I am trying to determine whether my car came originally with sport struts/shocks. Is there a way to tell? I still have the original shocks on it.

http://www.bmwarchiv.de/vin/bmw-vin-decoder.html

Enter last 7 of vin and it will tell you all the options your car came with...

Found your vin in one of your previous posts... Yes, your car did come with sport suspension.

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Data for the chassis number: WMWRE33516TJ38409
Model Name: COOPER S
Design: USA
Type code: RE33
E-Code: R53
Body: Coupe
Steering: Left
Doors: 3
Engine: W11 - 1.60 L (125kW)
Drive: Front-wheel drive
Transmission: Automatically
Exterior color: HYPER BLUE METALLIC (A28)
Interior: LEATHER / BLACK PANTHER (K7PN)
Production date: 12.07.2006
Work: Oxford

Code/Equipment
S228A/Sports suspension plus
S255A/Sports leather steering wheel airbag
S262A/ITS head airbag ITS - head airbag
S441A/Smoking package
S463A/Interior surface - Alloy Patina
S470A/Isofix system
S481A/Sports seat
S493A/Storage compartment package
S546A/Rev counter
S563A/Light package
S657A/Radio Bavaria C Reverse III
S736A/2nd Key for remote control
S823A/Hot-climate version
S845A/Acoustic belt warning
S853A/English language version
S876A/Radio frequency 315 MHz
S992A/Control of number-plate attachment
S1CAA/Selection of COP relevant vehicles
S202A/Steptronic Steptronic
S205A/Automatic transmission
S210A/Dynamic stability control
S249A/Multifunction f steering wheel
S319A/Integrated universal remote control
S369A/MINI LA ​​wheel Spoke 85 S
S382A/Roof and mirror caps white
S403A/Glass roof, electrical
S431A/Interior mirror with automatic-dip
S450A/Height adjustment, passenger seat
S473A/Front armrest
S520A/Fog lights
S521A/Rain sensor
S522A/Xenon Light
S534A/Automatic air conditioning
S550A/On-board computer
S645A/BMW U.S. Radio
S650A/CD drive
S674A/Hi-Fi system Harman Kardon
S692A/CD changer I-bus preparation
S895A/Additional fan
S8SPA/Control COP
S925A/Shipping protection package

Thank you...appreciate the extra effort in finding out for me.

FWIW, if the sticker is still on the strut, you can check the part number against
realoem.com and see if it's the Sport Suspension or Sport Suspension Plus.

BTW, all Cooper S (R53) MINIs come with Sport Suspension Plus, and the regular
Cooper (R50) MINIs can have either Sport Suspension or optional Sport Suspension Plus.

The Standard Suspension is only available on the Euro model MINI One (where
Standard Suspension is standard and Sport Suspension is an option and
Sport Suspension Plus is not available from the factory).

Thank you for the clarification. Now I have another question. My car has 130,000 miles on it with the original shocks. I have a bad strut mount that I need to replace. I will also be installing a Madness Mini strut reinforcement plate while I am at it. My question is, can I replace my shocks to the standard shocks?, as it may make more sense, cost wise? what would be the impact in doing this? this car is a simple daily driver.

I doubt that the original shocks can still be good after 130K (although mine are still doing great at 73K).
The SS and SS+ shocks are dimensionally identical externally and interchangeable. In fact, the Cooper
can be fitted with either from the factory depending on whether you got the optional suspension package.

The prices for either type of shocks are usually exactly the same, so I'd only go for the SS models
if you want a softer shock than the one the car came with.

Theoretically, the SS shocks/struts might be a tad underdamped for the SS+ springs, but we're
only talking about a 10% difference in spring rates betweem SS and SS+ suspension, so it's no biggie.

I am not finding SS+ shocks. I think SS+ refers to the whole suspension system for both front and rear. The Shocks I believe is just a component of the SS+ package so to speak. SO back to my original question, what type of shocks can I use, given that my car came with the SS+ package? If I search for shocks from online sources, I am unable to find SS+ shocks perse. In fact, shocks like the bilstein touring class shows as applicable to Mini Cooper S as well, and I am not sure if bilstein touring class is SS or SS+ or standard shock? Even for less expensive shocks like the Stagg claims to be compatible with the S models.

Those with S models and have replaced their shocks, what replacement shocks have you used?

I was referring to the OEM shocks, which for a gen 1 MINI are
part number 33506764913 for rear SS, and
part number 33506764914 for rear SS+ (stock part for MCS)
part number 31316780465 and ...466 for front left and right SS, and
part number 31316780469 and ...470 for front left and right SS+.

Your stock oem shocks should have 33506764914 (x2), 31316780469 and
38316780470 on their stickers if they haven't worn off yet.

I think they're made by Delphi.

Many people replace the stock units with Koni FSD (NOT with lowering springs, however)
if they want a more comfortable ride without sacrificing handling much,
or Koni Sport (yellow) which are more of a performance shock but adjustable,
or Bilstein Sport (they don't make an HD model for the gen 1 MINIs) which are a little
firmer than the Koni Sports and not adjustable.
The Bilstein touring class is probably about the same or a little softer than the OEM ones.
I think Sachs makes an oem-like replacement shock as well, but nothing to write home about.
All of these aftermarket choices come in just one stiffness variety and can
be used on a MINI Cooper or a MINI Cooper S.

Hope that clears things up better.

Oh, and there's also the JCW shocks, if you can get the dealer to sell them to you,
and there are several brands and models of coilover packages from Bilstein, KW, Megan,
Koni, Eibach, BC, etc.

I went to the dealer and learned that there is only one part number for the shocks for the S model. Meaning, there are no options in so far as shocks part numbers are concerned. I also learned from the Mini Cooper dealer service that the shocks rarely fails and they do not recommend replacing unless it is leaking or if it is obviously worn-out. they have not seen too many minis with wornout shocks even with high mileage. this is actually encouraging because I think it does not make sense to replace a good functioning part just because of mfg recommendations.