[Nohedes]

Hi All,

This is my first post, so 'hi' to fellow forumites and 'thanks' for all the great info that can be found on this site - I have been hitting the search facility pretty hard as I get closer to ordering a MINI for the first time.

The car is actually for my GF and we are trying to decide between MCS and JCW. The searches I have completed tell me that it is worth the extra money (still need to convince GF though..) but I would be grateful if anyone could help me with some questions about the practicalities...

1. How does the power upgrade kit impact on fuel consumption?
2. Is the insurance a lot more expensive on the JCW?
3. Is the factory warranty still valid?
4. Is there any advantage (i.e. cost) of getting the kit installed as part of the order vs fitting later?

The car will replac my GF's 5 year old Fiat Punto so the sooner we get it ordered the better!!

Any help that you can give would be much appreciated!

Thanks in advance,

Simon

[CC07ERS]

Welcome to the site ,insurance will go up fuel consumption isnt really affected . Warranty is still there, the bits you cant do are the ECU upgrade .

[msh441]

Quote: Originally Posted by Nohedes (original)

1. How does the power upgrade kit impact on fuel consumption?
2. Is the insurance a lot more expensive on the JCW?
3. Is the factory warranty still valid?
4. Is there any advantage (i.e. cost) of getting the kit installed as part of the order vs fitting later?

1. Fuel economy dropps by about 10%

2. Not in the US... but see answer #4 for additional.

3. Yes. Factory MINI parts installed by the dealer are covered by the full remaining factory warranty or 2 years on the parts installed (whichever is longer).

4. Not that I can see. The one exception miught be if the car comes as an S... is insured as an S (if there's a difference)... and the kit is installed later one. Do you then have to report the accessories to the insurance company? I don't know.

[kevkbuk]

Quote: Originally Posted by Nohedes (original)

1. How does the power upgrade kit impact on fuel consumption?
2. Is the insurance a lot more expensive on the JCW?
3. Is the factory warranty still valid?
4. Is there any advantage (i.e. cost) of getting the kit installed as part of the order vs fitting later?

1. Mostly no, driving 'normally' its just the same. If you redline it everywhere it will most likely drop a little... My S Works still averages 40-42MPG.

2. Assume around 10% more expensive, but it'll vary on your circumstances etc.

3. Yup

4. No advantage, unless you can haggle the cost down when buying the car. No matter when you buy it the kit is installed at the dealer, don't forget you can ask for your old parts back should you want them.

[kevkbuk]

Quote: Originally Posted by msh441 (original)

4. Not that I can see. The one exception miught be if the car comes as an S... is insured as an S (if there's a difference)... and the kit is installed later one. Do you then have to report the accessories to the insurance company? I don't know.

You need to notify the insurance company of any mods from standard, regardless of when they are installed. That includes any dealer fit accessories, if you don't declare the JCW kit you'll have no insurance.... (at least in the UK that is).

[Japper]

Quote: Originally Posted by kevkbuk (original)

1. Mostly no, driving 'normally' its just the same. If you redline it everywhere it will most likely drop a little... My S Works still averages 40-42MPG.

2. Assume around 10% more expensive, but it'll vary on your circumstances etc.

3. Yup

4. No advantage, unless you can haggle the cost down when buying the car. No matter when you buy it the kit is installed at the dealer, don't forget you can ask for your old parts back should you want them.

How the hell do you get that MPG I can't even get that on a 200-400 mile run. I get around 38mpg ( measured ) on a run and around 28-29mpg around town. I believe this is about 10% worse than a std. MCS.

[kevkbuk]

Quote: Originally Posted by Japper (original)

How the hell do you get that MPG I can't even get that on a 200-400 mile run. I get around 38mpg ( measured ) on a run and around 28-29mpg around town. I believe this is about 10% worse than a std. MCS.

My figures are from the OBC, so maybe not too different depending how accurate they are?

Don't do anything special to achieve that.... I have the sport button off and I stick to speed limits. My commute is 30 miles each way and is mostly dual carriageway at 70mph, with some 50 zones and some town driving at the start and end of the journey. If possible I try to follow another vehicle and just drive with the flow of traffic. I do have the instant MPG display showing on the OBC but don't always take much notice of it.

Aslo, my car is an early MCS without the fuel saving features so a newer one should return a little more.

[mason storm]

Quote: Originally Posted by kevkbuk (original)

My figures are from the OBC, so maybe not too different depending how accurate they are?

Don't do anything special to achieve that.... I have the sport button off and I stick to speed limits. My commute is 30 miles each way and is mostly dual carriageway at 70mph, with some 50 zones and some town driving at the start and end of the journey. If possible I try to follow another vehicle and just drive with the flow of traffic. I do have the instant MPG display showing on the OBC but don't always take much notice of it.

