Since diesel is all the range on MotoringFile these days, we thought it appropriate to point our readers to our first diesel related review on our sister site BimmerFile. The 335d is the first BMW diesel in the in recent memory to be sold in the US and proves that efficient powerful diesels can actually come to market in the US. Something MINI Cooper D fans certainly love to hear.
Normally we keep out BMW related content on our sister site BimmerFile however this is a special case. Considering the reader interest in my accounts of selling my MINI and buying something else, I thought some of you might enjoy a full review of my new car.
It’s early Saturday morning. Spring in Chicago. The kind of hour that an auto enthusiast looks at as the golden hour. The roads are clear and the weather is back from the brink of a wretched Chicago winter.
And I have a red BMW parked in my garage. Yes the MINI is gone and I’m back to rear wheel drive with a propeller on the hood. I wouldn’t call the car “just” a BMW, yet it doesn’t quite justify a real M badge (despite the peppering of that letter throughout the car by the company). It’s not single purpose driven like the Z4 M that I’ve lusted after for years, or the perfect urban runabout like a stock manual transmission Cooper would be. Instead it might just be the best all around automobile I’ve ever owned. continued →
Okay so this should be pretty easy right? The R57 is the convertible version of the R56. So I can copy and paste any one of our many review of the R56, do a find and replace here and there and I’m done.
Wow that was easy. Now I can go back out and drive the thing. I’ve got one day left with the new 2009 version of the MINI Cooper S Convertible and I’m dying to get outside and put the top down. The sun is out, the temps are hovering near 60F, it’s Chicago in March and the lakefront beckons.
Yes the 2009 MCS Convertible (MCSc or R57 for short) is a chop top R56. But the culmination of this is much more than simply a roofless coupe. This new convertible truly has its own identity. For one the R56 platform just feel so much more right for this car than the previous iteration. The power delivery, the exhaust note and the more supple ride all just feel right in this car. Forget arguments about hard edge handling and raw edge performance. The R57 feels like a bigger leap over the previous drop-top than the R56 over the R50/R53 Cooper and Cooper S hardtops built from 2001-2006. continued →
Unlike the previous Cooper S, MINI has taken a two prong approach to developing a faster MINI or the R56 MCS. First out of the gates was the JCW “Engine Kit” which debuted in July of 2007. The kit developed 192 bhp and had 201 ft lbs of torque for an MSRP price of $2100 (plus installation). But unlike the previous JCW dealer installed kit, this new kit was easily installed in an hour and relied mostly on software to achieve its performance gains. You could think of it as a kit that unlocks the hidden potential in any stock R56 MCS.
We coined the term “Stage 1″ JCW for this engine kit when it became clear through sources that MINI was creating something even faster and more powerful. In July of 2008 MINI released the “Stage 2″ or factory JCW car to the public. This car was a little closer to the original R53 kit in it’s design. Not only did it feature revised software but also upgraded mechanicals. We won’t go into details here (you can read that in our full review) but needless to say it’s fast. continued →
The factory JCW MINI is a dichotomy of character. On one hand (in stock form) it’s as comfortable over bumps and on the highway as any MINI that’s ever been produced. Yet on the other hand it’s the fastest and most raucous MINI ever. ClearlyBMW tried to create this car to be almost everything to all people. But does that make the new JCW less of a performance car?
If you only look at sheer speed, the new JCW handily takes the crown. It feels every bit as fast as the 2006 JCW GP was with an enormous amount of torque (206 ft lbs of it) available almost instantly in the rev range. Its also got the power too – 211bhp of it. While the GP may have had similar numbers, it’s the new JCW’s power delivery that really sets it apart. And weight is less of an issue as well. With the new R56 chassis weighing around 20lbs less in similar spec, the GP doesn’t quite have the same advantage it used to have. continued →
We’ve heard you. You want to read our review of the 2009 JCW MINI. In fact there hasn’t been a week that has gone by since spring that we haven’t gotten emails asking when we were going to drive the car. The wait is over. Our 2009 JCW press car will arrive tomorrow we’ll be putting it through its paces for an entire week. continued →
BMW and MINI have worked hard on the new JCW MINIs in setting them apart from the other models. They’ve given them their own names (you won’t find “Cooper S” anywhere on them) and they’ve given the powerplant an entirely updated character let along performance boost. But is it enough?
From an enthusiasts point of view the problem with the existing MINI Clubman is it’s extra weight and subsequently a slightly lazier turn-in as compared to the MINI coupe. While the new factory JCW Clubman doesn’t solve the weight issue, it does solve everything else related to straight-line performance.
