Looking at a 2008 S that the owner is advertising as a JCW. He has a printout of the JCW engine Tune Kit documentation with the VIN that is dated within a week or two of the initial sales date and the car has Works badging on the lower front grille, rear bumper, and engine cowling but it doesn't have any of the aero or suspension stuff.

He says the original owner purchased it without the aero package. Was that possible, and if so how would one estimate the used price value since it isn't a complete JCW model?

 

I have a second generation factory JCW, which didn't come with an aero package - as far as I know the aero package is a separate option. But it it sounds like his is a dealer installed JCW kit rather than a car that left the factory as a JCW

 

Don't quote me, but I think in 2008 you could order a Mini S WITH the JCW tuning kit and you got JCW badging/designation. But sounds like it does not have the other 2 key JCW components: the aero kit and the Brembo brake kit. The later JCW Gen2 Mini cars (like mine) have a bigger turbocharger too, but the 2008 does not as I recall. So you could get an MCS and have the ECU tuned like I did for about $500 and it would probably be the same car at that one you're looking at (without the badging).
And I don't think that the factory JCW cars (with all the stuff) had a different suspension. The "JCW suspension" is a separate item that the dealer installs. I don't think you could even order it on your new JCW Mini to be installed at the factory, just the Sport Suspension like I have.

 

Just to be clear, the Aero package is a separate option . . factory JCW's did not come as standard with an Aero kit

 

Yep al a carte on the early Gen 2 pre 2009 Factory JCWs, then they made it factory on JCWs 2009-2010, then around 2011 they took it away from the factory JCWs then brought it back in 2012 or 2013. Yep its a little crazy.

Tuning kit cars where all separate and buy up options, at the end of the ~2013 era for the R56 they had JCW appearance packages. Lots of people get fooled on those.

 

Re: price - my husband's car is a '12 R56 S that has the dealer installed JCW tuning package installed with the badge on the engine cover which has a serial # (I think? been a while since I looked). We bought it from Carmax a several years ago and per KBB they absolutely had it priced as a regular S. They did not seem to consider the JCW equipment at all when they priced it. We were thrilled since it had the options he wanted and I think at the time he wasn't even aware there was such a thing as factory vs dealer installed JCW package. My '11 factory JCW R57 with the tuned engine, upgraded brakes etc that I bought used from the MINI dealer was priced as a JCW per KBB. If the one you're looking at seems high per KBB maybe try telling the guy that dealers price factory vs dealer installed packages differently.

 

In 2008 you could order a Cooper S and add the dealer installed JCW Tuning kit. It was about a $2,000 option. You got the JCW badges, a reflashed ECU, a different air cleaner, different mufflers with JCW chrome tips. It gave you about 20 hp over stock (192vs172bhp). It had it's own serial number that the dealer glued to the valve cover. I had mine installed about a year after I got the car. A factory JCW car only had the JCW engine and some JCW badges. I think it had 204bhp. The JCW brakes, suspension and aero package were all individual options.