Hi everyone just curious how I can look up or find out if the jcw kit is real

 

What year car you have? I noticed you posted in Gen1 before but that question would lead one to think you had a later model.

Put you VIN into a decoder, see Item 0004 in the thread below.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...questions.html

 

BMWVIN.com

Unless it's an early JCW - which were dealer add-ons and would not appear on the VIN sheet and IMO, worth not much more than a regular S model then...

 

Use a bmw vin decoder, a factory JCW (2005/2006 only for r53) will have these options minimum.

S2TAA Differential lock 25%

S3ALA John Cooper Works Kit


dealer installed cars probably do not have the LSD, but may have the ported head, injectors & airbox. The airbox is obvious there's a flap on the back side you can reach in and feel with your hand. JCW injectors are light blue cap vs regular S brown/tan cap also easy to see. The head not sure if there's a easy way to tell

 

Since the JCW Package option (3AL) wasn't available until November 2005 builds, this only applies to 2006 models

 

I thought some of the 05's got it too, basically if it's not in the vin build it's not factory installed

 

2006 Model Year Press Release

 

those are very incomplete lists of changes

 

It's just a copy of a MINI USA Press Release highlighting the major new offerings.

More details here.

 

I saw this link, also incomplete, no mention of things like the shifter bushing size change, exhaust hanger direction change, all the dash changes, kombi & bc module changes, ecu/tune change

 

Good luck finding such a comprehensive list

 

incomplete lists have cost me money, I learned the hard way on a short shifter and a catback exhaust

 

One of the risks of buying aftermarket parts

Exhaust Hanger Change - January 2004
Shifter Bushing Change - ?

 

I think all the changes were at the same time, with the facelift

who said anything about aftermarket parts, it's oem stuff that changed too, dont try to put a facelift jcw catback onto a pre facelift without a welder handy

clutch sensor, wiring harness, shifter bushing, 3 piece to 1 piece dash, trim changes on dash, kombi module, bc1 module, seat sensor setup, exhaust hangers, probably more that's poorly documented but those are all the things that have already gave me headaches

retrofitting cruise control was fun, even the bmw docs sucked I had to find german ones and translate it