Well I was going to post this as a new thread but thought it fitted in better here.
I'm really pleased to say that after 4 months of waiting for my BRG JCW, it finally arrived for me to collect on the 31st May. The actual collection was a bit of a toned down event because I was returning the dealers demo car which they had kindly loaned me for 2 months (whilst they re-ordered my car due to a factory hiccup), and I had asked that my car was not cleaned or valeted to ensure it didn't get any scratches or swirls from the dealer. This made it less presentable for the salesman who wished he could have seen it cleaned up but never-the-less respected my wishes.
Even my wife and kids, who had suffered in the lead up to the collection, didn't join me, instead they went shopping and I had to pick them up afterwards!
Anyhow, I have driven about 400 miles now and I'm extremely happy with the spec I chose, which differed to the dealer’s demo car in that theirs was an auto, and I chose manual this time around. My last car, a BMW 125D was the Sports auto with paddles, and whilst great in town/cities, it was not so involving on the open roads even when paddle shifting. So I thought go for the manual and live with the compromise in traffic. The JCW manual is a nice slick shifter, no so slick as my wife's F55 SD, but I'm hoping that is just because of the 10k miles it has on my car, and loosen up more with age.
I am trying to run the car in gently, keeping below 4500rpm, but it's very tempting to overtake now and then and when I do I'm watching the road not the rev counter so not sure if I've actually exceeded the self-set limit! However there is ample power for easy overtakes, and if I stretch the car fully I'll be doing unnecessary speeds for the actual manoeuvre. It'll be a different story when I've got the road to myself though.
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The other main difference to the demo car is the Variable dampers. I wrote a question about these in a thread before I ordered, not really knowing the difference, and there was some talk of them being 10% harder/softer when in Sport or Mid/Green respectively. I've actually found them to be softer in Mid/Green and marginally softer in Sport mode, which I realise is not as per Mini's description but that is what the butt meter is saying. Oh and they are both on 18's with runflats, the demo car had Dunlop Sportmaxx's, mine has Pirelli P7 Cinturato's, so there could be a slight difference there, but you'd expect my new tyres to be firmer until bedded in wouldn't you???
I'm very keen to swap the tyres for some Michelin Super Sports when funds allow to reduce the road noise, improve grip under cornering and braking and give a softer ride, lets hope they deliver all that. I've not pushed the Pirelli's but if they're anything like the Dunlop's on the demo car they aren't grippy enough for the car imo.
Options I have is the Media XL, fortunately just got in before the Japan debacle. Excellent HK sound, folding mirrors, rear park sensors and the Chilli pack.
Mod-wise, I've added mudflaps so that the car doesn't get as mud splattered as my wife's F55, small though the front ones are, they'll do something to help stop it. I'm also planning to add the roof spoiler aero tips in red, and looking at the concept car bumper stickers from Luxemini.
I've also detailed the car myself with an orbital polisher and Menzerna, Gtechniq CSL and EXO ceramic coating, C4 for the bumper trim, C5 for the wheels/exhaust. This has left the paintwork very slick and hopefully easier to keep clean and looking like new.
I'll keep you posted as she loosens up and the mpg (avg 35mpg currently) settles down, but not too far down!
