MINI2

minirog · Jul 13th, 2006, 12:24 AM

Some further information for those interested with regards the classic parts situation is that that apparently all parts, including the Mpi 90bhp kit, will still be available.

Apparently there won't be any sell off of stock either or anything like that so they aim to hold on to the kits, presumably selling them from their warehouse - I haven't got a clue who'll fit the things though!

Not as bad as I first thought but still a great shame that the garage is closing and good people are loosing their jobs.

M111 CGC · Jul 13th, 2006, 07:43 AM

Glad my car is in with them now for conversion.... and at a very good price, particularly compared to my local dealers and their rip off JCW quotes.

Chris

Tonyt3 · Jul 13th, 2006, 09:18 AM

having the last kit fitted at the garage will be the thing to have....

stargate · Jul 13th, 2006, 10:39 AM

Sad to read that JCW is closing.

I called in last week and saw everyone there prior to the sad announcement (I was there to get loads of pictures of their 225 Upgrade which I was intending to have fitted soon.)

I was very lucky to have one of the first 210 Kits fitted by them, on the 30th Sept 04, just one week after they were released.
In my role as New MINI Cooper Registrar for the Mini Cooper Register, they very kindly let me stay for the day with Alan the technician and take 150 Pictures of the conversion for a magazine article I was writing.

For those of you that have been to JCW you will know that they made everybody so welcome, it wasn't like a normal garage!, you could even get a real cup of tea in a cup and saucer!

A sad day for both Classic and New MINI owners alike.

I hope that all concerned can move on and wish them all the best for the future.

Black Works · Jul 13th, 2006, 01:23 PM

I think Tony is going to be busy fitting these 225 conversions for a while! All the kits and parts will be available from their warehouse, as to what number you will have to call I dont know, maybe they will transfer the 01903 784784 number to there so they dont loose any business calls.

It is sad to think that the name that goes with the kit will no longer be around to fit it for us, just makes me wonder if any BMW stealer is capable of the same sort of service that we experienced at JCW?!?!?!
Chandlers failed me, Barons was rubbish service as well.................

Paul · Jul 13th, 2006, 01:27 PM

John Cooper Garages have always seemed to offer excellent service. I bought a used SPI Cooper from them many moons ago, and the service was brilliant.

Goonery · Jul 14th, 2006, 08:00 AM

Just in from Channel 4 news.

http://www.channel4.com/4car/news/ne...?news_id=14864

Paul · Jul 14th, 2006, 08:39 AM

And from MINI2:

http://www.mini2.com/article376-mini...per-works.html

KPKalle · Jul 14th, 2006, 08:45 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett

And from MINI2:

http://www.mini2.com/article376-mini...per-works.html

Phew! Well that is good news

MarkW19 · Jul 14th, 2006, 10:07 AM

Awesome

Black Works · Jul 14th, 2006, 10:48 AM

And if you read everyone of my posts again I say its the garage closing and not the Works name........................................also i now hear the closing date is july 31st

Merlin 2 · Jul 14th, 2006, 10:50 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Black Works

I think Tony is going to be busy fitting these 225 conversions for a while! All the kits and parts will be available from their warehouse, as to what number you will have to call I dont know, maybe they will transfer the 01903 784784 number to there so they dont loose any business calls.

It is sad to think that the name that goes with the kit will no longer be around to fit it for us, just makes me wonder if any BMW stealer is capable of the same sort of service that we experienced at JCW?!?!?!
Chandlers failed me, Barons was rubbish service as well.................

Everyone will have to wait a while anyway because as soon as the Garage closes on August 4th Tony is going on holiday - bet he needs one to charge his batteries. JCG told me to leave contacting him until he is back and his place is set up - should be Mid to late August - ho, hum ive wated since March 03 so a little longer wont be too bad.

Regards
Merlin 2

Tonyt3 · Jul 14th, 2006, 10:55 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett

And from MINI2:

http://www.mini2.com/article376-mini...per-works.html

IMHO, typical management spin trying to assure us that the future 'BMW/Works' products will have a link to the actaul past. Heard it all before from the men in suits. Ask the men in overalls what they think.

If BMW have bought the rights to label future cars as 'Works' models then they will obviously want to point to some kind of organisation that purportedly developed the kit, which I personally think will be just so much BS.

JCG's will close. The distribution centre will stay open, specifically to sell rebadged products. "the decision has been taken to focus on the core business of developing and producing tuning kits for the new MINI".... yeah, cool. Without a garage...? Nah, dont think so. Without the engineers..... true development comes from selling cars to pay for research. Without the income from the dealership, then no, thats not possible.

