Is This Lohen Modified MINI R59 (R56) JCW Convertible Better Than Standard? (Review)
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
- Today I am driving a late example of the second generation BMW MINI John Cooper Works - the R56 platform. I have recently had a go in one of these, but an earlier car and a regular hatch. This one is a convertible, which normally I'd hate, but for some reason I just don't.
The car has also had a few minor upgrades in the form of a RaceChip tune and a set of suspension from Lohen - so what's it like, does it fix the flaws of the standard car?
#MINI #JCW #R56
Want to see your car on the channel? Email me on talk@jayemm.com
************************************************************************
Looking to buy a new or used car? HOLMESDALE FINANCE can help!
My channel partner Holmesdale Finance specialises in finance solution for new and used prestige, sports and performance cars - including MODERN CLASSIC policies and many more. You might be surprised at what they can do, so speak to them to find out more. Their website is www.holmesdalef...
***********************************************************************
Want More JayEmm? Become a channel member for access to exclusive content!
/ @jayemmoncars
Thought this was petrol peds mini for a sec lol.
Hahaha i know it's very similar to ruby roadster
Same here
Yup, the number plate confused me much!
So did I 😂
I did to, he loves that car !
Thank you James for reviewing my car and been so kind with your thoughts! Would agree with the remap option but wanted to be able to revert car back to standard if needed hence the tuning box . Also getting rid of the run flats and changing to michelin pilot sport 4 makes the ride so much better. Cheers again you deserve so many more subscribers!
Would love to see a dyno print out for that ;-)
Hey Russell I could offer you a fully custom map with the option to flash you back to stock free of charge whenever you want. Drop me an email sales@tdd.life for a no obligation discussion. I’m sure you’ve seen some of our detailing work with jay previously.oh and great decision on the air scoop makes a massive improvement
May I know the brand and model of the suspension modi? More, anything further u did after boosting the HP that much?
@@Moussybaby Hi coil overs were ST X go onto Lohen website for more info. The Airbox kit and race tune and a very strong low mileage engine to start with running on 99 octane fuel. These JCW engines tend to produce more power than standard anyway apparently.
Looking really good , You and @petrolped should Get together 👍
LOL... Thought I’d clicked a Petrol Ped video until the intro kicked in! 😆
You know what I'm going to say now 😜 If you think that R59 is fun then you need to experience a Stage 2 with a Quaife ATB, TTV clutch and Akrapovic exhaust. I just need to get a big break kit fitted then she is all yours 👍
Deal
Please don't think me pedantic, Ped, but brake / break?!! More Ruby videos, please!
The gear ratio's in an R56 era MINI are PERFECT. 4th, 5th and 6th are all close to 1:1. (1.139, 0.949, 0.816). Every shift 1-6 puts you directly into the meat of the powerband with no drop off in power.
I found the most effective modification on my R56 to help with the ridiculously crashy ride was to simply get rid of the run flat tyres, loses a little in initial turn in response but overall is soo much better because every little pebble in the road mid corner no longer wants to suddenly make the car be 2 feet away from the line you're trying to pick.
Of course, if I get a major puncture I'm screwed, but In 30 years of driving I've only ever had one puncture that a small compressor in the boot wouldn't have got me home from (even if I have to stop every half hour) so figured it was worth the risk.
My r56 jcw is on 18" bbs jcw wheels - it's crashy as hell 🤣
Comments so far include hairdressers’ car and hideous. Clearly the writers have never driven a JCW Roadster. They probably cannot drive a manual. The R58 and R59 are great fun cars.
I love my R58! It’s only an S, not JCW, but it’s so fun
Traded one for an S2000. Both great cars, similar performance - totally different delivery
Funny, i have a S2000(year 2000) since 2010 and in 2019 i bought a Mini Coupe JCW tuned at 240PS/350NM but i kept the S2000.
Both fun cars to drive, but i agree they are totally different. For me the S2000 is more special with the high reving engine to 9000rpm.
Looks like a little pocket rocket and a bundle of fun! Nice review as always!!
Hi James - that is an R59
56 = 3 door hatch
57 = 4 seat cabrio
58 = 2 seat coupe
59 = 2 seat roadster
👌🏼
*throws drink on floor* damn it Will
I have three Roadster JCW's and two JCW Coupes in my collection, the major advantage over the hatchbacks, is they are more rigid, the bulkhead that separates the cockpit from the boot, makes a load of difference, so much so, that the two-seat drophead is a different animal to its four-door cousin, with scuttle shake almost run out of town.
