ATTENTION John Cooper Works sport break installed Part number: 01 29 0 397 302

I’d imagine this is the same in everyones kit?

Just got back from a long bed-in exercise in goofy driving. fast, slow, rest repeat…aaah smell them brakes.

A guy in an R32 wanted to play…then looked at me kinda strange as I did repeated fast-slow-rest sessions down a relatively unused street.

I have to say that the brakes do have more bite to them than stock. We’ll see about fade when I next take the car out for some more aggressive driving.

Maybe the brakes will feel better for you once they are fully broken/bedded in. All I can tell you is that I really like mine so far. It sucks to have purchased something so expensive that you’re not 100% happy with. I know how that goes though.

As for your NAV… If it was a MKIV, I could help you out with that one for sure. However, I’m afraid that I don’t have anything to offer you on the older MKIII units.

Take care…

The feel I get in the pre/post is almost like changing from my performance tires/wheels to my general use wheels. Or if I drove with my tires a little under-inflated (yes…I can feel that too ;->). Maybe a rotational inertia difference, not a total weight of car difference. Perhaps I misstated it originally.

I don’t go hard-core minamalist, even for the track stuff…but, like you said, I didn’t expect any different feel.

Just my 2 cents.

Besides…I have bigger things to worry about now…my mkIII NAV update is now some dude instad of laura (we named her).

You are quite right. Please except my humble apology. I just get so erked over all the BS that goes on with these cars when it comes to the weight issue. I guarantee that 99.99% of ALL MINI drivers out there would never be able to tell any weight difference whatsoever. If you are tracking your car, then perhaps you did opt for the wrong brake package as the JCW brakes were primarily designed for street use.

I have two 2005 MCS’s that are used as daily drivers. Both have 17″ OEM wheels and one has the JCW brake kit while the other has stock brakes. The ONLY difference that you can tell between the two cars is that the one with the JCW brakes on it stops MUCH better than the stock one does. We’ve even lined them up and done some very non-scientific 40 mph to 0 mph testing and the JCW equipped car always stops in a shorter distance.

Anyway, once again I apologize for my comment as it wasn’t my intention to call you a name. “Weight weenie” is just the generalized term I use to describe folks who go out of their way to save a couple of ounces in their MINI’s when it really isn’t going to amount to a whole hill of beans when all is said and done. Unless you’re driving a MINI that’s a dedicated track car, why not just enjoy the car with all of the options you want on it. For me, I’ll take the options I enjoy having and then I’ll just skip a meal and leave my shoes at home and I’ll still be right there with you as far as weight performance goes. :-)

Anyway… I can live with the name calling as it doesn’t hurt my feelings one bit. I respect the fact that nrkist doesn’t agree with me and that he doesn’t like JCW parts. I’m just sorry that he has to resort to name calling is all.

Please be professional…I didn’t disrespect you.

I DO feel a difference driving the car. Maybe it’s in my mind…but I did notice a slight difference between before and after.

I haven’t done anything else to lighten the car…in fact I even have extra heavy heated leather seats.

Good article…I enjoyed the discussion…but no need to be rude.

Give me a break… There’s no possible way in the world that you can “feel” the weight difference between the stock MINI brakes and the JCW ones on your car. It’s all in your MIND my friend.

Boy, I really LOVE the weight weenies!

It would have been nice to have a lighter caliper and two-piece rotor. Might replace it with a different rotor (If I can source a two piece) when I get motivated to put the SS brake lines in.

Too early to tell about dust and fade resistance. Pedal feel is pretty good…and they fit well with the 17″ BBS wheels. I have to try my 17″ S-lites, but I’ve heard they will work too.

Had I to do it over, I might opt for the other kits, but the price wasn’t horrible and the OEM feel is reassuring. For a garage queen that only sees the occasional auto-cross, they will be adequate.

Overall, I’d rate it a 3.5/5.

Anybody want lightly used MCS front brake set? I’ll make you a good deal… ;->

URGENT. please help. thanks alot.

Does this make a shred of sense?