MCS auto JCW kit now sign off and available

[minicrapper]

GEE, actually I mean the gearbox in the JCW... Is it the same as the one on MCSa? or a modified one? sorry for the unclear question....

[nemed]

Great Forum Guys

I have an MCS 52 plate at the moment, and am planning to change. I really fancy a MCSa convertible, but I am not sure that it will have the same feel. As my car is pre-upgrade it only has 163 bhp, compared to the 170 in the new MCS. A couple of people have said that the 170 will and auto will feel roughly the same as my old car, but that the auto will not have the same exhaust tone.

I am not sure about the fuel consumption. My MCS does 28ish to the gallon. I guess this will reduce.

I really like the idea of paddle shift. I know this isn't the same as the Audi DSG, or the M3 SMG boxes, but would be interested to hear views on the speed of gear change.

I had E46 M3 SMG, which I enjoyed (most of the time) but it worked poorly in full auto mode.

Any advice from MCSa or MCSa convertible drivers would be much appreciated.

[GBMINI]

I just came back from a 750 mile run where my MCSa did 28mpg (US gallons). I would have expected my previous MINI, pre-JCW, to have got about 30 - so not quite 10% loss due to ?auto? or '03->'05 changes or who knows what.
Not a big deal.

In normal "D" drive mode, the auto box sometimes does not do what I want it to do, or does not do it quickly enough. However it is easy to click the paddles to downshift - easier than using the accelerator pedal kickdown.

In "SD" sports drive mode, the car is wonderful. I should drive it that way more often but I presume it is more greedy on gas then. Realistically, there is no point for my daily hauls to and from work.


I think the biggest difference for me is that I now generally do not think about gears / revs / etc. Perhaps that takes something away from the MINI driving experience. But it still has the wonderful handling / steering / looks / etc

[mawsdz]

I emailed JCG and asked about the Kit. They responded and said that the kit is finished and JCG is only waiting for the BMW people to sign off on it. My MA has told me that the delay is being caused by an issue with the EPA and Mini is trying to tweak the computer to bring it into U.S. EPA regulations. Does that sound about right? Anyone heard anything else? I am supposed to take delivery in Mid-July and want to put the kit in the car. It's tempting to pass on the automatic and get the manual because of it. Do you automatic guys think it's worth waiting for the automatic kit? Are you happy enough with the steptronic? If you could do it over again, would you get the manual?

[AprilWhine]

After the experience of driving my MCSCa, I would wait a very long time before ordering a manual. And I drove a Triumph for many years and thought I preferred a manual.

[Jo-Man]

Quote: Originally Posted by mawsdz

I emailed JCG and asked about the Kit. They responded and said that the kit is finished and JCG is only waiting for the BMW people to sign off on it. My MA has told me that the delay is being caused by an issue with the EPA and Mini is trying to tweak the computer to bring it into U.S. EPA regulations. Does that sound about right? Anyone heard anything else? I am supposed to take delivery in Mid-July and want to put the kit in the car. It's tempting to pass on the automatic and get the manual because of it. Do you automatic guys think it's worth waiting for the automatic kit? Are you happy enough with the steptronic? If you could do it over again, would you get the manual?

that's about right... n i have been told that there's already one ready for a close customer of theirs....
n u can already order the kit more or less now

as for me, i used to think manual is the answer for fast/racing car.... till i try steptronic (not only mini, but Mitsubishi, Jaguar and Audi DSG), they give me the fun when i want, as well as the comfort of drive in town!!!
will always opt. for a half-auto (as they all got different names) whenever available, n more n more car r using them... so it can't be that bad!!!

[GBMINI]

Quote: Originally Posted by mawsdz

I emailed JCG and asked about the Kit. They responded and said that the kit is finished and JCG is only waiting for the BMW people to sign off on it. My MA has told me that the delay is being caused by an issue with the EPA ...

Not totally convinced by this.
If true, then there would be nothing to stop the kit being released in England / Europe whatever.
Personally I think the delay is because they are still trying to resolve the SES problem with the auto transmission - one thing at a time ...

[quote=mawsdzDo you automatic guys think it's worth waiting for the automatic kit? Are you happy enough with the steptronic? If you could do it over again, would you get the manual?[/QUOTE]
I enjoy the laziness of the automatic. But I miss the extra torque of the JCW in GBMINI#2.
If I was ordering again now and knew the JCW was delayed indefinitely, I think I might have stayed with the manual to ensure availability of the JCW. But then I would be upset if the JCW-for-auto appeared right after my order went through!

[mawsdz]

GBMini, I used to live on the Cape and would definitely have wanted to drive the Manual down there. However, as soon as I would of had to make the trip up into Boston I would want the Automatic. It's good to hear your comparison too. I drove the Audi with the DSG steptronic and that is what sold me on the steptronic for the mini. It was a totally different experience, not just because it shifted really fast, but because of the paddles (I know the Mini won't shift as fast as the DSG). I have never had a previous Mini so I won't be able to compare between the two like you have. It's just part of me wants the manual, but part of me wants to be able to relax in traffic as well. I'm still planning on staying with the Automatic, gotta give it the benefit of the doubt and just enjoy the motoring, right? I'm sure it will rock with the JCW kit when it gets released.......it's just the "IF" it gets released that bothers me.

What other good mods can/should be done in addition to the works kit, if it gets released?

[GBMINI]

Quote: Originally Posted by mawsdz

What other good mods can/should be done in addition to the works kit, if it gets released?

If you plan to install the JCW upgrade, you should not be considering other AFTERMARKET mods - the high price of the JCW compared with similar power aftermarket mods can (?) be justified by the unaffected warranty.
If you want to go aftermarket you are best not to do the JCW at all, since you risk your warranty that you paid so much extra for.

That being said, non-engine mods are available both from John Cooper Works and aftermarket - JCW offers upgraded suspension & brakes options, and (EEK!) 18" wheels. Aftermarket offers near limitless options ...

[minicrapper]

Any updates regarding the JCW kit????
BTW, if I order to kit now(when it is available), will it be installed by the dealer or installed in the plant?

I thought the JCW suspension is installed by the factory now?

[Cooper76]

Interesting thread. If the JCW kit for the MCSa finally gets panned out and released, that'll definitely be my next car. I can wait, however, for the still-existant backlash of purists just tripping over themselves to give me a lashing for diluting the JCW name.

[beekman]

well, it is now well into july and still no kit . . .

and now it says on motoringfile that the factory installed kit requires manual transmission, LSD, and the JCW brakes kit. this could spell doom for the JCW MCSa, especially with the model change looming . . .

makes me a touch bummed as the assurances that the kit would be available for the MCSa was part of what sold me on the car, otherwise I might have gone for the manual or waited to test drive the Mk5 DSG GTI. oh well, could always do JCW exhaust and after-market pulley . . .

hmmm . . .

[GBMINI]

I am sadly in agreement with you.
I cannot understand why "emissions" would be different for the auto & manual versions of the JCW kit, so I have to think the claim that "US emissions" is the reason for the delay is just a lie.

[Jo-Man]

it's frustrating....
again, i've been to JCG on tuesday, n again, mike n chris told me that BMW still won't sign off the kit despite that the kit is ready to go....
so apart from the demo mcsa work they used to have... they can't go ahead n fit any to the other cars!!!

[beekman]

yeah, I don't believe it's the emissions, I don't think it's transmission strength either - I've heard the 'box will take the power increase with no problem . . . I reckon the kit has ready months ago.

I think it's either tied in with the SES/recall issue or just changing strategy, ie wanting to move to factory kit install, and only doing it with brakes and LSD (liability issues?).

that demo might end up being one rare car indeed!