I have yet to do any upgrades, but the best improvement, is to throw the run-flats away and get some proper tyres, it improves the ride no end.
:) I tought i was nuts with a R53 GP, R58JCW and a F56JCW. Why do you have so much Coupes and Roadsters?
Modified 'R56' era MINI's are SOOOOO much fun. I owned one and currently drive a tuned VW GTI. I miss the R56 dearly. The GTI is refined to the point of being sterile and bland in comparison; no amount of power and suspension upgrades can imitate the magic of a MINI.
I can assure you as an N18 engine owner that they're still not bulletproof! Timing chain went in September 2020 -- exactly as it does in N14 models. A bill of nearly £800 (thankfully covered somewhat by a warranty). Either get a very late model N18 or be sure whatever N14/N18 you do get has had proper maintenance and, preferably, already had its chain addressed.
Excellent review. I've had a lot of little convertibles, from an MG midget to a few MGBs, an older Fiat 124 Spyder, to my current R59 JCW Roadster. Mine is classic British Racing Green with a brownish tan interior. I love driving it with the top down, and the exhaust popping and burbling on the overrun as you row through the gears in Sport mode (where it opens a valve on the exhaust). Over here in the States, that openometer does not block anything. As I've mentioned elsewhere that's a cute little jab at all those convertible owners that never put their tops down. I've also no longer got run-flats, which changes the character of the car in a good way. Here's mine: www.chrisv-design.com/images/JCW011.jpg www.chrisv-design.com/images/JCW009.jpg
Very nice Roadster!
Openometer possibly for sun/UV exposure time? 🤔. Odd location in front of a vent though. Seats looked a bit small to.
Looked a fun, quirky car tho.
One of the things I like about being here in the states. With LHD, that openometer is still off to the left of the steering wheel, but it doesn't block anything. like on my car: www.chrisv-design.com/images/JCW011.jpg. It's just a cheeky little jab at all those convertible buyers that never put the top/hood down.
sorry mate but that is not an r56. it's an r59 roadster. and it is a fairly early example as they were made only between 2012 and 2015
I have the Mini Cooper Coupe, I love it 😻 it’s a fun car to drive!
I have the SD, the 2 litre turbo diesel thing. my first car too. I honestly can't think of another car that I would have rather had as my first car.
Cheap to insure, because apparently young chavs don't buy quick diesel minis
Cheap to buy
Cheap on fuel
and more reliable than the turbo petrols
Though now that I'm considering a second, I don't think I'll get rid of this
And this is just after learning in a 2018 golf, other than in ride quality and practicality(size), the mini was a much better car for me.
its your channel and its great but this version of the intro is STYLE! really like the "now in colour" - intro has a class about it.
Actually, this R59 is called the Mini Roadster, as opposed to the Mini Convertible (R57).
I have an R59 same car in France - and it’s called an R59 Always Open - l kid you not - hence the useless gauge on the side, whoever came up with this idea l couldn’t say, l actually thought it was a just a quirky “thing” to amuse the French, obviously not.
Looking at a 2012 with N18 engine. I thought the prior issues (@ 2min 40 sec) were sorted. Is a 2012 N18 considered to have overcome this
Good video as always. Had 7 minis so far.
Mini don’t call this the convertible though
Brilliant video thanks
(I say that as my daily is a non turbo convertible lol 😆)
It's not a patch on a 595 isn't that right James 😁
It's a beast.
Best car built love it
The steering on this car is more precise than your f12.
Your logo in the intro always gives me taco bell vibes
I know Jay will disagree but I owned an R56 JWC and this is the reason why I can't stand sporty FWD cars :)
4:28 when your car is a f****** Narc
You'd probably dismiss it as boring but two years ago this month, I took a gamble on a top spec (cream leather too) Renault Megane cabriolet. 2007, less than 60,000 miles and with hardly a mark on the pale gold bodywork.
It's my daily driver - I'm a songwriter and busker. If I had a roof-ometre, most of the 25k I've put on it would have been topless. The enormous boot will take my guitar hard case and some shopping and still allow me to pull the blind which allows the roof to open. Aside from servicing, two front springs are all its needed and it was your £750 spring upgrade that prompted my comment. That's about the same as I paid for the car if you convert the euro.
