JCW Suspension & Engine Kit Update

Sections: JCW | R56 (Hatch) Jul 12th, 2007 31 Comments

Last month we at MotoringFile reported that MINI (and MINI USA) had planned on releasing both the R56 Suspension and Engine kit in July of this year. While it looks like that will mostly hold true, we’ve learned that the engine kit may be pushed back to an August introduction for the US.

The first R56 JCW engine kits are manufactured and have already left the factory. In fact Mike Cooper told me himself that he helped to pack and ship the crates to get them out the door on time. In Europe and the UK expect the kits to be available at dealers very soon with US sales starting a few weeks later due to some (non-performance related) software tweaking.

The suspension kits on the other hand are ready to go and should be available to dealers shortly. In the US the hold-up is simply getting the springs ordered and in the country to ship out with the JCW suspension kits themselves.

You can read more about both the R56 JCW Engine and Suspension kits below:

JCW R56 Engine Kit Details

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 199lbf-ft/270nm (with overboost) for powerful acceleration in the engine speed range from 1,750 to 4,500 rpm.

The kit will retail for $2100 in the US and 1689.80 Euros in Europe (both w/2hrs suggested installation time).

JCW R56 Suspension Kit Details

The new version of this kit differs slightly from the previous version in that it now includes both front and rear stabilizer bars. The addition of the larger sway bars is meant to further help with neutral handling at the limit and allow for most stability out of corners. We at MotoringFile have often thought of the previous JCW suspension kit as the most underrated of all factory accessories. With the R56′s lighter aluminum rear suspension and the addition of upgraded front and rear sway bars, this new version promises to be even better.

The new JCW Suspension Kit (like the previous) drops the car around 1cm (or 0.3937 inches). So it doesn’t exactly slam the car but it does subtly lower it without sacrificing everyday driveability.

You can see the official installation PDF below:

[ R56 JCW Suspension PDF ] Official MINI Install Instructions

Note: The above PDF is not really suitable for DYI instructions as it doesn’t detail actual installation procedures.

Written By: Gabe

scott

Well that sucks…so engine kit is a maybe for this month, but the suspension is any day now?
Tim

Any word on when these will become factory-installed options? I apologize in advance if this has been mentioned already in another post.
Hector M.

what is 250 Newton metres?
http://dbmini.us DB

184.25 ft/lbs

1 NM is the same as 0.737 ft/lbs of torque
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

what is 250 Newton metres?

I updated the post with more info including torque figured. The key thing to remember is that, when you punch the gas, the JCW MCS will deliver 199lbf-ft (or 270nm) making it (in the words of Mike Cooper) faster than the JCW GP.
http://www.alldigitalnyc.com drew

all sounds so good… hang in there gabe!
Nathaniel Salzman

Gabe, is there any word on the continued availability for the R53 JCW engine kit? That’s something I’d love to do to my MINI down the road.
nervous

Gabe, I can’t agree with you more that the previous JCW suspension kit was the most underrated of all factory accessories… based on MF’s suggestion, I ordered my ’06 MCS with the JCW suspension kit… WOW – night & day difference from my ’03 MCS with sport supension. I can’t wait to read your reviews of the R56 JCW suspension! YAHOO!!!!
Brian

Nervous: I have a 2003 MCS and Im thinking of getting the JCW suspension. What do you mean by night and day difference. Can you give a little more detail. My main concern is that the ride will be stiffer than it already is. Thanks.
nuvolari

Nervous, depending on the build date of your 03, the difference may be more like night and twilight. The suspension was softened early on, after whining from US buyers, by swapping in lower viscosity oil in the struts. The difference on my 04 (with the later, softened suspension) was noticeable, especially at the limit. The JCW set up definitely reduces understeer somewhat and keeps the car more stable in high speed cornering. This was really only apparent at the track. For daily driving, the primary difference was a harsher ride. Do not believe those who try to tell you otherwise – higher spring rates and stiffer strut valving cannot result in a smoother ride.
nervous

