MINI USA Recalling 2009 JCW MINIs

Sections: JCW | R55 (Clubman) | R56 (Hatch) | Recalls/Campaigns Oct 8th, 2008 38 Comments

MINI USA is officially recalling all 560 2009 JCW MINIs due braking issues. It’s not entirely clear in the description given by the NHTSA but it would seem that the brakes either aren’t the correct size or are simply not what was said to be offered on the car. Here’s an excerpt Inside Line which quotes the NHTSA:

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in its recalls summary pointed out that the affected vehicles have the 16-inch diameter, not 17-inch, front brake discs. “Depending on traffic and road conditions, as well as a driver’s reactions, reduced brake performance could increase the risk of a crash,” NHTSA said.

The NHTSA goes on to say that “conditions of intense brake usage, braking performance would be reduced.”

Now we know that 16-inch or 17-inch does not reflect the diameter of rotors, but it does reflect the general size. As we get more information, we’ll pass it along to you. Until you can download the NHTSA’s PDF regarding this issue below.

+ MINI JCW Brake Recall / NHTSA PDF

Written By: Gabe

http://racetripper.com Dean

I have a call in to my service mgr. but I don’t see where there is any more room for rotor on my fronts. However, I did not get the slotted/vented rotors I see in the brochures.
cct1

What are the quoted rotor diameter and width? Who is the manufacturer of the brakes–isn’t brembro? This kind of came out of the blue. Hope this works out for everyone.

I really wanted a JCW, but its just too squirrely for the track (I know many folks don’t think there is much torque steer, but having had the opportunity to finally punch one of these things around, I would whole heartedl disagree–the JCW is fine for spirited driving, but take it to the track, and it’ll be cumbersome to constantly have to readjust your line when you punch the accelerator, there’s just too much uncertainty where the car is going to end up, I ended up fighting the car as much as driving it), a near (but substantial) miss as a special edition car.

What I didn’t have problems with were the brakes, and that was with stock pads. So I’m a bit confused about what’s going on here.
C4

Was this a voluntary recall or mandated?
nuvolari

cct, sounds like you need to learn how to apply power with finesse. Feathering power on so as not to disturb your line is essential in a MINI. But that can be “cumbersome”

A brake recall is a very big deal. Major black mark for MINI.
C4

Agreed Nuvolari. MINI quality control people had enough time to get the product right before shipping it out the door. The JCW is the “Holy Grail” model in the lineup. I would not be too thrilled that my new “ultimate” JCW factory ride’s brakes may not be up to snuff as claimed by sales literature.

I don’t recall any gaffes when the ’06 JCW GP was unleashed.

Let me say this straight out…. While I have been a satisfied MINI customer for the past 7 years, quality control continues to be the thorn on the side of the MINI manufacturing operation. With BMW’s expertise and capital outreach, why these cars continue to leave the factory with irritating QC issues?
minim8o

nuvolari, I’m with you as that is the way I happen to drive. But realize also doing so one will never activate the over-boost. ;)
http://racetripper.com Dean

@cct1 “Punching” the throttle = not smooth. Not smooth = not fast. I think if you squeeze the throttle and apply power more smoothly, maybe you won’t have the problems with it being squirrely. I haven’t been on the track with my JCW yet, but I have tried application of power. Standing on the throttle abruptly cause lots of torque steer. Squeezing it more smoothly does not.
Mark Smith

I wouldn’t recommend calling any dealers as of yet since MINI has not officially released any bulletins as of yet. I work as an MA at a dealer in CT. who shall remain nameless out of respect for the other dealers who pay to advertise on here. No shameless plugs.
faster, Tobias!

This issue came up back in July here in Canada, and the customers affected were called and the larger rotors installed. There are some pictures of what the brakes should and shouldn’t look like over here; http://www.mini2.com/forum/2nd-gen-john-cooper-works/161092-mini-cooper-works-recall.html
Pingback: MINI USA Recalls John Cooper 2009 Models - Mini MINI Mini!
cct1

By punching the throttle, I mean getting back on it quickly, not flooring it. Of course you have to feather the throttle, its not all or none. Throttle steering is one of the most rewarding aspects of driving a MINI, and the JCW is fine as long as the road is perfect. But if its not (off camber, dips, etc), accelerating the JCW is less than ideal. BMW has not conquered torque steer as well as it should have in this car. It is BMW’s first generation of the ediff, and hopefully they’ll either go back to a mechanical LSD, or a better incarnation of the ediff.

