe Feb 7th, 2005 Link
The lighted door sills are an official part and available from your MINI dealer.
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Sean Bartnik Feb 7th, 2005 Link
Thanks everybody and thanks again to Gabe for hosting the review.
As for the illuminated door sills, they are an official part. There are 2 versions. The MINI Cooper S version as seen on my car is part number 51 47 0 302 686 and costs $335 plus install.
There is also a version that just says MINI. That’s part number 51 47 0 302 683 and costs $269 plus install.
Yeah they are expensive but they look cool. What’s $335 over 60 months? ;-)
They are not so bright as to be garish. You can’t see it lit up in the daytime but at night it looks really cool.
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Josh Wardell Feb 7th, 2005 Link
“If I still lived in Massachusetts I probably would not get the JCW suspension based on the poor condition of the roads up there”
Hah…most people have no idea… It’s not about avoiding the potholes in a split second, it’s about choosing which is the best one to hit. It’s also the reason why I had to order my MINI with 16s.
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Gabe Feb 7th, 2005 Link
Sounds a lot like Chicago. But I say bring’em on! Despite the potholes, I’ll stay with my 17’s and maybe even move up to 18’s :)
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Amit Feb 7th, 2005 Link
God, now the wait is really starting to kill me, THANKS! My ‘05 LSDed MCS is not due till first week of April. Those wheels look tastey….arrrgghhh. Ok i’m going to crawl back in my hole.
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Dan Storen Feb 7th, 2005 Link
Sean, would you describe the universal garage door opener?
I’d very much like to know what it looks like, where it’s positioned, how it works, and — most of all — what you think about it.
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Matt Feb 7th, 2005 Link
it’s gorgeous. i love the black. so easily you forget the hassle of maintaining black when you see it clean…
the 17’s with the red coils peaking through…
damnit gabe. these reviews are going to be the death of my pocket book.
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Sean Bartnik Feb 7th, 2005 Link
Dan, The universal garage door opener is very unobtrusive. It consists of 3 buttons mounted on the underside of the rearview mirror. You can barely see them from the driver’s seat.
It works a lot like a universal remote control. It “learns” the signal from your garage door opener transmitter and you assign it to one of the 3 buttons.
Programming it is very simple if you have a fixed code garage door opener. It’s a little more complicated to set up if you have a rolling code garage door opener but not difficult at all.
Once you have it programmed it works very well, just like your regular garage door opener and a bit nicer than clipping an opener to your sunvisor.
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Erik Feb 7th, 2005 Link
Thanks for the write up! I enjoyed the read.
The wait is killing me more now. My MCS w/LSD is sitting in VDC…
-Erik
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brian Feb 7th, 2005 Link
Once you have it programmed it works very well, just like your regular garage door opener and a bit nicer than clipping an opener to your sunvisor.
But $200 nicer? :-)
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michael Boice Feb 7th, 2005 Link
Sean,
Aside from the ride, do you feel the balance is better, worse or the same with the JCW suspension? I ask, because they are mum about spring rates. Too many aftermarket folk protecting themselves from potential liability offer rates with a heavier bias to the front. not great for carving roads quickly.
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Evan Feb 7th, 2005 Link
It’s reviews like these that keep me planning for my next MINI…
LSD combined w/new gear ratios seems to be the way to go. I love my MC and its classic Indi Blue, but a new S in Hyper blue…. I have purposefully never driven an S b/c I know I’d have to have one… and my MINI is already fast enough the way I drive.
Maybe now though… I’ll have to go and take one for a spin.
Plus those Webspokes- wow!
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TJKonarski Feb 7th, 2005 Link
I think the $200 was well worth it, I have the universal garage door opener. I’m what I guess you’d call a ‘minimalist’. I don’t like clutter and I don’t like things to be in my car that are obvious and aren’t stock or official. I do not like having a remote clipped to my sunvisor or rattling around in my glove box. So for me, the universal remote control was an excellent and very welcomed addition to my MCSC.
Sean; Your new MINI is HOT!!! It makes me wish I chose black. I’m jealous of your wheels and the fact that you have LSD. At my first service appointment I think I’m going to have the illuminated door sills installed. You say $335 plus installation. How much was installation?…
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MrV Feb 7th, 2005 Link
Like Brian, I couldn’t justify the $200 for the garage door opener. But I wanted it.
