MF Exclusive: MotoringFile has learned that MINI USA will be offering the JCW “Stage 1” Kit (as it’s commonly referred to) for $2100 plus a suggested two hours of labor. The kit should be available this August in the US (and presumably worldwide) as a dealer installed accessory.
As reported last February on MF, the new dealer installed kit includes a less restrictive JCW exhaust, intake and ECU software upgrade. The new components develop 192bhp and 184lbf-ft/250nm (199lbf-ft/270nm with overboost). For more info, here’s a excerpt from the official press release from the Geneva Motorshow last February:
>With the John Cooper Works Tuning Kit for the MINI Cooper S, the output of the 1.6 litre twin scroll turbo engine is increased to an impressive 141 kW/192 bhp, with maximum torque up to 250 Newton metres in the engine speed range between 1,750 and 5,000 rpm. With the overboost function, the torque level can even be increased temporarily to 270 Nm for powerful acceleration in the engine speed range from 1,750 to 4,500 rpm.
With the stock R56 Cooper S already besting lap times of highly modified R53s, we have high hopes for the new kit going even further in turning the MINI into a giant killer on the track.
Look for a full review of the engine kit soon after its release.
Related:
[ 2007 JCW Kit Officially Announced ] MotoringFile
[ Future JCW Vehicle(s) ] MotoringFile
drumroll please….. will it work with the auto trans?
yes please tell us it will work with my new 07 MCSa
Gabe has already noted in the past that they have no plans to make these kits available for the auto trans. If I am not mistaken it is again due to emissions issues.
Finally, now we just need more info on the new JCW suspension!
Hmmm, there goes any thoughts I had of putting Nav in the car. For the same price I can get some sweet go fast bits. Nice
noted in the past or not, let’s get the official word from mini….
How does the emissions change, if the car is an automatic?
The automatic would be using the exact same engine, intake and exhaust, so why would it be any different than the manual? The only difference could be in the ECU tuning–maybe the auto needs a different program than the manual, and that is what’s making it not pass emissions testing.
Any thoughts Gabe or DB?
Pretty much like the decision of not bringing the Cooper Diesel here, It also looks like cost is what drives the decision of excluding the automatic MCS from receiving JCW sourced performance upgrades.
-Nigel
The r56 is a MUCH cleaner engine than the r53 to begin with. I doubt a MCSa with JCW would be as dirty as a stock r53 manual.
Gabe,
any idea if the exhaust is cat back or more than that? It would make a difference to autocross.
By adding a JCW kit to an automatic car, you would simply be making up for the lack of drivetrain efficiency. Seems quite silly to me. Back in the day, the S was only available in 6-speed manual. Those who wanted an automatic could get the Cooper. It’s really too bad they diluted the S brand with the slush box. They should have at least waited until they could incorporate something like DSG/SMG.
for the love of all that is MINI, please do not open up the can of MCSa hate again. it has been beaten to death. it is an OPTION that you DON’T have to order and it provides the OPTION of a MCS to those who can not drive stick due to a physical issue.
JCW AERO KIT? JCW STAGE 1 KIT? JCW AERO KIT? JCW STAGE 1 KIT? JCW AERO KIT? JCW STAGE 1 KIT???
So really both of them are about the same price installed…which one would you rather have? For 20 extra horses, i dont know if that jcw kit is worth the $$$.
Odd that MINI would only have the Stage I kit for the MCS and not the MCSa – when most semi-pro and pro rally teams won’t race any car that doesn’t have an auto trans, and the MCSa is actually a faster car. The Press took a bunch of ’07 MCS’s and MCSa’s out to a track in Arizona, and the MCSa’s smoked the MCS’s.
From the RoadFly.com review:
“Our fleet of MINI Cooper S models made a full afternoon of dragstrip passes at the hands of professional racers as well as journalists. We were shocked to see that the Steptronics edged out the manuals by a small but significant margin, on nearly every pass. The best 1/4-mile time for a manual was 14.90, while the automatic pulled off a 14.77.”
