I've searched and Im getting alittle confused when i keep ready different threads.

Basically, Im going to be looking at 2007 JCW Mini, from the pics it looks like its a JCW but then I guess you can just buy the parts and throw them on.

It has the driving lights, the JCW CF rear spoiler, the exhaust looks meaner then the cooper s, but its has the normal crown spoke 17 wheels, it also has a CF hood scoop thing and CF mirrors. And it looks like it has the Cooper badges on the rear and inside.

Im reading things like factory installed and not installed and how people can just throw a few things on the car and make it a copy.

Is there a certain VIN# or a badge inside the engine bay, I just want to make sure its legit.

Or how can I tell it has the upgraded engine stuff if it wasn't factory installed.

Thanks any info would be great, Im going to look at this car this weekend.

 

Oh forgot here are some of the pics.

 

more

 

The new body style or R56 factory JCW was first made in 2009. The car you are looking at is a Cooper S with either a dealer installed or port installed JCW tuning kit which does not provide the same power, pistons, brakes, etc as a true factory JCW. If you want to stay in that price range, though, I'm sure you can find a 2006 R53 Cooper S with Factory installed JCW tuning kit. This is a true JCW in my book, a ton of fun to drive, however the older body style and supercharged rather than turbocharged.

 

Actually, looking at the exhaust pics, it doesn't even look like it has the JCW tuning kit. Just looks like it's a Cooper S with some JCW accessories/parts and emblem installed. If it had the JCW tuning kit at the least, the exhaust tips should have the JCW insignia, should be a badge in engine compartment with special number and intake with JCW insignias. This car does indeed look like a wannabe. I don't think an 07 S with a JCW tuning kit is a true JCW and it's definitely not if you just throw a few JCW parts on with an emblem. Just my opinion.

 

keep us posted

 

Yeah, it just looks like the tuning kit. Like BigAl said, factory JCWs didn't come out till 2009.

 

Model year 2009. They started showing up at dealers in July of 2008.

 

Al, the exhaust pipes on the JCW tuning kit are a bit different than the factory JCW. The car in the pics above does look like it has the tuning kit exhaust from what I can see.

 

I know that, that is why I said the exhaust from the tuning kit would also have the JCW insignia on it while the factory JCW exhaust does not. It just almost looks like it is an OEM R56 S exhaust with bigger tips which are widely available pretty cheap so just wasnt sure.

 

Ask owner if it has the JCW serial number plate on the engine and if he has the JCW seal of authenticity document that the dealer provides with the JCW upgrade. It is definitely not a JCW factory car but if it has the JCW tuning kit then it is still more desirable than a standard S. I should know.

BTW, I had the JCW tuning exhaust and swapped it for a factory JCW exhaust about one year later. The tuning exhaust droned on the highway.

Also, all of this "real JCW" junk is BS. (other threads on NAM too) The factory JCW car is nice but it is not gods gift to the MINI world and the price is steep for what it is. I have driven a couple of them (club member's 2009 HT and dealer's 2011 convertible) and they are not dramatically quicker than my car the way it is set-up. I prefer my car with the much lighter wheels, JCW suspension, JCW aero, tuning kit, mechanical LSD, etc... over a typical stock-ish factory JCW car. JMHO. Rant over.... the factory JCW car is nice but not the end-all MINI.

 

I tend to agree with most of what you said. Getting old by now but the factory JCW would obviously be much more appealing if it came from the factory with JCW suspension and aero kit at the least. If I wasn't able to get the car at way below dealer cost, there are definitely a few other cars that I would have to consider or possibly even an S that I would mod the heck out of. I have driven a car with the JCW tuning kit and am now on my second factory JCW and I have to say although the actual power numbers are not that different, the factory JCW does indeed feel noticeably faster. Brembo brakes are far better than the OEM R56 brakes. JCW exhaust sounds much better than OEM, especially after breaking it in and with the sport button on. Sport button is always on when I drive, its just automatic now. I would say between the Brembos, exhaust, upgraded pistons, etc., the JCW is not such a bad deal. I know there have been some pricing comparisons made on NAM somewhere which I do not care to find at the moment but when you compare an S with JCW tuning kit, adding brakes, exhaust, etc. to factory JCW, it is easy to see that it is a pretty good value. I do absolutely prefer the feel of the mechanical LSD which was a huge problem for me when ordering my first JCW.

 

Let's put this to bed already. There are tons of threads on here about this very subject. What really blows my mind is that this is a mature community with many, many posts across all subjects that have been discussed and debated to death and people still post new threads so we can rehash this all over again.

There are many threads on NAM that discuss getting a Cooper S over a Cooper. I felt that going with a Cooper S was not an option. I am glad that there is a factory JCW with all these nice options. I do not feel that the cost of entry is steep. There are other less expensive cars that have higher HP numbers but they are not a MINI and do not drive like a MINI.

A nicely optioned Cooper S is nice.

A nicely optioned Cooper S with JCW tuning or other performance mods is nicer.

A Factory JCW is nicest and when you mod it, it's really awesome.

 

Well said and couldn't agree more!

 

That's a nice JCW Stage 1 MCS but (as has already been said) it's not a factory JCW. What's a bit puzzling though is the dealer. Are they trying to pass it of as a factory JCW or are they unsure? If they're not sure that's fine, but if they say 'oh its a factory JCW alright', then they're plain lying.

 

vin decoder guide (most of the way down the page)
http://www.mini2.com/forum/faq.php?faq=new_faq_item

 

No need to decode the VIN. There was no factory JCW model in 2007. The factory JCW car came in MY2009.

 

but useful for others who may come along with a similar question.