Lovely mini though.
A great review. We absolutely love our JCW Roadster, and with only 119 left on UK roads, hopefully, they will now start to appreciate in price. A true pocket rocket!
I question 260HP number quoted.
My full bolt on R59 is 255 HP to the wheels on rolling road
I recently bought an r56 Cooper s an it is a great car and feels quickish but I had gone from a mk3 mondeo tdci
It’s a quick little Roadster not a quick little hatchback !
Sounds really nice imo. has kind of an old school ring to it.
Was that Openometer broken by the way? I couldn't help but notice it was staying at 0, while the roof was distinctly absent... So not only is it pointless and in the way, but also broken?
I do love convertibles too. If its not freezing (so below 0) outside, and its dry, its open.
Ruby Roadster!
This isn't a Convertible it's a Roadster. I mean obviously it is convertible but it's not a Mini Convertible 😂
Makes a nice noise, but still cannot bring myself to have any desire for these lumpen "little" motors.
James you and I both know the real reason that roof down time gauge is there it’s because bmw know we need a factory location for a boost gauge 😂😂
I have a low spec r53 conv S and everything you said is true. thankfully it's not my daily so it's a work in progress only 56k though.
The F56 JCW exhaust tips confuse me
Openometer? It should have an odometer too. You know, the gauge that measures BS.
Great review. I have an R56 hatch and I love it. Is the rev hang you mentioned not due to rev matching trying to do its thing?
I just love this car. Have one and will never give it away :-)
i had a 2013 Clubman JCW... Dealer blew the engine up while investigating why when i was driving at 75mph down the m40, The entire car cut out, losing assisted breaking, steering and lights... 40,000 miles in 18 months! BMW ended up buying the car back and getting me into a 125d M sport instead. That has now done 150,000 miles with zero issue. Fact mini fitted PSA engines not BMW just beggers belief frankly!
It's beggars belief people that people can't get their facts right about the engine - It's a Bmw designed unit loosely based on Peugeot crank and pistons. The things that do go wrong - namely the timing chain failure - tensioner and guide failure - carbonisation build up within the intakes and Vanos failure is pure Bmw - and I've pulled apart enough of them to know. Modern Bmw petrol engines are the work of satan and are about as reliable as chocolate teapots. I would also advise you change your timing chain on your 125d because they snap without out any prior warning.
Good review. Love the way you wear a Corvette jacket in a Mini :)
Lol love the rear spoiler popping up to help aero on a car convertible car with the roof down
Hi James, did you use a different onboard camera this time? Noticed some bokeh behind you. Cheers!
No, just the benefit of having the roof down!
Openometer? Genius. Pure genius.
The fact Lohen would put their name behind the RaceChip tune is laughable.
Lohen didn't put the racechip on as far as I know
it was put on by me. Lohen did the suspension work, air intake, setup etc. They offered a remap but I declined Thanks
Great review as is the norm JayEmm. How does the SUPERCHARGER model compare to the later TURBO model? I think your right about a bigger boot being more useful than those back seats. I keep my back seats permanently folded just to give me a larger boot. Works in a manner though a rough solution. Really they are 2 seater cars.
I love the supercharged engine, but you need to work it hard. However the rest of the car feels very cheap in comparison to the later ones
@@JayEmmOnCars Really !!! now I didn't know that. So you'd vote for the later Turbo models with the 1.6 engine. I'm aware of a few issues with the later 1.6 with timing chain issues but maybe that's outweighed by the better quality of the car. But is the supercharger model faster and more fun though? The word SUPERCHARGER always sounds better lol
@@CoatsandGaiters They're both fun, but the turbo is quicker
@@JayEmmOnCars thank you for that. I trust your advice.
Windows are a pain in grades when messing around with roof
Britts always love to hear themselves talk.
_'This one time..._ in my 130i...' - ✌️😉
Meh. Lohen have touched it.
Think you should see if Petrol Ped will let you drive his mini. It's even more powerful. Nice review J.
Openometer. What the actual ****?
It's a little light hearted jab at all those convertible buyers that never put the tops down 'cause it'll mess up their hair or something. Just kind of a cheeky bit of fun.