>Odd that MINI would only have the Stage I kit for the MCS and not the MCSa – when most semi-pro and pro rally teams won’t race any car that doesn’t have an auto trans, and the MCSa is actually a faster car. The Press took a bunch of ‘07 MCS’s and MCSa’s out to a track in Arizona, and the MCSa’s smoked the MCS’s.
<strong>Okay let me clear up these misconceptions:</strong>
1. What WRC cars and the like have are manual sequential gear boxes that have nothing in common with an inefficient torque converter style automatic like the MINI’s Aisin unit. They are manual transmissions with no clutch.
2. First off quoting anything from Roadfly is dangerous. For the record I was there at this press event. Yes the MCSa was faster on the drag strip. The reason? The manual cars where having a hard time getting traction due to the unusually (for February) warm temps.
Elsewhere in the event they all both models on a racetrack and autox course. I drove them all. Hell I did a podcast review of driving them back to back. The MCSa was thoroughly embarrassed on the track by the manual. It hunted and pecked its way to gears in auto mode and in manual was laughably slow to react. It was a thoroughly frustrating experience lap after lap.
At the autox circuit (where there were only Coopers mind you) it almost held it’s own over the manual car solely because it had the optional sport package with 16″ wheels and wider, summer tires (the manual MC had no options at all). But my fastest times of the day (and I was second out of all journalists there mind you) were still from the bone stock manual MC.
I’m all for not bashing the auto but sometimes the record just has to be set straight.
>drumroll please….. will it work with the auto trans?
I’m double checking that and should have answer soon.
>Finally, now we just need more info on the new JCW suspension!
We posted the official PDF with most of the details last week. Was there something else you wanted to know?
I appreciate that the purists prefer the manual gear box. However; to make my commute livable, it would need to be the slush box for me. I do like the paddle shifters and appreciate that Marc’s referral to the RoadFly review shows some others appreciate and enjoy the performance of the auto the CooperS.
Awww, just go ahead and bash the auto. I drove one in Germany a couple of weeks ago and hated it. I understand the need that some have to get one, and for that I’m glad it’s available so more can experience MINI ownership, but my word, I have no idea why anyone who legitimately has a choice (and “I never learned” is not a good reason, nor is “my wife never learned”) would ever choose an automatic.
Of course, this is just my perspective.
Gabe and I must have submitted our comments at the same time. He obviously prefers the manual…and it does perform better in most circumstances. However; if Mini did not offer an auto as an option, I would need to look elsewhere.
Instead of manual purists hating on the fact that there’s an Auto S, we should all just bark at MINI to put in a DSG style system. Create a new one, buy the VW one, I don’t care, but that car would smoke.
>However; if Mini did not offer an auto as an option, I would need to look elsewhere.
Totally hear you – I hope to have answer soon. And FYI – I’m not here to judge anyone on the choices they make with their own car but I wanted to make sure that there was no confusion on the issue.
>Instead of manual purists hating on the fact that there’s an Auto S, we should all just bark at MINI to put in a DSG style system. Create a new one, buy the VW one, I don’t care, but that car would smoke.
I completely agree!
Appreciate your clarification on this Gabe. As for VMMVMMM, even though I know how to drive a manual (no excuses for me), for some weird reason, I really enjoying the auto on the S…it’s like playing a video game. Just aim and shoot! Yes, a DSG would be awesome.
Seems to me I read that Gertag has or is working on a DSG style trans. With MINI alrady buying Gertag 6-speeds, would seem like a no-brainer to go with that as well.
<blockquote>Hmmm, there goes any thoughts I had of putting Nav in the car. For the same price I can get some sweet go fast bits. Nice</blockquote>It need not be an either/or choice. Your only opportunity to get Nav is when you order the car. However, you can add the JCW kit any time in the future as budget permits.
If I recollect, DSG is a technology that is owned by VW…and they produce their own transmissions, so it’s doubtful that anyone outside of VW/Audi/Porsche/Skoda/SEAT/Bugatti is going to get it.