BMW will pay for the development of the future 'Works' kit. But it will be done in house, by BMW. Which makes it a BMW product, not a Works kit.

I've heard way too many 'leaders' telling me how things are being taken 'global' or 'strategic' and that they are 'developing the business' and how 'synergy' will be 'enhanced'.....

its all words for the BS that the owners/bosses get fat and the workforce gets 'retrained'.....

The name lives on but the 'heart' stops beating.

minirog · Jul 14th, 2006, 11:09 AM

Thanks for posting the links to the news articles - good to read these.

Merlin 2 · Jul 14th, 2006, 11:11 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Tonyt3

IMHO, typical management spin trying to assure us that the future 'BMW/Works' products will have a link to the actaul past. Heard it all before from the men in suits. Ask the men in overalls what they think.

If BMW have bought the rights to label future cars as 'Works' models then they will obviously want to point to some kind of organisation that purportedly developed the kit, which I personally think will be just so much BS.

JCG's will close. The distribution centre will stay open, specifically to sell rebadged products. "the decision has been taken to focus on the core business of developing and producing tuning kits for the new MINI".... yeah, cool. Without a garage...? Nah, dont think so. Without the engineers..... true development comes from selling cars to pay for research. Without the income from the dealership, then no, thats not possible.

BMW will pay for the development of the future 'Works' kit. But it will be done in house, by BMW. Which makes it a BMW product, not a Works kit.

I've heard way too many 'leaders' telling me how things are being taken 'global' or 'strategic' and that they are 'developing the business' and how 'synergy' will be 'enhanced'.....

its all words for the BS that the owners/bosses get fat and the workforce gets 'retrained'.....

The name lives on but the 'heart' stops beating.

You may be right but on the other hand arent we all forgetting all the hassle we as the new MINI owners have put up with from the classic guys that ours are not propper minis - now we appear to all be fighting between each other on a similar argument.

The simple answer is Supply and Demand - If you like the product and have fun with it then buy it - if you are more concerned that the badge doesnt mean anything anymore then dont buy it.

Regards
Merlin 2

Root Ginger · Jul 14th, 2006, 11:12 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Tonyt3

IMHO, typical management spin trying to assure us that the future 'BMW/Works' products will have a link to the actaul past. Heard it all before from the men in suits. Ask the men in overalls what they think.

If BMW have bought the rights to label future cars as 'Works' models then they will obviously want to point to some kind of organisation that purportedly developed the kit, which I personally think will be just so much BS.

JCG's will close. The distribution centre will stay open, specifically to sell rebadged products. "the decision has been taken to focus on the core business of developing and producing tuning kits for the new MINI".... yeah, cool. Without a garage...? Nah, dont think so. Without the engineers..... true development comes from selling cars to pay for research. Without the income from the dealership, then no, thats not possible.

BMW will pay for the development of the future 'Works' kit. But it will be done in house, by BMW. Which makes it a BMW product, not a Works kit.

I've heard way too many 'leaders' telling me how things are being taken 'global' or 'strategic' and that they are 'developing the business' and how 'synergy' will be 'enhanced'.....

its all words for the BS that the owners/bosses get fat and the workforce gets 'retrained'.....

The name lives on but the 'heart' stops beating.

Tony from being around JCW's a lot during the development of the Cooper and S Works. There wasn't too much done from there for the tuning anyway so personally I feel it makes little difference. A lot of it seemed to be done away from there presumably at BMW facilities anyway. So I think from this perspective things are going to remain business as usual.

All it seems to be is the sales and fitting side that is going along with the East Preston facility being the face of JCW.

LMB · Jul 15th, 2006, 03:27 AM

I have never associated this car with the Mini of old. For me it was and always will be a BMW. The same applies to the JCW conversion. I always looked upon the Works kit as baby M car and probably always will. Whilst the project was undertaken by JCW, BMW oversaw it and most likely had some input.

But it is obvious others think differently. So maybe this is an oversight on BMW's part by letting the garage close.

Paul · Jul 15th, 2006, 06:52 AM

Not BMW's choice though, it's not their garage and there's no reason they should pay money into the garage to keep it going. It may have become a bit of a shrine for some MINI owners, but obviously not enough to keep it going in terms of sales. Visits from enthusiasts, buying a few trinckets, isn't going to keep a large retail operation in business for long.