Then they came out with the convenience package. Add to the Garage Door Opener the Rain Sensing Wipers, the Automatic Headlights, the Self Dimming mirror….I could justify the $400 for all that.
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Rudy Feb 7th, 2005 Link
Does anyone know who manufactures these web spoke wheels. Are they by BBS like the R90’s
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derek Feb 7th, 2005 Link
Great wright up! I sure wish the LSD was “optionable” on the MCSa…
Another option on garage door opener: clip through slots under the switchbank; out of site, out of mind.
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Johnny Feb 7th, 2005 Link
Stunning Mini, wow. I ddin’t like the web spokes until I saw them here. Serious question for Sean though – why did you order the moonroof and multi-function steering wheel instead of the whole luxury package?
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brian Feb 7th, 2005 Link
Johnny, I’m planning on speccing out my MINI the same way: sans the auto a/c. For some reason, I distrust it. I’m perfectly capable of twisting the three knobs to their proper setting. I guess I’m trying to picture how I’ll feel if I still have this car in 20 years and have to go grovelling to BMW to find a fiddly electronic temperature control. It just smacks of unneeded complexity to me. The MA I’m working with at Dreyer & Reinbold is pushing it pretty relentlessly, however, I might add; that’s making me even less likely to get it. Besides, fiddy bucks is fiddy bucks. :-)
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Gabe Feb 7th, 2005 Link
I used to be as anti auto-climate control as they came. Then suddenly I realized… it worked and it gave me one less thing to worry about while driving. It was really nice to just (as Ron Popeil would say) “set it and forget it”. The clincher came when I first touched the manual controls three years ago. They are, without question, one of the least successful pieces of plastic in the interior.
Granted, the idea of auto climate control does go against my usual less is more philosophy.
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Pocket Rocket Feb 7th, 2005 Link
Question about the door sills. In the accessory book they look like they light up kind of aqua. What color do they light up in your car. Hard to tell with my laptop screen.
Craig
PS.. Your car is SEXY.. hubba hubba LOL
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Rudy Feb 7th, 2005 Link
Does anyone know who maufactures the webspoke wheels and how much are they?
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Gabe Feb 7th, 2005 Link
Here’s the original info we posted a few months back on the web spokes: http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/11/01/web-spokealloywheel
For more info I’d recommend doing a search (in the upper right) for “web spoke”
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Sean Bartnik Feb 7th, 2005 Link
As for why I broke up the Premium Package: I like the way the auto climate control works in the winter — it does its job exceedingly well. But in the spring, summer, and fall I find myself fiddling with it far more than I’d like to. I like to drive with the windows open and with just fresh ambient temp air coming in — the auto climate control makes it a bit cumbersome to get that kind of output.
So while I agree with Gabe that the tactile feel of the manual controls is not that great, those controls seem to be better suited for how I actually use the car. But yeah they definitely feel chintzy compared to a Volkswagen.
The other reason for not getting the Premium Package is that I didn’t want to pay for the on-board computer twice. The OBC is included with the Cockpit Chrono Pack, so to spec the Premium Package would just be redundant in that respect. So it worked out that I saved $250 over the cost of the Premium Package.
As for the door sills, the lighting is white, not blue. I know it’s hard to tell on a computer screen, but it’s definitely a white light.
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Johnny Feb 7th, 2005 Link
Thanks for the interesting comments on the Premium package. I am specing my S out, and based on the HVCC knobs I was planning on the auto A/C (I agree with Gabe). So do I get the moonroof or the whole premium pack? Funny, the multi-function wheel seems like unneeded complexity to me!
Afer seeing yours, Sean, I am reconsidering getting Black on Black, it is so sharp. Not every color works with the webspokes.
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Josh Feb 7th, 2005 Link
I had a chance to drive an 05 JCW MCS w/JCW suspension and wheels a couple weeks ago and completely agree about the suspension. It did not seem any more harsh than in my 04 MC, yet turn in was quicker and body roll is non-existant. I plan to upgrade my suspension and wheels this spring.