>If I recollect, DSG is  a technology that is owned by VW…and they produce their own transmissions, so it’s doubtful that anyone outside of VW/Audi/Porsche/Skoda/SEAT/Bugatti is going to get it.
Borg Warner is currently working with BMW to develop their own version which will be used in rear-wheel drive applications. It will be out next year in the new M3 and eventually to the rest of the BMW line-up. So don’t expect it to end up in the FWD MINI. However, BMW will surely be looking to buy a version “off the shelf” as they have with the current Aisin automatic transmission when it becomes more economically viable.
<blockquote>What WRC cars and the like have are manual sequential gear boxes that have nothing in common with an inefficient torque converter style automatic like the MINI’s Aisin unit. They are manual transmissions with no clutch
The MCSa was thoroughly embarrassed on the track by the manual. It hunted and pecked its way to gears in auto mode and in manual was laughably slow to react. It was a thoroughly frustrating experience lap after lap.</blockquote>
Thanks for clarifying, Gabe. It seems there are some living in a state of deep denial about the performance of their MCSa’s.
This is the trans that Getrag is working on:
<a href="http://www.getrag.de/436" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.getrag.de/436</a>
I’m no engineer, but isn’t this similar to a DSG?
>I’m no engineer, but isn’t this similar to a DSG?
Yes – that very well could be (or close to it) the DSG style transmission that eventually ends up in the MINI. Great find.
Gabe, about the JCW suspension, how much bigger are the sway bars gonna be than the stock ones? Will they possibly be red like I assume the springs will be again? Install charge?
“… the new dealer installed kit includes a less restrictive JCW exhaust, intake and ECU software upgrade.”
$3000 to remove flow restrictions that engineers and decision-makers had to know would limit power output
Am I being cynical? Are there some technical details that would take this to a nobler level than profiteering?
>$3000 to remove flow restrictions that engineers and decision-makers had to know would limit power output. Am I being cynical? Are there some technical details that would take this to a nobler level than profiteering?
Well I’m not sure how you’re getting $3K but…
1. Just about every single upgrade to any product offered anywhere follows a similar pattern. Lots of people had the same complaint about the previous dealer kit. Others have the same complaints about iPod software and Tivos.
2. These components are optimized for performance, not effiency or ease of manufacturing like the OEM parts.
Is there profit in the $2100? I would hope so for BMW’s stock-holder’s sake.
Just to post about the JCW suspension, i went to my Local canada dealer and investigated the part number posted 33 50 0 429 708 on the JCW Suspension installation.
The part are listed as (US_Direct_BMW)
“Retrotfit Kit Sports Suspension/J. Cooper Works”
COST: 1200 CND
The sways are slightly larger then sports (24mm fronts/18.5 rear; over 23.5mm front 18mm from what i read). the springs (# 31 31 6 782 720/719;333 52 6 772 740/741) are listed a J.Cooper Works as well as the FRONT dampers (31 30 6 782 767), Rear dampers of that kit are not listed at J cooper works and have part number 33 53 6 772 740)
So over the already offered sports suspension on the cooper this only seems to have JCW springs and fronts dampers. Would be nice to see the part numbers on the stock factory option sports suspension to see the difference.
FYI: I will post this on the JCW Suspension post also
“These components are optimized for performance, not effiency”
I would like to get more performance, but before simply saying yes would like to know how much effiency I would be sacrifficing. Any numbers on how it effects MPG?
Fred. Which dealership charges $450 an hour for service? I’d avoid that one. Gabe, the details most people are looking for on the JCW suspension are price and a break down of the difference in the components in the JCWS and the SS. The thing we need to decide whether the extra dough is worth it will be your review. Hopefully you will get the opportunity to test drive the JCW tuning kit and suspension in the near future well before delivery of your own car.
Still hoping for a REAL JCW brake kit.
“Well I’m not sure how you’re getting $3K but…”
The extra $900 is my estimate of labor cost. I paid $300 for dealer installation of the factory-offered Mini bicycle carrier. Surely this installation involves more than that of a bike rack.
