F56 JCW owner opinions and "must have" options
Discussion
Hi all,
I'm looking at getting a smaller "hot hatch" commute car and fancied an F56 Cooper S, until I saw the JCW and its performance/options. This would be my first car of this type.
It seems to tick all the boxes for me, so what are thoughts from existing owners, reliability, mpg, servicing costs and general "livability" ?
I am swapping from an A4 Avant to this - bit of a change!
In terms of the must have options, what would they be? I have every option on the Audi including pano roof, which makes for a nice cruiser.
There are so many things to choose from, colours, etc - I am a bit lost!
Ideally would love a BRG / red roof but also like the electric blue.
I like to fiddle, so I expect a wavetrac LSD, eventuri intake, eibach springs and remap would be almost certainly done on day 2 !
Cheers,
I'm looking at getting a smaller "hot hatch" commute car and fancied an F56 Cooper S, until I saw the JCW and its performance/options. This would be my first car of this type.
It seems to tick all the boxes for me, so what are thoughts from existing owners, reliability, mpg, servicing costs and general "livability" ?
I am swapping from an A4 Avant to this - bit of a change!
In terms of the must have options, what would they be? I have every option on the Audi including pano roof, which makes for a nice cruiser.
There are so many things to choose from, colours, etc - I am a bit lost!
Ideally would love a BRG / red roof but also like the electric blue.
I like to fiddle, so I expect a wavetrac LSD, eventuri intake, eibach springs and remap would be almost certainly done on day 2 !
Cheers,
Edited by stuart-b on Monday 13th April 11:33
Thanks guys, I moved out of the UK to Europe, so mine will be a German imported car.
They all seem to be fairly high spec, a lot of them come with LEDs etc. Good tips on the heated seats etc, and didn't realise there were variations in the Nav, thanks.
I ditched the run flats on my other BMWs too, usually go with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S.
I have a tuner local to me who would do the work.
How do you find the torque steer in the JCW out of the box?
They all seem to be fairly high spec, a lot of them come with LEDs etc. Good tips on the heated seats etc, and didn't realise there were variations in the Nav, thanks.
I ditched the run flats on my other BMWs too, usually go with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S.
I have a tuner local to me who would do the work.
How do you find the torque steer in the JCW out of the box?
They torque steer like a proper old skool hot hatch! There's supposed to be an electronic pseudo-lsd but mine would spin its wheels happily in 3rd last winter and it didn't take much throttle off the line to spin up either. So full throttle 3rd gear overtakes on a bumpy, narrow, damp B road reminded me of my old Escort RS Turbo and needs a bugger's grip. Most of the time though its a load of fun for a modern car, good turn in, grip, and its easy to get the rear moving; mine has 17" Goodyear F1s and adaptive suspension so its pretty good on the cratered donkey tracks that pass for roads in my part of the world.
Other things I like are excellent low driving position, auto-blip down shift (oh the shame), digital speedo configuration, hatch back flexibility, decent seats, no-one hates you for driving one, and after 55k miles it still feels solid. Things I don't like are thick A pillars, some of the infotainment's functions are clunky, the (non-Bose) sound system is not particularly musical, and there's quite a lot of road noise.
Other things I like are excellent low driving position, auto-blip down shift (oh the shame), digital speedo configuration, hatch back flexibility, decent seats, no-one hates you for driving one, and after 55k miles it still feels solid. Things I don't like are thick A pillars, some of the infotainment's functions are clunky, the (non-Bose) sound system is not particularly musical, and there's quite a lot of road noise.
I specced my Cooper S with heated seats/heated screen(used to love it on the Fords I've had in the past). LED headlights too were a must for me, I have the Harman Kardon stereo upgrade but I don't think that it is worth the extra money. I also specced it without runflats(on 17" wheels) because I hate the awful things.
My only gripes with the car are the brakes(no issue for the JCW though), and it wants to light the tyres up at any opportunity which is fun but it is also mildly annoying at times.
My only gripes with the car are the brakes(no issue for the JCW though), and it wants to light the tyres up at any opportunity which is fun but it is also mildly annoying at times.
I would never have paid for the Heads Up display. Total waste of cash I thought. How hard can it be to lower your vision to see the dials? Never been a problem before.
The Cooper S I bought had it. It’s wonderful. Why don’t all cars have it. Likewise LED lights which are super effective. Quick clear front screen is useful when it’s cold. I had the pro tuning kit fitted which is BMW sanctioned remap and Bluetooth exhaust. That’s quite fun as well. They are excellent cars. Cheap to run as well.
The Cooper S I bought had it. It’s wonderful. Why don’t all cars have it. Likewise LED lights which are super effective. Quick clear front screen is useful when it’s cold. I had the pro tuning kit fitted which is BMW sanctioned remap and Bluetooth exhaust. That’s quite fun as well. They are excellent cars. Cheap to run as well.
highway said:
I would never have paid for the Heads Up display. Total waste of cash I thought. How hard can it be to lower your vision to see the dials? Never been a problem before.
The Cooper S I bought had it. It’s wonderful. Why don’t all cars have it.
I'd never experienced a Heads Up display until recently(in a XC90 loan car) and I agree and I thought it was brilliant. It will be something I will look for now in a car in future for sure. The Cooper S I bought had it. It’s wonderful. Why don’t all cars have it.
We have a F55 five door Cooper S. The wife wanted the JCW body kit and this really narrowed the search. It’s fully loaded excluding heated seats and pan roof, which fir me is a shame.