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05DSMCS Feb 7th, 2005 Link
Johnny: I would definitely go with the MFSW, as it is a convenience as well as a safety benefit. I had originally not spec’d mine with the wheel, my MA convinced me to go with it, and I am very glad I did. Keeps my hands on the wheel, which is exactly where I want them when I’m out motoring.
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iDiaz Feb 7th, 2005 Link
Great review!
You mention that the rear suspension is “adjustable” on the JCW Sport Suspension Kit, but JCW never mentions anything about rear control arms being part of the package. Are you sure they didn’t mean that the JCW kit alters your rear camber?
Lowering springs on a car equipped with multi-link or double-wishbone suspension will naturally introduce more negative camber by way of suspension geometry, so it seems more like the JCW kit alters the rear camber, but does not offer the adjustability to return it to the stock position.
In theory, this could result in additional understeer, if the front-to-rear spring rate bias isn’t altered to compensate for the increased grip in the rear.
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kcollins Feb 7th, 2005 Link
Congrats on the new car Sean! It looks super sweet! Dang it! I kind of wish I would’ve waited until Jan instead of July 04 to get my MINI Cooper S – the limited slip sounds delicious! :-) Anyone have any experience with the new Cooper Works intake?
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John F Feb 7th, 2005 Link
Thanks for the write up. I placed an order for a MC S with webs…based on the same pics. Yours look great. I am really glad they looked good to you in person as well. Can’t wait for April. Pure Silver 05 with Black roof, LSD etc…
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Sean Bartnik Feb 7th, 2005 Link
iDiaz, I apologize, I was speaking about the ‘05 rear suspension (in stock form) in general when I mentioned that it has adjustable camber. Apparently the previous model years did not have adjustable rear camber while the ’05s now do.
Additionally, the adjustability is there for the JCW suspension as well, since rear camber was one of the adjustments they had to make after installing the suspension.
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Sean Bartnik Feb 7th, 2005 Link
Michael Boice, It seems to me in my initial driving impressions that the JCW suspension is indeed a little better balanced than the stock suspension. It seems to turn in better and seems to be less prone to understeer. That said, I really haven’t had the chance yet to put it through its paces on a nice windy mountain road (unfortunately there aren’t too many mountain roads in Virginia Beach — that is one thing I miss about western Mass).
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RB Feb 7th, 2005 Link
Blk/Blk is so sweet but I’m glad you are going to take care of it. I had a Black vehicle once and only once.
But there’s nothing like a Blk car when its all shiny!
I love those rims, WOW! I bet they are a lot lighter than my S Lites.
My next MINI is going to be Red/Red. But I wonder, can I change out to the old style taillights?
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Randolph Lee Feb 7th, 2005 Link
is the garage door opener retrofittable if you have the rain sensing autodim Rear view mirror on a 04? great write up, there have been a few times this winter when I wished for a LSD… enough so that I have priced it out and I doubt it could be done for $1000 installed unless you had a friend for a mechanic! thanks! ~~R~~
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aleks Feb 7th, 2005 Link
Great write up! I too am swapping my S for an 05, can’t wait. I have also felt that I will probably install the JCW suspension and brake kit, before installing the JCW engine kit. I’d rather have the extra handling than power.
thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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Frank Feb 8th, 2005 Link
Question for Sean Bartnik:
I ordered a ‘05 MCS scheduled for week #8 production. It is a 6-speed manual but did not order the LSD because I don’t plan to do any autocrossing or track days with the car. My question is this… Am I missing something by not getting the factory LSD? Are there any real world benefits to the LSD on strict street driving?
I think I still have time to make changes to the order. I appreciate your professional opine on this subject.
Thanks.
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Edge Feb 8th, 2005 Link
Frank,
I’m sure you will prefer to hear from Sean about this, but I suspect that the bottom line is this… even if you don’t plan on “racing” the MINI in any fashion, if you still:
a) Drive in bad weather (esp. snow) b) Like to drive in a “spirited” fashion sometimes
Then you will certainly benefit from LSD. In my opinion, although I haven’t even driven it yet (I’m taking delivery of my ‘05 MCS w/LSD in the next few weeks), for $500 it is a huge bargain, especially considering the cost of adding LSD after the car is built.
However, if you only plan on driving it in a calm, relaxed manner, and don’t have to deal with snow where you live, then it is probably not worth it to you.
