MINI Cooper S Diesel Revealed

Sections: Diesel | R55 (Clubman) | R56 (Hatch) | R57 (Conv.) | R60 (Countryman) Aug 30th, 2010 35 Comments

Our friends at Bigblogg have scooped the first technical info of the upcoming BMW diesel that will power the Cooper S D. While we’ve reported (along with a few other outlets) that the engine was coming, this is the first confirmed power figure.

As previously reported engine is based heavily on the 2.0 turbocharged BMW diesel found in the 1 and 3 series. Bigblogg is reporting that the car will have 143PS or 141 hp. But what about pulling power? How about ~~200~~ 221 ft lbs of torque? Again that’s what Bigblogg is reporting.

We expect the car to be released next spring in Euro markets. It will not come to the US due to all the same reasons we’ve reported over the past several years.

Written By: Gabe

Blake Sobiloff

“It will not come to the US.” What a shame! Americans would be amazed at the quiet, smooth power of modern diesels, and who doesn’t love the mileage. I guess maybe they can’t make it work because of the exchange rate?
Jas

Its the issue of getting it approved in all 50 states and the costs. NY and CA would be harder and both are huge selling markets of MINI. Thats what I gather.
http://www.facebook.com/paul.mallett1 Paul Mallett

So, can we guess if it’s going to be more or less expensive than the Cooper S?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=610504117 Dylan Bland

My Mum has a 2010 320d with this engine (I think?) and it’s amazing. I’m not sure if the novelty will wear off for me – but it has so much silky smooth torque down low. It puts a real smile on my face :) The Cooper S D should be a great little car.
Bill in Iowa

Pricing conversion has nothing to do with Mini not bringing a Mini S Diesel here. It’s the Northeast and it’s California. And, its the oil companies not wanting to even think about losing their profits that they make off the Diesel drivers out there now. Mostly, the truckers who will pay anything that they have to for diesel fuel. If more cars start coming that are diesels, then the public will raise the uproar on the diesel price. Diesel cost less to product than unleaded, so you know what they are making on this product. Just look at the number of diesel automobiles versus gas cars that are sold in Europe. The government does not want this to happen here. Government Motors, GM, look at the number of diesel cars that they sell……right none. Think about that when you start talking diesel cars.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=610504117 Dylan Bland

In New Zealand the price of diesel is $1.19c per litre, compared to $1.80 per litre for 98 octane petrol. So not only do the diesel engine’s go further on a tank of gas, they cost less to fill up too. Win/Win (although I must also point out that diesel cars incur a modest “road user tax” upon registration of the vehicle as a throw back to when the only diesels on the road were heavy trucks that tore up the road).
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=618731128 Philip Hubertus

My understanding is that the Cooper SD is a 1.6 engine. It’s not a 2.0 and therefore not the same engine as in the 1 and 3 series.
Billy

It is exactly the same 2.0 litre diesel lump found in the 1 and 3 series. The 1 series has 116D (116hp) 118D (140something) and the 120d (170ish bhp) – All are the same engine, just tuned differently. This means the story is the same with the 08/10 Minis – Standard Cooper Diesel is the SAME lump as the CooperS D, just different tuning, ecu etc

FYI the CooperS D is internally known as an 03/11 car – this being the launch date :D
K

It’s actually a “sleeved-down” version of the 2.0l lump. It IS the same block, but reduced to 1600 cc by means of cylinder liners. The auto trans, when it becomes available on MINI diesels in March 2011, will be couple to the same block, but this time not sleeved down.
lavardera

I wonder why if the 2.0 engine has already been certified in the 3 series why it would not be easier to bring it here in a Mini. I would understand that the 1.6d used in the past is a completely different mill, but this one would be the same? Do they certify the car? The entire package, or just the engine?
Frogberg

Certifying it is one thing, selling it is another. Unfortunately, they probably think they won’t sell enough to make it worth the while.
Bill in Iowa

Just guessin there, but I believe that the testing is by manufacturer body and engine. Therefore, the Mini version of this 2.0 diesel would be tuned slightly differently, so different testing. And, manufacturers aren’t all that happy about testing, anything especially for California, and the Northeast.
MatthewW

@Frogberg, if that’s the case, count us in :-)

I’m still trying to convince my wife to upgrade her VW TDI to a Clubman, but she said she’s never driven any other car (read diesel) she likes more than her TDI. If MINI offered a diesel option in the States, we’d have two in the driveway.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=618731128 Philip Hubertus

Once again, the Cooper SD will be a 1.6l engine, not a 2.0l engine. Trust me, I’m German :-D
Billy

Trust me I work there…
Alan Smithee

VW’s TDI has a very similar 140hp/236lbft, and passes CA (and other states that follow CA) emmissions with filters only, no urea injection like the BMW 3.0d. BMW/MINI should be able to achieve the same thing with their ’2.0′ diesel, and upcoming Euro standards are just as stringent as CA, so it is just the certification cost they are concerned about.

