Section: R50 (Coupe)
Dec 22nd, 2008
This is a question we get asked quite a bit around these parts. It’s also a question that we have covered in a few older episodes of White Roof Radio.
MF Reader Chris writes.
I know nobody trusts Consumer Reports, but they appear to say that Mini Cooper reliability improved greatly from 2005 on. Would it be safe to purchase a 2005 - 2006 Mini Cooper, or should I save up enough money for a 2007 (new model)? Is reliability in the earlier models really that bad?
Keeping in mind that I have a 2003 R50 MINI Cooper with 200+ miles, I would say (and Gabe agrees) to stay away from the earlier MINIs (’02 - ‘03) if you can. There are quite a few build issues with these older cars and if you find one that wasn’t properly tended to you might end up with more headaches that you could handle.
However, moving into the newer model years, it becomes more a matter of what you want and how you want it to look. You didn’t say if you were looking for a Cooper or an MCS, but this should cover you either way.
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Nov 11th, 2008
It’s official as you can see from the photo. My MINI eclipsed the 200,000 mile mark recently and thought it would be a good time to give you my thoughts about this car since it has more than 10 years worth of normal driving miles on it.
I got my MINI on March 9th, 2003 and hit my first 100K miles on October 7th, 2005. Lots of miles for work, lots for SCMM events and just general motoring.
This 100,000 miles did take a little bit longer, mostly due to the extreme increases in the price of gas. When I bought my MINI, I was paying $1.899 for a gallon of premium in SoCal. We all know the rest of that story. I also drove less for work, which is another reason why it took a bit more than 3 years to hit this 100K versus 2.5 for the last.
I’ve said this here many times before, but the MINI is the best car I have ever owned. Except the alternator going out and getting 1 flat tire, this car has never left me stranded and never not started. I’ve driven this car in pouring rain, searing heat and even snow without a hitch. Never thought I would lose control and have always felt safe, even driving next to 18-wheelers with 60MPH gusts!
The following is a recap of the life of my MINI. Follow the jump!
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Oct 1st, 2008
If you have 18″ OEM MINI wheels on your car put on by the dealer, odds are you have the steering stop installed on your car. The reason? Apparently under extreme circumstances MINI found that the tires with this set up will rub the inner fenders slightly. Their solution? To restrict the steering angle enough to prevent it from happening. The downside? Increased turning radius. continued →
Sep 15th, 2008
Buyer beware. From ABC news, a story about a MINI that was damaged during Katrina, ended up in Kansas City then sold to an unsuspecting buyer in South America.
Sight unseen, Vargas bought the car over the Internet through a dealer in Bolivia for $7,000. He then spent $5,000 shipping the car of his dreams to Los Angeles, down the Pacific Coast to Chile, and over the Andes Mountains to Cochabamba, Bolivia.
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Aug 11th, 2008
Frank Stephenson, lead design of the R50 MINI, has joined the McLaren as its Design Director. That’s according to the Cardesignews.com. Here’s an excerpt from the site:
“McLaren is pleased to confirm that Frank Stephenson will shortly join as Design Director,” a company spokesperson told CDN, but would not reveal additional details. Stephenson was not prepared to comment. continued →
May 12th, 2008
This one sent in by MF regular Nathaniel Salzman. It’s a great way to get iPhone integration in your MINI without breaking the bank!
MINI iPhone integration: The Shure Music Phone Adaptor
The topic of iPod integration in the MINI is nothing new on MotoringFile. Options abound for getting your music through the speakers of your MINI’s stereo. With everything from integrated factory and ICE-LINK adaptors, to factory AUX port adaptors, to head-unit replacement. Each option has its inherent advantages of function and integration, and disadvantages of sound quality, chord management, or price.
Another common topic is that of mobile phone integration, particularly BlueTooth solutions both OEM and after market. Like with iPod integration, the available solutions vary in cost, compatibility, and function.
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Apr 8th, 2008
Frank Stephenson, exterior designer of the first generation “new” MINI has stepped down from his post as design director at Alfa. While at the Fiat Group, Mr. Stephenson oversaw design on everything from the Maserati MC12 to the Ferrari 430 to the new Fiat 500. While at BMW he led lead the exterior design on the original BMW X5 and of course the R50 MINI One and MINI Cooper. Here’s an excerpt from an Automotive News article on the move:
Stephenson confirmed to AutoWeek, Autmotive News Europe’s sister publication, that it was his decision to leave Alfa Romeo, but he did not want to comment on his reasons. continued →
Feb 2nd, 2008
You would think that MINI + El Camino would equally Subaru Brat, but I don’t think so. This is the 2nd time I’ve seen a MINI modded this way. And I like it! The lads over at CarScoop provide the skinny.
The customized MINI Pick-Up truck you see in the picture above will make a special appearance at Pioneer’s stand at the forthcoming Paris Tuning Show on February 29. It is equipped with a series of Pioneer products including a high-end navigation system.