“Is there profit in the $2100? I would hope so.”
In our economic system, the price is the amount the customer is willing to pay for the product. Fine with me. But profiting and profiteering are quite different animals.
>In our economic system, the price is the amount the customer is willing to pay for the product. Fine with me. But profiting and profiteering are quite different animals.
I’m not sure if you’re familiar with what quality aftermarket components cost, but this kit isn’t that far off. Naturally you’re paying more for the vigorous ‘Ring testing and full factory warranty but it’s a choice many potential owners are happy to make.
” it’s a choice many potential owners are happy to make.”
In fact, I may become one of them, wondering all the while why it was not a factory option….
It’s HILLARIOUS how many people will blow such rediculous sums of cash to make a fairly quick car a little more fairly quick. My god people, step back a moment. $30k+ and you’re still in the high 14’s and 6+ sec 0-60??? The gains of the upgrades and kits are almost nothing, other than what you want to believe. It’s a light weight front wheel drive small car. It’s not fast by today’s mere production standards in the price range, never was never will be. Save your money or buy a better platform if you are going to blow $30k+ and upgrades looking for speed. I love my MINI for what it is…but it’s not a quick platform.
well guys, had the Cooper air intake added at 16,000 mi. Really love the added horses, but I think I’m losing about 75 mi. or so on a tank of gas.
I also don’t think my 05 mcs cabrio can take the extra torque. I’ve got some plastic trim that has started to disintegrate on my car. My car will be 2 years old in July and it’s a mess. 19,000 mi. 3rd clutch second top and three sets of different bushings. Could it be my faster driving? Which started day one, she is a sports car after all. Anyone having simaliar probs? Had my flywheel replaced due to rattle at 4,000 mi. since then nothing but front end problems. Mini SF. did the work and just like them they forgot to tighten something up. Drove her 2000 mi. after pickup, little road trip. halfway thru my 4 day jaunt the front end started to rattle something awful. sounds like metal on metal, Aargh! Any kind thoughts? Maybe a chat at the Mini United Rallye in Amsterdam. Plan on taking the design class, got a couple questions, thanks, Pops
Pops Racer. 19,000 miles and the infalable R53 is “a mess”? Impossible!
Complain, complain, complain. What would you like with your french cries?
<blockquote>At the autox circuit (where there were only Coopers mind you) it almost held it’s own over the manual car solely because it had the optional sport package with 16″ wheels and wider, summer tires (the manual MC had no options at all). But my fastest times of the day (and I was second out of all journalists there mind you) were still from the bone stock manual MC.</blockquote>
I set top time of day in the autocross at the press launch in a MC automatic. The MCa was 1.5 seconds faster than my best time in the 6-speed R56 MC.
I do chalk quite a bit of that up to the difference in tires. The MC6-speed had 175 wide 15″ tires and the MC auto having 195 wide 16″ run-flats (read: wider tires with stiffer sidewalls).
That said being 1.5 seconds faster in a ~45 second autocross is significant. While I have not autocrossed the MCS and MCSa back to back, I was most impressed with the MC automatic. I was honestly shocked at the outcome and was not expecting the MCa to be anywhere near as close to the MC 6-speed (let alone handing it a 1.5 second beating).
>It’s a light weight front wheel drive small car. It’s not fast by today’s mere production standards in the price range, never was never will be.
Perhaps I should mention that to the guy in the CTS-V I ate alive last year in my stock Cooper S at the <a href="http://www.drivefastbesafe.com/" rel="nofollow">Autobahn North Track</a>?
Gabe,
Any idea when or if the JCW engine and suspension kits will show up in the configurator?
still no word on the automatic…?
any idea if the stage 2 kit will add on to the stage 1?
or, will stage 1 parts be replaced by stage 2 parts?
My dealer charges $95 and hour for labor. So $2290 total for a car faster than the $6300+ R53 JCW. Nice.