[mls]

When we bought our first Cooper S, in March 03, we choose Dark Silver as it was a "Cooper S only" colour, so we knew it would stand out as a Cooper S to anyone 'in the know'. We also loved the 'mean and moody' look!

In August 2006 we bought a new Cooper S and again went for Dark Silver, for the same reasons.

However, a couple of weeks ago, we spotted a Dark Silver Mini that WASN'T a Cooper S. Now, judging from the number plate (a 2001 I think), we wondered if the Dark Silver colour had been available on Mini Ones or Mini Coopers prior to the Cooper S being launched. Can anyone confirm one way or the other?

Many thanks. MLS

[MINIAC]

Dark Silver has never been available from the factory for any model other than the Cooper S.

[Fabio]

it was probaly a park lane edition

[mls]

Quote: Originally Posted by Fabio (original)

it was probaly a park lane edition

That's what we thought, but I checked and it was definitely Dark Silver, not the Park Lane colour, and it had none of the Park Lane decals.

Maybe it was a special commission or private paint job, as implied by MINIAC.

Thans. MLS

[Scrogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by mls (original)

When we bought our first Cooper S, in March 03, we choose Dark Silver as it was a "Cooper S only" colour, so we knew it would stand out as a Cooper S to anyone 'in the know'. We also loved the 'mean and moody' look!

In August 2006 we bought a new Cooper S and again went for Dark Silver, for the same reasons.

However, a couple of weeks ago, we spotted a Dark Silver Mini that WASN'T a Cooper S. Now, judging from the number plate (a 2001 I think), we wondered if the Dark Silver colour had been available on Mini Ones or Mini Coopers prior to the Cooper S being launched. Can anyone confirm one way or the other?

If this is all you have to worry about, you must have a truly wonderful life, so be thankful and stop getting worked up about someone daring to have a Dark Silver MINI that isn't as elite as your Cooper S!

Quote: Originally Posted by mls (original)

That's what we thought, but I checked and it was definitely Dark Silver, not the Park Lane colour, and it had none of the Park Lane decals.

Maybe it was a special commission or private paint job, as implied by MINIAC.

As far as the plate goes, there is no way you can be sure these days about the age of any car - there is a Cooper Park Lane in Gloucester with an 'F' plate on it - and just because a car doesn't have Park Lane decals does not necessarily make it not a Park Lane, I know of one with no badges/decals on at all.

As to whether or not you have been lied to by MINI, I concur with Miniac that Dark Silver has only ever been available to order on a Cooper S, but how or why would that stop anyone having a car resprayed?

[mls]

Quote: Originally Posted by Scrogg (original)

If this is all you have to worry about, you must have a truly wonderful life, so be thankful and stop getting worked up about someone daring to have a Dark Silver MINI that isn't as elite as your Cooper S!

Yes, a wonderful life with my wonderful wife, beautiful daughter and gorgeous MCS!

Quote: Originally Posted by Scrogg (original)

As far as the plate goes, there is no way you can be sure these days about the age of any car - there is a Cooper Park Lane in Gloucester with an 'F' plate on it - and just because a car doesn't have Park Lane decals does not necessarily make it not a Park Lane, I know of one with no badges/decals on at all.

Yes, I realised the car may not be as old as the plate suggested... we drive a 2006 with a Y-reg! But the Park Lane colour is 'greener' than Dark Silver, so I'm pretty sure it wasn't a Park Lane, decals or no decals.

Quote: Originally Posted by Scrogg (original)

As to whether or not you have been lied to by MINI, I concur with Miniac that Dark Silver has only ever been available to order on a Cooper S, but how or why would that stop anyone having a car resprayed?

I didn't think I'd been lied to... just wondered if the rules had changed, like they have for Electric Blue which was also a Cooper S only colour when we bought our first one, but is now available on the ONE.

Don't worry... we were only curious! :-) MLS

[*Vikki*]

well i saw a dark SILVER COOPER in spa balgium quite a few actually.

[Mull3t]

Ive also seen a dark silver COOPER at an asda in leicester, even had a lil chat with the women who was driving.

[Scrogg]

After a bit of investigating it turns out that Dark Silver is available outside the UK on models other than the Cooper S, so perhaps the growing number of Coopers seen have been imported by one of the Car Supermarkets, for example?

It's a shame there aren't any DS Cooper owners on here to shed some light on this!

[mls]

Quote: Originally Posted by Scrogg (original)

After a bit of investigating it turns out that Dark Silver is available outside the UK on models other than the Cooper S, so perhaps the growing number of Coopers seen have been imported by one of the Car Supermarkets, for example? It's a shame there aren't any DS Cooper owners on here to shed some light on this!

It's also a shame that Mini didn't maintain the exclusivity throughout the world, rather than just here in the UK. MLS