M111 CGC · Jul 15th, 2006, 01:29 PM

Just a note to say that I picked up my newly JCW'd S from JCG this morning, and what a pleasureable experience compared to any franchised Mini dealer I have visited!

The guys there are understandably devastated to be closing in a couple of weeks time, and it seems like my S might indeed have been the last 210 conversion to come from JCG - the service department is now pretty much booked up with work until they close.

So many thanks to Chris, Tony, and the other guys at East Preston - and good luck for your future endeavours.

Chris

minirog · Jul 16th, 2006, 12:09 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by LMB

I have never associated this car with the Mini of old. For me it was and always will be a BMW.

Nooooo, it's a MINI - I dinnae like BMWs!

I guess we all have our own perspective tho

Jul 13th, 2006, 07:43 AM	#102 (permalink)
M111 CGC Mini Madness My Classifieds Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: West Berkshire Local Time: 02:01 AM Posts: 338 Offline	Glad my car is in with them now for conversion.... and at a very good price, particularly compared to my local dealers and their rip off JCW quotes. Chris 2007 Clubman Cooper D ~ 2004 Cooper S JCW

Jul 13th, 2006, 10:39 AM	#104 (permalink)
stargate MINI2 Regular Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Thatcham, Berkshire Local Time: 03:01 AM Posts: 118 Offline	Goodbye...... Sad to read that JCW is closing. I called in last week and saw everyone there prior to the sad announcement (I was there to get loads of pictures of their 225 Upgrade which I was intending to have fitted soon.) I was very lucky to have one of the first 210 Kits fitted by them, on the 30th Sept 04, just one week after they were released. In my role as New MINI Cooper Registrar for the Mini Cooper Register, they very kindly let me stay for the day with Alan the technician and take 150 Pictures of the conversion for a magazine article I was writing. For those of you that have been to JCW you will know that they made everybody so welcome, it wasn't like a normal garage!, you could even get a real cup of tea in a cup and saucer! A sad day for both Classic and New MINI owners alike. I hope that all concerned can move on and wish them all the best for the future. 210 BHP of FUN, FUN, FUN!!

Jul 13th, 2006, 01:27 PM	#106 (permalink)
Paul Trained Monkey My Classifieds Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Bedfordshire Local Time: 02:01 AM Posts: 40,356 Offline	John Cooper Garages have always seemed to offer excellent service. I bought a used SPI Cooper from them many moons ago, and the service was brilliant. Our trials and tribulations living in a "bleeding edge" eco house... Oxley Woods Living

Jul 14th, 2006, 08:39 AM	#108 (permalink)
Paul Trained Monkey My Classifieds Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Bedfordshire Local Time: 02:01 AM Posts: 40,356 Offline	And from MINI2: http://www.mini2.com/article376-mini...per-works.html Our trials and tribulations living in a "bleeding edge" eco house... Oxley Woods Living

Jul 14th, 2006, 08:45 AM	#109 (permalink)
KPKalle Knight of the Round Table Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Midhurst, Sussex Local Time: 02:01 AM Posts: 21,580 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett And from MINI2: http://www.mini2.com/article376-mini...per-works.html Phew! Well that is good news Global Moderator

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Jul 13th, 2006, 12:24 AM	#101
minirog Hello :) Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bristol Local Time: 02:01 AM Posts: 291 Offline	Some further information for those interested with regards the classic parts situation is that that apparently all parts, including the Mpi 90bhp kit, will still be available. Apparently there won't be any sell off of stock either or anything like that so they aim to hold on to the kits, presumably selling them from their warehouse - I haven't got a clue who'll fit the things though! Not as bad as I first thought but still a great shame that the garage is closing and good people are loosing their jobs.

Today
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Jul 13th, 2006, 09:18 AM	#103 (permalink)
Tonyt3 Track addict Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Hants Local Time: 02:01 AM Posts: 6,010 Offline	having the last kit fitted at the garage will be the thing to have....

Jul 13th, 2006, 01:23 PM	#105 (permalink)
Black Works MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Angmering, W Sussex Local Time: 03:01 AM Posts: 94 Offline	I think Tony is going to be busy fitting these 225 conversions for a while! All the kits and parts will be available from their warehouse, as to what number you will have to call I dont know, maybe they will transfer the 01903 784784 number to there so they dont loose any business calls. It is sad to think that the name that goes with the kit will no longer be around to fit it for us, just makes me wonder if any BMW stealer is capable of the same sort of service that we experienced at JCW?!?!?! Chandlers failed me, Barons was rubbish service as well.................

