At the time (circa 2003), the dealership where I sold MINI charged $5,400 to install the kit. I live in OH, and it is important to note that prices vary greatly from coast to coast. If you’d like a more current price, simply pick a dealer from miniusa.com, call the service/parts dept. and pose as a 2003 MCS owner who wants to install one.

UK sales: ?

Technical Specification

* Machined cylinder head
* "Cat-back" sport exhaust system
* Improved-flow air filter
* Cover injection tube
* Modified engine control unit
* Engine cover finished in silver, including a John Cooper Works emblem
* John Cooper Works rear and side vent badges
* John Cooper Works certificate of authenticity

Performance data

* 126 hp
* 155 Nm peak torque at 4,750 rpm
* 126 mph top speed
* 0-62 mph in 8.9 seconds

Believe it or not, I have never driven a 2005+ JCW R53 S, dealer or factory but I just can’t even begin to imagine how sweet those cars must be in comparison to the original pre-2005 200HP JCW cars.

I still think 1st gen R53 JCW cars (Including the GP of course) will be very sought after vehicles in years to come and the factory versions will command premium prices in the used car market.

My bad on the date, thanks.

JCW has always been a point of interest with me.

Though I have to say this story pretty much has me wondering about Mini’s future.

http://www.motorauthority.com/cars/bmw/new-fiat-platform-could-be-use-for-bigger-mini-model/#more-6566

“A larger Mini platform by 2015″

Looks like the ever growing size of the Mini is still underway.

• 240 Nm peak torque at 4,000 rpm

JCW Coupes, even the GP came with the crimp–even though it wasn’t needed to fit–because MINI didn’t want to offer two separate JCW exhausts.

You can have a muffler ship remove the crimp and weld in another section of exhaust pipe.

The 210 PS and Upgrade kits were announced in October 2004.

Also, the list is missing one small but still very significant kit:

The JCW Tuning Kit for the MINI Cooper

(Note: This was for the R50 Cooper, not the Cooper S… and it pre-dates the JCW Tuning Kit for the R53. It’s also distinctly different than the JCW Sound Kit for the MINI Cooper that was listed above)

From what I know, the original 03-04 dealer-installed kit did NOT include an upgraded air filter or larger injectors. Just an new SC (with then upgraded rotors), ported cylinder head, plugs, exhaust and ECU update.

The kit was enhanced in 7/04 (US) to include the air intake and larger injectors, along with a new tune to take advantage of these. That is where the 10hp difference came from. This upgrade to 7/04 specs was available to purchasers of the v1 kit at a surprisingly reasonable price from the dealer.

This later kit became the factory option available for 05-06, with the exception of the exhaust being welded in place at the factory and including a restrictive crimp so that it would be compatible with the Cabrio’s rear end.