MINI’s Get Large Fuel Tank in the US

Sections: R56 (Hatch) May 20th, 2007 19 Comments

Here’s a little tidbit we had verified recently. The R56 Cooper gas tank is really 13.2 gallons for the US and Canada….the rest of the world gets the 10.6 gallon tank.

Why? MINI USA isn’t entirely sure. For some unknown reason this change was done completely under the radar and not reflected in the official US specifications of the new car. So that means the first people to realize this discrepancy were dealers and owners, not MINI USA.

Upshot: 500+mile cruising range (on the Cooper).
Downside…what downside?

Written By: Gabe

DocHoc

Does this include the Cooper S? Either way, its a good thing
MINI vanilli

Great news, but does this change the accuracy of the remaining miles left given by the on board computer?
http://www.jwardell.com/mini/ Josh Wardell

13.2 is standard in the S worldwide, though, right? Has the cooper always had a smaller tank? Downside…slightly more weight when full. Honestly I wish we all had bigger tanks. I would love to fill up less often than 275-300 mi.
Zane

Downside: Added weight due to the extra fuel on-board.
Sowellman

The state reserve for the Cooper is 10.6 gallons. On my first fill-up, it drank up 12.08 gallons, so I knew something was wrong, since there wasn’t any gas pouring out the tank.

Mini vanilli, my onboard computer has seemed accurate, based on the amount of gas in the tank.
J.BÃƒÂ¶hme

My Cooper had been filling up above 10.6 gallons every fill-up. I knew something was off when I put nearly 15 gallons (I swear) in it last week.
Doug

Downside: Added weight due to the extra fuel on-board.

Not really a downside, since you don’t have to put more than 10 gallons of gas into the tank if you don’t want to….
usaaus

10.6 imperial gallons (the type used to measure fluid in England) is equal to about 13.2 US gallons (the smaller gallons we use in the US). My guess is the tank is the same, and the unit of measurement is what is different.

1 US gal = 3.78 liters 1 imp Gal = 4.77 liters
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

10.6 imperial gallons (the type used to measure fluid in England) is equal to about 13.2 US gallons (the smaller gallons we use in the US). My guess is the tank is the same, and the unit of measurement is what is different.

I’ve been assured by the powers that be that this change has nothing to do with Imperial gallons.
Jon

I really don’t see a major downside other than the fact that this seems to have caught MiniUSA with their pants down. The fact is these types of things can happen with international manufacturing but then again its not the end of the world so I guess I am willing to give them the benifit of the doubt that the rest of the car is as specified lol.
WriteStuff

I often put in 13+ gals, last week 14.2. Onboard computer said the range was zero. Never saw that before. Dumb on my part, I know.
Ben

Downside costs more to fill up your car. Now almost 40.00 for a fill up.
Robbie

I agree with usaaus. It is the same 50 litre tank everywhere. The difference is just the conversion from litres to Imperial gallons vs US gallons (an Imperial gallon is 25% bigger than a US gallon).

1 Imperial Gal = 4.77 litres. 10.6 * 4.77 = 50 litres 1 US Gal = 3.78 litres. 13.2 * 3.78 = 50 litres
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

I agree with usaaus. It is the same 50 litre tank everywhere. The difference is just the conversion from litres to Imperial gallons vs US gallons (an Imperial gallon is 25% bigger than a US gallon).

Again I was told by the very people who make this car that this is not the case.

You might want check some foreign MINI websites – for instance mini.de

There you’l see the Cooper tank size is 40 Liters. (=10.6 US Gallons Rounded) The Cooper S tank size is 50 Liters.

Only North American Spec cars get a 50Liter tank in the Cooper.
Hoover

MINI USA’s site indicates that both cars have a fuel capacity of 13.2. Not sure if this was recently updated. My brochure lists the capacity at 10.6 for the MC, and 13.2 for the MCS. Seriously people, why would you doubt Gabe and his sources?

For those considering the MC as a stylish, fun, fuel sipping commuter, this is great news. I don’t know how much that extra fuel weighs, but I would imagine that it would have a neglible impact on fuel efficiency. The extra range is a good thing, especially since most MINI drivers, regardless of the model, are probably going to hammer the throttle from time to time.
Eric

13.2 Gal x $3.50 = $46/tank 10.6 Gal x $3.50 = $37/tank

I’d rather have the smaller tank for psychological purposes. :-) Heck, today I typically fill up at a 3/4 to 1/2 tank just so I don’t put $40 into my tank.

But on the lighter side, it’s fun to be at a pump next to an SUV owner and cry out, “OMG! I can’t believe it cost me $40 to fill the tank!!!!” LOL
Greg W

MY non-USA MINI Cooper R56 handbook says; MINI Cooper approx 40 litres /8.8 gal Imp units. MINI Cooper S approx 50 litres / 11.0 gal Imp units. including a reserve of – approx 4.5 litres – 1 gal Imp unit. So I work out the total to be 44.5 litres / 9.8 gal Imp, and 54.5 litres / 12.0 gal Imp.

I guess the argumentor is the term APPROX.

US gallon = 3.78 litres.
Greg W

OOPS! I was reading the reserve capacity of the window washer system!!! yikes! Now I’ve re- read the Handbook under “Refuelling” page 86 in my book, and this reads; MINI Cooper – Approx 40 litres, approx 8.8 Imp gal including a RESERVE OF 8 LITRES, APPROX 1.8 Imp gal

MINI Cooper – Approx 50 litres, approx 11.0 Imp gal, including a RESERVE OF 8 LITRES, approx 1.8 Imp gal.
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