There are several different threads on the newly announced JCW S package, and the general concensus is that the package is a whole lotta $$$ for not much HP--especially given the modifications that they've done (ecu, exhaust, head, new SC, etc...)
I'm wondering if the JCW kit couldn't be a great launchpad for OTHER mods on top of what JCW already did. Heck, you've got a new SC to work with...smaller pulley, more boost, etc. Since tuners like Hartge and GGR are getting so much power out of the stock MCS, what could they do with the JCW S??
First and foremost a new header with high flow cats. Do you get an intake with the S Works? I'd love to know the difference between the stock supercharger and the Works supercharger they look the same. I'd hate to think they're yanking the entire supercharger as a way to get a reduction pulley on it.
I'm curious what the pricing will be for Canada. If it will simply be the pounds converted to cdn dollars or will it be like the car where they price it accordin to the market. Canada regularly get cars cheaper than in other markets like the US.
MINI One's tend to read around 100 bhp, Cooper's around 124 bhp, and S's around 175 on various dyno's, so it could actually be more like 210 bhp. Still not earth shattering, but no less than the other aftermarket kits?
Very true...BMW Approved = Conservative. Which is why I'm thinking a few non-BMW approved tweaks here and there might be able to boost it up an extra 10? 15? 25? HP... I'd just love to see what Hartge could do to a JCW S. A Hartge-JCW S anyone??
Guess it's all down to that magic balancing act called 'tuning', which is simple in theory (kind of), but confuses the hell out of me in practice sometimes!
Things that COULD help out that I think are obvious left out modifications (off the top of my head) are a new manifold (which is apparently very restrictive, but then, why haven't they replaced it then?) and intake (I see no mention of the intake on the JCW details I have).
what about the ecu? cam? header? throttle body? cooling?
Is the head ported or manifold matched? (the stock exhaust manifold masks the head ports by 1/8")
I think that once the dust settles on this upgrade, and all details are know, there will be one obvious difference between the upgrade root taken by various manufacturers to produce these power upgrades. Now I am not technically gifted in engine tunning techniques, but certain phrases I beleive will be banded around and I think the single most important word that will differentiate the various tunning modifictions to the Supercharger will be:
Ceramic
followed by lost of other jargon, mainly based on high temperature related issues. I believe that this is why the upgrade costs so much. Its a longevity issue, you can't go modding an engine of one of the most highly regarded companies on the planet without going an awful long way to ensure that the finished product fully lives up to the standards of that parent company. JCG have now moved from being an aftermarket tunning company to being a company closely affiliated to BMW, a company that has a huge reputation to protect. Blown superchargers would not be acceptable.
It sounds like I am very lucky to live in Portland Oregon. I can drive over to Mini-Madness and get an air intake, exhaust, ECU upgrade for about $1,600.00. Add about 25 horses fairly cheap and be done with it (on the S). I was excited about the JCW S, but for $4500+ install, I don't think so.
I test drove the Wks S last week, and was a little dissapointed with the conversion. It felt very smooth and no doubt the figures back it up, but I felt that it was too smooth. It felt like driving a car with a high outout that had been designed that way by the manufacturer, rather than one that had been heavily modified by an aftermarket tuner. This makes me believe that there is more to come from this conversion, more power. When I spoke to the rep at JC garages, he felt that people would tune the engine more once their warranty periods had expired....
I haven't yet driven the Hartge conversion, but it has been described in various places as being more 'near the limit', more urgent, one person even described it to me as 'more animal'.... I think this is what I want from a tuned car, not something that simply moves the needles round the dial a bit quicker - I want the feeling that just about all the possible available power is there waiting to be used (lets face it, we probably only ever use all the performance on our road cars less than 1% of the time, especially in the UK, where road conditions, traffic density and law enforcment restrict full use). Therefore, I reckon that if Hartge were to fully tune a JCWS, they should be able to free up around another 10/12%. I guess that would be about 230bhp, with all the 'urgency' of the original Hartge conversion. Now, if you could lose about 60 kilos in weight (new lightweight wheels/tyres, ditch the rear seats, smaller battery etc), then we should see 200bhp/tonne. Anyone with lost of money willing to give it a go????
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