That’s my $0.02 anyway, now we can wait for word from Sean who actually has driven it. :)
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Frank Feb 8th, 2005 Link
I live down here in Florida, so no snow for me. I drive normally and on ocassion I like to push the car around a bit, but I am not an agressive driver by any stretch of the imagination. Can I still justify the LSD?
Me thinks LSD will be a big selling point in the future.
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Edge Feb 8th, 2005 Link
Frank,
I agree completely – it’s such a big difference that people are considering trading in their existing MINIs just to get it. I think it will help retain the value of the car longer, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it shows up as one of those “big” options down the road when trying to determine the value of a used MINI.
But again, since I only have an “armchair” opinion on this, I’ll defer to Sean, if he catches up with the topic! :)
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Sean Bartnik Feb 8th, 2005 Link
I made it! Busy day at work today! (always good.)
Frank, it sounds like based on your driving style and your location, you can probably get away without it.
On the other hand, it’s only $500 and it’s nice to have it there if you ever need it. If you aren’t too concerned about zipping out of corners at Ludicrous Speed, then you’ll probably never miss it.
Hell, I can see it both ways in your case. This one’s up to you. :-)
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Wayne Feb 8th, 2005 Link
Sean: Can you get the WEB ” wheels with all seasons ?as I live in MI and need to have all season tires as it is my only car. I have an05 with LSD on order (end of April/1st prt of May,).Does anyone know the weight of the WEB wheels vs Slites?.. (The other option is to get steel wheels/snows for the winter but the only problem is that 90% of the time in the Detroit Metro area the roads are clear of snow and snow tires are not needed so the snow tires wear out quickly. Speaking of wear, if I get “summer tires on the “WEB wheels,” will i only get 25,000 k on tires before I have to replace them?..Brand of the “summer tires”?..
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Gabe Feb 8th, 2005 Link
There’s more info on the web spokes (including weight) here.
BTW for info like that generally the best place to start a search is the search bar at the top right of the page. I’d say at least 60%-70% of questions asked in the comments area have been answered previously. Don’t mean to single you out Wayne… it’s a good question and I’m sure there were others wondering too.
BTW they’re 22.3 lbs :)
… and yes they are only available with summer tires within the sport package. If you ordered them seperately you could have any tire fitted.
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Sean Bartnik Feb 8th, 2005 Link
As Gabe mentioned, the web-spoke wheels are only available from the factory with the performance tires. You can always order the wheels a la carte from the parts department and put whatever tires you want on them, but you’d surely pay a lot more.
Or you could order the web-spokes, swap the tires out when you get the car with some all-seasons, and just have a spare set of tires. I’m sure you can invent some kind of scenario where this sounds reasonably practical. :-)
The tires that came on mine are Dunlop SP Sport 9000. MINI uses various tire suppliers for the 17″ wheels including Dunlop, Goodyear, and Pirelli so it really depends on who’s delivering tires to the factory that day. But I’d say when you specify 17″ performance tires, you stand a better than even chance of getting the Dunlops.
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Edge Feb 9th, 2005 Link
My ‘05 MCS w/LSD, waiting for me to pony up the cash and take delivery (working on it – it came a lot quicker than I expected!), is sitting at the dealership with the web spokes and the same Dunlop SP Sport 9000s. Great tires… except in winter. I had a set on my Mustang for a while. Fantastic in the rain.
Here’s what I plan to do, and this might provide some perspective, Wayne, if you’re as gung-ho about the best tire performance.
I plan to ride out the remainder of winter with the SP9000s. Fortunately I have a very short commute (approx. 5 miles), and living in the Wash. DC area, the snow doesn’t get THAT bad. However, for next winter, I plan on buying some good SNOW tires (not all-season or Mud&Snow) such as the Pirelli Winter series, and put them on the Web Spokes. Then, by Spring 2006, I’ll buy a set of the JCW 18s, and use those as my “3 season” tires.
Best of both worlds IMO, keeping the 17″ web spokes for winter use, and the 18″ JCWs for everything else.
Yeah, it might mean I toss the SP9000s early… but if they really are still in great condition, I may keep them for Spring 2006 and not get the JCWs until they wear out.
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zakdog Feb 9th, 2005 Link
I think if I acquired another MINI, I would do the all black thing. Looks fantastic!
