Comments on: MINI Officially Updates Line-up for 2008

By: Cybergypsy

Cybergypsy — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:37:18 +0000

I Love my 2008 and gas mileage is amazing so much better then my 2003

By: lee

lee — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 19:57:59 +0000

Any word if the MINI Cooper D will be available in the US in 08?

By: Okiesnake

Okiesnake — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 05:13:19 +0000

Does any one know if or when the US models will get Brake Energy Regeneration and Auto Start-Stop Function?

By: r56mini

r56mini — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 01:41:59 +0000

Bill, I have 3000miles on my 07 MCS. It is a very fun car but for aggressive drivers, the suspension could be firmer. The car has enough power for me. The build quality is good and I have not had any problems with the car. When you test drive a MINI make sure you turn the sport button on and leave it on.

By: Bill

Bill — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 16:22:36 +0000

To any body that own's a Mini, I'm thinking of buying a new Mini, Can any body give me their honest opinion of the Mini?

I'll be looking at this site for your reply.

Thank You, Bill

By: Laurens

Laurens — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 08:52:58 +0000

Robgo2… The Fuel consumption will decrease with 4% according to the article ! (not increase…)

However, I’m wondering how it will work when you’re constantly in traffic jams…. (we have this huge problem in the Netherlands…) Will the engine constantly start/stop ?! driving 10m and then stop again… and again and again… So will it be possible to shut off this system ?! If it constantly has to stop… this will not be efficient…

By: kevin

kevin — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 20:25:38 +0000

this article states 'all MINI's manufactured as of August 2007' several times. Then also mentions in the second paragraph, to the contrary, '2008 model year'.

Do you know which is the correct statement?

The semantics only matter because mine's scheduled for August assembly =)

By: kapps

kapps — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 23:36:51 +0000

I like the new features, and I really like fact that they can be disabled if you want. The auto-stop feature may hurt the engine a little but not as much as it would on others. The R56 engines have electric water pumps (and I believe electric oil pumps). These will keep the juices going. There may be some added fuel dilution but we won’t know for sure until they come out.

By: robgo2

robgo2 — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 03:21:34 +0000

I found the answer myself. According to this article, brake energy regeneration will increase fuel efficiency by about 4%.

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006/09/bmw_introduces_.html

Rob

By: robgo2

robgo2 — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 03:10:03 +0000

Does anyone have an estimate as to how much fuel efficiency will be gained by brake energy regeneration? I am wondering if it is worth waiting for this feature to make its appearance. Also, is the start-up date still August, 2007?

Rob

By: Paint

Paint — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 08:44:35 +0000

Im a bit confused everyone is saying they have to wait to 2008 but cant you buy a mini with changes from August 2007!

By: Ilab

Ilab — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 18:46:12 +0000

Gabe. Go for it man. Purchase the vehicle enjoy it for how many years and by then what ever is new will have made the 08,09 and 10's obsolete. Trade in for another.

I just purchased my 07. I has all that I need. That fuel consumption is fine with me. And I've been waiting for a few year now to get one.

Safe motoring

By: Appmacguy

Appmacguy — Mon, 28 May 2007 18:27:39 +0000

1 US Gallon = 3.785 Litres

Here in the UK we are paying around 0.95 pence per litre. So 0.95p x 3.785L = Â£3.60

Exchange rate currently = 1.983Â£ per dollar

Â£3.60 x 1.983 = $7.14 per gallon (and that is supermarket prices). I wish we could have petrol (gasoline) at $4 a gallon even at a US gallon.

I think that's right anyhow. Also the gap between diesel and petrol is narrowing so the diesel is looking a great option for us is the UK too!

By: Hossam

Hossam — Mon, 28 May 2007 00:15:52 +0000

What’s the difference between this new Bluetooth USB connection and the current Bluetooth preparation on the R56? Any details would be appreciated.

By: B

Sun, 27 May 2007 03:36:49 +0000

Couple Q's.

1) Are these changes very likely coming to US cars? I could seem them not changing anything. This likely to add more cost to the car, and with the poor exchange rate could make the base price jump a bit. Plus, our fuel isn't really all that expensive, not to the point where it would really save us much.

2) I find the engine upgrades and shift indicator silly. I would probably disable the start/stop feature, as well as the gear indicator. I believe this indicator is one that is supposed to give you a "recommended" gear, presumably the one that gets you the best fuel economy. Gee, thanks BMW. I'd prefer to decide myself. The extra wee bit of savings you've gotten me is not worth the car telling me when and where to shift. My 87 626 had this feature and it SUCKS. And I couldn't turn it off.

Really the only nice thing I see here is the USB connection. However, if the base price of the car jumps because of the engine stuff (assuming they are even changing the cars for the US Market..), and/or the USB/Bluetooth is also an expensive option, I'm not so sure I'd wait. Could be awfully expensive to get a bunch of stuff I don't care about just to pay a lot of money for a USB connection.

Guess I'm just viewing this as a likely expensive technology likely to increase the cost of the car, just to get 1 option I"m interested in (USB).

Tempting to wait (you always assume newer is better), but if October is first build month of 2008 (I heard August), you'd be waiting a long time for not much improvement.

By: David T

David T — Sun, 27 May 2007 03:31:16 +0000

My memory (from years back) of the gear shift indicator "insisting" on the correct gear for best efficiency is that it is an annoying feature. The same sort of thing can be done by monitoring the fuel consumption while driving and to see which RPM gives the best efficiency. The indicator is just a reminder. When I checked the fuel efficiency in my 06 MCS is was surprised at how low an RPM it was for best efficiency. Upon reflection that makes sense because the supercharger is doing the least at low RPM. Basically, the best efficiency is at an RPM that allows mild acceleration without the engine "bogging". Not very fun though ;-)

My grip is that in 6th gear above 60 MPH the RPM is way to high to get decent gas mileage and the engine is noisy also. Good reason to take the twisties instead of the highway.

The main issue with the engine on/off routine is keeping the catalytic converter hot for low emissions. I assume there is a temperature sensor on it...

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 26 May 2007 23:13:19 +0000

There seems to be a bit of confusion about the gear shift indicator. It doesn't tell you what gear you're currently in...instead it indicates when a gear change is needed and tells you what gear you should be in for optimum fuel efficiency. Of course you can always just turn it off for spirited driving when your focus isn't on saving gas.

By: Eric

Eric — Sat, 26 May 2007 20:17:09 +0000

Thanks Tom,

I was hoping to have mine by December.

By: rkw

rkw — Sat, 26 May 2007 20:12:58 +0000

Does a USB port mean that a dedicated iPod adapter is no longer needed? In fact, wouldn't it make the iPod adapter obsolete?

A USB port by itself is not useful without firmware to support each type of device. There is a lot of potential especially for integration with the Nav screen. However, BMW's history so far on iPod/Nav firmware does not inspire confidence.

By: Jon

Jon — Sat, 26 May 2007 19:36:19 +0000

The idea of a device to tell me what gear my car is in would tell me one thing, I don’t belong behind the wheel of a manual transmission. Is there even on driver here that can’t tell what gear their car is in by touch and if its while your on the move if you cant tell the gear by the sound/rpm to the mph once again I don’t believe you belong behind the wheel.