F54 Mini Clubman John Cooper Works

[christhreadgill]

I’ve been needing to replace my slightly tired, albeit perfectly serviceable, 2019 Fiesta ST as it’s is approaching 6 years old in January, and therefore falling out of my company’s Car Allowance scheme.

I considered a few options, including brining my E91 335i wagon back into daily service duties and simply forgoing the Car Allowance salary payments. However, decided that a highly tuned N54 with a dual-plated clutch manual gearbox wasn’t the most practical solution for my circa. 15k year mileage.

Finally settled on this “mini wagon”. It’s larger than the 3 door Fiesta without the full estate car proportions which go largely unneeded 90% of the time. It’s got enough poke to keep me interested, 4 wheel drive which is handy now we live down a fairly remote country lane, and crucially, it’s got 5 doors which I now need with a 7 week old baby!





Some quick photos after getting back from the dealership, and a spec summary below.

- 2022 Mini Clubman JCW All4 with 22k on the dash.
- Same 2.0L turbo “B48” engine as the BMW M135i.
- 306bhp and 450Nm through Mini’s ALL4 system with Torsen differential and a ZF8 steptronic gearbox.
- Finished in Moonwalk Grey Metallic with the full Piano Black exterior package, black bonnet and side stripes.
- John Cooper Works exterior package with mirror caps, indicator scuttles / surrounds and the bonnet scoop in “stitched carbon”.
- Sliding glass panoramic roof with gloss black roof rails.
- John Cooper Works bucket seats in a half leather / half alcantara setup, heated.
- Heated windscreen.
- Piano Black illuminated interior styling pack with ambient lighting.
- Wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless charging etc.
- Harmon Kardon Hi-Fi system.
- Alcantara John Cooper Works steering wheel.
- Digital dash with HUD option.
- Carbon John Cooper Works exhaust tips.
- Privacy glass.
- Dynamic driving modes for both drivetrain and suspension.

From what I can tell from my own research, it is pretty much “fully loaded” which would be a first in any car of mine. Bundles of tech, great features, and a great deal of poke.

Haven’t seen many of these on PH, and whilst it’s a daily with no real plans for it, thought I’d set up a Reader’s Cars thread just to document it’s life with me!

[sagarich]

Really like these! What does it ride like? I assume JCW is firmer than a Cooper S, but how does it cope on buggered country roads?

[RC1807]

Congratulations on both new additions to the family!

[DaveyBoyWonder]

• clubman not countryman

[danb79]

That's really nice! I do like a Clubman and that spec looks fantastic

[macron]

Nice car, I think they need the roof as it's so dark in there, although headroom does suffer a little.

The values on the late ones seem to really be holding up too, esp now they're not making them anymore. Good buy really.

[christhreadgill]

sagarich said:

Really like these! What does it ride like? I assume JCW is firmer than a Cooper S, but how does it cope on buggered country roads?

The ride is firm when in Sport Mode due to the Dynamic Dampers being firmed up in that setting. However, in "Normal" and "Green" modes, it rides perfectly well and no harsher than any other hot hatch I've owned throughout the years. Certainly rides better than the Fiesta ST it is replacing!

macron said:

Nice car, I think they need the roof as it's so dark in there, although headroom does suffer a little.

The values on the late ones seem to really be holding up too, esp now they're not making them anymore. Good buy really.

Yes, the pano roof was a must-have for me when scoping these out. The interiors have a lot of ambient lighting etc. but nothing beats getting some natural light in from above.

[christhreadgill]

Thought I’d throw up some photos from the first week of ownership.

Alcantara steering wheel - will need to get myself some cleaning products to keep on top of this!



Straight in with new OEM Mini rubber floor mats - boot liner awaiting delivery to match.



And then the reason for the purchase! Seat protector, ISOFIX base & baby seat all clipped in.

[TimmyMallett]

What are the plastic trims in the back of the seat back headrests? Just trim or something else?

[Sko77y]

Very nice, looked at an older model of these as a second car but would trade our Cupra Ateca for one like this, I was in the same boat as you with our first arriving in 23' - I think we've the same Isofix base as well.

How you finding it dealing with family duties? For being so small they require so much stuff! Roof Box?

