All those with older MINIs looking to upgrade to the JCW suspension can rejoice. Dealers should have recieved a parts bulletin from MINIUSA in the last couple of days stating that a new version of the JCW suspension is now available for ordering. This new version has been designed to fit all pre’05 MINIs.
You can read more on the JCW suspension below:
<p>That’s good to hear! I know a lot of people on NAM are going to be very happy with the news. Now, about that JCW Strut Brace and ’05 Bluetooth kit…</p>
<p>(no, I don’t want an aftermarket kit, I want to stay with OEM… but the other story was still a good read)</p>
<blockquote>(no, I don’t want an aftermarket kit, I want to stay with OEM… but the other story was still a good read)</blockquote>
<p>Good luck with that! MINI will probably leave you hanging until the 07’s are released for the Bluetooth kit (I’m actually really surprised to see that they finally got their act together and released the JCW suspension for pre-05 cars).</p>
<p>And… If you want OEM phone integration with the nav, you’ll have to move to the U.K. I’m afraid (and pay more than $1,000) as that’s the ONLY place it’s currently available.</p>
<p>Moral to the story… Don’t count out the aftermarket guys as they’re probably the only ones who are going to do (and do it for a fair price at that).</p>
<p>Off my soap box now. :-)</p>
<p>You misunderestimate me Mike… I WILL wait… or otherwise I will bite the bullet and import the parts from the UK directly, if need be!</p>
<p>Hey, I already plan on importing the front and rear camera parts at some point… :)</p>
<p>No worries Edge. I didn’t mean to take out my frustrations with MINI on you. It’s just so darn ridiculous that they make U.S. MINI owners wait so long for simple stuff like a Bluetooth phone kit (that’s already available in the U.K.). You just happened to be in the path of my ramblings is all. Sorry about that.</p>
<p>I’m sure that eventually the parts will appear (like the new Bluetooth kit, the JCW strut brace, the JCW kit for the MCSa, etc., etc.). Good things come to those that wait you know. :-)</p>
<p>I am glad to see that the JCW suspension is available for pre05 MINIs now though. That’s certainly a step in the right direction.</p>
<p>My guess on the Bluetooth, the US gets crummy phones after everybody else gets them, so why rush on giving us Bluetooth.</p>
<p>Hey Edge,</p>
<p>“rear camera parts”?
Please explain, you can email me if you don’t think this is the place.
Do you mean the suction cup cameras mentioned on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://store.northamericanmotoring.com/product.php?productid=32&cat=0">NAM?</a></p>
<p>Edge is referring to this: <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.motoringfile.com/2005/03/29/mini_rear_camera_review">MINI Rear Camera</a></p>
<blockquote>My guess on the Bluetooth, the US gets crummy phones after everybody else gets them, so why rush on giving us Bluetooth.</blockquote>
<p>Ain’t that the truth! :-)</p>
<blockquote>Edge is referring to this: MINI Rear Camera</blockquote>
<p>BTW… Another cool thing I’ve found out about the MINI Backup Camera is how to setup a video-in-motion video input feed. I ended up being able to hook up a PS2 to mine for practically nothing at all. It’s pretty darn cool! I’m hoping to have a small write-up done for it soon to share with the MF crowd.</p>
<p>Okay, back on-topic now. :-)</p>
<p>Can I assume they mean MC as well as MCS for the pre-05′ JCW suspension kit?</p>
<p>I’d love to have the JCW suspension on my 03 MC.</p>
<p>Any idea on price for just the parts on the new kit. About the same I guess?</p>
<p>Yes, available for both the MC and MCS! 😀 The difference is the MC version comes with new sway bars and the MCS version uses the factory bars.</p>
<p>Gabe, a bit of clarification for me if you please…..does the price include the springs or not. I am a little unsure of this.</p>
<p>Thanks,</p>
<p>According to what was posted on the MINI of Sterling Parts Counter board on Roadfly, the pricing is as follows:</p>
<p>JCW suspension kit – $565 list
Roadfly price $480.25</p>
<p>JCW springs (4 needed) – $95 list
Roadfly price $80.75</p>
<p>Total $945 list
Roadfly price $803.25</p>
<p>You need the “kit” and the 4 springs for an MCS. You will also need swaybars (as found OE on the MCS) for a Cooper that doesn’t have the SS+.</p>
<p>The part numbers (according to Roadfly) and prices for the kits are identical to the after-7/04 build kits, but I doubt this is the case so I asked MINI of Sterling for a clarification. I would think the part numbers would be different :confused:</p>
<blockquote>The part numbers (according to Roadfly) and prices for the kits are identical to the after-7/04 build kits, but I doubt this is the case so I asked MINI of Sterling for a clarification. I would think the part numbers would be different :confused:</blockquote>
<p>Actually it kind of makes sense to me after seeing the kit first hand. When I self-installed my JCW Suspension Kit, I didn’t notice anything about the kit itself that would need to be different for a pre-05 installation. The only thing that needs to be done is to make sure that the rear upper control arms have enough room to clear the body on full compression.</p>
<p>According to the official installation instructions, the installer simply has to cut/bend away a small area on each side of the car so that there is enough clearance for the control arms (and there’s also bump stops that insert into the control arms themselves to help prevent damage should the car bottom out). This cut away of the body is already done in the later model 05 cars and so the installation is a breeze.</p>
<p>It puzzled me as to why MINI said the kit wouldn’t install on the pre-05 MINIs (especially since the official installation instructions mention installing the kit on older model MINIs). I guess that they just didn’t want to officially announce the kit for the earlier cars until they were absolutely sure that it was going to work properly. Looks like it does. :-)</p>
<p>According to the installation instruction .pdf, the only difference between the post 07/04 cars and the pre 07/04 cars is a piece of body work above the rear control arms. On the earlier cars, that piece needs to be notched to allow room for the bump stop that comes with the JCW suspension kit. </p>
<p>Based on my understanding from that document, I assume the part numbers should be the same. However, I would definitely confirm that with a parts counter prior to ordering the kit.</p>
<p>So the price of the JCW springs is $95 for all 4 or is that for each one?</p>
<p>Could you also post a link to the Roadfly site where you got the info from MINI of Sterling.</p>
<p>Thanks !</p>
<p>$95 each.</p>
<p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://forums1.roadfly.com/mini/forums/partscounter/">MINI of Sterling Parts Counter</a></p>
<p>Blew the link again… </p>
<p>Oh well, if Gabe doesn’t fix it, just copy and paste the address above into your browser.</p>
<p>Thank you Kevin ! !</p>
<p>I just installed my JCW Suspension and work’s great speacially in corners..</p>