Mini Cooper S Works Plus 2005 Review

Black and white beauty

Starting out as a standard 125kW 2005 model Mini Cooper S, it didn't even get to be run in before the lads at Mini HQ threw the book(s) at it... The factory parts and accessories and John Cooper Works catalogs to be exact.

BWB takes the country's most extravagantly equipped Cooper quest to the next level and has an eyewateringly expensive pricetag to match. Forget about trying to add it all up. Let's call it $80,000-something and be thankful that 90 per cent of the thrills are available via the Cooper S's standard entry fee of $41,100.

The full compliment of John Cooper Works technical upgrades has been fitted to this car including 154kW engine upgrade, retuned suspension with new spring and damper set ups, 18-inch wheels and run-flat tyres. The carbon-fibre rear spoiler is the latest addition to a bodykit parts bin that includes blacked out front grille, deeply sculpted side skirts and aggressive front and rear valances. This car also gets carbon-fibre dash dress-up panels, rally-style sports seats and the trickest set of CF-clad mirrors this side of a pit wall.

The John Cooper Works sports suspension lowers BWB's ride height by 10mm and further stiffens the already firm Cooper S ride. Though 10mm is not enough to change the stance of the car, it is easy to recognise cars so equipped -the red lacquered coil springs are as lairy as hell. So too are the red floating brake callipers which make up the John Cooper Works sport brake kit along with larger (294 x 22mm) ventilated discs.

Our time with BWB was very limited, however, we're reasonably well versed with the character of the Cooper S Works after more than 10,000km in the CarPoint/Unique Cars much loved Project Cooper S. On the road, initial impressions were that the modified car's ride was on the jarring side of firm -can you spell G-O-K-A-R-T. That said, the brakes were a worthwhile upgrade yielding a strong, high pedal and plenty of bite.

Modifications and add-ons aside, this car has one improvement over its predecessor, and one from which all Cooper S owners will now benefit. Fitted from mid-2005, a limited slip differential is now standard on all Cooper Ss. BWB had it and it's a definite improvement if you like your Mini-ing quick.

While the open-diffed S has trouble getting even the standard 125kW to the ground out of tight corners (spinning the inside front wheel 'til smoke obscures pursuers) the latest model's tricky LSD lets the outside front get into the action. Getting the full quotient of the Works engine's 154kW to the ground is now easier (though it's still possible to toast tyres) and the result is stronger drive out of corners (plus better tyre life!) and less propensity to understeer (run wide) out of corners.

The bugbear of LSD-equipped front drivers, torque steer, seemed remarkably well controlled despite the extra traction. Given BWB has wider lower profile rubber than the standard car it'll be interesting to see how the changes translate into the standard shod car.

Photos: MOTOR magazine