[Olly.]

Last Friday I had the JCW Cooper Sound Kit fitted to my MINI.

The kit comprises of an upgraded air filter system (with an extra filter above the fuse box), New cat back exhaust, upgraded engine software, engine badges and a badge on the back of the car. According to JCG it improves BHP by about 5 BHP, not a great deal but this kit is all about sound improvements. I paid £715 for the kit fitted and had it all fitted at John Cooper Garages themselves.

The new exhaust is the first thing you notice when you turn they key, it has a nice low tone to it, nothing over the top but definitely a nice improvement on the stock system. Around town it is slightly noisier than the stock system, on the motorway at cruising speed the extra noise is not noticeable until you put your foot down where the air filter makes a nice noise.

The new air filter kicks in the extra noise around the golden 4500 mark, and makes a superb noise to go with it (see sound clips ) Again not noticeable when just cruising around

It’s difficult to say what the remap has done because of what the exhaust and air filter are doing to the way the car drives. However it has stopped the spluttering at tick over.

In summary, I think this is a great bit of kit. It gives the car a sportier note, gives you more low end grunt around town and makes a glorious noise at the good revs

I would really recommend this kit to any Cooper owner.

I've attached before and after sound clips, I’m afraid the recording quality isn't amazing as its recorded with my phone, if you crank the volume up you get the idea. Pictures to follow tomorrow if it stops raining: rolleyes:

Any questions feel free to ask

Olly

[xtremepsionic]

Nice sound, its much deeper and more throaty

[tribalmini]

Nice review Olly. Hoping to get this fitted to the new cooper that arrives at the end of the month (if BMW gets its finger out and allows my dealer to fit it) Enjoy

[Tracie]

...looking forward to the pics

[Olly.]

Pics now added to the first post.

[MINNOW]

Thanks for the review ollymale, and the pics & sound clips are much appreciated.
Glad to hear you are happy with the kit.
While the JCW literature says there is a direct connection to the vehicle interior, from your pics it appears the airbox extension penetrates the outer firewall (near to the back of the battery) but does not penetrate the inner firewall behind the brake lines. Can you confirm this? Being from a cold climate area I am a little concerned about a penetration from the engine compartment directly into the vehicle interior.
A couple of other queries...
The price you paid... was that fitted and including VAT, so all inclusive?
Do you know if there is any weight saving over the OEM exhaust?
Has the kit improved the responsiveness of the car upon upshifting? (to explain, a weakness of my Cooper when driving at toodling speeds around urban areas and/or in fuel conservation mode by changing up between 2500 - 3500 revs, when the next gear is engaged the car is a bit boggy)
Cheers.

[Olly.]

Quote: Originally Posted by MINNOW

Thanks for the review ollymale, and the pics & sound clips are much appreciated.
Glad to hear you are happy with the kit.
While the JCW literature says there is a direct connection to the vehicle interior, from your pics it appears the airbox extension penetrates the outer firewall (near to the back of the battery) but does not penetrate the inner firewall behind the brake lines. Can you confirm this? Being from a cold climate area I am a little concerned about a penetration from the engine compartment directly into the vehicle interior.
A couple of other queries...
The price you paid... was that fitted and including VAT, so all inclusive?
Do you know if there is any weight saving over the OEM exhaust?
Has the kit improved the responsiveness of the car upon upshifting? (to explain, a weakness of my Cooper when driving at toodling speeds around urban areas and/or in fuel conservation mode by changing up between 2500 - 3500 revs, when the next gear is engaged the car is a bit boggy)
Cheers.

No the airfilter doesn't go through the inner firewall, just the wall the back of the battery is on.

Yes the price I paid was all inclusive.

I'm afraid I have no idea of any potential weight saving the exhaust would give.

I personally have never found the car boggy at those sort of revs, but I do find the kit has improved the responsiveness

[matrog]

great review olly

I've just come back from the Bonnette or Bust trip with Wigley and the others, and now starting to plan some mods to my March 05 Cooper. The JCW Sound kit is something I have been thinking about, so good to read your thoughts on it, and get an idea of the price. I think once I've paid or the trip round Europe (the old credit card took a bit of a beating), the JCW Sound kit may be my Coopers Christmas present, as well as some bigger wheels

[Jaffa Racer]

Nice one olly, glad you like it

[Olly.]