Jul 14th, 2006, 08:00 AM	#107 (permalink)
Goonery 6X therapist My Classifieds Join Date: Aug 2003 Local Time: 02:01 AM Posts: 13,658 Offline	Just in from Channel 4 news. http://www.channel4.com/4car/news/ne...?news_id=14864

Jul 14th, 2006, 10:07 AM	#110 (permalink)
MarkW19 Grinning Join Date: May 2003 Location: Leeds Local Time: 03:01 AM Posts: 3,622 Offline	Awesome

Jul 14th, 2006, 10:48 AM	#111 (permalink)
Black Works MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Angmering, W Sussex Local Time: 03:01 AM Posts: 94 Offline	And if you read everyone of my posts again I say its the garage closing and not the Works name........................................also i now hear the closing date is july 31st

Jul 14th, 2006, 10:50 AM	#112 (permalink)
Merlin 2 D Man From Del Ponte Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: D Man From Del Ponte Local Time: 02:01 AM Posts: 234 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by Black Works I think Tony is going to be busy fitting these 225 conversions for a while! All the kits and parts will be available from their warehouse, as to what number you will have to call I dont know, maybe they will transfer the 01903 784784 number to there so they dont loose any business calls. It is sad to think that the name that goes with the kit will no longer be around to fit it for us, just makes me wonder if any BMW stealer is capable of the same sort of service that we experienced at JCW?!?!?! Chandlers failed me, Barons was rubbish service as well................. Everyone will have to wait a while anyway because as soon as the Garage closes on August 4th Tony is going on holiday - bet he needs one to charge his batteries. JCG told me to leave contacting him until he is back and his place is set up - should be Mid to late August - ho, hum ive wated since March 03 so a little longer wont be too bad. Regards Merlin 2 The original Merlin was a Classic Mini Reg-(ONR 937R) If you know what happened to it or where it is now please let me know

Jul 14th, 2006, 10:55 AM	#113 (permalink)
Tonyt3 Track addict Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Hants Local Time: 02:01 AM Posts: 6,010 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett And from MINI2: http://www.mini2.com/article376-mini...per-works.html IMHO, typical management spin trying to assure us that the future 'BMW/Works' products will have a link to the actaul past. Heard it all before from the men in suits. Ask the men in overalls what they think. If BMW have bought the rights to label future cars as 'Works' models then they will obviously want to point to some kind of organisation that purportedly developed the kit, which I personally think will be just so much BS. JCG's will close. The distribution centre will stay open, specifically to sell rebadged products. "the decision has been taken to focus on the core business of developing and producing tuning kits for the new MINI".... yeah, cool. Without a garage...? Nah, dont think so. Without the engineers..... true development comes from selling cars to pay for research. Without the income from the dealership, then no, thats not possible. BMW will pay for the development of the future 'Works' kit. But it will be done in house, by BMW. Which makes it a BMW product, not a Works kit. I've heard way too many 'leaders' telling me how things are being taken 'global' or 'strategic' and that they are 'developing the business' and how 'synergy' will be 'enhanced'..... its all words for the BS that the owners/bosses get fat and the workforce gets 'retrained'..... The name lives on but the 'heart' stops beating.

Jul 14th, 2006, 11:09 AM	#114 (permalink)
minirog Hello :) Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bristol Local Time: 02:01 AM Posts: 291 Offline	Thanks for posting the links to the news articles - good to read these.

Jul 14th, 2006, 11:11 AM	#115 (permalink)
Merlin 2 D Man From Del Ponte Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: D Man From Del Ponte Local Time: 02:01 AM Posts: 234 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by Tonyt3 IMHO, typical management spin trying to assure us that the future 'BMW/Works' products will have a link to the actaul past. Heard it all before from the men in suits. Ask the men in overalls what they think. If BMW have bought the rights to label future cars as 'Works' models then they will obviously want to point to some kind of organisation that purportedly developed the kit, which I personally think will be just so much BS. JCG's will close. The distribution centre will stay open, specifically to sell rebadged products. "the decision has been taken to focus on the core business of developing and producing tuning kits for the new MINI".... yeah, cool. Without a garage...? Nah, dont think so. Without the engineers..... true development comes from selling cars to pay for research. Without the income from the dealership, then no, thats not possible. BMW will pay for the development of the future 'Works' kit. But it will be done in house, by BMW. Which makes it a BMW product, not a Works kit. I've heard way too many 'leaders' telling me how things are being taken 'global' or 'strategic' and that they are 'developing the business' and how 'synergy' will be 'enhanced'..... its all words for the BS that the owners/bosses get fat and the workforce gets 'retrained'..... The name lives on but the 'heart' stops beating. You may be right but on the other hand arent we all forgetting all the hassle we as the new MINI owners have put up with from the classic guys that ours are not propper minis - now we appear to all be fighting between each other on a similar argument. The simple answer is Supply and Demand - If you like the product and have fun with it then buy it - if you are more concerned that the badge doesnt mean anything anymore then dont buy it. Regards Merlin 2 The original Merlin was a Classic Mini Reg-(ONR 937R) If you know what happened to it or where it is now please let me know