Walking up to the back JCW Clubman you can help but notice the fat twin pipes on the corners. It’s clear that MINI meant for this car to look the part. The large red calipers peaking out of the front wheels and the discrete JCW badges are the only other signs that this isn’t your ordinary Clubman. Could MINI have done more to make this car look the part though? I’m inclined to believe so. However with the JCW aerokit unavailable until March of 2009 for the Clubman (internally called the R55), I’ll give MINI USA the benefit of the doubt for now. Of course the same can’t be said for the JCW coupe which does have a JCW aerokit potentially available yet doesn’t get it as standard. continued →
We’ve had an enormous number of requests for a couple reviews over the past few months. First up are of course the two new JCW MINIs. And then there is continued interest (yes from MINI owners) of the 135i – specifically the manual which we haven’t tested yet. So we’ve been busy working with BMW and MINI to get these cars and in turn get our reviews out to our loyal readers. continued →
Okay, a $75,000 BMW isn’t exactly MINI competition. But it is a review that some of you may find interesting from a auto enthusiast’s point of view. Oh and it’s from our sister publication BimmerFile. Go check it out.
It doesn’t get much further removed from the MINI than a $60k BMW M3 sedan, but think of them as kindred spirits. And the M3 is one of those “it” cars for 2008 that simply makes for a fun review and a good comparison to the small car we all love. As you may have guessed it, our sister site BimmerFile was able to get their hands on an M3 sedan for a full week’s test. A highly recommended read if you’re at all interested in one of the ultimate sports sedans out there.
The 135i may not be a MINI, but it’s one of the most talked about cars of the moment on MotoringFile and our sister publication BimmerFile just wrapped up a full week’s worth of driving it. A highly recommended read if you’re at all interested in the smallest of BMWs and (dare we say it) the most MINI like.
The idea of bigger MINI can seem like an anomaly. For those not familiar with the car, the entire concept seems at odds with the brand. Why would anyone want a slightly larger MINI. At what point does a larger MINI become just another car? And if a larger MINI doesn’t reflect the character of the brand, how does BMW expect this car to be successful?
Luckily BMW had all this in mind (along with some good instincts) when designing and engineering the car. In my week with the Clubman I found that it does the unthinkable by offering more space but retaining 90% of what auto enthusiasts love about the MINI. The handling and feel that have always made the MINI feel so special is almost all there. And to anyone but the enthusiast, the difference is probably barely noticeable.
In return the Clubman offers up both extra space and a unique character that the MINI coupe doesn’t have. There’s a whimsical feel to the Clubman from the rear wipers to the hidden handle on the 3rd door. It’s the kind of car that you feel connected to on a level that belies what it really does – get you from point A to point B. continued →
If you haven’t noticed we tend to review new MINIs and BMWs in two phases. The first is at the press launch where we’re invited to drive the cars on predetermined roads and in some cases tracks. While this opportunity is a great way to allow a first drive in the cars before their release, it’s often not enough time to thoroughly review it. Hence the second phase where we get a car for a week for a full test. That means we commute in it, head for the twisties in it and about anything else you can imagine to give us the best information possible for a review.
Last year’s test of the then new r56 on the Dragon was an ideal way to get to know the car and to form some long lasting opinions on it. This year we’ll be testing the Clubman MCS in slightly different circumstances. It’ll be a road trip around the midwest with two to three people with luggage and open road. continued →
If you own a dog and a MINI, it’s likely the two come in contact from time to time. And when they do there’s usually a cringe-worth moment the first time those little paws hit the seats. Pooch Style’s car mats are intended to eliminate that moment.
We tested a black seat mat to see if it not only stood up to our tests but our dog’s as well.
When I opened the kit I could not help noticing the care that went into packaging the cover and the included information, instructions and even a biscuit for the pooch. There’s no question Pooch Style makes an effort to thank you for your purchase. It’s obvious that they are a small company who aren’t afraid to show that personal touch – something I appreciated. continued →
The following review coincides with the Smart’s launch in the US and therefore will be reviewed in relation to that specific market.
On paper the Smart micro-car is as revolutionary an ideas as the original MINI. The Smart is mid-engined, small and efficient in both space and economy. The Smart Fourtwo (the only Smart made these days) comfortably seats two while offering a boot not too different from the MINI’s own. However the big difference in terms of space is that lack of rear seats that the MINI offers.
The other big difference? Where the MINI is one of the most entertaining new cars I’ve ever driven, the Smart is easily the worst. And I’m not talking about just mediocre. The Smart’s driving experience is truly appalling. In fact, as much as I’m aware of the 10-12 month waiting lists, I honestly can’t imagine anyone buying this car after a test drive. continued →
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1st Gen MINI R50: One & MC Coupe R52: All 1st Gen MINI Convt. R53: MCS Coupe 2nd Gen MINI R55: Clubman R56: One/MC/MCS Coupe R57: One/MC/MCS Convt. R60: MINI SUV
Sections: Diesel, Reviews May 16th, 2009 12 Comments 
