[tip]

Hi Folks,

I was planning on ordering the JCW conversion, So I e-mailed JCW and asked what or if any problems will occur with my cars warranty, they came back saying that it would not have any affect on the warranty. I then contacted BMW/Mini Canada they say to refer to page 7 of the warranty and service manual. It basically says any modifaction to the car will void the warranty. Okay, fair enough.

Here is the question. Why do places like Great Britian and maybe the States endores the JCW Conversion and countries like Canada do not. Isn't the warranty set by the parent company like BMW/Mini AG. Or are the warranties set by the lets say BMW/Mini Canada for Canada. BMW/Mini USA for the states and BMW/Mini Uk for Brittain.

Do I now approuch BMW/Mini AG to see if they will endorse the conversion?

Charles

[GordonD]

Probably the best you could hope for is a Dinan like warrenty where they in fact replace the factory one with an equivalent for the reminder of the factory warrenty.

unfortunatly DINAN doesn't seem to be focussed on Minis right now so we may be SOL. I assume the cost of complying with Cdn standards when such a small number are being sold here doesn't make it worthwhile doing the work.

If you were really desperate you could maybe have the work done in the US and just truck down there if you have a problem.

[Grinder]

In the latest issue of European Car, Dinan was quoted as saying that they *were* working on MINI mods....

[minimc]

Typical...
Just adds to the feeling that we're seen as a backwater country.

Canadian corporations are always uncle-tom-ing us with ***** like this. Why don’t they have to fall in line with the rest of the World?

Lousy, cheap bas-tards!

[GordonD]

Quote:

Originally posted by minimc
Typical...
Just ads to the feeling that we're seen as a backwater country.

Canadian corporations are always uncle-tom-ing us with ***** like this. Why don’t they have to fall in line with the rest of the World?

Lousy, cheap bas-tards!

Probably the cost of certifying for whatever subset of 2500 vehicles sold per year which would get the kit is way too high

[minimc]

Like I said – backwater country!

Australia is some 20 Million, and they’re getting JCW kits.
Explain that away… NOT!

Were getting screwed – plain and simple.
Still

[GordonD]

Quote:

Originally posted by minimc
Like I said – backwater country!

Australia is some 20 Million, and they’re getting JCW kits.
Explain that away… NOT!

Were getting screwed – plain and simple.
Still

We should have stuck with right hand drive?

[minimc]

Quote:

Originally posted by GordonD


We should have stuck with right hand drive?

What's that got to do with it?

I'm saying that we're getting screwed on the JCW kit - that WILL be available in the US. Pardon me, but I find it difficult to believe that all of these other countries can find a way to get it passed but we can't.

How many times have you looked in a Euro car mag and seen a cool car that we can't get here. I dunno about you, but for me it’s been many-a-time. Now, here we are able to get the MINI Cooper S, and get it with a JCW kit. But for whatever reason BMW won't warrant it. What's up? I know that our fuel here is 94-octane max (unless purchasing racing gas) but that's hardly a reason as the US has similar issues.

[GordonD]

Quote:

Originally posted by minimc


What's that got to do with it?

I'm saying that we're getting screwed on the JCW kit - that WILL be available in the US. Pardon me, but I find it difficult to believe that all of these other countries can find a way to get it passed but we can't.

How many times have you looked in a Euro car mag and seen a cool car that we can't get here. I dunno about you, but for me it’s been many-a-time. Now, here we are able to get the MINI Cooper S, and get it with a JCW kit. But for whatever reason BMW won't warrant it. What's up? I know that our fuel here is 94-octane max (unless purchasing racing gas) but that's hardly a reason as the US has similar issues.

my answer was a sad attempt at humour but I do share your sense of frustration over the choices we have here. The cost of getting stuff into the country makes most items prohibatively expensive even if it doesn't bugger up your warrenty

[911ETR]

Quote:

unfortunatly DINAN doesn't seem to be focussed on Minis right now so we may be SOL

I talked to Dinan last week and they will have something out in about 5-6 months. Wheels, bodykits, performance the whole 9.

Personally I think that JCW is not producing the HP gains that make their price attractive. Thats why Mini wont sell it yet and thats why Dinan is behind. JCW was going to use Dinan's supply network in the states and partner in the whole deal.

Dinan backed out because JCW's parts were crapola.

I for one am glad that Mini is not tollerating this.

I will just modify my own car.

[minimc]

911ETR

If what you say is true we're all a lot better off. There's no way BMW/MINI would say so either - not in print or officially anyway. Where's your source?

[911ETR]

Source .... heh well I heard this story from two different major Mini Aftermarket parts guys and a friend that is a mechanic for BMW.

Funny thing is no one is willing to release this information with their name. Its like taboo! Thats when I called Dinan... my buddy likes to pull my chain every now and again but I think he is right with this one.

I confronted Dinan last week about the JCW kit and they declined to respond.. On the PHONE!

