Red calipers with the JCW logo and red springs.

 

Aside from having a JCW cylinder head I don't have a wealth of knowledge. However, I believe that up to a point, and I think it was in '05, the JCW package was not a production-line option. Rather, it was installed post production, typically at the point of sale. In the worst case, you would have to figure out its dealership of origin and contact them. This could probably be done easiest through carfax or DMV. Lucky for you, our keys are the automotive equivalent of a flash drive. Go to you nearest Mini Dealer and as long as the work was done by a MINI (or BMW - I believe) dealership the entire service history should come up. Additionally, the full JCW kit comes with an authenticity plate. It has the kit's serial number and is usually placed on top of the valve cover. There are 3 kits. The 205HP (January-June of 2004), the 210HP (July -), and a John Cooper Upgrade which is the intake and injectors, I think (I've never heard of this). I'm going by RealOEM.com. I don't know if this helps, but I hope it does.

 

+1 All dealer installed JCWs have a certificate that go with them. Mine doesnt have any badges, I sold them (they sell for a pretty penny) but I do have the certificate, which is all you really need to prove authenticity, because badges can be bought from people like me.

 

Correction here. I have a 2004 JCW kit, for a April delivery. It does not have the Works CAI, and I do not believe it has the injectors either.

That said, I plan on (finally) installing a CAI (Alta probably), and going with a 15% pulley. Is there a real need to upgrade the injectors?

 

This is correct. The CAI was a seperate accessory. The actual JCW engine kit came with head, a 'revised supercharger', and tune as major components and a bunch of little bits like badges, cert, plugs. cat-back was also a separate accessory.

A note on the supercharger, it was just a regular M45 with a different pulley fitted and the newer black rotor coating. Really, you can get more boost from a regular blower and a 15% pulley.

I still have stock injectors with JCW, Promini CAI, Borla cat-back, and tune and my AF gauge shows it in the normal range.

 

The 2009 JCW is the Factory made JCW. The Engine's are manufactured in Germany and 452 of these cars were made in 2009. Of course they still make them in 2010. Not only is the Engine made in Germany but the beefed up six speed transmission is also made in Germany.

There is no identification on the engine at all. It just has a "Mini" emblem on it. They will probably make a bunch of them in 2010 because they are great cars and very,very fast & nimble.


As you can see they are still put together in England along with all of the Mini Coopers. I love the Power and handling of my 2009 JCW more then my 1998 corvette. The Factory produced JCW may or may not be any better then a Mini with the Factory accessory package or dealer installed package but it sure is quick and wayy tooooo much fun.
Ronnie948

 

1) Its not disputed that the 2006-current JCW was a factory car. Prior cars were dealer installed bits.

2) The 'made in Germany' statement is 1/2 true. The components are all made in Dourvin as are all Prince motors. Its just that BMW for some reason decided to do the final assy in Germany instead of Hams Hall. Does that make it better? have no idea. I suspect it has more to do with capabilities at the German factory to handle smaller numbers than at Hams Hall where they have a line running to make 250,000 engines per year. With BMW, its always a calculated decision weighing economics and logistics.

3) Getrag 285 (Cooper S & Focus) transmission production is all German.

I try not to get too hung up on where something is made anymore. There was a time (15 years ago) where I would argue that the 4.0L V6 in my Explorer was superior because it was made in Cologne Germany. Was it really? No. Anymore there are components made here and there and its hard to tell where the final product was really made. Chevy Equinox V6 engine blocks and bottom ends are made in China, but the final assembly of the engine is in Mexico, so it's labeled as Made In Mexico. Its much more about what QC systems the manufacturer has in place at the plant than anything. BMW has the same QC process in place at Hams Hall that it has in Steyr where they make the N54 3.0 Turbo.

In the end, its all about the final product rather than 'where' that product came from.

 

I'm looking at an '06 JCW convertible, but the vin decoder doesn't show LSD. Is it possible that an '06 was not a factory JCW and doesn't have LSD? Its a 2006-01-17 build date.

 

The JCW Tuning Kit could have been dealer installed.

A factory JCW will have option code 3AL.

 

most cars 2nd gen wont have the JCW logo on the valve cover.. as they should have had the cover replaced with the timing chain service! **most dealers wont order the extra JCW logo for the replacement valve cover either when this service is done..

*my JCW is a factory JCW..timing chain service was done by an independent shop and no JCW badge went back on under the hood.