MF Exclusive: Countryman to Receive Early Interior Refresh for 2013
The MINI Countryman is just two years into it’s seven year cycle and selling briskly. So why is MINI updating the interior? In a word, the Paceman. MINI moved up a couple of the minor changes expected in the full LCI (which may still be coming in two years) to better correspond with the addition to the product line. What’s new? Read on the for the details.
The LCI (Life Cycle Impulse in BMW corporate-speak) will focus on the center stack. Gone are the window switches as MINI will be moving them to the doors similar to the rear doors on the Countryman. In their place will be the sport button, fog lights and DSC buttons that are currently positioned below the toggles on their own row. In the place of that second row MINI will expand the small parcel shelf that’s currently there but hardly usable.
Look for these changes to start with September or October produced R60s and then later in the year with the R61 Paceman.
<p>Nice but they should really address the clutch issue that plagues many All4’s with manual transmissions before they tackle window switch gear.</p>
<p>I drove a manual All4 the other day, and had no issues with the clutch; maybe they already have?</p>
<p>The only “problem” is that the engagement point is higher than expected. The feel is fine, and if the Countryman is the only manual car you’re regularly driving it’s not an issue. It seems to vary from car to car to an extent, and the JCW Countryman prototype I drove in December had a normal-feeling engagement point.</p>
<p>Our clutch was replaced at 4965 miles. Not found to be defective, yet worn down to the rivets. Wife and I been driving manuals for more than 50 years combined with never an issue. We know of at least 4 other All4s that experienced premature clutch failure not including Automobile magazines’ long term test car whose clutch failed at 15K miles. Our replacement clutch has same part number as the original failed unit. I have to respectfully disagree that the only “problem” is the engagement point. The design appears to be inadequate for the vehicle. Too many reports to dispute.</p>
<p>I was referring to the “problem” we had described in our own reviews here on MF, which is what I thought the previous commenter was referencing. Actual service issues are another matter. Anecdotally, the MINI’s clutch has been regarded by many as the weak point in the car all the way back to the R53. I had one fail early on my car.</p>
<p>Weak point? The clutch in my R53 lasted 120k miles with 200whp after 60k and multiple track days a year. The weak point was the steering pump. Never heard of one making it past 100k.</p>
<p>My wife’s countryman S All4 is going on 19k on original clutch. Hated the clutch when we bought the car, but after some time, and a couple taps of the accelerator before taking off, it works just fine. My GP had already had clutch replaced by the same mileage.</p>
<p>Do y’all know if the red start toggle that’s rumored to be in the LCI for the center stack is included in this change?</p>
<p>I believe that will be only part of cars starting with the F56 hatch … so probably only the next gen Countryman will see that.</p>
<p>Appreciated!</p>
<p>Gabe, any changes in interior materials? Softer / better looking / higher quality?</p>
<p>I really hope they also address the clutch engagement point and the Siri integration in this update.</p>
<p>With the mirror adjustment controls in the door and now adding the window switches, how much crap will there be in the door panel? My guess, the F56 door panel will resemble a GM car, with a proper armrest for people who like to rest their arm when they drive their appliance car!</p>
<p>I see EVERYTHING that makes the MINI special and cool going away. What is next? Ditch the retro door handles and go with a more traditional one because it is cheaper? Yup. Perhaps not this time around but it WILL happen! If I wanted to buy an appliancemobile I WOULD have! Now my cool, quirky and special automotive brand is morphing into a plain, vanilla, white toast car for the masses.</p>
<p>Very sad indeed!</p>
<p>Sounds like pretty good changes, the sport and fogs buttons are kind of in a bad spot now. Hope they keep the toggle look like that row has now.</p>
<p>I drive a R60 MCS, and have issues with the interior quality both specifically and in general. In general – I feel it definitely lacks the feel and quality of other high end brands and make that MINI would like to match (Audi, BMW, VW and even Alfa). I feel the rigidity of the R60 cabin is not up to par – making interior components rattle after approx 6-8000 miles (in Winter conditions especially).
Specifically I would to change the centre vents (including the cheap looking plastic rims – of veeeery poor quality plastic by the way, the center stack, the adjacent gear plastic assembly, the door trims and the seats (and especially the seat positioning as well as the adjustment functionality). For a car maker trying to position the brand as a high end brand – the deliveries in the interior department is just not up to the competition!
I would also change the ventilation. The fan is just tuned wrongly (making too little effort in some climatic conditions) and I also question the distribution strategy as being wrong (this compared to the Audi brand which I also possess – which makes a much more solid impression). It is a question of confidence – which I do not get in the R60!</p>
<p>The exterior is quite another matter. The chassis components in general are of high quality (engine, suspension, brakes and transmission). Just have a look under the car to see what I mean! If I should point to a potential area of improvement – it would have to be road noise (given the run flat tires strategy – which I cannot understand why BMW has opted for!!). The whole noise and harshness department is suffering as a consequent.
Another area of excellence is the MINI Connect. Compared to other similar components (again the Audi brand) it is top notch! Very reliable, very good sound (especially with the Harman&Kardon option) and very easy to connect to different sound sources.</p>
<p>Anything to camouflage the Mickey Mouse head speedo
bezel would be enough of an interior upgrade for me. That and keeping the HVAC controls that allow
all three vent stations to be open at one time.</p>
<p>How about fixing those HUGE cup holders.</p>
<p>Any chance the center rail will be going away? That’s really the only thing I’d like to see changed about the Countryman…</p>
<p>So if I’m reading correctly, these changes will be incorporated into the R61 from day one of production. Is that correct?</p>
<p>Yes.</p>
<p>Countryman S All 4 clutch failed at barely over 10k, MINI blamed operator error (before the tear down) and wanted $2900. Driven manuals all my life. Mini blamed me but good willed it a single time. It was with them for one day shy of a month. I’ll be selling before year end, and based on the experience will never buy another BMW product.</p>