[smiffy]

Not all BMW's are built in Germany, they have production plants all over the world, including South Africa where the 3 Series is made

[John Adams]

I am not so interested in who made it as i am the fact that it runs like a scalded dog and its pure hell on wheels

[Rob.]

Some parts of my mini are made by BMW. The only ones I can think of at the moment are the Bonnet and Boot (trunk) struts. They have BMW printed on them, and they rust

[KlausR]

My MINI is made by BMW. That´s at least what my registration document says. "Manufacturer: Bayerische Motorenwerke AG".

Always remember that MINI was not an existing company that was bought by BMW like Lamborghini being bought by Audi. BMW kept the make rights for MINI when they sold Rover and all development teams, production processes and concept decisions concerning the MINI are authorized by BMW. Even the final suspension setup tests on the regular BMW proving grounds in Miramax, France were joined by BMW chief developer Burkhard Goschel. But the whole thing is quite irrelevant, because for those who don´t like BMW the MINI can be an individual concept without the BMW badge, but for those who are enthusiastic about BMW the MINI scores by having all the bavarian quality and technical competence inside.

Klaus

[ashley adam]

Excellent KlausR that was spot on

[oldnell]

Quote:

Originally posted by KlausR
But the whole thing is quite irrelevant, because for those who don´t like BMW the MINI can be an individual concept without the BMW badge, but for those who are enthusiastic about BMW the MINI scores by having all the bavarian quality and technical competence inside.

I know what you're trying to say and I'm sure BMW were aware of that point when they chose how to brand MINI, but I'd argue that the MINI lacks the quality present in other BMWs.

As much as I hate to say it, I think we all know that's true.

[ashley adam]

I would most probably agree but only because of the fact that all new cars have teething problems as with all bmw badged cars

[TobesM]

I only noticed this the other day when I washed my mini, but open the bonnet, and look at the inside of the grille.

For those who can't be arsed, it has a distinct look of two kidney shaped openings, not unlike, well, the front of a BMW, it does on an MC anyway. Add that to that wonderful pic of the outside of the oxford plant, the rear suspension being like a 3 series and the radios, computors and peddals being very very similar to a bavarian export, and we have no doubts.

The bit I find interesting is that for ages, BMW made a huge point about aways making rear wheel drive cars, and yet now they (argueably) make one of the best front wheel drive cars (in terms of driver involvement). This is a baby BMW, and it won't be long before its badged as such, and they hike the price up. Its faster than the small 3's, and more interesting, theres a huge market for it!

[geist]

BMW don't make front wheel drive cars !!

[ashley adam]

they make the mini

[geist]

MINI make the MINI, no mention of BMW in my log book.

If we have to call it a BMW Mini does that now mean that we should mention

the BMW Rolls Royce
or the Ford Jaguar
or the Ford Aston Martin
or the Fiat Ferrari

[anthonyyule]

Geist,

Dont,..please, be an idiot.
you might have gotten away with a comment like that at the start of the thread, but if you had taken the time to read through this whole story, you would realise, that, you are, im afraid, another one of the so called 'tools' that we have already named and shamed here.

If the BMW sign outside the factory isnt a give away, well, ill never no what is......

Nobody says we HAVE to call it a BMW MINI (did you actually get the jist of this thread, anyway?), all we are saying is, it is....fact!!

we all KNOW that aston, jag, Rangerover, etc are all made by ford,..but we dont make a fuss about it, and we dont go calling them that either.

face it, we buy MINIs from BMW dealers, which are made in the UK using BMW parts (among others), our sales invoices are stamped BMW, we buy our parts from the BMW service department, our salesmen were probably originally BMW guys, who transferred over.

not true?

[KlausR]

@geist

The examples you mentioned are not totally comparable. The Ford/Jaguar affair is to some amount comparable to the BMW/MINI situation as the technical condition of the Jaguar cars (especially the X-type) is highly influenced by Ford.

And like Jaguar the Ferrari infrastructure was already there before Fiat bought the company. But the impact of Fiat engineers on the Ferrari cars is rahter low.

We are actually moving in a gray area of ownership, make rights and technical symbiosis. But what we can say is:

- The MINI is not a BMW
- The MINI company/factory as it exists today was not only bought by BMW, it was set up by them
- Large amounts of BMW techniques went into the MINI (electronics, rear suspension, production methods)
- The BMW leadership is repsonsible for the decisions concerning technical and conceptional aspects of MINI

So, it is ridiculous to say MINI bulid their own cars and are only owned by BMW.

Klaus

[notters]

I hadn't realised this thread would create such interest.

The point I was trying to make was that I was seduced into MINI ownership by the BMW connection. As Klaus says we go to a BMW dealership to buy the car. I bought some new floor mats & received a BMW invoice.

Generally when you talk of BMW you think of a premium brand and German quality.

This is why I am disappointed with the quality of my MCS.

New steering column needed at 17k miles. New drivers seat base due to squeak & crinkled Lapis Blue leather.

Chrome chipped off gear knob which has been replaced under warranty.

All faults dealt with by BMW dealer Sytner Nottm without problem other than last week when they returned car with a damaged front alloy. They will repair this when MCS goes in to replace steering column.

I feel let down by the quality of the product.Perhaps now I know it is nothing to do with BMW my expectations should be lower.

I bet if there was a poll of owners the majority would say that their MINI was a BMW .

[geist]

Some TOOL's in this forum, may want to read a book called New MINI by Graham Robinson. It gives an excellent insight into the story behind the New MINI. With facts and why decisions we're made.

And not lame excuses like The invoice has a BMW logo on it. Mine don't and neither have my letters from MINI that I have been dealing with over the last 6 months.

MINI2 used to be a nice civilised place where you could put your views across.

[notters]

This is all I and the other users are doing or are you saying that MINI2 is only for people who say good things about the MINI.

Sounds like the Labour government have taken over this forum.

[nickworld]

Bloody hell - everybody's a bit heated in here aren't they? Does it REALLY matter who makes/owns/owns the owner of the the company that makes the MINI?

Its a great car - we are all agreed on that - and the vast majority of us believe that BMW make great cars too (whatever you think of the people that own them, their engineering and cachet are still up there) and for one - I'm a bugger of a site happier that BMW are the power behind MINI and not Rover!

I used to own a TRIUMPH Spitfire (see that it isn't a British Leyland Standard Triumph?) and BL Rover have a lot to answer for - bad engineering, badly built, badly run company and so people tend to shun the association, or remark on it sneeringly in passing, preferring to stick to their own particular marque, be it Triumph, Austin, MG whatever. So be it. Doesn't affect the fact that the cash from all of the original sales filtered into BL's accounts.

Likewise BMW and MINI. Except BMW is a well run company, building great cars with great engineering to exacting standards, and there the comparison with BL ends.

As to what you call the company - does it really matter? I love my Cooper (there's another assocation for you) and it would have to be a pretty damn special car for me to swap it! I'm sure that if you keep going up the ownership chain then people would claim you were driving around in a [insert bank or major shareholder's name here] BMW MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS car.

Its all a question of where you draw the line. If it upsets you to discover that the car you own is associated with BMW then ignore it and be happy that you have a nice car. If you love that fact - celebrate it. For what its worth - as unique as it is, I see a lot in the MINI cockpit and even in the sound the door makes, that just shouts 3 and 5 series at me, irrespective of what stickers and owner's manuals say. And I'm happier for that.

At the end of the day just enjoy your cars folks - if that makes me a 'tool' then so be it!

Crumbs - turns out I have quite a lot to say on the subject after all!

[cooper4us]

Well said.

[anthonyyule]

Well, im not concerned that my car is a BMW.
infact im very happy to say that i have managed to climb onto that particular ladder after lots of years saving and working.

And yup, its been said, and im glad for it......BMW bought the rights to MINI from Rover, and for that we ALL have to celebrate.

man, its a nice day, i wish my coop was here, so i could take her our for a spin.

[Paul]

Please cool your jets in here a bit folks, no need to get so heated over this one I don't think?