R53 Cooper S vs Cooper S Works

[300bhp/ton]

Been browsing the classifieds at Cooper S' mostly 2002-2003 age ones. I noted for a bit more dosh I could pickup up a same age Cooper S Works.

What are the differences between the regular Cooper S and the Works and are they worth it?

Also how tunable is the regular Cooper S and pitfalls or dangers?

Thanks

[Tom74]

I have a tuned regular Cooper s with roughly the same output as a jcw now. Having driven both it's a more comfortable drive on the ridiculously bumpy roads we have here as mine does not have the jcw suspension upgrade.

I supose it would depend on what you want the car for, they do seem to be quite cheap to get good power from.

[J5]

JCW upgrade is not really worth the extra.
The standard r53 is very easily tunable.

http://www.minitorque.com/forum/f292/1320mini-prod...

This tells you all you need to know.
Also loads of discussion on here about what mod makes how much power etc.

[300bhp/ton]

Cheers. So anyone know what the differences are though for the Works? Does it have different brakes or clutch or anything?

I know the current R56 JCW has a stronger block or something as it's
mentioned on the Official MINI website. Haven't found any such info for the R53 though.

[J5]

300bhp/ton said:

Cheers. So anyone know what the differences are though for the Works? Does it have different brakes or clutch or anything?

I know the current R56 JCW has a stronger block or something as it's
mentioned on the Official MINI website. Haven't found any such info for the R53 though.

Possibly some head work... not 100% on that
Injectors
Airbox
Exhaust
11% pulley
Remap

Can have the upgraded suspension, interior and brakes too - but not all have.
The brakes are a waste of money, as they're the same as the r56 brakes (which can be made to fit and are considerably cheaper).

If you are planning to mod it, i'd by the normal r53 as the JCW isn't worth the extra you pay. I just sold my r53 JCW a few weeks ago, and even though i loved it, with hindsight i would've bought a standard r53 and modded that.

[Silent1]

John Cooper Works R53s are supposed to be 210bhp, but i've never seen one make more than 190bhp.

As for tune-ability a standard R53 can be made to kick out ~300bhp, mine is currently pushing 242.bhp with no internal engine work.

[J5]

Silent1 said:

John Cooper Works R53s are supposed to be 210bhp, but i've never seen one make more than 190bhp.

As for tune-ability a standard R53 can be made to kick out ~300bhp, mine is currently pushing 242.bhp with no internal engine work.

Mine made 195bhp

[300bhp/ton]

Thanks

so visually they are the same then? How about the inside. Do they have the same upgrade and options as the MCS or is there anything unique to the Works?

Clutch, gearbox and ratios are all the same then?

[J5]

300bhp/ton said:

Thanks

so visually they are the same then? How about the inside. Do they have the same upgrade and options as the MCS or is there anything unique to the Works?

Clutch, gearbox and ratios are all the same then?

Depends on which upgrade people ticked.

Mine had stock interior, but you can get JCW seats etc. They were available as an option on normal 53's too though.
Clutch/gearbox etc all the same.
However there is a difference between gearboxes on the pre and post facelift models or the r53.

[RKDE]

The difference between the S and works is as follows

Early up to 2004 may not have the brake conversion or the LSD. Later 2004 - 2006 normally have the brakes, wheels, and LSD (not all though)

Some early JCW cars did not have the air box or blue injectors this was the 200bhp kit.

No JCW really makes the power denoted this is mostly due to the cooling - JCW / BMW put a large fan on the intercooler which is not real life nor is it repeatable on most rolling roads

The main difference is engine only everything else is options.

Difference;

• Ported head
• Gen 5 Blower with 11% reduced pulley
• JCW air box with actuator valve
• cat back exhaust
• 380cc injectors
• ECU re-map

Extra options;

• JCW aero body kit
• Carbon inlet scoop
• Carbon boot handle
• Carbon mirror caps
• Carbon dashboard
• Leather dashboard
• Carbon down tubes
• Leather down tubes
• Gear selector leather surround
• Gear selector carbon surround
• cup holder surround leather
• cup holder surround carbon
• rear cup holder leather
• rear cup holder carbon
• Carbon/alcantara gear knob
• Carbon/alcantara hand break leaver
• Carbon steering wheel inserts
• Alcantara/leather steering wheel
• Carbon/leather gear knob
• Carbon/leather hand break leaver
• leather steering wheel
• JCW shift lights
• Alcantara gear gaiter
• Alcantara hand break gaiter
• JCW extra gauges
• JCW sparco front bucket seats
• Sparco seat carbon inserts
• JCW rear sparco seats
• Recaro front seats
• Recaro rear seats
• JCW brake upgrade
• JCW suspension upgrade
• JCW front strut bar
• Selection of JCW alloy wheels and caps

The above list is the majority of JCW extra and this lot would cost a fortune to buy everything. There are other items but that's the main

If you can get a JCW for near the same cost then do it, they are a nice stock car but also easy to tune and you have better equipment to start with such as injectors and the air box. With cams and a better cooler the cars can jump up to 230Bhp give or take.