There is so much torque steer, you have to gently squeeze the throttle–which is also not fast. To drive the MINI fast, you really need to accelerate hard out of the corners, and to do that smoothly and linearly you want as little torque steer as possible. You simply cannot get on the throttle the way you should without upsetting the car, which is a shame. This car has so much more potential, but it’s held back in its current guise.

The car just isn’t getting the power down as efficiently as it should. I would love to see how much difference a mechanical LSD would make….
JJC09JCW

Not sure if it is more disturbing to find out online before I hear from the dealer. In any case, in a few instances of stopping more abruptly than I wanted to or intended to, I thought my head was going to go through the windshield, so this appears to be a matter of the NHTSA enforcing truth-in-advertising, rather than a real road hazzard.

As for torque steer, yes, it can be easily induced. But like the other comments, this really punishes your speed as in any car with favorable weight/horsepower ratio. Empirical lessons I learned in my past 911′s.
JJC09JCW

I agree with CCT1, mid corner bumps are truly a scary experience in the new JCW.
cct1

But there are front wheel drive cars with more horsepower than the MINI with favorable HP/weight ratios that do a much better job managing torque steer…No offense, but a 911 is a totally different animal than the MINI.

There is no doubt in my mind that it can be done. There is also no doubt in my mind that BMW will find a better solution than exists on the current JCW, otherwise they’re going to be left behind. They just haven’t nailed it yet. Hopefully they will on the next generation.
robble

“JJC09JCW Oct 8th, 2008 Link Not sure if it is more disturbing to find out online before I hear from the dealer”

motoringfile usually knows everything before the dealerships do.
greg

First time I drove an R56 S I was terrified by the torque steer. When I bought a dealer installed JCW with the mechanical LSD coupled with the JCW suspension it was MUCH better.

Was that due to just the LSD or the suspension? Or both?
Spokane MINI

I just finished my 5th track day in my 09 JCW Factory Car;the first two with street pads and the last three with track pads. All days were on R compound tires. The car is very quick but has some stability issues under heavy braking that became more pronounced with the track pads. I had an instructor with many years track experience driving 911′s and his R53 JCW try my car, and he had the same problem: side to side pitching in the rear end. This car has the dealer installed JCW Suspension. We think that part of the problem may be not enough brake force distribution to the rear wheels. Any ideas or similar problems from anyone else?
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

I just finished my 5th track day in my 09 JCW Factory Car;the first two with street pads and the last three with track pads. All days were on R compound tires. The car is very quick but has some stability issues under heavy braking that became more pronounced with the track pads. I had an instructor with many years track experience driving 911′s and his R53 JCW try my car, and he had the same problem: side to side pitching in the rear end. This car has the dealer installed JCW Suspension. We think that part of the problem may be not enough brake force distribution to the rear wheels. Any ideas or similar problems from anyone else?

There has to be a brake issue there. My car with the JCW suspension and stock brakes was the most composed MINI I’ve ever driven around a track.
robble

Useing the pictures posted on mini2 I’ve looked at 4 different stage 2 JCWs and they all had the correct rotors.
Brian

The way I read it ” MINI USA is officially recalling all 560 2009 JCW MINIs due braking issues” its a recall not a SB and it came from BWM/MINI. If I had one I would be at my MINI dealer already. I am ordering a JCW Cabrio and I am glad this came out now so I can make sure that version comes with the right brakes!!!!
MikeJCW

This recall(?) doesn’t make sense as I am guessing the description of the brake size on the official publications is incorrect (I recall reading this when the car debuted). The rotors are probably the correct size. Maybe there is a different brake problem
MikeJCW

Front brake rotors should be 12.4″ in size
Mk1

Nothing unusual – pretty typical for all model years, in my experience, if it’s not in the shop every couple of months for something, it’s just not a MINI.
eagleav8r

Rumor is th erecall effects JCW’s produced July thru August
eagleav8r

Scratch that last remark….its May-Aug 2008 production
Michael Ballack

Scratch that last remarkâ€¦.its May-Aug 2008 production

09 JCW Hatch/Clubman production started in July, if I remember correctly.
GregW

I told you so a while back about this issue and someone came back with a sarcastic comment about size.
rudekarl

Here’s the page on MINI2.com that shows pictures of a car w/ the correct size rotors and a car w/ the incorrect size rotors. This is back from August and early September. I checked my 2009 JCW in late August after I heard about it and I’ve got the correct sized rotors because there is little or no gap between the rotor and the caliper.

