New mini - timeline of significant Changes

[Niffty951]

Hi all,

I'm considering a new mini (jcw hatch) and would be interested to know the years where significant changes occurred for when I'm searching.

I'd really like to know for example when they went from supercharged to turbocharged and when they changed the shape of the seats to make them more comfortable (wider/softer).

Any help gratefully appreciated.

Regards,

Ben

[Hartge220]

Hope this helps
http://www.minigenuineparts.co.uk/mini-parts/MINI_...

The supercharged model (R53) ran untill 2006, not sure about your seat question though? Might be worth asking on one of the MINI forums if nobody answers here, or failing that pop in to your local dealer??

[Niffty951]

What an amazing site. Thanks a million. You know I had no idea that the new mini was manufactured in England!

..Was even thinking of buying one till I found out

[Hartge220]

You could join one of the MINI related forums to get a wealth of information before you buy one, they also occasionally do trips around the MINI plant in Oxford, very interesting .
Here's a pic of mine (2003 R53) at the Pistonheads Sunday service down there last year


Try www.totalMini.com for very good info

All depending on what part of the country you are there are quite a few regional MINI forums too

[scotty_d]

Hartge220 said:

Hope this helps
http://www.minigenuineparts.co.uk/mini-parts/MINI_...

The supercharged model (R53) ran untill 2006, not sure about your seat question though? Might be worth asking on one of the MINI forums if nobody answers here, or failing that pop in to your local dealer??

That is not cheap on there wow for a mini look at the prices on some of that stuff lol. Cheaper to run the Cerb for parts lol

[Hartge220]

scotty_d said:

That is not cheap on there wow for a mini look at the prices on some of that stuff lol. Cheaper to run the Cerb for parts lol

At least you don't run the Cerb all the tme though lol

[scotty_d]

Hartge220 said:

At least you don't run the Cerb all the tme though lol

I use it every day i am at home More or less

[Hartge220]

Good man

[scotty_d]

That's why we have these toys to use them Plus i hardly ever get the Keys the the MCS as she loves it

[Niffty951]

Well I started doing my research but the more I found out, the economy of the turbo engine, the recent power hike, the change from silver interior trimmings to black, the JCW alcantara steering wheel, the latest current wheel styles and change from white to black speedo and rev counter.. the new mini (in my opinion) has never been better than it is right now.

So I took the crazy plunge and ordered one new. I've never had a car built to my specification before! It was great but so many tough choices, where usually you have to accept what you get. This time 'knowing I'm going to be tied in to keeping the car for longer than I've ever owned a car to date' I found it really hard to make the choices.

6-8 weeks to wait but I'm seriously excited. My budget wouldn't stretch to a golf R but all things considered I can't think of any new hatch I'd prefer to be driving. Immeasurably safer than the old mini, more power than a standard 2.0 turbo golf gti, 40mpg on a run, hot hatch handling straight out of the 1980's, spec options to rival an executive barge and a comfortable/pleasant interior to spend time in. It's only the boot space I can foresee becoming a big irritation over time.

[scotty_d]

Niffty951 said:

It's only the boot space I can foresee becoming a big irritation over time.

Well done sir post up pictures when you get it. As for the boot you learn to live with it If you go shopping just flick the back seats down it is so quick and easy it is in the r53 any way.

[Niffty951]

Hmmm have recently discovered that the delivery date quoted on my paperwork has fallen back, apparently due to suppler issues with the JCW wheels.

Call me suspicious of quoting optimistic deadlines to look good over independent BMW dealer groups but has anyone else heard anything about this? It has bugged me slightly as I was already struggling to wait for the date in question.

[E31Shrew]

Niffty951 said:

Hmmm have recently discovered that the delivery date quoted on my paperwork has fallen back, apparently due to suppler issues with the JCW wheels.

Call me suspicious of quoting optimistic deadlines to look good over independent BMW dealer groups but has anyone else heard anything about this? It has bugged me slightly as I was already struggling to wait for the date in question.

