[Joogle]

Was meant to be going down in September to get some work done, just phoned up to find out where I stand and got refered to management....

Very sad day for Classic and New Mini owners alike.

[Black Works]

Its the actual dealership that is closing. The kits and spares will still be available from their 'warehouse' but as for fitting of said kits..............if its a classic, drop me a PM as i have modded a fair few (inc supercharging mine!) and if its a BMW then Im afraid you either try yourself, or you get robbed by some snotty nose oik of the likes at Chandlers in Angmering.

I do agree with some of you though, Mr Cooper should not have sold the 1% to BMW that made it a 50:50 ownership, the end was on the horizon at that point!

I know them all very well at JCW, I bought both my 'true' Works Coopers from them but not sure if I will be keeping them now as I dont like the attitude of the other dealerships around my area. Dont get me wrong though I know you shouldnt judge people by your first encounter, but by god was it an awful one at chandlers. Anyone know of anywhere else in W sussex worth their weight in gold for servicing???

[JCW225]

Quote: Originally Posted by Black Works

Its the actual dealership that is closing. The kits and spares will still be available from their 'warehouse' but as for fitting of said kits..............if its a classic, drop me a PM as i have modded a fair few (inc supercharging mine!) and if its a BMW then Im afraid you either try yourself, or you get robbed by some snotty nose oik of the likes at Chandlers in Angmering.

I do agree with some of you though, Mr Cooper should not have sold the 1% to BMW that made it a 50:50 ownership, the end was on the horizon at that point!

I know them all very well at JCW, I bought both my 'true' Works Coopers from them but not sure if I will be keeping them now as I dont like the attitude of the other dealerships around my area. Dont get me wrong though I know you shouldnt judge people by your first encounter, but by god was it an awful one at chandlers. Anyone know of anywhere else in W sussex worth their weight in gold for servicing???

Know what you mean about Chandlers - They didnt really help after selling us the mini especially at servicing but when we ring them with our M3 they can't do enough !
Brand Snobery we felt .

[Goonery]

I’m surprised at the rumour and conjecture about this and above all the negativity from some of you who should know better.
Lets look at it from another angle and some have alluded to this in their posts, but at risk of repeating or becoming boring I’ll cover some of it again.
1.John Cooper Garages is a business in its own right, the JCW brand is something else entirely and separate apart from Mike Cooper who ‘owns’ both concerns.
2.The East Preston Garage is not and cannot be developed up to the required standard of a BMW/MINI dealership, primarily because of where it is. So given the fact that the premises are not upgradeable, and that the actual work done there is not particularly profitable due to the location and numbers of customers there has to be a realistic view about the sustainability of it in its current guise.
3.JCW Kits for all MINI vehicles will continue to be marketed and sold worldwide, so if you want a strut brace or sound kit your dealer will supply and fit.
4.I’d imagine that JCW brand development work will be entrusted to somewhere like a MINI ‘M’ division but I’m only guessing here.
5.Some time back a BMW exec. stated that there would never be an ‘M’ MINI as its exclusive to the BMW range, but that’s not to say that the JCW ‘brand’ might not become the MINI version of ‘M’
6.So Mike Cooper has decided to close the garage, there aren’t any ‘M’ garages so whats the problem people still get the performance cars they want and enjoy them just the same.
7.Last point Alpina, Hartge and other tuners are looked upon kindly by BMW, so who’s to say that there might not be another tuner out there who starts developing goodies for the MINI with tacit blessing from Munich as a semi official competitor maybe.

At the end of the day the East Preston garage was nice to visit and had friendly and knowledgeable staff, but I think it was beyond salvation as a business that could be run as a commercial success on its own. Who knows there maybe a JCW department coming to a dealer near you in the future.

Views expressed here are nothing to do with MINI or BMW , just my own thoughts on a sad situation that may well have a brighter if somewhat different outcome.

[GBMINI]

Thanks Goonery - nice to see one sensible voice

[MINI-Morgan]

A sad day for Mini Heritage! I guess new cars arent really going to be JCW's anymore, more hot models to add to the line up direct from the factory. Really cant imagine there being a Cooper JCW ever again as it doesnt make much sense but i'd expect to see a slightly tuned up over priced MCS model out a couple of years after the new MCS launch.

[Olly.]

Well put Goonery

[Chief_Charlie]

Well said Goonery. Let's see what happens. I can appreciate the sentiments expressed from those that actually live in the UK and had the opportunity to visit the physical JCW facility. I know I'd mourn that as well; but I'm sure that MINI will persevere with high performance editions to satisfy those of us with "heavy right feet"

[RVW]

Well its a SAD Day Glad I have had my two cars done by them The service you received was second to none, and their knowledge of the MINI / mini was terrific.As Chris says " its a SPECIAL PLACE " Wether you can blame BMW for this is debateable
Still will always have a place in my mind and heart regardless


E-mailed Chris at JCW and this was his reply.

