Probably thurs. What should I be looking for? Do I take the VIN and call the dealer to see if its registered? Any help or info. THX.

 

1st Gen MCS JCW Tuning Kits and Factory Models - The MINI Wiki

 

The 03 JCW kit will not show up on a VIN lookup since it was a dealer installed kit (any JCW's before the fall of 2005 are dealer installed).

If it's "period correct" you'd have the 200hp JCW kit

as MINAC mentioned in his link, if you have the 200hp kit it will have:

Machined Cylinder Head
Supercharger with Reduction Pulley
NGK BKR7EQUP Spark Plugs
Cat-back Exhaust
ECU Remap
Intercooler Cover
Front and Rear Badges

If you're lucky you'll find the certificate showing the matching number that's shown on your engine cover.

Things should look pretty much like this:

 

It is VERY easy for someone to get some JCW parts and sell it as a "JCW", but do stickers, aero kit or sill plates make a JCW?

Most believe that a true JCW is one that has the full 200 or 210 kit (in the first gen's), not one that has the "JCW sound kit" which is just the CAI (or trim pieces stuck on).

So be very leery of someone selling a JCW and look for all of the items listed above, most are easily identifiable and can quickly help you with your price negotiations. Even the placement of the badges is a key to the legitimacy of the JCW kit.

If you are in doubt, post photos of the engine bay, and a lower image of the rear of the car so we can see the boot and the exhaust resonators. A shot at this angle showing the resonators and boot would be ideal (but this of course is a GP)

 

Some of us who had the 200bhp Kit installed also had the 210bhp Upgrade Kit installed

Some of us who had a JCW Tuning Kit installed chose not to have the badges installed

 

Ya, this one doesn't have the badges, but the engine compartment looks like the ones pictured.
I also guess I should be able to tell if it has 200 hp with the good ol butt dyno. If it doesn't feel more powerful than mine, then I guess there will be some questions.
Still might be a good buy cause its an S, I dunno, but might have to take some price off.