So probably a NOOB question, but so many have the JCW appearance package and so many trying to sell it as a JCW Cooper, i'm sure half not knowing it's not really one. What's the best way to tell the difference between just the appearance stuff and a real JCW?

 

http://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/de...2014/overview/

Real Cooper JCW?

 

That car is NOT a fJCW. Missing JCW badges on the intercooler grill and rear hatch. HAS S badging would not have both. Regular Tailpipes. Not the JCW slash cut or dealer embossed JCW kit pipes. Does not have the red JCW BBK Calipers.

They can be added but would never be deleted.

Hope that helps.

 

there's lots of tricks to tell, one I like to use is to take the last 7 of the VIN and stick it in realoem.com and it should show you what the car came from the factory as (s vs fjcw)

your example: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/select.do?vin=TY24682

 

That particular car is a Cooper S with a JCW Aero package JCW Challenge (R112), wheels. The headlights are an upgrade option also, but they may have been part of the JCW Aero package for that year.
I can't see the front wheel clear enough to see the brake caliper, but the absence of red indicates it has standard Cooper S brakes and not upgraded JCW brakes.
From the photos it would appear to have a leather interior, Power folding mirrors,no chrome line interior, or exterior package, and possibly heated seats. Carbon Fiber Dash and door handles.
The shift **** may be a JCW ****, but the AC display is being mirrored on it, so I can't clearly see the color of the gear shift pattern on top. It's definitely not a JCW Carbon fiber shift **** though.
The Stereo is an upgrade, but I can't tell if the tweeters in the pillars have the HK Logo, or it's the Hi Def version. Too much glare.
It has front fogs, but not rears.
It has Auto climate control .
If the interior/dash photo was clearer I could maybe tell you more.
Short of the NAV system, It's a very nicely put together Cooper S. It probably left the dealer new for over $30K

Plug the last 7 numbers into Real OEM as stated, or use BMW Archives, or the Vin Decoder in the "Tools" drop down menu in the forum top bar.
BMW archives is a little difficult because it's 1/2 english and 1/2 german, some of the descriptors have to be translated.
If you get serious about buying it and really want to know, for $10.00 you can plug the Vin into BMW's Vin Verifier and it will tell you exactly what it was shipped from the factory with, and when. $30.00 gets you 5 VIN checks. It doesn't break it down into package options, but from the equipment list the packages can be pretty much derived, based on the combinations of specific options.