Morning Mr Westfield


How are you


yes I am afraid the garage is closing on Aug 4th

thank you all for your custom I am glad you had your car done here as its special
place

you also were a very special customer and one of my 1st customers with the new bmw car

I hope that the car brought or converted at john cooper works will be worth more.

its so sad to see the heritage and history gone
I hope I will be ok
I am being positive
Tony Franks is going to be taking small garage in Shoreham west Sussex
and mike cooper said he can fit the 225 conversions there


if you want to phone feel free mr westfield I am very happy to talk to you
or to Tony Thomas.

I have spoke to Tony this morning

thank again for all your custom


Chris



Regards

Chris Dawson
Service Advisor
John Cooper Works
www.johncooper.co.uk

[Tonyt3]

Quote: Originally Posted by Goonery

I’m surprised at the rumour and conjecture about this and above all the negativity from some of you who should know better.
Lets look at it from another angle and some have alluded to this in their posts, but at risk of repeating or becoming boring I’ll cover some of it again.
1.John Cooper Garages is a business in its own right, the JCW brand is something else entirely and separate apart from Mike Cooper who ‘owns’ both concerns.
2.The East Preston Garage is not and cannot be developed up to the required standard of a BMW/MINI dealership, primarily because of where it is. So given the fact that the premises are not upgradeable, and that the actual work done there is not particularly profitable due to the location and numbers of customers there has to be a realistic view about the sustainability of it in its current guise.
3.JCW Kits for all MINI vehicles will continue to be marketed and sold worldwide, so if you want a strut brace or sound kit your dealer will supply and fit.
4.I’d imagine that JCW brand development work will be entrusted to somewhere like a MINI ‘M’ division but I’m only guessing here.
5.Some time back a BMW exec. stated that there would never be an ‘M’ MINI as its exclusive to the BMW range, but that’s not to say that the JCW ‘brand’ might not become the MINI version of ‘M’
6.So Mike Cooper has decided to close the garage, there aren’t any ‘M’ garages so whats the problem people still get the performance cars they want and enjoy them just the same.
7.Last point Alpina, Hartge and other tuners are looked upon kindly by BMW, so who’s to say that there might not be another tuner out there who starts developing goodies for the MINI with tacit blessing from Munich as a semi official competitor maybe.

At the end of the day the East Preston garage was nice to visit and had friendly and knowledgeable staff, but I think it was beyond salvation as a business that could be run as a commercial success on its own. Who knows there maybe a JCW department coming to a dealer near you in the future.

Views expressed here are nothing to do with MINI or BMW , just my own thoughts on a sad situation that may well have a brighter if somewhat different outcome.

I feel you've missed the point. Yes, BMW will continue to offer tuning products of the utmost quality, or actually probably a lot better. Yes, they'll probably have the ownership and the right to label these products as 'John Cooper Works' products or whatever.

However, they will be BMW products badged as JCW, with no link other than name. The heritage that has been one of the few things genuinely linking the Classic Mini and the New Mini will be severed. The 'bloodline' broken. And once broken, it will never be able to be repaired.

Selffishly, we focus here on the implications to the BMW Mini range. However, actually, the main impact is the loss to the classic Mini community. BMW wont let this heritage die, the marketing and the engineering name will live on. However, unless its developed out of the John Cooper Garages organisation, wherever its fitted, it will never be a genuine 'Works' component again.

I've myself had lots to say about the organisation slapping 'Works' badges and stickers on what are clearly third party products in the past. I've not agreed with it myself, but its the way of the world in terms of offerring products on a global scale (we all know that most plasma screen TV's are actually manufactured by the likes of Samsung after all, whatever the badge on the front says) but you can't go the other way, manufactuer a part, and then validate its identity by slapping the sticker from an extinct organisation on to it.

I know as a dealership the JCG could not survive going forward once the kit had been taken onto the prodution line. However, its so sad to lose the valid link between the historic organisation and the ongoing "marketing vehicle".

[Root Ginger]

Just because the garage is going who says that JCW wont have an active envolvement in any JCW department at BMW? The conversion wasn't developed at JCW in East Preston in the first place it was really just the face of JCW.

It will be a sad loss as I got my Mini from there and had the honour of being the first customer out of the doors with a Works MINI.

Who's up for a run down there on the 4th??? I'm going to leave the Batmobile at home and drive my Works to honour it before I sell it

[Willy]

It's like if Disney shut down Disneyworld, yet still made movies. It just does not seem right. Even if it make very little money or even loses money, BMW should keep the John Cooper Garage open, for marketing purposes. Without the garage and the history behind it, the John Cooper Works products seem to be just an expensive click on the option list.

[Chief_Charlie]

While it's clear the JCW is getting out of the automotive dealer/repair business, it isn't clear what will happen to their product line.

What of the JCW racing parts?
How about the JCW MINI Challenge Series?

Still too many unanswered questions.

Perhaps there will be a "formal" announcement soon from JCW/Mike Cooper to say what will be happening. As far as I can tell it's "word of mouth"--although confirmed--so far.

