[MINI Division]

I’m with MINI USA. We’re so sorry to read you are concerned about the improvement to the MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S shock absorbers. MINI USA strives for a balance between customer satisfaction and continued improvements to our car.

We know our owners treasure that Go-Kart like handling, so we devoted months of engineering time to address your requests and still deliver the performance you expect. The revised suspension set-up will allow for a more compliant ride, yet it will maintain your car's outstanding handling characteristics. Your MINI will handle as magnificently as ever.

The earlier suspension was not faulty in any way. This evolution is merely an improvement. MINI USA recognizes that superb handling is a key feature, and we assure you that the new suspension will deliver a very satisfying performance.

[djmcs]

While I appreciate the response, what we need here is some concrete information so that we can make educated decisions.

Is this a US only change, or a world-wide change?

When is the actual date that it took effect?

Thank You,
David J

[Squidly]

Could you also provide information as to whether this is related to the UK cars that have been put on hold this week...i.e the range of cars that came off the production line over the last 2 weeks.

I think that BMW really need to consider the needs and feelings of the customers who are impacted by this. Simply tell us and the dealers nothing is not acceptable.

If BMW are not careful they will lose customers over this sort of behaviour.

Regards

Squidly

[rob_lewis]

It's wonderfully refreshing to know that the word is getting out and that MINI is listening. However, I, myself am concerned about several issues:

1) If the change is that much better, why are you not changing ALL MINI's? Just a release to the North American owners will either dissappoint the North American owners or upset everyone else.

2) Why were future owners not informed? I test drove a MINI and ordered based on that test drive. You have information on everyone that would/is affected. Some type of notification should have been in order. Now, I will be getting a car that does not handle like I expected.

3) Although J.D. Powers is a reputible company, it should be obvious by now that there is a very large database of users that you could have surveyed before making this change......

4) In the J.D. Powers survey, how many people commented on the stiff suspension? Currently 116 people have signed the petition. If we are still in the minority, fine. If we are now in the majority, does that mean that we can get it changed back?

-Rob

[Qamper]

I have a 6/6 production date for my "S". I'm really upset that the "ride" I bargained for is not going to be delivered. This is apparently only affecting the US market. Why does Mini feel the need to pander to the average fat american who likes a pillowy suspension and does not like to "feel" the road? Since they're not changing the suspension for the European market why not offer the stiff and proper suspension to the American market as an alternative to the "pillow" shocks? This car will lose it's distinction if the company feels it has to make knee-jerk changes to a survey which is dubious at best. If you read the boards here, minicooperonline and roadfly there haven't been any complaints about the suspension but plenty about the soft glass on the windshields. I really feel this is the wrong place to begin making changes and does not speak well of the company's response to the real demand and needs of it's customers.

[Minihopeful]

What exactly is being done to "improve" the shock absorbers/suspension?

I plan to order an S this summer and one of the main reasons I am choosing an S over a standard Cooper is the handling/horsepower advantages. I would imagine that most people purchasing the S see the "stiff" suspension as a benefit not a detraction.

Also, it seems that much of the harsher ride can be traced to the run flats and not the suspension.

It would be a shame to see one of the best features of the S downgraded to conform to the milk toast masses.

If they want a softer ride, get a Cooper and leave the fun of the S to more performance oriented enthusiasts.

[xplode]

it seems to me that MINIUSA is seriously risking to undo, in one fell swoop, all their marketing efforts to date toting the MINI as standing out from the rest, being a driver's car, an un-SUV if you will - by making it yet another watered-down cruiser. this simply doesn't rhyme with any cues i've picked up by MINIUSA marketing thus far.

like someone pointed out, knee-jerk reactions of this sort does not speak well for the future at all... and just when we were getting the impression that MINIUSA actually listens to their customers (rear fogs - thank you!). it would have been so easy to conduct a survey -before- those months of engineering efforts. please, please re-evaluate this...

there should be NO difference between my MINI and the rest of the world's MINIs...

[cooper4us]

You can get SS+ suspension and 16" runflat tires in the standard Cooper as well.

[Fullupo]

Glad this is just a US thing. This is just ridiculous! People buy the mini because of the way it drives, its something different. The people on this forum are the people who know the ins and outs of this car and I have heard very few people complain about the ride. Its hard yes, but thats the way we like it. If u wanna change something, sort out the build quality, the over intrusive traction control on pull away, the 'YO-YO' effect, offer non runflats as an option, put elapsed time on the CD player and add a tv option for the nav. Then i'll be happy! cheers!