Quote: Originally Posted by matrog

great review olly

I've just come back from the Bonnette or Bust trip with Wigley and the others, and now starting to plan some mods to my March 05 Cooper. The JCW Sound kit is something I have been thinking about, so good to read your thoughts on it, and get an idea of the price. I think once I've paid or the trip round Europe (the old credit card took a bit of a beating), the JCW Sound kit may be my Coopers Christmas present, as well as some bigger wheels

I think the MINI would definitely appreciate a christmas pressie.

[matrog]

Quote: Originally Posted by ollymale

I think the MINI would definitely appreciate a christmas pressie.

that's what I've been thinking. Just got to save my pennies now

[grand_cru]

Quote: Originally Posted by matrog

great review olly

I've just come back from the Bonnette or Bust trip with Wigley and the others, and now starting to plan some mods to my March 05 Cooper. The JCW Sound kit is something I have been thinking about, so good to read your thoughts on it, and get an idea of the price. I think once I've paid or the trip round Europe (the old credit card took a bit of a beating), the JCW Sound kit may be my Coopers Christmas present, as well as some bigger wheels

Hi Mat,

Thought you already had the JCW soundkit on yours, or did I hear someone elses JCW sound last friday?

I'm planning to have it installed on my MC pepperwhite as well (waiting for some € to come). I especially like the sound and don't need the extra BHP (Belgian laws are rather strict and don't wan't to go for some extra taxes and insurance).
Just considering the "no badges" option, but there's a JCW logo on the exhaust as well


The Belgian MINIstry of silly walks.

[matrog]

Quote: Originally Posted by grand_cru

Hi Mat,

Thought you already had the JCW soundkit on yours, or did I hear someone elses JCW sound last friday?

I'm planning to have it installed on my MC pepperwhite as well (waiting for some € to come). I especially like the sound and don't need the extra BHP (Belgian laws are rather strict and don't wan't to go for some extra taxes and insurance).
Just considering the "no badges" option, but there's a JCW logo on the exhaust as well


The Belgian MINIstry of silly walks.

The other Matt has something on his Cooper, but I havn't. I didn't take my MINI on Friday night, so wasn't mine you heard.

II think I'm going to go for the badges too

[Skinnyrunt]

I've been speaking to my dealer about this and the parts guys want £470 inc Vat for the kit which with the fitting should equal on the car for less than £600 (it's Blue Bell Crewe btw )

[matrog]

Quote: Originally Posted by Skinnyrunt

I've been speaking to my dealer about this and the parts guys want £470 inc Vat for the kit which with the fitting should equal on the car for less than £600 (it's Blue Bell Crewe btw )

think I know where that is. thanks for the info

[mel 3]

great review, I'm happy to find someone enthusiast about this kit!
I'm going to pose a question: have you got the code number of the rear silencer? this is why I found a lot of confusion abuot this kit...if you take a look at the pics down here, you can find two different rear exhaust and I wanna understand which is the right one for the sound kit!
I like soooo much the one you have fitted... the oval one!

[Olly.]

I would say its either of the exhausts in the picture. The back box is too big on the first one and the 2nd one has a different style.

The sound kit is a circle slash cut exhaust. I'll try and take another pic over the weeked to illustrate

[grand_cru]

I totally agree Olly,

None of both pictures. Cause the soundkit doesn't include a new cylinder head, nor the Works side badges. I'm rather shure the right pic is from the former (pre '04) Works upgrade, which included a nice Bhp boost as well
Left exhaust looks like a standard one.
Think I can see a panel air filter on both pics: soundkit includes a new air intake (extension).

Yours truly,

Jan

[mel 3]

Quote: Originally Posted by ollymale

I would say its either of the exhausts in the picture. The back box is too big on the first one and the 2nd one has a different style.

The sound kit is a circle slash cut exhaust. I'll try and take another pic over the weeked to illustrate

ok mate I'll be waiting for your pictures!

[mel 3]

another question for you Olly! does your exhaust comprehend the pipe linking it to the central silencer or was it necessary to cut the original rear silencer and then connect the new one?
I'm asking this because as you know the standard exhaust is a unique piece until the central silencer and I would like to know if it is the same for the jcw one or if it need to make a cut somewere!
thank you mate!!