[dalboyne]

This thread seems to have wandered off track - and that's a pity!

Ian

[Goonery]

Quote: Originally Posted by dalboyne (original)

This thread seems to have wandered off track - and that's a pity!

Ian

It's down to the lack of Go Kart handling that the R53 had

[S33BBY]

You can never keep everyone happy. Many complaints of the R50/53 revolved around the harsh ride, etc, so BMW made it more refined and comfortable, then there's complaints that it's too refined. You can't win...

I love my R50 Cooper with SS+, though sometimes I feel it's a bit harsh, for example on a long motorway journey. Were I to get a R56 (which I may well) I might miss the R50 characteristics. Who knows?

[maryjane]

Can anyone tell me when this facelift is happening? I am about to buy my first MIni but maybe it's better to wait for the changes?

[carlos_nomad]

Quote: Originally Posted by maryjane (original)

Can anyone tell me when this facelift is happening? I am about to buy my first MIni but maybe it's better to wait for the changes?

No date atm, alot of this is just speculation!

[CTurbinado]

re-styling are usually in september. The previous re-styling which gave the mini the Start/Stop function was in sep/2007.

I would like to see a new version: Mini Cooper DS. Diesel engine, but similar power as the S.

[Bluebabe]

iT WOULD BE VERY GOOD IF A FACE LIFT WERE TO INCORPORATE A PERMANENT FIX TO THE SO CALLED "COLD START NOISE" ISSUES, WHICH MANY OWNERS OF THE R56 COOPER S ARE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING! SEE COLD START NOISE FORUM.

[baskers]

Why are you SHOUTING?

[Lawrothegreat]

Quote: Originally Posted by S33BBY (original)

You can never keep everyone happy. Many complaints of the R50/53 revolved around the harsh ride, etc, so BMW made it more refined and comfortable, then there's complaints that it's too refined. You can't win...

I love my R50 Cooper with SS+, though sometimes I feel it's a bit harsh, for example on a long motorway journey. Were I to get a R56 (which I may well) I might miss the R50 characteristics. Who knows?

I had a R50 Cooper with SS+ and loved it to bits. Firmly planted but well balanced, no detectable body roll, the most direct steering I've ever encountered. I now have a R56 MCS with standard suspension. Does it handle as well in the corners: no. Is it as much fun in the corners: no. Can it change direction so happily: no. Is it fast: very. Does it have a good ride: given the tyres are pumped up to 40psi, I'm on 17" alloys and runflats, it feels like you're floating at 70mph in comparison to the R50. Which would I rather have: the R56.

[Lawrothegreat]

On a serious note one of the annoying things about the R56 is the digital speedometer readout in the rev counter. It significantly lags behind the actual road speed under full throttle in comparison with the 1st generation car. You think you've stopped accelerating at 45mph in 2nd, and then a second later it jumps to 51mph. It is annoying.

[dalboyne]

Quote: Originally Posted by Lawrothegreat (original)

On a serious note one of the annoying things about the R56 is the digital speedometer readout in the rev counter. It significantly lags behind the actual road speed under full throttle in comparison with the 1st generation car. You think you've stopped accelerating at 45mph in 2nd, and then a second later it jumps to 51mph. It is annoying.

Sounds more like a fault than a feature!

Ian

[~Marcus~]

Quote: Originally Posted by Lawrothegreat (original)

On a serious note one of the annoying things about the R56 is the digital speedometer readout in the rev counter. It significantly lags behind the actual road speed under full throttle in comparison with the 1st generation car. You think you've stopped accelerating at 45mph in 2nd, and then a second later it jumps to 51mph. It is annoying.

Yes it's annoying when you are braking for speed cameras and the speedo says you are doing 10mph above the limit as you pass ! So I'm told. (yes I know there's a big speedo in the middle, but I have the illegible sat nav one!)

Quote: Originally Posted by Lawrothegreat (original)

I had a R50 Cooper with SS+ and loved it to bits. Firmly planted but well balanced, no detectable body roll, the most direct steering I've ever encountered. I now have a R56 MCS with standard suspension. Does it handle as well in the corners: no. Is it as much fun in the corners: no. Can it change direction so happily: no. Is it fast: very. Does it have a good ride: given the tyres are pumped up to 40psi, I'm on 17" alloys and runflats, it feels like you're floating at 70mph in comparison to the R50. Which would I rather have: the R56.

A nice summary of the situation. I miss the extra directness of my R50 Cooper when I happen across an empty twisty road, but as this is about 5 times a year, I'm happy with the better ride and refinement and (in my experience) much better reliability of the R56.

[Tunster]

Quote: Originally Posted by Lawrothegreat (original)

On a serious note one of the annoying things about the R56 is the digital speedometer readout in the rev counter. It significantly lags behind the actual road speed under full throttle in comparison with the 1st generation car. You think you've stopped accelerating at 45mph in 2nd, and then a second later it jumps to 51mph. It is annoying.

It's more of a guidance than a true reading! There's no excuse with a big fat speedo-dial in the middle of the car . If you're accelerating, do you really want to be looking at the digital speedo more than the road?

Maybe they could bring back the Chrono pack and have an extra dial infront of you (the original and one next to it with miniture version of the large dial with temp gauges)?

[scottp7]

I'd like to see a lot more currrent additional extra's as standard. I think the Cooper S should have Air Con standard at least when you compare it to it's rivals

[cellularcoffee]

I would like to see the tail pipes to be more integrated into the rear bumper. The current one is an inch lower than the bumper. Otherwise, mechanically, I think it is all good.

[dalboyne]

For the facelifted model, I would most like to see it with all of the previous suggestions, but most of all, I want it HERE & NOW!

[Electric Sheep]

Quote: Originally Posted by Hat (original)

an early face lifts suggest sales are struggling. From the comments on here so far, & my own opinion, there's little that need changing externally so it'll be interesting to see what sheet metal they're looking at changing. For me the only thing they need to do externally is lower it so that it doesn't look so much like a Landy Defender at the back with all the suspension & diff on show.

I was following an R56 home a while ago and one of the things I noticed was the rear suspension on show at the back. It almost looked as if the suspension had collapsed - not a good look.

I'm considering an R56 for my next car (driving a Golf currently) and it's grown on me lately. If BMW livened up the colours a bit, made sure it doesn't rattle (my Golf has terrible build quality - worse than my '02 Cooper) and weren't so stingy on the options, I'd be quite happy. The following should be standard IMHO: heated mirrors (even the base level Golf has these), manual air con (ditto), the on-board computer and foglights.

[supa-dupa-cooper]

Having owned mine nearly 2 months, ive come up with one!

Ditch the Stop/Start System! Far less hassle that way

[mister.t]

I thought of another thing the other day - A proper factory sports seat option - Similar to the old Recaros. I think the current seats are biased more towards comfort than optimum support - I think a factory option that has more support for more serious driving would be welcomed (I'd certainly choose them that's for sure)

They would have to undercut the JCW seats, which look quite stunning (with a price to match though )

[Mini-Trainer]

Colour coding as a factory option!!!