Jul 14th, 2006, 11:12 AM	#116 (permalink)
Root Ginger Amiga 500 to PS3 20 Years Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Slough, Berkshire Local Time: 02:01 AM Posts: 4,634 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by Tonyt3 IMHO, typical management spin trying to assure us that the future 'BMW/Works' products will have a link to the actaul past. Heard it all before from the men in suits. Ask the men in overalls what they think. If BMW have bought the rights to label future cars as 'Works' models then they will obviously want to point to some kind of organisation that purportedly developed the kit, which I personally think will be just so much BS. JCG's will close. The distribution centre will stay open, specifically to sell rebadged products. "the decision has been taken to focus on the core business of developing and producing tuning kits for the new MINI".... yeah, cool. Without a garage...? Nah, dont think so. Without the engineers..... true development comes from selling cars to pay for research. Without the income from the dealership, then no, thats not possible. BMW will pay for the development of the future 'Works' kit. But it will be done in house, by BMW. Which makes it a BMW product, not a Works kit. I've heard way too many 'leaders' telling me how things are being taken 'global' or 'strategic' and that they are 'developing the business' and how 'synergy' will be 'enhanced'..... its all words for the BS that the owners/bosses get fat and the workforce gets 'retrained'..... The name lives on but the 'heart' stops beating. Tony from being around JCW's a lot during the development of the Cooper and S Works. There wasn't too much done from there for the tuning anyway so personally I feel it makes little difference. A lot of it seemed to be done away from there presumably at BMW facilities anyway. So I think from this perspective things are going to remain business as usual. All it seems to be is the sales and fitting side that is going along with the East Preston facility being the face of JCW. It was acceptable in the 80's

Jul 15th, 2006, 03:27 AM	#117 (permalink)
LMB Toon Toon.. <div><a href= Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Up North Local Time: 02:01 AM Posts: 23,727 Offline	I have never associated this car with the Mini of old. For me it was and always will be a BMW. The same applies to the JCW conversion. I always looked upon the Works kit as baby M car and probably always will. Whilst the project was undertaken by JCW, BMW oversaw it and most likely had some input. But it is obvious others think differently. So maybe this is an oversight on BMW's part by letting the garage close. Global Moderator

Jul 15th, 2006, 06:52 AM	#118 (permalink)
Paul Trained Monkey My Classifieds Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Bedfordshire Local Time: 02:01 AM Posts: 40,356 Offline	Not BMW's choice though, it's not their garage and there's no reason they should pay money into the garage to keep it going. It may have become a bit of a shrine for some MINI owners, but obviously not enough to keep it going in terms of sales. Visits from enthusiasts, buying a few trinckets, isn't going to keep a large retail operation in business for long. Our trials and tribulations living in a "bleeding edge" eco house... Oxley Woods Living

Jul 15th, 2006, 01:29 PM	#119 (permalink)
M111 CGC Mini Madness My Classifieds Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: West Berkshire Local Time: 02:01 AM Posts: 338 Offline	Just a note to say that I picked up my newly JCW'd S from JCG this morning, and what a pleasureable experience compared to any franchised Mini dealer I have visited! The guys there are understandably devastated to be closing in a couple of weeks time, and it seems like my S might indeed have been the last 210 conversion to come from JCG - the service department is now pretty much booked up with work until they close. So many thanks to Chris, Tony, and the other guys at East Preston - and good luck for your future endeavours. Chris 2007 Clubman Cooper D ~ 2004 Cooper S JCW

Jul 16th, 2006, 12:09 AM	#120 (permalink)
minirog Hello :) Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bristol Local Time: 02:01 AM Posts: 291 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by LMB I have never associated this car with the Mini of old. For me it was and always will be a BMW. Nooooo, it's a MINI - I dinnae like BMWs! I guess we all have our own perspective tho

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