moomoo
Aug 5th, 2011, 12:05 PM
Hi
I am on the lookout for a car and can't get to grips with the actual year the mini changed from supercharged to turbo. Some say 2006 and some say 2007 As I'm not that familiar with the cars I can't tell from looking at all the adverts i've been browsing. Is there an easy way for me to tell the difference between a 53 and a 56 version at first glance? Also according to Parkers guide the turbo has far better fuel economy - is that right? Sorry for newbie questions - I did do a search honest!
minicore
Aug 5th, 2011, 01:29 PM
They look pretty different when you know what you're looking for. The headlights are probably the easiest spot, especially once the bonnet is up...
http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/4520/m1yy2.th.jpg (http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/4520/m1yy2.jpg)http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/1096/m2xk8.th.jpg (http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/1096/m2xk8.jpg)http://img482.imageshack.us/img482/7820/m4kn6.th.jpg (http://img482.imageshack.us/img482/7820/m4kn6.jpg)http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/4838/m5jd2.th.jpg (http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/4838/m5jd2.jpg)
http://img482.imageshack.us/img482/5285/m6ru9.th.jpg (http://img482.imageshack.us/img482/5285/m6ru9.jpg)http://img471.imageshack.us/img471/9577/m7dl3.th.jpg (http://img471.imageshack.us/img471/9577/m7dl3.jpg)http://img471.imageshack.us/img471/8974/m8yj7.th.jpg (http://img471.imageshack.us/img471/8974/m8yj7.jpg)http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/2493/m15vv5.th.jpg (http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/2493/m15vv5.jpg)
http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/1424/m20yb7.th.jpg (http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/1424/m20yb7.jpg)http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/8581/m18ow7.th.jpg (http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/8581/m18ow7.jpg)http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/8352/m16gl7.th.jpg (http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/8352/m16gl7.jpg)
More discussion here: R53 & R56 Comparison Shots (http://www.mini2.com/forum/general-discussion/130824-r53-r56-comparison-shots.html)
Loads more info here, too: :readme: What are first generation, second generation, R53, R56 etc? (http://www.mini2.com/forum/faq.php?faq=new_faq_item#faq_mini_generations)