Aslo, my car is an early MCS without the fuel saving features so a newer one should return a little more.

Fuel consumption will vary alot depending on how much traffic you have to endure, however i think anyone that gets 40mpg is doing extreemly well. I have a normal S and was testing the mpg the other day to see if driving like a greandad would give better mpg. Even driving like this only returned 41 - 43 mpg for me on the OBC. I normally get between 29-32 mpg with mixed conditions 1/2 motorway and half in traffic on b roads.

With regards to insurance you could have to pay as much as 25% more, this is the quote I got from my insurance company so it's worth checking with your ensurer.

[Japper]

Quote: Originally Posted by kevkbuk (original)

My figures are from the OBC, so maybe not too different depending how accurate they are?

Don't do anything special to achieve that.... I have the sport button off and I stick to speed limits. My commute is 30 miles each way and is mostly dual carriageway at 70mph, with some 50 zones and some town driving at the start and end of the journey. If possible I try to follow another vehicle and just drive with the flow of traffic. I do have the instant MPG display showing on the OBC but don't always take much notice of it.

Aslo, my car is an early MCS without the fuel saving features so a newer one should return a little more.

Do you have 17" alloys ?, if so it's probably my 18's costing me a bit in fuel.

[kevkbuk]

Quote: Originally Posted by Japper (original)

Do you have 17" alloys ?, if so it's probably my 18's costing me a bit in fuel.

Yep 17" Crowns with run flats. Thinking of changing to lightweight rims with standard tyres though, would be interesting to see if it gained MPG.

[Tonyrec]

Im getting 34 mpg with the kit fitted and i was getting 38 without the kit so the difference for me is about 4 mpg.
Although muy Insurance went up £150. I could have got it a bit cheaper but there were too many grey areas.

[DerekH]

Japper it must be the wind in your home town that is driving up that MPG with the tail wind or you have just bought a new pair of light weight trainers, only kiding

[Japper]

Quote: Originally Posted by DerekH (original)

Japper it must be the wind in your home town that is driving up that MPG with the tail wind or you have just bought a new pair of light weight trainers, only kiding

If you saw me on the 'slug' road today you would swear i had lead boots

Anyway, i'm getting lower MPG than most on here

My MPG is going down lately, not sure if it's the colder weather meaning my stop / start doesn't kick in as often or the fact that i'm using the sport button more often. I've never been a fan of the steering with the sport button, but the throttle is far better.

Anybody tried the 'Sprint Booster'. I'm thinking that this would give me the sharper throttle of the sport but letting me keep the std. steering response. It's around £160, so not cheap

[Tara&Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by kevkbuk (original)

1. Mostly no, driving 'normally' its just the same. If you redline it everywhere it will most likely drop a little... My S Works still averages 40-42MPG.

2. Assume around 10% more expensive, but it'll vary on your circumstances etc.

3. Yup

4. No advantage, unless you can haggle the cost down when buying the car. No matter when you buy it the kit is installed at the dealer, don't forget you can ask for your old parts back should you want them.

40 to 42 mpg!!! Are you Driving Miss Daisy?

[kevkbuk]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tara&Paul (original)

Are you Driving Miss Daisy?

Not the last time I checked!

[kevkbuk]

Quote: Originally Posted by Japper (original)

Anybody tried the 'Sprint Booster'. I'm thinking that this would give me the sharper throttle of the sport but letting me keep the std. steering response. It's around £160, so not cheap

Never thought of it. Just ban yourself from using the sport button for a week and you'll soon get used to pushing your right foot that little bit further...

[Japper]

Quote: Originally Posted by kevkbuk (original)

Never thought of it. Just ban yourself from using the sport button for a week and you'll soon get used to pushing your right foot that little bit further...

A week !, i've tried that for months and i just can't get on with the std. throttle response. In town traffic............it's pants, on the motorway.................it's pants and on a blast it's absolutely cr#p.

[Ant FR]

Quote: Originally Posted by Japper (original)

Do you have 17" alloys ?, if so it's probably my 18's costing me a bit in fuel.

Doubt it, 18's weigh less than the 17" crowns. Sounds strange but its true.

[Japper]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ant FR (original)

Doubt it, 18's weigh less than the 17" crowns. Sounds strange but its true.

Not according to the FAQ page on this site. IIRC R105's are about 0.5kg heavier than the Crowns as a wheel / tyre package.

[Japper]

Quote: Originally Posted by Japper (original)

Not according to the FAQ page on this site. IIRC R105's are about 0.5kg heavier than the Crowns as a wheel / tyre package.

And it's not always the weight that affects fuel economy, more likely rolling resistence. The 18's DO affect MPG whatever the reason is