GoMini issue 2

Posted on by Ian C.

I received Issue 2 of GoMINI yesterday and read it – lots of stuff about modified MINIs from England and America. It also mentioned a book that I had not previously heard of, called the MINI – the making of a modern icon” by Brian Laban:

It seems that Amazon US does not carry this book (yet) but you can order from Amazon UK (just click the pic). A review will follow when I receive it.

Other excellent books about the MINI include MINI by Patrick C. Paternie, and new MINI by Graham Robson (recommended), both of which can be ordered from Amazon.

GBMINI meets JCW (John Cooper Works upgrade)

Posted on by Ian C.

Today I was at MINI Peabody! We had light snow but it did not affect my visit – luckily 🙂

Why was I at MINI Peabody today?  So GBMINI can get the John Cooper Works upgrade! I have debated this for a long time, read all the reviews, considered aftermarket upgrades … In the end, the prestige factor of the official package helped to swing the deal, along with maintaining a warranty and a good relationship with MINI Peabody.

At the moment, still being gentle with the car due to the weather as well as some “running in” considerations, I have not experimented with the new performance limits of GBMINI – but I expect that I will find some improvements!

 

Here’s a full “photo history” of the upgrade:

JCW upgrade kit
Getting to the engine
Getting to the engine
Getting to the engine
Getting to the engine
The old supercharger
No supercharger!
Brian collects old parts
Old parts from GBMINI#2
Removing the old cylinder head
Removing the old cylinder head
No cylinder head
Old cylinder head
Time to open the box!
Time to open the box!
New cylinder head
New cylinder head
Brian installs new cylinder head
Brian installs new cylinder head
Brian installs new cylinder head
Brian installs new cylinder head
Old and new superchargers
Old and new superchargers
Old supercharger
New supercharger
Assembling new supercharger
Fitting new supercharger
Fitting new supercharger
Replacing the radiator
Replacing the radiator
Radiator refitted; re-installing crash barrier
Old intercooler cover
New intercooler cover
New intercooler cover installed
JCW serial number late
Removing the old exhaust
Removing the old exhaust
Removing the old exhaust
Fitting the new exhaust
Fitting the new exhaust
Refilling with old and coolant
Refilling with old and coolant
Engine starts fine (don’t panic about the steam!)
Programming the computer
JCW software upgrade
JCW software upgrade
Before the JCW upgrade
After the JCW upgrade!
GBMINI#2 ready to go home
GBMINI#2 ready to go home
GBMINI#2 upgraded!

 

So, what’s it like?

Good question … So far, with few miles and bad weather, I have noticed only a few things:

  • The exhaust is no more noticeable than before – good
  • The supercharger is more noticeable – excellent
  • There is even more torque at lower revs (2000-3000rpm)
  • The car seems to be more “frisky”, especially in my normal 3000-4000rpm range
  • The car has a new badge!

I expect that once I try driving it in the higher rev range, and with harder acceleration (when the weather allows) I will discover more differences …

UPDATE: After driving another MINI for two days, that has the pulley but not the full works package, I am convinced that while both MINIs have a similar power, the John Cooper Works package is more “smooth” … hard to pinpoint exactly, but there is some extra refinement in the JCW upgrade that seems to be missing with only the aftermarket pulley.