3rd Gen JCW Most liked posts in thread: My 2018 JCW MT: A review

10k mile update:

Aside from the fender-bender early on the JCW has been trouble free the whole time. The first service was fast and easy.

I have basically stopped using "green mode" as it doesn't actually affect engine management. It just gives you a "game" to play to improve mileage. I have figured out how to maximize mileage in traffic with appropriate shifting.

I discovered that the car automatically rev matches. I had no clue it did that until I missed a gas blip on a downshift and the engine revved anyway. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I like matching my own gears but it is not so intrusive that it was stopping/interrupting me from doing it on my own. Another 2 points to the engineers.

I attended a local autocross. I did okay. Not great by any means but I was 77/149 in PAX. 8/46 in the "Novice" class. I realized three things afterwards: 1) Holy Crap I am rusty as hell after 5 years of not autox'ing and tracking. 2) Dunlop Run flats are CRAP autoX tires. Great for DD'ing. Lousy to AutoX on. 3) The skill is still there. I just need to wake it back up. My tires went to shit by the third run but I kept dropping 2-3 SECONDS every run.

I have been driving it basically everyday and every day I start it and it makes me smile. I love flipping it into sport mode, feeling it tighten up steering and sharpen the throttle response. It was still the right choice to buy the F56 JCW.

 

I just tried a 4 -> 2 downshift for you on my way to work. It matched it. I had to be a bit gentle releasing the clutch but otherwise no issue.

I can say that on some of my more "spirited" drives I have ripped through gears as aggressively as I would on a racetrack. The match is unnoticeable even while I am rev-matching myself. It seems to know better than intervene.

Also here are a few more pics:

Da booty:


Interior:


Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

Well, I am now just about a year and 14,569 miles into ownership.

Couple of updates:

Yes, I do plan on modding it, a bit. More details further below.

So for the only consistent issue I have with it is the Satellite Radio. The antenna sucks so it cuts out awkwardly on the local freeways. Nothing obscuring the LOS to the Southern sky. Just cuts out. Kind of annoying. Didn't have that problem in the last two cars I had with satellite radio. I will complain at my 20k service. I doubt they will do much.

I am still enjoying my car every day. Everything still feels tight and sharp. No rattles or creeks.

I still haven't been using the "green" mode. I have been using sport more. So 70/30 Normal/Sport.

Since "discovering" the rev match feature I have basically ignored it. I still rev match myself and it's never gotten in the way.

So planned mods. I am pushing back my modding schedule from October to January. I am shooting two more late season major matches so I want to stay focused until then.

The mods planned are as follows:

- NM Eng Wheels 17"
- Dunlop Direzza ZIIIs (still not 100% what size though)
- ABF 600 Brake Fluid
- Powerstop performace brake pads
- Performance transmission fluid (Redline or Amsoil, maybe?)

I am waffling on one upgrade: Exhaust. I love the stock exhaust. It pops and growls. Sometimes I love that I can have an easy conversation in the car but other times I wish I had that extra dB of exhaust growl. Anyone know of somebody that has done exhaust mods to a JCW F56? Not just an S. They have a different exhaust set-up from what I understand.

 

29,356 mile update:

This car has done the Austin to Los Angeles run twice in the last 5 months. That's an additional 4k miles on that alone. I just had my 30k service (a tad early).

The way back on the second trip I hit a pothole on I10 so deep it tore the runflat at the rim guard. This warranted an immediate pull over. The emergency flashers went on automatically and the dash lit up and it gave me the "pull off the road immediately" warning. Not that I needed the warning. As a testament to the quality of the build, the rim wasn't damaged at all and the suspension wasn't knocked outta whack.

I'll skip the harrowing tail of getting towed to Phoenix and getting a tire (See the attached pic for a visual).

The funny thing was that I was getting ready to replace the OE tires since they were down to the wear-bars anyway. So, I skipped the run-flats and I have some nice sticky Continental tires that are also good in the wet. Honestly, I can't tell the difference in the ride comfort. The run flats have come a long way in 10 years.

This car is a still a blast to drive everyday. Sport mode is still a giggle. Clutch is still great and it runs well and there are no funky creaks or rattles.

My plans to mod the car are on hold for two reasons. 1) My shooting career isn't where I want it to be so I am putting more time there 2) The JCW GP is coming and if they don't suck I will buy one and track the hell out of it instead of modding this JCW.

 

How so? Tons of cars I have worked on mount them separately. It usually makes for easier parts change/adjustments anyway.

 

It rumbles and pops on every start. EVERY start. It's awesome.

 

Yup. It's flat red. It's such a nice touch.