Comments on: MINI USA Recalling 2009 JCW MINIs

By: MA

MA — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 23:43:57 +0000

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!!

By: LordOfTheFlies

LordOfTheFlies — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 02:47:37 +0000

My 09 JCW Clubman S shows “6 784 366″ stamped on the rotor. Phew!

By: Ryephile

Ryephile — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 21:52:37 +0000

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.

By: Annamarie

Annamarie — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:01:03 +0000

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?

By: AlexM

AlexM — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:16:38 +0000

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

By: Ronnie

Ronnie — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:31:50 +0000

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

By: Dylan

Dylan — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:28:09 +0000

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

By: m8o

m8o — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 04:19:46 +0000

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.

By: m8o

m8o — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 04:07:49 +0000

@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.

By: nuvolari

nuvolari — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 04:03:18 +0000

My car with the JCW suspension and stock brakes was the most composed MINI I’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.

By: rudekarl

rudekarl — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:58:00 +0000

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

By: GregW

GregW — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:33:21 +0000

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

By: Michael Ballack

Michael Ballack — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:02:11 +0000

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

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

By: eagleav8r

eagleav8r — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:32:12 +0000

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

By: eagleav8r

eagleav8r — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:19:08 +0000

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

By: Mk1

Mk1 — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:07:38 +0000

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.

By: MikeJCW

MikeJCW — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:53:58 +0000

Front brake rotors should be 12.4″ in size

By: MikeJCW

MikeJCW — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:52:56 +0000

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

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:47:03 +0000

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!!!!

By: robble

robble — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:57:10 +0000

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