We traded in a R56 MCS and there was nothing more I liked to do than take a late night drive with the roof open and the lounge leather bum heaters on. Listening to the burbles on overrun.
Anyway for me the absolute must have items are the LED lights which are superb, and the XL media with the big screen. Both make the car feel that little bit more modern. They feel a little cheap without.
Chilli pack is also absolutely needed on the MCS. I’m not sure what standard equipment comes with the JCW. Chilli is - front fog lights, Mini Excitement Pack, optioned 17-inch Roulette wheels, Mini Driving Modes, dual-zone air conditioning, onboard computer
We traded in a R56 MCS and there was nothing more I liked to do than take a late night drive with the roof open and the lounge leather bum heaters on. Listening to the burbles on overrun.
Anyway for me the absolute must have items are the LED lights which are superb, and the XL media with the big screen. Both make the car feel that little bit more modern. They feel a little cheap without.
Chilli pack is also absolutely needed on the MCS. I’m not sure what standard equipment comes with the JCW. Chilli is - front fog lights, Mini Excitement Pack, optioned 17-inch Roulette wheels, Mini Driving Modes, dual-zone air conditioning, onboard computer
Edited by paultownsend on Thursday 16th April 10:21
I have an F56 SD, so don’t laugh, (nb my other mini is a jcw )
It is remapped, with 17 x 7.5 bbs wheels 215/45/17 PS4, + Jcw brakes.
I have full leather interior and drive everywhere with my seat on the floor,
A useful option to add at build or retro fit would be the new Jcw carbon gear leaver as its slightly taller, helps your elbow/forearm clear the armrest whilst changing quickly
Also like the sunroof option as it’s a good glass area and opens up the interior.
It is remapped, with 17 x 7.5 bbs wheels 215/45/17 PS4, + Jcw brakes.
I have full leather interior and drive everywhere with my seat on the floor,
A useful option to add at build or retro fit would be the new Jcw carbon gear leaver as its slightly taller, helps your elbow/forearm clear the armrest whilst changing quickly
Also like the sunroof option as it’s a good glass area and opens up the interior.
cerb4.5lee said:
I specced my Cooper S with heated seats/heated screen(used to love it on the Fords I've had in the past). LED headlights too were a must for me, I have the Harman Kardon stereo upgrade but I don't think that it is worth the extra money. I also specced it without runflats(on 17" wheels) because I hate the awful things.
My only gripes with the car are the brakes(no issue for the JCW though), and it wants to light the tyres up at any opportunity which is fun but it is also mildly annoying at times.
https://www.minif56.com/threads/mini-f56-cooper-s-front-brake-upgrade-294mm-to-330mm.86415/My only gripes with the car are the brakes(no issue for the JCW though), and it wants to light the tyres up at any opportunity which is fun but it is also mildly annoying at times.
I keep checking ebay
stevemcs said:
Nice one. 
That is good to know cheers.
stevemcs said:
Please note Most 17” and some 18 “ mini Oem Wheels will not clear the clear the jcw calipers without spacers and longer bolts so budget for these or new wheels if you end up with an Shighway said:
I would never have paid for the Heads Up display. Total waste of cash I thought. How hard can it be to lower your vision to see the dials? Never been a problem before.
The Cooper S I bought had it. It’s wonderful. Why don’t all cars have it. Likewise LED lights which are super effective. Quick clear front screen is useful when it’s cold. I had the pro tuning kit fitted which is BMW sanctioned remap and Bluetooth exhaust. That’s quite fun as well. They are excellent cars. Cheap to run as well.
I agree about the heads up display a superb option. The Cooper S I bought had it. It’s wonderful. Why don’t all cars have it. Likewise LED lights which are super effective. Quick clear front screen is useful when it’s cold. I had the pro tuning kit fitted which is BMW sanctioned remap and Bluetooth exhaust. That’s quite fun as well. They are excellent cars. Cheap to run as well.
Thanks everyone! Lots of good tips.
So this will seriously narrow my search
but I'll focus my attention on ...
1. An interesting colour. Every car of mine is/was either black or titanium/gray/silver - except for an old Porsche in red, which was more pink than anything. Now my GTR is Millennium Jade, I want the mini to follow suit... some sort of green, perhaps BRG
2. Panoramic sunroof
3. LED lights
4. Wide Nav/infotainment
5. Heated Seats
6. Cruise
7. Head up display (won't be a deal breaker for me, but a good option)
Not sure if I want leather, I have it in my BMW Z4 and you get sweaty in the summer.
I think I would prefer half-leather/alcantara is which is what I have in the Audi - if that's even an option in the JCW.
So I've probably got more mouse buttons than there are cars for sale at this spec level - my search may take a while ...
So this will seriously narrow my search
but I'll focus my attention on ...1. An interesting colour. Every car of mine is/was either black or titanium/gray/silver - except for an old Porsche in red, which was more pink than anything. Now my GTR is Millennium Jade, I want the mini to follow suit... some sort of green, perhaps BRG
2. Panoramic sunroof
3. LED lights
4. Wide Nav/infotainment
5. Heated Seats
6. Cruise
7. Head up display (won't be a deal breaker for me, but a good option)
Not sure if I want leather, I have it in my BMW Z4 and you get sweaty in the summer.
I think I would prefer half-leather/alcantara is which is what I have in the Audi - if that's even an option in the JCW.
So I've probably got more mouse buttons than there are cars for sale at this spec level - my search may take a while ...
Gassing Station | New MINIs | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff