JCW MINI Cooper Tuning Kit Review

Here’s a review we’ve wanted to feature on MotoringFile for some time. This is the original JCW Kit for the MINI. When it was oiriginally released in 2001 it was the fastest factory MINI money could buy and was the basis for the original John Cooper Challenge cars. With the introductoin of the MCS in 2002, John Cooper and MINI turned to the JCW MCS kit and much higher power figures. But the JCW Cooper remains the first JCW car, the fastest naturally aspirated factory MINI ever and an incredibly rare piece if kit (especially in the US). This particular review comes to us from James Day who had the kit installed on his 2004 Cooper.

Having taken delivery of my 2004 MINI Cooper “Trevor” in March 2004, I just missed the availability of the John Cooper Works MINI Cooper Tuning Kit which was announced in April 2004. It was available for approximately two months before the model year 2005 update ended production of the kits in July 2004. Late last year, MyMini was able to locate one of the kits for me and I finally decided to have it installed. Downtown MINI in Orlando installed my kit in exactly the five hours quoted to me.

Note: this is not the new JCW Sound Kit but rather a full Tuning Kit which includes the following:

• Machined cylinder head,
• “Cat-back” sport exhaust system,
• Improved-flow air filter,
• Cover injection tube,
• Updated ECU programming,
• Engine cover, rear, and side vent badges (my kit is no. 475).

John Cooper Works promises 126 bhp at 5750 rpm. Peak torque is 114 ft.lbs. at 4750 rpm with an especially higher curve than stock between 2500 and 3500 rpm.

My first impression was very favorable. Right away the exhaust sound had improved (but I miss my stock “beer can” exhaust tip). After the install I motored to run some errands around town and on the highway. Immediately I noticed three major improvements to my Cooper:

1. The sound is deeper with a slight burble, but not too loud.
2. The initial hesitation from start is gone.
3. Power is more noticeable in the 2000-4000 rpm range.

With the cooler weather in Florida, my MINI Cooper was already running a bit quicker. But the JCW Tuning Kit removed the last traces of hesitation and sluggishness. It pulls strong from 2000 rpm straight through to 4500 rpm into the normal Cooper power band. I need to downshift less when accelerating at speed. This is how the Cooper should come from the factory.

I haven’t been able to get an accurate count of kits sold in the US. I still have not located another person in the US with this kit, so that makes my MINI quite rare. It is still possible to find a MINI Cooper JCW Tuning Kit, MyMini is currently offering one for less than retail. [ http://www.myminiparts.com/proddetail.php?prod=MCJCW ]

Related

[ The JCW Cooper Kit Coming to the US ] MotoringFile

[ The JCW Cooper Kit Components ] MotoringFile

[ Original UK brochure the MC JCW Kit ] John Cooper Works