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Discussion starter · #27 ·
He's washing it again!!

In the nine days we've had it, we've done nearly 800 miles, spent £130 on petrol, and he's washed it seven times!!

And we both feel 25 again!! :D :D :D
 
Question for dinner lady

I am thinking of getting the JCW tune up. How is the performance of yours now that you have had it a while?

How much of a difference to the standard S? Noise etc

What can you compare with i.e. Porsche

Thanks
 
Discussion starter · #31 ·
Performance is great. We didn't really have it 'untuned' long enough to be able to tell exactly how much it has improved the standard S, but it does seem smoother at lower speeds as well as alot quicker on acceleration. It feels as if it needs a seventh gear sometimes and there is an amazing amount of power when it is in sixth.

I can't compare it with the Porsche as I haven't driven one, although I have had a play around in a Mazerati Biturbo and Impreza Turbo and Lotus Elan and it does seem up there in the fun factor, but haven't really driven those other cars enough to get a proper comparison. (What would a woman know anyway?)

But as far as I'm concerned, it does exactly what it says on the tin, it's great fun, great character and as we were spending £20,000 on the car as a normal S, it's certainly been worth spending the extra £4,000 to make it that bit more special. Not forgetting that we have kept the BMW warranty.

The only downside is that everyone seems to want to have a race, whether it's youngsters in their souped up Novas or old farts like us in their big Audis, but the car does seem to attract a bit of competiveness from other road users who know what the Works badge means.(Or it might be the body kit making it look mean). Other downside is fuel - we are averaging about 27 to the gallon and using Optimax which isn't cheap.

We are both middle aged youngsters, and it's been a long time since either of us have had a car that we want to drive just for the fun of it, with nowhere special to go, just to top up the grins. We've done 1800 miles in just under four weeks, and just using it as a second car, not needed for commuting, shopping etc. (Skoda Octavia Estate for that - and that does exactly what it says on the tin as well) :)

Go for it - you only live once. Just live a little quicker.
 
dinnerlady said:
The only downside is that everyone seems to want to have a race, whether it's youngsters in their souped up Novas or old farts like us in their big Audis, but the car does seem to attract a bit of competiveness from other road users who know what the Works badge means.(Or it might be the body kit making it look mean). Other downside is fuel - we are averaging about 27 to the gallon and using Optimax which isn't cheap.
We get 27mpg too - and with Optimax at around 90p a litre it's bad news. But I have a feeling that's probably quite good compared to other care with similar performance. :)

I used to have a 330 convertible which everyone wanted to race :rolleyes: Having gone from that to the MINI I seem to have no problems anymore.
 
Thanx Dinnerlady

My current spec is already costing me 21k, with the JCW it will be £25k. I am living on my nerves deciding what to do.

I noticed you got yours via JC direct. Because mine will be under finance, I am getting it done at BMW dealer. Do you think that would make a difference given that JC are the specialist? I guess BMW will be under warrenty anyway.

Insurance won't be a problem either, I was quoted £1,188 FC (do you think I could get cheaper?) I am currently paying £650 on the std S

Another question, apart from the tune up and the new superb looking exhaust, do you get the JCW door sills free?

BTW, my spec pre decision on the JCW is:

Black II
Leather Gravity
Chilli pack with 3 spoke SW with multi func
Bullet alloys
Auto air con
Radio boast + HK & CD changer
Elec fold mirrors
Chrome interior
Sunroof
Chrome mirror caps
Frnt seat heating
JCW red brake calipers
Areo kit

What do you think?


I am planning on keeping it my play thing for a long while (not the 2 yrs I have had my current, so maybe the investment will be worth it!)
 
Discussion starter · #34 ·
Sounds like your spec is similar to ours. We shaved a few things off our original choice when we decided to get the aero kit to keep the price of the S under £20,000 but we are happy with what we've got. May regret not getting the heated windscreen when the frosty mornings start as we don't have a garage.

We got our car done by Coopers in Worthing, partly because it was £300 cheaper, and partly because it is a nice drive down there and back and a good chance to use the car, both before and after conversion! We also felt they would do a good job as they do this all the time, but I'm sure the BMW mechanics are just as competant. I got my finance through the bank, so wasn't tied in with the dealer, either. Warranty still there, of course.

The sills were extra, I think about £70. With the aerokit, they don't replace the original sills so it looks a bit plain without something there.

Your increase in insurance sounds a bit steep. I did alot of shopping around and settled with First Alternative, who don't charge extra for the aerokit and the only increase in premium from a normal S to the Works is an increase in the excess from £100 to £400. My annual premium is only £438 and looking at your profile, you're only 10 years younger than me. As long as the aerokit and Works are as supplied by the dealers from new, alot of insurance companies don't consider them to be modifications. Norwich Union tried to double the premium when I told them about the aerokit, so some companies will try it on.
Who are you with?

As to whether you should go ahead and get this done, only you can decide, but after we spent nearly a year owning a Cooper that we hardly ever drove, we are so glad that, despite the extra cost, we now have the car that we really want. If you're not buying it just as a car to get from A to B, you might as well make it as fun as possible. Toys are for playing with.

Having said that, if it was totally my decision, (not having to take in to consideration my boyfriend, who after all is paying for it), I would probably have been happy with the S as it was, pre-conversion, compared to the Cooper, but then again, when I put my foot down and it takes off..............
 
Thanx alot dinner lady, useful advice

My current insurance co for my std S is More Than who wont quote me on the works, I got a quote via Adrian Flux, so will try your recommendation.

Not sure I understood the sill comment. Do you mean that when the dealers fit my areo kit, they wil remove my sills? and if I get the tune, will I have to buy new ones?

Thanx
 
Discussion starter · #36 ·
The bit they don't replace is the silver coloured strip with the 'S' logo on it, so it is all body coloured. The JCW strips are cosmetic only but it doesn't look so plain with those on.
Do shop around for insurance quotes, there shouldn't be such a difference between the normal S and the Works. Be interested to know how you get on.
 
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