[traceyrobertspotpoet]

Following the purchase of my Mini Cooper (57 reg) which I was under the impression would give me good fuel economy, the best I (and the dealership) can get out of it is 40mpg! Anybody else suffering with this problem? The dealership are saying it is because I have 1" bigger wheels than the factory standard but I don't see how this can make 20% difference to my mpg??? It has been back to the garage twice already and they last time they made it worse! Any advice??? Also the dash rattled when it was cold, they tried to eradicate it and it rattles all the time now - the dealership also scratched / damaged the dash removing it to get rid of the rattle and are trying to blame me! Not a happy bunny! Shame as the rest of the car is spot on.

[I love MINI, Laura]

Oh dear not a first good post. Welcome to MINI2 Tracey. I'm afraid I can't really help with your query as I don't have a R56 but someone will come along in a minute.

[zara*elise]

Hey lovely, welcome, and sorry I wont be of much help, but I wouldn't stand for that at all. I'd definatly kick up a fuss. They're not cheap cars and you expect the service department to know how to remove the dash without scratching it!

Hope it gets sorted soon lovely

[TraceyRoberts]

What lovely girls you are! You've cheered me up, thanks x

[ALD0]

Yeah the bigger the wheel the more your economy will be affected, not sure by 20% though as quoted by your dealer, I went from 15 inch to 17 inch alloys on my previous ONE D and it knocked off 5mpg...

The rattles can be done by your dealer, persistance is the key here!

[TraceyRoberts]

I do realise there may be a tinsy difference, but these are still wheels from the factory. I think 40mpg after 3500 miles is a bit pants for a 1.6i. My previous Golf GTIs were 200bhp and 230bhp and they did 35mpg and 32 mpg respectively with 2.0 litre engines doing exactly the same journey. 40mpg is not even near the combined cycle figures quoted.

[ALD0]

I got 38 mpg average on my R53 Cooper, Now getting 32 on my Super charged S which is reasonable, I would of thought the new R56 would be doing 45 mpg upward.

[laura f]

I depends on the type of driving you do too. We had an R56 cooper and got maximum 45 mpg on a motorway stretch with 15" wheels... day to day we got approx 35-37 mpg with 17" wheels and urban and non urban driving, also depends on your driving style

I'd kick up a big fuzz about the dash though

[TraceyRoberts]

Good news guys! I got my mini back from the garage this week. The lovely dealer principal has said they will replace the dash, but best of all they seem to have improved the fuel economy as it is now doing on average 44mpg. Don't know what they did to it but I am a much happier bunny! The rattle in the dash is still there but seems to be common as the parts are out of stock to put it right! Fingers crossed

[I love MINI, Laura]

YAY! Good news Tracey! Glad its all worked out right for you! Now you can get on and bond with your MINI! Happy MINIing from now on!