Mini dealer where I work has a set of barely used JCW wheels in silk black finish. £999.00 inc tyres

[sad61t]

Hi Nifty, ordered my Cooper Baker Street on 31 March with a 6-8 week wait. Now looking at end of June. Is there a smilie for :disgruntled: ? Salesman came up with similar supply-issue reasons, but couldn't find anything specific in my spec to pin it on. They're currently getting Countrymans through from Austria faster than hatches from Oxford. On leaving bumped into the sales manager who mentioned that the Olympic special editions, presumably for promotional use as BMW is the official travel partner or some such claptrap, took precedence over the customer orders throughout May and now the factory is ploughing through the backlog. Don't know if that's true, but it's a good story. Dealer wants it to arrive as much, if not more, than me as they've a partex value to honour.

[dandarez]

scotty_d said:

Niffty951 said:

It's only the boot space I can foresee becoming a big irritation over time.

Well done sir post up pictures when you get it. As for the boot you learn to live with it If you go shopping just flick the back seats down it is so quick and easy it is in the r53 any way.

It is in the R56 as well, just carry some bubblewrap or cushion to put over the seat-belt stalks, when back seats are down if loading up to the hilt. Otherwise the stalks will embed awful marks into the seat upright.

[dandarez]

Niffty951 said:

Well I started doing my research but the more I found out, the economy of the turbo engine, the recent power hike, the change from silver interior trimmings to black, the JCW alcantara steering wheel, the latest current wheel styles and change from white to black speedo and rev counter.. the new mini (in my opinion) has never been better than it is right now.

So I took the crazy plunge and ordered one new. I've never had a car built to my specification before! It was great but so many tough choices, where usually you have to accept what you get. This time 'knowing I'm going to be tied in to keeping the car for longer than I've ever owned a car to date' I found it really hard to make the choices.

6-8 weeks to wait but I'm seriously excited. My budget wouldn't stretch to a golf R but all things considered I can't think of any new hatch I'd prefer to be driving. Immeasurably safer than the old mini, more power than a standard 2.0 turbo golf gti, 40mpg on a run, hot hatch handling straight out of the 1980's, spec options to rival an executive barge and a comfortable/pleasant interior to spend time in. It's only the boot space I can foresee becoming a big irritation over time.

Excited? You will be!
I got my MINI John Cooper Works new from the factory in Jan 2009 intending to keep it 6 months. Over 3 years later it's just about to go... to be replaced another new JCW. Strange, reading above, it's late too (and that's direct from Cowley). Should have been ready end of May. I'm in no hurry though cos I know it will be a hoot.
Absolutely brilliant car.

[Niffty951]

dandarez said:

Excited? You will be!
I got my MINI John Cooper Works new from the factory in Jan 2009 intending to keep it 6 months. Over 3 years later it's just about to go...

I can barely keep a lid on the excitement at the moment. I've never had a car built to my exact spec before. Every time I look through the brochure I am re-pleased about the choices I've made and that it has everything I like.

I love what they've done with the interior, I think it feels a really nice place to be and the new fatter steering wheel is fantastic to hold.

Committing myself financially to one car and to lose 10k over 2 years (max limit set by hand back value) is something I have never done before but I've always loved the old Mini and name sell out or not the new Mini drives with the same character as the original.

It's fast, fun, comfortable, economical, safe, practical (ish) and cheap to run. It's so much like an older hot hatch that it barely feels legal in a modern car. Over the years I've driven various new mini's and I've left with a huge grin every single time.

Although I still love the old Mini the reality of driving one on the road, the safety/reliability/space and comfort (especially for long cross continental drives) is not appealing for someone who broke his back a few years ago in a big road accident. I just couldn't do it mentally or physically... and why would I want to when the new mini is just as much fun when driven hard down a twisting bit of road and yet feels completely at home sat on the motorway on a long drive.