Didn’t seem to be a concern with VW, and they have been rewarded with robust diesel sales. BMW/MINI has no excuse.
Jason K

Gabe says that bigblogg is reporting 200 lbs-ft of torque. That’s not quite right. They’re reporting 300 Newton-meters, which works out to about 221 lb-ft of torque.

I was really disappointed by the lackluster torque figure ’till I did the math for myself :)

Jason
Versus

@ Alan

I believe BMW’s excuse would be cost. VW is massive and with that size comes the ability to afford various R&D costs. These same costs BMW may not want to chance on a platform they are not sure will sell.

Euro standards were also a reason for the 2011 JCW engine being left untouched.
Alan Smithee

BMW is investing heavily in hybrids, so it’s not that they can’t afford to certify the motor. And it could be put in the 3-series to defray costs.

BMW started ingnoring enthusiasts a while ago. I left the brand at about that time.
that.guy

How about a 135d? Drove a 335d and it was really fun. A definite torque monster.
http://www.ryephile.com Ryan

You’d think with less slightly torque than VW’s 2.0TDI that the MINI/BMW 2.0TDI would be able to easily meet emissions here in the USA.
JIm

The Countryman would benefit the most from this engine. I think that could be a huge sales success for MINI.
Dr61

We drive both a MCS and a 2009 VW TDI Sportwagen. I would love to see the MCSD here, but I would think a major hurtle would be packaging the required exhaust treatment devices under the current Mini chassis (the VW has a lot more room down there). Perhaps the next generation Mini will be designed for these devices.

By the way, about 80% of the Diesel fuel purchases I have made in the last year in California have been about the same or less expensive per gallon than REGULAR gasoline.
Greg W

@Dylan Bland – I hope you are a member of your local Mini car club? Once you add the Government road tax and do the math cost per kilometre there is hardly any cost saving over petrol. Then there is the $4000 extra price over the petrol model – so its a lose/lose situation.

I have driven a MINI R56 diesel and I’ll tell you that its performs better than an R53 Cooper S. Couple the diesel with auto trans for optimium gear changes and they are something else.
Paul

You know, I’ve never posted to this site before, and I don’t even own a Mini. But I like Minis (have been collecting their print ads since the new Mini first appeared in the states), and have followed Motoringfile.com for years.

Anyway, I’m compelled to post for my very first time simply to say: GIVE US THE DIESEL!

Like I said, I don’t own a Mini. But give us a diesel, and a bet many more of us would.
Fred

I wish Americans could shed their view of diesels as dirty, loud and gutless. What a shame it’s not coming to the U.S. If you want to see what we’re missing, look at the BMW 335D available to us now.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1134606899 Dean Cory

Im With DB on this one. WHY mention this? WE will never see it here in the states. Yawn… ZZZZZ!!!!
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

Im With DB on this one. WHY mention this? WE will never see it here in the states. Yawnâ€¦ ZZZZZ!!!!

Because thousands of people outside the US read MF everyday.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1134606899 Dean Cory

But then again Gabe, Just like DB goes to sleep when people talk about the “S”, I go to sleep every time you and Todd start talking BMW on the White Roof Radio Podcast! B)
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=610504117 Dylan Bland

@Dean – your ignorance and selfishness astounds me. You’re not (and Americans are not) the only people on the planet who a) buy MINIs, and b) read this site. This article was interesting to a great many people.

@Greg W – nope I’m not a member, should I be? What do you guys and girls get up to? Could be fun :)
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=761959786 Ben LaFleur

So i still dont understand why mini cant do this, Mehendra is starting a line of s-10 sized pickup trucks with diesel motors coming this winter. I believe they will be the next best thing since sliced bread
Brent B

MINI are fools not to bring the diesel to America. 60 plus MPG would make it one of the top selling cars overnight! Whatever the hold up is didnt stop volkwagon from bringing diesels…come on mini…figure this out! The US needs and would love this car!
Larry

I have heard from “good sources” that the reason the Mini won’t be brought to the US is because of the dirty diesel fuel that we have here. High sulphur content is a big contribution to high soot levels and resulting pollution. This I’m told is the same reason, at this time, that Cummins and Volvo will be the only diesel engines mfg for the Truck and Motor home markets in 2011. The other mfgs don’t want to or can’t meet the emission standards with the high sulphur content fuels. The cost of the particulate filters are outrageous and overwhelming. Caterpillar and Detroit Diesel are producing big engines for Australian Truck trains, over 750 hp. GM is producing automatic transmissions that will support those engine producing over 2,500 ft lbs of torque. I truly believe that the oil companies don’t want to bear the expense of cleaning up their products for the US market! Bottom Line: Greed!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=618731128 Philip Hubertus

Billy, you were right and I was wrong. Apologies. So the SD will get the 2.0l diesel engine already humming along in the BMW 118d.
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