Not a big deal (at least what people on here want to make of it). This is my fourth MINI (03,05,&07 MCS) and by far the best one yet in every way including quality control.

http://www.mini2.com/forum/2nd-gen-john-cooper-works/161092-mini-cooper-works-recall-2.html
nuvolari

My car with the JCW suspension and stock brakes was the most composed MINI Iâ€™ve ever driven around a track.

Many people drive around a track without ever pushing beyond 50% of their car’s braking capability. Just like the way a car feels cornering can be totally different from the way it feels when cornering at the limit, braking at 50% can be very different from braking at the limit. Thus ends our pompous lesson for today.
m8o

@greg, torque steer is due to the center line of the suspension’s steering links not lining up with the centerline of the tire’s contact patch. Lowering the car will increase that angle, and bring the centerline closer to the tire’s contact patch center; increasing camber will instead move the tire’s contact patch centerline towards the inside of the tire. both reduce torque steer, which explains why the lowered R56s have less torque steer.
m8o

PARTSMAN on NAM provided us all the detail we need. I’m fine (I have the correct rotor part number). Hopefully that’ll be the case for the majority…

From bulletin SI M 34 03 08…

Affected vehicles… R56 JCW Cooper S R55 JCW Cooper S Clubman …produced from May 7, 2008 to August 1, 2008

The front brake rotors should be stamped with part number “6 784 366″…if they are stamped with that number, no further action is required.

If the part number can’t be determined…measure the gap between the outer edge of the front rotor and the brake caliper at the top of the caliper using a feeler gauge.

If the gap is 2 to 3mm, then no further action is necessary.

If the gap is approximately 10mm, then the wrong rotors(16-inch) have been installed and the rotors, pads, and sensor must be replaced.

Followed by:

The bulletin states that the rotors can be inspected for the correct part number without removing the wheel.

The part number of the rotor is stamped along the inner hub after the minimum thickness value. For example…MIN TH 20.4mm 6 784 366

As stated in my post above…if “6 784 366″ is stamped in your rotors, no further action is necessary.
Dylan

@nuvolari – I very much doubt Gabe is one of these people who drive at 50%.
Ronnie

There is nothing wrong with the front rotors except they are not the slotted rotors from Brembo as advertised.The size is fine. The car is supposed to have slotted rotors and that is the only reason for the recall. The solid rotors are just as good but don’t look as cool.My dealer has already ordered the slotted replacements and will call me when they get them in. Also recall is for tailpipe adjustment. Some stick out allowing some stupid people to burn their knees. I guess they don’t know exhaust pipes get hot. Ronnie
AlexM

Where was it advertised that the car came with slotted front rotors?
Annamarie

What a great opportunity for Mini to follow the footsteps of Lexus and show what great customer service is all about. Their choice at this juncture will either cause their popularity to soar or plummet. So what will it be Mini? High road or low road?
Ryephile

Not true Ronnie. Some JCW’s coming to the dealerships are getting the R56 MCS front rotors installed instead of the correct R56 JCW front rotors. The result is the caliper only contacts the outer half of the wear surface of the smaller rotor and cuts a groove in the pads. This is a production/VDC mistake. Owners can check their car for the correct size disc by looking at the MINI2 thread posted a few replies above and comparing with their car.
LordOfTheFlies

My 09 JCW Clubman S shows “6 784 366â€³ stamped on the rotor. Phew!
MA

I am a MA at a dealership in California. MINI has not released any recalls as of yet on brake issue. Customers will receive a letter from MINI North America if there is any recalls, this is a “campaign” NOT A RECALL!!

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