2007 MCS JCW Engine Kit Reader Review

Longtime MF reader (South African R53 MINI owner) Tim van Rooyen recently spent some time with MINI of South Africa’s JCW press car and has written a fantastic review that covers every detail of the car. Here’s an except:

There is no real comparison between the R56 JCW and the R53. They are totally different entities, in my opinion. My 2005 Cooper S feels zippy and light, raw and raucous. The 2007 Cooper S with JCW kit feels ultra refined, smooth, but eager. The amount of torque produced is unbelievable. There is some turbo lag, but it is so much fun to play with – waiting for the whoosh to kick in, pushing your eyeballs back into your skull. Keep an eye on the rev range and you can manage the lag well.

I was curious how the JCW would stack up against the standard Cooper S. I took the car to Lyndhurst Auto and asked Derick to use his car as a means of comparison. Derick drives a 2007 Cooper S with 17 inch wheels and a standard suspension. We drove the JCW car first, concentrating only on performance – “nippyness”, acceleration, and thrill factor. Derick came away impressed with the torque available, and said he thought the car breathed easier. Then I drove Derick’s car. I got that same feeling! The standard car felt equally brilliant – same rush, same nippyness. I began to wonder whether the JCW tuning kit was worth it.

As I drove the JCW home, the differences became more apparent. There was a shed load more torque. Acceleration was improved markedly. The car was much more eager and the revs climbed a lot faster. If the volume on a “standard” 2007 Cooper S was at 10, the JCW tuning kit turned that knob right into the red. This car was on steroids. It made me feel invincible.

A highly recommended read. You can check out the entire review below:

[ Feel Invincible - MCS with John Cooper Works Tuning Kit ] Mini2.co.za

Related:

[ MF Review: R56 JCW Engine Kit ] MotoringFile

[ MF Reader Review: R56 JCW Engine Kit ] MotoringFile