John Cooper Works Clubman vs M135 X Drive

[Dolf Stoppard]

Anybody driven both and able to offer a view on how they compare? I’d pretty much decided on the M135 but I’m worried I’ll die during a home invasion style robbery. Insurance quotes suggest this will definitely happen!

I currently drive an F55 Cooper S and the JCW Clubman would give me the performance I’m after, although the interior is obviously rather similar to what I currently drive.

I loved the performance, handling and comfort of the M135. Is the JCW going to match, exceed or lose out to the BMW?

A test drive is obviously the way forward but I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Cheers.

Edited by Dolf Stoppard on Friday 19th June 21:36

[Iknownothin]

A worthwhile read if you haven't seen it comparing M135, CLubman JCW and A35

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/features/hot-ha...

[Davie_GLA]

Spooky - i'e just posted a thread about similar, but older car that I'm looking at...

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Ben Lowden]

Can't compare to the M135 but I did drive the new Clubman from Kent to Ben Nevis in one go and it was bloody lovely, super comfortable and no back ache after the 11 hours or so that it took me! This was the content we produced for MINI if you want to take a look:

https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-advertorial/ph...

Definitely worth a test drive for sure.

[Davie_GLA]

Ben Lowden said:

Can't compare to the M135 but I did drive the new Clubman from Kent to Ben Nevis in one go and it was bloody lovely, super comfortable and no back ache after the 11 hours or so that it took me! This was the content we produced for MINI if you want to take a look:

https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-advertorial/ph...

Definitely worth a test drive for sure.

Thanks Ben, cracking article as I live just outside of Glasgow and I've done most of that journey many times on both 2 and 4 wheels. There is little more impressive than approaching Glencoe then you get an idea of just how small we are!

The car I'm looking at is a 2016 model, and a manual, and is only the 230 bhp engine. I can't help but think that extra 70bhp would be missed.

Do you know how mini revised the newer car to 300ish? Is it just a software thing or more hardware? If I buy this JCW then the first thing I'll be looking at is a power upgrade.

[Davie_GLA]

I had a quick Google. Auto car says:

[I]Mini claims the engine has been “completely redesigned” with crankshaft modifications and a new vibration damper with optimised cooling. These tweaks help to improve response, claims Mini, as well as boosting output. A new, louder sports exhaust also features with a petrol particulate filter.[/]

Which is all good and well but surely they've turned the boost up

[Ben Lowden]

Davie_GLA said:

Thanks Ben, cracking article as I live just outside of Glasgow and I've done most of that journey many times on both 2 and 4 wheels. There is little more impressive than approaching Glencoe then you get an idea of just how small we are!

The car I'm looking at is a 2016 model, and a manual, and is only the 230 bhp engine. I can't help but think that extra 70bhp would be missed.

Do you know how mini revised the newer car to 300ish? Is it just a software thing or more hardware? If I buy this JCW then the first thing I'll be looking at is a power upgrade.

It was a cracking drive, although much more traffic than I was expecting! I think the changes were pretty extensive with stronger internals although the earlier cars still seem to be fairly tuneable, you could look at A Reeve/Lohen/DMS for mapping options.

Although worth pointing out that the F56 hatch didn't struggle to keep up on the road either...

[stuart_83]

Just about to put an order in for one of these.

Looked at the m135i, but the mini seemed to have a far better spec for less money, plus personally I think it's got more character.

The m135i was also ridiculously expensive to insure weirdly.

[stuart_83]

So I drove the m135i yesterday and was very impressed. It was way better than I expected, especially with all the forum negativity surrounding it.

Rode well on the 19"s, went well but without any real drama, and stuck to the road like st to a blanket. Seemed incredibly competent. Nice interior too, and can imagine it'd soak up miles easily. Never drove the old m140i, but I have the b58 in 360bhp tune in my current car, so admittedly it does lack some soul and the smoothness and immediate pickup of the 6cyl.

It'd need leather, then I'm torn between the m135i plus pack or sticking with the 18"s and getting adaptive suspension, tinted rears and the HK audio.

Got a test drive of the Mini Clubman JCW booked in for tomorrow, then another dealer's offered me an m135i drive on Wednesday. Would be rude not to.

Also started to look at the m340i as it's a lot closer to what I've got at the moment, but it will be £200/month more than the m135i/Clubman, and £150 more than I'm paying at the mo in the spec I want ... Got to decide if it's worth it.

Got some more reasonable insurance quotes for the 1 series, but oddly it is more expensive than even the m340i. It does make me wonder if they'll be a scumbag magnet, but can't find anything to back this up. The Mini is about £200 cheaper/year to insure, and won't be anywhere near as common, but I expect it won't hold its value quite as well.

Hopefully I'll be able to make a decision soon on what to go for. Unfortunately no one has an m340i available to demo.

[mike9009]

stuart_83 said:

Rode well on the 19"s, went well but without any real drama, and stuck to the road like st to a blanket. Seemed incredibly competent. Nice interior too, and can imagine it'd soak up miles easily. Never drove the old m140i, but I have the b58 in 360bhp tune in my current car, so admittedly it does lack some soul and the smoothness and immediate pickup of the 6cyl.
.

Not quite the same comparison, but I used to own an R55 Cooper S and swapped it for a 330i Coupe.

Your first two sentences in the quote above struck a chord with me. The BMWs are massively competent, but they are no fun on the road. You have to be close to license loosing speeds (I imagine) to actual enjoy it. The risk\ reward balance is not there. However, the MINIs hit the balance to have fun on the road.

(Incidentally, I still have the BMW, but supplemented it with its antithesis, a Smart Roadster ). Guess which one I go out for some fun in or even on my A/B road commute? BMW saved for motorway drives......

Mike

[Sim75]

I’ve had an M135i and a Mini Countryman JCW. A car my wife desperately wanted so forced my hand. Of all the cars I’ve owned (30+) it’s the one that surprised me the most. It had real character and always made me smile - sure it was far from the quickest car I’ve ever driven but was always fun. And that was the Countryman!

For what it’s worth, I don’t think a current 135 is any more or less of a scum magnet than a JCW. Just get some bollards and a steering lock and it will put most off.