West tuning cooper s conversion

[chumpy]

Just picked up the latest evo mag today undefined and read about another cooper s conversion.This conversion was performed by West tuning,a company based in Thruxton near the race circuit.They apparently have 18 years experience in tuning cars but I've never heard of them.Despite that the review article was very favourable.The basic specs are 244bhp and 0-60mph in 6 secs.The mechanics of the conversion appear quite extensive including brembo brakes,milltek exhaust system , revisions to suspension geometry and lowering springs to improve handling.Throttle capacity has been increased by 20%.The price for this conversion is @£5600.Sounds a lot,I know but I think this includes the cosmetic changes (colour coded skirts and funky 7.5*18" alloys ).If the comestic alterations are included then I think it is very good value .I wish I had seen this before I shelled out for a JCW with Hartge wheels!!!!!!
Just go to the local newsagents and pick up a copy of evo and check out the sweetest looking conversion.I appreciate the wheels might not be to everyones taste!

[supercharged99]

Quote: Originally Posted by chumpy

Just picked up the latest evo mag today undefined and read about another cooper s conversion.This conversion was performed by West tuning,a company based in Thruxton near the race circuit.They apparently have 18 years experience in tuning cars but I've never heard of them.Despite that the review article was very favourable.The basic specs are 244bhp and 0-60mph in 6 secs.The mechanics of the conversion appear quite extensive including brembo brakes,milltek exhaust system , revisions to suspension geometry and lowering springs to improve handling.Throttle capacity has been increased by 20%.The price for this conversion is @£5600.Sounds a lot,I know but I think this includes the cosmetic changes (colour coded skirts and funky 7.5*18" alloys ).If the comestic alterations are included then I think it is very good value .I wish I had seen this before I shelled out for a JCW with Hartge wheels!!!!!!
Just go to the local newsagents and pick up a copy of evo and check out the sweetest looking conversion.I appreciate the wheels might not be to everyones taste!

hi chumpy

i had my cooper s tuned by west tuning. 214 bhp + 195 lbs of torque was the result.all that was done was a re-map + pully. sweeeet she is now.

[chumpy]

Quote: Originally Posted by supercharged99

hi chumpy

i had my cooper s tuned by west tuning. 214 bhp + 195 lbs of torque was the result.all that was done was a re-map + pully. sweeeet she is now.

I bet your conversion was a damn sight cheaper than my JCW with more power to boot as well.....you lucky so and so....I just wish I had heard of this company before I opted for the overpriced BMW one.
Does your ECU remap require that you run on 97/98 RON unleaded,if so have you noticed an improvement on this as opposed to bog standard 95 RON?

[supercharged99]

Quote: Originally Posted by chumpy

I bet your conversion was a damn sight cheaper than my JCW with more power to boot as well.....you lucky so and so....I just wish I had heard of this company before I opted for the overpriced BMW one.
Does your ECU remap require that you run on 97/98 RON unleaded,if so have you noticed an improvement on this as opposed to bog standard 95 RON?

i can run on both 95/98 RON .but now that the car is tuned there is a more noticable power increase if 98 RON is used. on the bright side of your JCW conversion,you still have your warrenty...

[Fizzle]

Quote: Originally Posted by supercharged99

hi chumpy

i had my cooper s tuned by west tuning. 214 bhp + 195 lbs of torque was the result.all that was done was a re-map + pully. sweeeet she is now.

how much did that set u back if u dont mind me asking?

[chumpy]

Quote: Originally Posted by supercharged99

i can run on both 95/98 RON .but now that the car is tuned there is a more noticable power increase if 98 RON is used. on the bright side of your JCW conversion,you still have your warrenty...

Personally I'd rather trade my warranty for more reliable performance.The JCW is tuned optimally for 98 RON but I cant tell objectively any difference in performance from 95RON.
Given the write up in EVO of the west tuning conversion,I think this is one of the best conversions on the market in terms of cost and modifications.More so in my opinion than any other non BMW conversion(Hartge,GGR,Digitec,BBR and Schnitzer/warranty intact) with a usable 244bhp.I just wish West had submitted a car to the EVO test last year,which compared several conversions including JCW which TACTICALLY won overall.(can't understand why.....most expensive....not the fastest) .
All I can say is .......fancy a swap?????

[slartyb]

You can read the review online here

I wish someone from John Cooper would explain why their conversion lacks so much grunt compared to this one.

Ant.

[chumpy]

Thanks slartyb for posting a link to the article in EVO.
At the moment my MCS/JCW has developed a niggling rattle which is doing my head in.After reviewing the Faults/Fixes link on this website , getting feedback from mrbrooks, and going to my local BMW garage that I would advise anyone thinking of a conversion to their MCS to think long and hard before opting for the JCW purely because of the warranty issue.
I agree with other mini2 users that there may be a design floor in the engine components as fitted by BMW....BEWARE......before parting with your hard earned cash!!!!!!!

[supercharged99]

Quote: Originally Posted by Fizzle

how much did that set u back if u dont mind me asking?

hi chumpy. my 214 BHP conversion was 1148 pounds.

[PW51CAR]

the JCW conversion probably lacks as much punch because of the warranty. If they put it to higher powers then it will become more likely that it will come across some kind of problems, and pof course JCW dont want to be seen as unreliable. But thats just what I think, maybe someone can give us the actual answer

[pbonner]

Pretty good price for the conversion.

I have just got the S and going through the 'pain' of running it in - now on a whopping 217 miles (

Have you driven other conversions? The reason that I ask is that Henry found that the Hartge conversion was no so eager (if that is the correct word) as the JCW. By this I mean that when you put your foot down the car does not seem to pull as well and feel so 'factory' as the JCW. I am very interested in the West as they are pretty close (ish) to me.

[rasp]

Quote: Originally Posted by chumpy

Just picked up the latest evo mag today undefined and read about another cooper s conversion.This conversion was performed by West tuning,a company based in Thruxton near the race circuit.They apparently have 18 years experience in tuning cars but I've never heard of them.Despite that the review article was very favourable.The basic specs are 244bhp and 0-60mph in 6 secs.The mechanics of the conversion appear quite extensive including brembo brakes,milltek exhaust system , revisions to suspension geometry and lowering springs to improve handling.Throttle capacity has been increased by 20%.The price for this conversion is @£5600.Sounds a lot,I know but I think this includes the cosmetic changes (colour coded skirts and funky 7.5*18" alloys ).If the comestic alterations are included then I think it is very good value .I wish I had seen this before I shelled out for a JCW with Hartge wheels!!!!!!
Just go to the local newsagents and pick up a copy of evo and check out the sweetest looking conversion.I appreciate the wheels might not be to everyones taste!

Dont forget the High lift Cam and the worked big valve head/Manifold, souds like a good deal to me I wonder what % pulley they are using....Your right about the wheels though.

[ABG]

Quote: Originally Posted by slartyb

You can read the review online here

I wish someone from John Cooper would explain why their conversion lacks so much grunt compared to this one.

Ant.

I would guess that BMW don't want them to put too much strain on the components. Who ever works with BMW to supply the "approved" engine mod system is going to be working with one hand tied behind their back. In addition money for the upgrade needs to be shared between BMW / JCG / BMW Dealers.

[ABG]

Quote: Originally Posted by chumpy

Thanks slartyb for posting a link to the article in EVO.
At the moment my MCS/JCW has developed a niggling rattle which is doing my head in.After reviewing the Faults/Fixes link on this website , getting feedback from mrbrooks, and going to my local BMW garage that I would advise anyone thinking of a conversion to their MCS to think long and hard before opting for the JCW purely because of the warranty issue.
I agree with other mini2 users that there may be a design floor in the engine components as fitted by BMW....BEWARE......before parting with your hard earned cash!!!!!!!

Sorry to hear you have problems. Considering how many MINI2 ers have JCW upgrades it looks like the two of you have some unique problems. Hopefully some details will emerge as the fault is investigated.

BTW Are you really saying the most tested upgrade with approved MINI support is the one to avoid? I would have though it's the opposite - if any mod is going to go wrong I'd rather it was the one supplied by the manufacturer.

[rasp]

Quote: Originally Posted by ABG

I would guess that BMW don't want them to put too much strain on the components. Who ever works with BMW to supply the "approved" engine mod system is going to be working with one hand tied behind their back. In addition money for the upgrade needs to be shared between BMW / JCG / BMW Dealers.

We will never find out why the JCW upgrade seems to be so over priced for the performance returns, yes you have the I suppose all important warranty and backing from BMW and you are dead right about sharing the money "to many fingers in the pie" as for to much strain on the components time will tell, Hartge feel that the only thing that might be suspect in time is the getrag box and this they tested with 265bhp and sadly reported that they could not get the TUV approval, I think this says a lot for the rest of the components though and this is probably why there have been no reports of major problems with any of the upgrades, as been said before this car was built to be 200+bhp in the first place so all these cars will in my oppinion out last and go way beyond the warranty anyway...