Brian – Surprisingly, not stiffer in the sense of more jarring – but stiffer in the sense of better handling. When considering purchase, I found it hard to believe that a “racing” suspension wouldn’t knock the fillings from my teeth. But, repeated reviews on MF stated this was not the case – that instead, the handling & ride were vastly improved. I couldn’t agree more… go cart handling is even more go cart & familar patches of rough local roads are much less jarring – go figure! This probably has much to do with the JCW suspension being specifically tuned to your exact car (weight) based on spec’d options.
nervous

nuvolari – the build date of my ’03 MCS was August 2003. Don’t know if this was pre or post softening, but I will never second guess this option on my ’06. Love it!
http://www.lilcoopr.com Chrissy

Nervous: Yet another question for you!! I have an 06 MCS and have been thinking about the suspension kit. I do a lot of driving in the city on a daily basis and was wondering if you think the ride is too harsh when the pavement is all cracked and uneven. I would have the most fun with the suspension kit on weekends, when I can drive around and actually enjoy it :)
Brian

Thanks Nervous. My ’03 is from March, which I think is before the softening. Gabe would you agree that the ride with the JCW suspension is less jarring than the ’03 MCS suspension?
Chrissy

Keeping in mind nuvolari’s schooled input, my personal experience is that the JCW suspension is very compliant on a daily basis – perhaps even more compliant than stock. I seriously believe my ’06 August build MCS w/ JCW Suspension to be much less harsh than my ’03 August build MCS w/o JCW Suspension (yes, both have the 17″ runflat S-lites). Out of all of the options I got on the ’06 (enough to push $33k – w/o JCW engine upgrade) the JCW suspension is the one I love the most.
lavardera

No pricing on the suspension kit?
nuvolari

Sorry, Nervous, I meant to direct my comment to Brian.
Cajun

I might have missed something. Has a price ever come out for the JCW suspension?
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

I might have missed something. Has a price ever come out for the JCW suspension?

$875 plus springs
Alan Smithee

In conversations with Mr. Cooper, was there any word on if/when these items will become factory options in the near future?
MillieTheMini

Brian and nervous,

The R53 MCS suspension was modified from the May 2003 build onwards – I know this because my MCS is an April 2003 build, and I remember checking the MINI2 forums a couple of years ago about this very thing. Goonery on the MINI2 forums, who is one of the people working in the Oxford plant, verified this.

So Brian – yes, you do have the stiffer setup, and nervous, your ’03 has the ‘softened’ one. Paul of MINI2 noticed that his ’05 MCS would bottom out on roads where his ’03 MCS with the stiffer setup wouldn’t.
scott

Can’t even imagine how well this car will handle with the JCW suspension…should be pretty ridiculous!!!
Chad

Other than having an S, is there anything required to get these? Anything prohibited?
Brian

Millie, Thanks for the confirmation. So, if I understand all the comments correctly; since my car has the original pre-softened struts, the JCW suspension wont be stiffer than what I have now.
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

So, if I understand all the comments correctly; since my car has the original pre-softened struts, the JCW suspension wont be stiffer than what I have now.

Nope. It will be stiffer and handle much better. Pre-stiffened suspension does not equal the JCW suspension.

As an aside I put almost 50,000 miles on an ’02 and can tell you unequivocally that the newer suspension (05/03 onward) performs as well as the ’01-’02 set-up. It’s just a little less harsh over rough pavement.
nuvolari

Yes, Brian, the JCW set up will be a notch stiffer and F/R handling balance will be better. The difference just won’t be as dramatic as you would experience on the later cars.
Brian

Thanx for the info everyone.
Wizz

SWEET!

Any dates/ prices for Australia ???
David Williams

Any word on fuel consumption with the Engine Tuning Kit?

I am torn between get more mmph and not screwing up my fantastic fuel economy. With 2100 miles on my 2007 MCS I am getting a solid 35 mpg.(With all that torque I am experimenting with 35 mph in 6th on a level parkway (no lights) I travel for 4 miles each morning.
GrFa

Will there be any JCW “performance” parts for regular R56 Coopers?
lavardera

If you have your dealer install the JCW suspension parts, will they give you the take offs back. I imagine that there are a few MC drivers that might like to buy the take off MCS sway bars on the cheap.

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