[Root Ginger]

I've created a new thread to discuss a run to JCW on 4th August.

http://www.mini2.com/forum/uk-irelan...-day-open.html

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tonyt3

However, they will be BMW products badged as JCW, with no link other than name. The heritage that has been one of the few things genuinely linking the Classic Mini and the New Mini will be severed. The 'bloodline' broken. And once broken, it will never be able to be repaired.

This is the views of a lot of people I think. And while I can understand it, I think it's a bit odd. The very same views that were levelled against the MINI from BMW (what's it got to do with the BMC/Leyland/Rover... Mini? And here we are again, but with the John Cooper (as opposed to just Mini Cooper) name.

Business is business I guess, and I guess the management at the garage just don't make enough money from it, and I'm sure they do very well out of the other John Cooper Works activities.

I sent an email to them last night, not had a reply yet at all from John Cooper Works/Garages, but MINI have said: "This will not affect Mike's relationship with MINI or the tuning kits."

[minirog]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tonyt3

I feel you've missed the point. Yes, BMW will continue to offer tuning products of the utmost quality, or actually probably a lot better. Yes, they'll probably have the ownership and the right to label these products as 'John Cooper Works' products or whatever.

However, they will be BMW products badged as JCW, with no link other than name. The heritage that has been one of the few things genuinely linking the Classic Mini and the New Mini will be severed. The 'bloodline' broken. And once broken, it will never be able to be repaired.

Absolutely, that's totally the point and from the POV of the classic community (I straddle both) that's it all gone - no more Rover, no more John Cooper Garages/Works. The last organic link to the Mini of old is lost and that's an absolutely enormous tragedy.

As a classic owner I don't care whether there are JCW badges on New MINIs, the kits/extras might be great but there's nothing left for the classic apart from another demolition site or 'on this spot was' notice to visit. As a New MINI owner I'm relieved to know that the name etc. will live on but it's not the same I'm afraid.

Quote:

Selffishly, we focus here on the implications to the BMW Mini range. However, actually, the main impact is the loss to the classic Mini community.

Spot on.

Quote:

BMW wont let this heritage die, the marketing and the engineering name will live on. However, unless its developed out of the John Cooper Garages organisation, wherever its fitted, it will never be a genuine 'Works' component again.

I agree.

Quote:

I know as a dealership the JCG could not survive going forward once the kit had been taken onto the prodution line. However, its so sad to lose the valid link between the historic organisation and the ongoing "marketing vehicle".

And the last historic link to the classic - it's tragic!

Quote: Originally Posted by Willy

It's like if Disney shut down Disneyworld, yet still made movies. It just does not seem right. Even if it make very little money or even loses money, BMW should keep the John Cooper Garage open, for marketing purposes. Without the garage and the history behind it, the John Cooper Works products seem to be just an expensive click on the option list.

Again, totally in agreement and a very good way of putting it.

IMHO the heart is being ripped out of something and that's sad - I haven't got a clue if anyone is to blame or what, I guess it's purely a business decision but for me the site/garage is more than a business, it's something akin to a heritage site and that's worth preserving IMHO.

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by minirog

Absolutely, that's totally the point and from the POV of the classic community (I straddle both) that's it all gone - no more Rover, no more John Cooper Garages/Works. The last organic link to the Mini of old is lost and that's an absolutely enormous tragedy.

What is "the link". Is it the name/brand, is the bloodline (Mike Cooper), or is it a building?

[minirog]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett

What is "the link". Is it the name/brand, is the bloodline (Mike Cooper), or is it a building?

It's not particularly logical is it - from my POV as a new MINI owner I think it's both along with a healthy dose of emotion and a bit of illogic I'd guess but I stand by my comments.

Practically as a classic owner it's the last place gone that was associated with the glory days of the Mini and the last place that worked officially on the classic Cooper where you could still take your car for 'official' upgrades - if my classic went into JCW for the 90bhp upgrade it would be badged as an 'S' and accepted as such by the classic community and judges at shows like Beaulieu - that will no longer be an option, it's gone kaput the last crumb.

You'll notice my slight schitzophrenia on the subject - straddling both communities as I do but I think from the New MINI POV it's sad, from the classic POV it's *yet another* massive loss!

[smartbomb]

For me at least.....
Cooper leant their name to a model and it became synonymous with minis and tuning. To the point where the manufacturer produced cars with the Cooper name on and paid them for each one built.
To see the end of the line for the Cooper garage is a pity as it's somewhat of a mecca for mini fans.
MINI will still use the Cooper name and no doubt the John Cooper Works will be a model to sit above the S. The personal touch has gone missing in place of business and 'progress'. To which end MINI will produce JCW cars in house and if you want to tune you'll visit your dealer who in turn will be able to offer what they did in East Sussx.
No doubt Mike Cooper has done very well selling the Cooper name, I wonder if John Cooper would see such a move as progress.....

[Goonery]

I think John would have approved , he was all about progress and wringing the last possible ounce of performance from every car he built and raced, when it became uncompetitive he turned it in and built another one that was bettter again and again.I think that is what is happening here, but its emotionally hard to accept I agree.
Lets wait and see eh..............

CR/W R56JCW