I scanned all the comments but did not see what you paid for this beautiful total package…lots of individual costs…
willing to share this info?
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Johnny Feb 9th, 2005 Link
Interesting call on the tires, Edge. I was wondering how good the performance tires are for incliment weather. I’m up here in Seattle where it rarely snows, never accumulates, but rains a good bit in Winter. You say the Dunlops are good in rain? Maybe they would suffice, cause those Webspokes have me drooling.
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Edge Feb 9th, 2005 Link
Johnny,
Yep, they’re very good in rain. Don’t just take it from me though, look at the survey results here at Tire Rack (note this is for the non-runflat version, but the tread pattern is the same). Of course, as Sean said you might end up with Pirellis or Goodyears, but I expect they will be similarly designed tires.
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Mikey Goodrich Feb 11th, 2005 Link
Is the LSD retrofittable?? I thought about ordering it on my ‘05 but unfortunetly and fortunetly my Cooper S is already in my garage. Does anyone know the approximate price of this retrofit if it is possible??
Thanks and Have a Great Weekend!
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Gabe Feb 11th, 2005 Link
Mikey – this has been covered many many times and the news has always been bad. The only way to retrofit the LSD would be to install an entirely neww transmission in your car. $3000-$4000 in total.
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Mikey Goodrich Feb 11th, 2005 Link
I like taking corners fairly briskly in my Cooper S but have never experienced this “wheel slippage” at all, even in the snow. So I guess after further thought I really don’t need a LSD…???
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Mac Feb 13th, 2005 Link
I have an MCS w/LSD on order with all the package options spec’d. Was not sure about the LSD, but thanks to info on this site, glad I did it. I planned on adding JCW Air Intake as dealer installed option prior to taking delivery. Any feed-back on value/benefit of this???
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Ian Feb 13th, 2005 Link
My thoughts about the JCW air intake (admittedly as part of the complete JCW package)
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Alistair Thomson Feb 19th, 2005 Link
I thought it might be interesting for you to hear from across the atlantic about the arrival of my new MCS; due next month. (The worry you have about LSD is strange to us un the UK as it is standard on all S models here.) The wait here is 6 months for an S and I have been fretting since new year, the winter is still here in the north of Scotland and my classic SAAB is at the the end of it’s honourable service having done 168000 miles. My order is for a *dark silver coloured ’s’ *black roof & mirror caps, *stick shift(the auto is a rare option here- it’s for girls ;¬) *auto climate control *full leather *heated mirrors & wash *17 inch S spoke alloys *xenon lights *trip computer *multi function *anthracite interior *TLC (servicing for 5 years)
all this for the sum of £18400….. so you might consider your BMW deal to be a bargain!!!!
The news of the success of the Mini in the states is reported here with some amusement, since most of your fellow citizens seem desperate to burn more petrol than is strictly required for fun and frolics. The popularity of the wee car must be counter to that no-doubt exagerated stereotype. Do you feel like rebels? I look forward to reading more about your thoughts. Regards from the greatest motoring country in the world.
Alistair aberdeenshire, Scotland UK
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Alistair Thomson Feb 20th, 2005 Link
Hi again I was wrong when I said that LSD was standard an all MCS models…….not so i got the chilli pack and it’s standard with that. oops. Alistair
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Keith Pennifold Apr 25th, 2006 Link
Hi Sean,
I loved your report. I think that some of the car magazine authors could take a leaf out of your book.
I know it is now over a year since you wrote this review and I don’t know if the thread is still active, but here is my question.
You talk about the JCW suspension kit and how you really like the way it improves the road holding and even seems to make the car ride smoother, but also said the increased stiffness makes bumps like frost heaves more noticeable.
Your comment about probably not opting for the JCW suspension if you still lived in Massachusetts was of particular interest because that is where I live. My new 2006 Cooper S will be arriving in the next week and I am still undecided about whether to get the JCW suspension.
Having driven your car for over a year, would you still say that the JCW suspension is something that you would avoid if you still lived in Masachusetts?
The other question I have is that the standard sport suspension on my 2002 Cooper S tramlines quite badly on uneven road surfaces. Does the JCW suspension help to eliminate this problem?
Many thanks.
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