[christhreadgill]

TimmyMallett said:

What are the plastic trims in the back of the seat back headrests? Just trim or something else?

Just a honeycomb trim, don't believe they do anything, such as a speaker etc.

Sko77y said:

Very nice, looked at an older model of these as a second car but would trade our Cupra Ateca for one like this, I was in the same boat as you with our first arriving in 23' - I think we've the same Isofix base as well.

How you finding it dealing with family duties? For being so small they require so much stuff! Roof Box?

So far, it's been fautless on family duties. I like the fact the boot has a large under-floor section in which I can store all my work gear (site boots, PPE etc.) as well as any muddy dog leads and the link. I then have a completely empty boot, which is still larger than the Fiesta boot, left over for the buggy.

At our age (2 months-ish) they don't actually have that much stuff. But i went for one with the optional roof rails so I can put my bikes on the roof, and then also gives the option of a roofbox if ever needed, but wouldn't expect to need one for a while! As we also have an E91 335i estate, anything needing "proper" estate car size will pull that into service.

[Riff Raff]

FWIW, I bought a 24 plate one of these a couple of months ago. Rebel Green with a red roof and mirror caps. It has the same options as yours except for the suspension and roof rails. Ride on mine is pretty firm, but part of that might be down to the run flats. I really like it. It handles well and is blisteringly quick. I also have a Porsche Cayman, and I think in my hands anyway, the Mini would be the quicker car on ‘B’ roads. (Same horsepower, but the JCW is auto, the Cayman manual).

The only thing that annoys me is the red stripe on the alcantara wheel. The red stripe on mine is a bit off centre, which triggers my OCD. The wheel itself is brilliantly chunky.

edit to add photo...

Edited by Riff Raff on Tuesday 24th September 09:49

[General Price]

christhreadgill said:

Thought I’d throw up some photos from the first week of ownership.

Alcantara steering wheel - will need to get myself some cleaning products to keep on top of this!

Nearly asked,what is the orange stripe on the steering wheel?

Then I saw the shadows on the following pics.

Nice car.

[Superhoop]

If you want the steering wheel looking fresh, see if you can find someone that has a dry ice blaster.. It brings it up like new..

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/nKXvVnR4acQ

[christhreadgill]

Riff Raff said:

FWIW, I bought a 24 plate one of these a couple of months ago. Rebel Green with a red roof and mirror caps. It has the same options as yours except for the suspension and roof rails. Ride on mine is pretty firm, but part of that might be down to the run flats. I really like it. It handles well and is blisteringly quick. I also have a Porsche Cayman, and I think in my hands anyway, the Mini would be the quicker car on ‘B’ roads. (Same horsepower, but the JCW is auto, the Cayman manual).

The only thing that annoys me is the red stripe on the alcantara wheel. The red stripe on mine is a bit off centre, which triggers my OCD. The wheel itself is brilliantly chunky.

edit to add photo...

Edited by Riff Raff on Tuesday 24th September 09:49

Nice to see a fellow owner! I think these look great in the green & red combo.

I’ve not noticed the red stripe on mine, but I’ll now be looking to check if it is on-centre.

[christhreadgill]

10 days in and 700 miles, nothing much to report! Goes like stink off a shovel when in full Sport mode, and is perfectly useable around town in Normal mode. Tried out the Green mode but it’s all very dull, subdued and unresponsive in that setting.

Boot liner finally arrived so got that fitted. Can see the “second” boot space comes in handy for all my site kit.




And the controversial barn doors. Love that they pop open off the key fob personally!



And a weeks worth of muck and motorway miles to be cleaned off. Gave it a quick “contactless” wash of diluted APC, snow foam & some wheel cleaner. No shampoo, bucket or mitt in sight.




Little point giving it a “proper wash” with the state of the flooded roads and country lanes by me. Already dirty again driving back from my parents to mine post-wash.





Not a bad exhaust tip or note for an OEM item with all the OPF nonsense these days. Will keep on top of them with some Autosol and ceramic sealant. Although I do fancy the Akrapovic titanium system they do for these!

[danb79]

That really is lovely...

I'm migrating to contactless washing now (ie a bloody good snowfoaming and rinse, towel dry the glass and wheels and that's it)..