JayEmm, I’ve just realised amongst all the fantastic rare and exotic drivers cars you’ve managed to get your hands on, I don’t think you’ve reviewed the BMW 1M yet 😩. Seems like the perfect car for you... hydraulic steering, manual gearbox, good looks, and you’ve even got a wee little BMW 1 series!! Come on lad... JayEmm to drive OneEmm!!
Keep up the good work!
Its getting hard to find one someone will let me drive
@@JayEmmOnCars BMW UK? You must certainly be on their radar by now lol
@@richarddonoghue7474 they won't even answer my emails
When he’s ready to sell he needs to get in contact.....👍🏻
@@russellhunt2548 didn’t think it’d be that quick 😀. Need to see how much you’re after for it first. You have an email?
Would love to know where the Alcantara was in the interior!
It’s on the steering wheel.
Only a real thug wears a Corvette jacket while reviewing a Mini 🤔
as rubbish as standard
OOh, taken up hairdressing as a sideline now?
😊
I think you should do a one-off video with a really boring car like a corsa and don't hold back with the criticism!
th-cam.com/video/TW4W14KfxVs/w-d-xo.html
Bah....haa haa. Took great pleasure in reminding my wife she owned one of those when I first met her. Tbf though, it was 2008 and the car was relatively new at the time. I reckon though, my yaris, which is now in its 18th year (and passed an MOT baring 2 dulling indicator bulbs, yesterday), has weathered the storm better 🤣
Looks like a kids ride on car. Sorry not a fan of small convertibles.
Looks like a lot of fun for a hairdresser🤭 if I have to buy a convertible for my missus big bro convertible it'll be a JDM version s2000 or lc500
What the hell is a “set of suspension” ?
🤣
You driving this car with the roof down looks very questionable though 😂
Ive got an R56 JCW Lohen stage 3 (S252 Turbo Technic's Hybrid) Running 288bhp and 407nm torque (with dyno to prove) and i can tell you now that the convertible there has never seen 260bhp! Mine will pull itself all over the road the first 4 gears. Youre more than welcome to take it out and feel the difference. Great little car, i love it, one of the best toys ive had.
I have dyno print showing from Lohen 234bhp after filter change etc. You can see the car and prints on their face book page. Race chip Tuning box states extra 34hp gain. Standard it showed 217hp.
@@russellhunt2548 Appreciate that but only a dyno sheet tells the truth after the mods ;-) everybody claims, few prove!
@@petrolheadparr agree with you, have dyno before and after mods so know the 234 is correct the box is a estimate. All I can say is you can feel the difference. Intend to have verified at lohen later this year.
Tuning box total waste
I hate these mini's with a passion. No reason apart from the way they look. The interiors are also shit. Also aftermarket performance air filters are stupid, you increase performance because they aren't filtering the air properly reducing restriction of air flow. The problem is you are letting contaminants into the engine reducing the life of your engine. An air filter is there for a reason, to filter air.
Each to their own, however just a correction to say the car does have a proper air filter fitted to my protect my engine as you can see in video.I have built two type 7 kit cars so understand the importance of this
@@russellhunt2548 Fair enough I stand corrected.
@@Punisher9419 Cheers👍
Just too bad it got a Peugeot engine, a complete disaster.
Addressed in the video
@@JayEmmOnCars It's still the most beautiful generation mini have made.
Get your facts right - it's a Bmw engine based on Peugeot block and pistons - in fact I can strip one in front of your eyes to show you all the poor Bmw engineering in the cylinder head -timing gear and vanos that gos wrong . The Peugeot part is best thing about it.
@@byronmills5952 It's a engine co-devolped by BMW and Peugeot. But yeah, BMW isn't really good at four cylinders. N47 had a bit of problems.
The definition of a hairdressers car
My Mrs hairdresser has a 4x4 thing. Therefore all 4x4s are hairdressers cars. All of them.
@@jamp12008 This is the information we should be pushing, maybe then SUVs will finally start disappearing lol
@@zachariah74 quick way to do it is to out 4x4s as “conservatives” and they’ll be swiftly cancelled 😂
Getting famous off of comments day 228, so I can live the dream, live every day like it’s your last🤙
Hideous car.
Would have the Abarth 595 over this any day. Horrible cars the new mini.
Are you driving in Sport Mode? Didn’t sound like it....