Mine has a good power band and was a JCW 210 to start with but now I have changed lots I still use the JCW exhaust, blower, air box, cylinder head

For mods on both the S and works the following will see you well;

Tuning;

• 17% pulley
• JCW air box or similar (JCW use ITG filter)
• 1320 cam / newman cam
• Cat back exhaust or JCW system
• 380cc or bigger injectors
• Manifold
• GRS intercooler

That will see you with 250bhp or more, then do cylinder head, lightened flywheel, LSD and you will have a quick car.

Take a look at minitorque to see what others have done, there are mini tuners up and down the country

tuners; (no order)

• Lohen
• think mini
• 1320autos
• GTT

The above are just some, I tend to use Dave at think mini as he is close and I trust him

Edited by RKDE on Thursday 15th October 08:40

Edited by RKDE on Thursday 15th October 14:35

[Burba]

RKDE said:

.. really good stuff ..

.. very comprehensive and a good contribution

Edited by Burba on Friday 16th October 10:52

[Silent1]

The JCW supercharger is no different to a standard post facelift apart from the pulley being 11% smaller

[RKDE]

I agree with that statement, but it is different to the pre-facelift as you have noted

[briSk]

it's not that straight forward though is it (that's a question!) because early pre facelifts actually had the old spec engine (163powers as opposed to 170 powers like mine).

i think as long as it's 'on an 05' it's got 170 bhp and then the later charger.

_____

you'll struggle but the only real thing i'd look for is a JCW with JCW big brakes (of which there aren;t loads). the brakes are the MCS's weakest point IMO (they're 'fine' rather than "'kin 'ell").

many jcws are also blighted ( ) by the aero kit or even worse the GP ( ). but if you like the looks of those then that's great. just don;t pay extra for an aero kitted one.

another thing i;d look out for is that from 2006 you could get recaro seats as an option - they'd be nice to have.

i love the cobras(??) that early cars had but they are the death knell to it being even a 3+1 seater and do turn int into a 2+2 at best. look awesome though and are supportive!

otherstuff. i'd try and get an LSD equipped car. the DSC option also has LSD. it's not like an old skool type-r but you can tell the difference.

that's all. (and before you start it was light hearted about the aerokit!).

[John Cooper]

briSk said:

or even worse the GP ( )

Can i ask what you mean by this?

I understand you said light hearted but i want to know what you mean by it?

Thanks

John

[minimanAC]

John Cooper said:

briSk said:

or even worse the GP ( )

Can i ask what you mean by this?

I understand you said light hearted but i want to know what you mean by it?

Thanks

John

Pretty sure he's refering to the fact that the GP bodykit is slightly ott amd some find it tacky.

Personally I think the standard Aerokit improves the cars looks and is in no way tacky, but thats personal preference. Compare both standard and aerokitted S' to see what you prefer.

[John Cooper]

minimanAC said:

John Cooper said:

briSk said:

or even worse the GP ( )

Can i ask what you mean by this?

I understand you said light hearted but i want to know what you mean by it?

Thanks

John

Pretty sure he's refering to the fact that the GP bodykit is slightly ott amd some find it tacky.

Personally I think the standard Aerokit improves the cars looks and is in no way tacky, but thats personal preference. Compare both standard and aerokitted S' to see what you prefer.

Thanks for answering that.

I genuinely didnt know what he meant.

[RKDE]

briSk said:

it's not that straight forward though is it (that's a question!) because early pre facelifts actually had the old spec engine (163powers as opposed to 170 powers like mine).

i think as long as it's 'on an 05' it's got 170 bhp and then the later charger.

Well up to 2004 had the gen 4 blower but all pre 2004 jcw cars had the gen 5 blower. There was quite a few difference between the face lift and pre-facelift but most pre and post drive the same and the power difference is hardly noticeable and after 60k the blowers are usually at the same condition and provide about the same boost.

The only difference between pre and post is the gear box and the blower, apart from a few dampers and clips the engine is identical and I personally prefer the pre facelift as for me the gear ratio is better.

[briSk]

John Cooper said:

minimanAC said:

John Cooper said:

briSk said:

or even worse the GP ( )

Can i ask what you mean by this?

I understand you said light hearted but i want to know what you mean by it?

Thanks

John

Pretty sure he's refering to the fact that the GP bodykit is slightly ott amd some find it tacky.

Personally I think the standard Aerokit improves the cars looks and is in no way tacky, but thats personal preference. Compare both standard and aerokitted S' to see what you prefer.

Thanks for answering that.

I genuinely didnt know what he meant.

yes he was right.

i think it looks a bit 'stuck-on'. it reminds me of the ERA Mini Turbos.

mind you i went completely the other way and have an entirely hyper blue one. i must have been a bit of a trend setter (! ) because then loads of all hyper blue cars appeared (although there are a lot with white roofs as well).

just to reiterate it's very much each to their own! i have got a twa77y numberplate and nurburgring sticker on mine so...

[RKDE]

I trust with a nurburgring sticker you have been and you are not a pretender?