The did respond with we will have a kick ass kit that will be backed just like our other BMW products. Warranty and all. They said that "we are putting some real engineering behind our products"

Dont you find it interesting that NOTHING is comming out of JCW about the S. Not even a good rumor really.

First its, September, then November now Feb or March... I think that they are producing the Tucker Horse Power KIT!

[GordonD]

This has turned into an interesting thread with some signs of trans-atlantic tension.

I believe that both JWC and DINAN are great firms with excellant histories of improving specific makes of car.

Maybe the MCS is really a BMW and therefor sufficiently foreign to JWC that the development of a kit takes longer than they anticipated. I don't think it will ever be the case that their stuff is "crap" Note that the first stuff coming out is from BMW tuners

If I was a betting man i would assume we will see DINAN in NA, JWC in the UK and Hartge etc in the EU

[911ETR]

Honestly I hope you are right. JCW has had a very good reputation in the past. I hope they dont put out crap and destroy their reputation.

I have a feeling that sooner or later all three big boys Dinan, JCW and Hartge will try to gather as much realestate as possible. Hopefully this will make the market prices drop a bit and the HP numbers go up.

Just keep in mind that per liter we are getting almost as much as a F1 car. This really is amazing folks. Squeeze!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 250

ahhh

[tip]

Would BMW only take one tuner JCW or Dinan as there official tuner? I can't see them having two one for europe and the other for North America. But if they went this route it would be kind of interesting. As long as they warrantied the conversion.


Charles.

[GordonD]

Quote:

Originally posted by tip
Would BMW only take one tuner JCW or Dinan as there official tuner? I can't see them having two one for europe and the other for North America. But if they went this route it would be kind of interesting. As long as they warrantied the conversion.


Charles.

I beieve BMW already does this with their 'own' cars and with the differences in polution controls/gas octane etc I don't see why they wouldn't go for it again.

I assume that the work is really for the tuner and all they have to do is persuade BMW that their work is high quality - also remember the dealer gets to do the install so there's gold in them there hills.

Having dealt with DINAN I know their stuff is exceptionally well made but this means a lot of research and time before bits come to market. Actually they tend to do whole cars rather than bits so there's another reason that it is time consuming/complex.

[tip]

JCW is only offer around 16bhp extra for the cooper. What is Dinan offering? How long does it take for a tuner like Dinan to get the foot in the door? Has BMW/Mini Canada had dealings with Dinan in the past?


Charles

[GordonD]

Quote:

Originally posted by tip
JCW is only offer around 16bhp extra for the cooper. What is Dinan offering? How long does it take for a tuner like Dinan to get the foot in the door? Has BMW/Mini Canada had dealings with Dinan in the past?


Charles

when I had my DINAN stuff done a couple of years ago there were no GTA dealers you had to go to a tuner up in Scarborough whose name escapes me right now. They installed the parts and honoured the warrenty which was actually provided by DINAN and replaced the factory warrenty. i.e. if you had 50,000 km left on your factory warrenty then DINAN would give you 50,000 km warrenty on their parts

I have no idea what kind of performance upgrade they would be capable of but my guess is that the S engine is already pretty sophistocated so getting more out of i with reliablity will be expensive. I would not be surprised to see $10,000 cdn for a 200+ package - remember speed costs.

You can always just buy bits that you can afford and bolt them on but I don't think you will ever get close to a good tuner and it is easy (don't ask me how I know) to take a really good car and turn it into a pretty mediocre one by dabbling. Also you may (once again don't ask) send a fair bit of money putting it back to factory specs.

[MichaelK]

Hi tip,

I'd wait until the offical launch in Jan at the Detroit motorshow, by that time BMW/MINI canada will have the correct information relating to JCW works S.

911ETR, not sure where your getting your rumours from about the JCW S being down on power and MINI not being happy? It's certainly not down on power and as MINI/BMW and JCW have been jointly developing it for the past 2 years+ that kind of scuppers the other rumour.

All I can say is wait till Jan

Cheers

Michael

[911ETR]

Quote:

911ETR, not sure where your getting your rumours from about the JCW S being down on power and MINI not being happy? It's certainly not down on power and as MINI/BMW and JCW have been jointly developing it for the past 2 years+ that kind of scuppers the other rumour.

Not trying to be a arse so please forgive me but JCW is not releasing anything on power, price or really any details.

How can you say "It's certainly not down on power and as MINI/BMW and JCW have been jointly developing it for the past 2 years+"

So time equals good quality and powerful products? My sources are fairly good, but you can take it for what its worth.

Unless you can provide official numbers from JCW there really is no debate either way and they are not talking.

The facts are that they have slipped schedule 3-4 times and Dinan pulled out of their three way deal. This I know for a fact. If they were a fortune 500 company stock would be down beacuse all of this. And personally it is with me.

I hope they prove me wrong as I want power and quality just like everyone else but, just because they have been around a while you really cant draw any conclusions about a new vechile based on other older platforms.