Click through for more info and pictures.
[ MINI El Camino Pickup by Pioneer ] CarScoop
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Jan 19th, 2008
Have you ever wondered how Kelly Blue Book and Edmunds determines the resale value of a car?
According to Jesse Toprak, senior analyst for Edmunds, in Santa Monica, Calif., there are four major factors that determine the value of a trade-in. The first is simple: supply and demand. High-volume production vehicles like the Ford and Chevrolet pickup trucks are so numerous they generally don’t hold high resale value.
Another important factor, according to Toprak, is brand image. Some brands, like Toyota, Honda, and Porsche, have it, which is why those brands show up at the top of the resale value table year after year. “Deserved or not,” says Toprak, “brand image is still one of the biggest determinants of the resale of a vehicle.”
Of course, this makes even better reading since the MINI scores near the top of all the charts.
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Dec 28th, 2007
After posting the R56 instructions yesterday, it occurred to us that we had never officially offered the first generation MINI’s grille badge instructions on the site. So if you have an R50, R52 or R53 and a few favorite magnetic MotoringBadge’s in mind, here’s your official DIY PDF straight from MINI.
[ R50/R52/R53 Grille Badge Holder ] Official MINI PDF
Nov 16th, 2007
Let’s say you missed the boat on ordering park distance control or bought your MINI used without it and suddenly realize it’s a must have. While it can be retro-fitted, it’s not easy. Luckily MINI has a solution. It’s the new license plate based PDC. And as you can guess, installation is a little simpler.
[ Rear Plate PDC ] Official MINI PDF continued →
Nov 9th, 2007
Friday DIY is back this week with official instructions for an accessory most probably don’t know exists.
So you’ve got an R50/R53 MINI and the need for less sun. Maybe it’s a child, maybe it’s a hatred of the sun. We’re not here to judge. But we are here to show you how to install the thing using the official MINI PDF.
The Sun Guard is comes with tinted plastic that fully covers both rear windows and the hatch. It’s meant to reduce temperatures and glare.
[ Sun Guard ] Official MINI PDF
Nov 5th, 2007
Here’s a question I’ve personally received from a couple readers:
Hi guys, I have a quick question for Gabe. I notice when looking at photos of your R56 JCW Cooper S that your headlights are completely ‘clear’. By this I mean that when you purchase ‘white signals’ from Mini as an option you still see an orange bulb when looking at the headlights head on. Now for the obvious question, what have you done to make it completely clear? Did you change the bulb out and if so would you mind letting me know where I can purchase it and the part # etc. Thanks so much.
Great question with an easy answer. I’m using bulbs you can actually buy from your local BMW dealer. They’re made for BMWs but fit in your MINI perfectly (any model). The BMW USA part number is: 63 21 7 160 897. If that doesn’t work, just ask for “Silvervision” bulbs.
And yes, these bulbs should fit in all other MINIs as well.
Oct 29th, 2007
Consider this buying guide a living document and what you see here to be version 1.0. While we’ve worked hard to create the basic information, you the reader will be essential in helping us add content where appropriate. One note; you can only leave comments on this introduction post and not the actual “Buyers Guide” page.
Introduction
The R50 and R53 MINI coupes were watershed products that ushered in a new era of small, sporty premium cars. Beyond that, they also resurrected a brand and changed perceptions of what a small car could do both on the track and in the market place.
They also make great used buys. But there are some important things to remember when shopping for that perfect used MINI. In this buying guide we’ll attempt to get you started down the right path. We’ll look at the cars, their issues and the seemingly constant updates made by MINI throughout the model cycle.
While it’s true the early MINIs had there fair share of issues, they are still very strong cars with little in the way of serious, budget busting potential problems (with one exception we’ll touch on later). They can provide an unequaled out of the box driving experience for a great price and are generally easy and fairly inexpensive to maintain.
That’s not to say that a potential MINI buyer shouldn’t be fully educated in the ins and outs of potential issues. It’s also very beneficial to know what has changed through the years. With this guide we hope to give an overview of what to look for in the way of potential problems and what to look for in terms options and production changes through the years. We won’t be diving into all specific issues but giving a general overview of what to look for and what to avoid.
There’s one rule of thumb when it comes to buying a used R50 or R53 MINI: buy as new as your budget allows. As is the custom for BMW, MINI made quite a few important changes to the first generation MINI coupe throughout it’s lifecycle. The most important happening in the 2005 model year (beginning with July ‘04 builds).
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Oct 2nd, 2007
With the 2008 R55 MINI Clubman having made it’s public debut last month at the Frankfurt Motorshow, we thought it was appropriate to re-run a story that was first published on the site a few years back detailing the original “new” MINI’s debut in the US.
Hard to believe but the new MINI made it’s US debut six seven years ago this past week in New York. To give you the full favor of the time period here’s an excerpt from the article Autoweek ran about the introduction:
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