[Dark Silver S]

Let's not get carried away. I know that some recent BMWs have gotten poor reviews because they have "Americanized" the ride quality. But the Ms still get reviews saying rough ride (which I translate as handling over comfort).

There are things that we as owners can do to assure that the handling stays crisp. We just have to take cues from the racing community. Harder bushings, adjustable shocks, firmer springs. But until we know what MINIUSA has planned, we shouldn't be luddites and say no, we don't want any.

[Spy Car]

What do you mean by a "more compliant ride"?

If you are talking about a softer suspension, I would say NO THANKS. I believe this is the feeling of the vast majority of MINI owners.

You say, "we devoted months of engineering time to address your requests". I have to wonder what you are talking about. I have followed the discussions on this web site for a long time and have never seen anyone who desired or "requested" a "softer" or "more compliant" suspension. Complaints about the ride have focused on the runflat tires not on the suspension.

If you want to know what MINI owners want why not poll us here on MINI2.

You could get feedback very quickly.

[spanky]

Why is MINI "improving" only U.S. cars (as understood from another thread). Continuous improvement is fine, but don't single out the U.S. It sends a message that we need special treatment or something. We don't need special treatment...just MINIs like everyone else gets.

[james4513]

Wait a minute, guys. Give them MINI a chance to explain - who knows, this just might be an improvement. MINI seems to have done just that over this past year. My MCS has noe of the problems that 2002 owners justly complain about.

MINI, please say more and publish your test results - tell us if it's really the same handling with a better ride - if that's true, I want it.

And do you plan to upgrade the 2003 MCS's that many of have just bought?

[moorlockx]

Why not just offer an option of the new, "improved" MSRP (manufacturers slushy ride package) to people who want it. As Mini is already set up as a "build it the way you want it" company, it makes perfect sense to offer 2 suspension packages.

By the way, "slushy" was not my first choice for the 2nd word....but as this is an open forum.....

[GregF]

Are U.S. dealers that have the "harsh" ride MINIs on their lots going to mark them up while they're in demand?

[SCA]

Do any of you understand that it is actually possible in many cases to maintain handling characteristics while ALSO improving ride quality? That may just be what Mini is trying to do here. And wouldn't that be a GOOD thing?????

Maybe you should all chill out until you get more information. All we know right now is that Mini has identified something suboptimal about the cars and is trying to improve it. Isn't that what we want them to do?

Now, if they actually come out with a solution that makes the handling worse (which I doubt they will do since the car's strongest point is its handling) then you all will have something to complain about!

[GregF]

But why are they improving U.S. cars only?

[jmusicman]

I agree SCA, we do need to be calm...

I think there is fright in the air, mostly because of BMWs past problems of issues so similar (with their 3-series)... That car too was best know for its handling prowess....

But in any case.... we'll find out by mid-June when the first May production cars hit the road.... until we should probably step into a freezer or something....

The reaction was so huge... its almost funny....

"BMW is changing the MINI...." Everyone form a human chain around your MINI dealer with handkuffs....



Jay

[Silakka]

Hello all, I have some news on this matter for the European countries too.

Before this thread I did read about this shock-absorber "improvement" and I became quite sad because I believed it would affect all newly manufactured cars (I have mine on order...).

Now I read this thread and found out that it would only be a US-matter, but before that I allready managed to approach BMW Group Finland with an email...

Today I received a reply of my mail which states that the shock absorbers in fact are being modified, not only for the US-markets but for us too (I and they were referring to the cooper S-model though).
The letter states that the oil-viscosity and the shock-absorber valve-structures will be changed. With this they intend to improve the the behavior of the ride in sharp hits like joints in concrete-roads or sharp-edged potholes. They claim it is only a change in the shock-absorbers, not in the rest of the suspension so it has no affect on the handling or cornering-abilities.

Well I think the shock-absorber has a hughe impact on the handling-abilities and any change is noticeable in the handling in a positive or negative way, I'm afraid this is going for the last-mentioned...

How should I reply to this message? If I'm not happy with the changed absorbers when I get my car, I will definitelly demand the suspension setup I test-drove and ordered.


Regards,
Mikael

[Apial]

You are lucky to get ANY response from BMW. They never officially admitted the "Left Pull " problem.