Haha, agree to that!

Where was the picture taken (rear of car facing)? Looks like the parking deck of Northwestern University.

Yes – that’s exactly where it is :)

Where was the picture taken (rear of car facing)? Looks like the parking deck of Northwestern University.

Glad to see you ordered the Astro Black S. It is an established fact that the Astro is the fastest color!!

2007 MCS 6sp; Astro Black/Black 2008 BMW 335D Touring(when available)

I installed a JCW suspension kit on a friend’s MCS. She paid well under $1000 for it and the kit included struts and springs. I haven’t heard of anyone getting the R53 kit without both parts.

The old kit was less money because it didn’t include both sway bars. So yes, it would be possible (with a good deal) to get the entire set including the springs (which are technically NOT part of the kit in the MINI ordering system).

Suspension replacement is a relatively easy DIY project.

I would not call it easy unless you have a lift and (obviously) a spring compressor.

Umm… I hate disagreeing with you… but…

I installed a JCW suspension kit on a friend’s MCS. She paid well under $1000 for it and the kit included struts and springs. I haven’t heard of anyone getting the R53 kit without both parts.

I’ve done a good bit of suspension work on MINIs. All of it without a lift (although I’ll admit I do have a lift now as well as a professional spring compressor). The JCW kit was done without a lift as have the other struts I’ve installed in MINIs. Honestly, I don’t see how it should take an experienced tech more than 2 hours to install. Takes me about twice that, taking my time and double-checking the torque settings. I’ve done mushroom-repair (completely removing each strut to make the upper mounts flat again) in an hour or so after work. After you’ve done it once or twice, it’s pretty easy. If I ever decide to start using air tools, it would probably go even faster.

I’m not sure if you’re being critical of the review or the suspension

On my ‘05 JCW I also had the JCW suspension. I recall the rear sway was 17″(?). I swapped it out for an Alta 22″ rear sway and the difference in cornering and lane changes were huge. The Alta was only about $120 but I’d be happy if I could just get the new JCW kit and not need to mod it further.

Would the JCW strut brace enhance the cars stiffness/handling further or is it a waste of money?

I have an R53 with a build date of 11/06 (according to the sticker on the drivers door frame). Are you saying these are actually the equivelent of the R53 JCW Brake Kit minus the shiny red paint and JCW surfboard logo?

Yup :)

So how can I verify this definitively? Is the brake disk larger diameter or something? I do know for sure that I have the finer thread, larger diameter lug bolts mentioned in this article, if that has anything to do with it.

Next time to your next to an 02-05 MCS, compare front rotor sizes. That’ll be the tell-tale sign. As far as I know this had nothing to do with the lugs. It was just MINI switching over to the larger brakes in conjunction with starting production of the R56.

I’m in the minority here. :)

Same here :)