Thanks to Brexit and other considerations, MINI has delayed the 4th-generation BMW MINI line for a few more years and, instead, has performed a second Minor Model Change (MMC) on the 3rd-generation BMW MINI.

The new MINI Cooper SE loses its aero grille and fog lights, but it gains a heated steering wheel, lane-departure warning (wiggling steering-wheel), adaptive cruise-control with stop/start (tap accelerator to re-start), 8.8" center screen (now for all trim levels).

People who thought the MINI Cooper SE went too far to identify itself as an electric car will be pleased. Three of the 4 round Energetic Yellow plug emblems are gone--only the one on the "luggage compartment lid" (more on that below) remains.

Unlike the other 2022 MINI Coopers, MINI's new adaptive damper technology is not available for the MINI Cooper SE. MINI has added some kind of "bad weather" light to the headlight assembly to compensate for the fog lights that had to go to make room for some new vents. These vents create an aerodynamic wind curtain meant to reduce the drag caused by the front wheels (there is no corresponding Honda Clarity-style vent to reduce the drag caused by the rear wheels).

The SE is no longer a MINI "Hardtop." The three small MINI Coopers are now called the "MINI 3-door," "MINI 5-door," and "MINI Convertible," but still no electric 5-door or Convertible. In an even more perplexing nomenclature change, the rear hatch is now called the "luggage compartment lid."

Here is MINI's 2022-model press release and their photos of the 2022 MINI Cooper SE in its new available color, Island Blue. Click on a photo to see the high-res version.

2022 MINI Press Release and MINI Cooper SE Press Photos

 

I like my fog lights, don't want a heated steering wheel, definitely don't want lane-departure warning, but the adaptive cruise would be nice. However, it is an electric car with a short range so you aren't going to be on the highway too often. This isn't a GT car where you go on road trips with it.

The new front bumper is nice but having the 20-21 MY grill just makes it more unique and rare. I also prefer the unique yellow accents my SE has.

I hope they make Homelink mirror standard, put in a light in the center roof light rather than just in the front, and fix the auto-dimming radio lights. The crash detection is also too sensitive because when you let off the brakes and coast, it is braking but the sensor doesn't know that. It keys off you hitting the brake pedal so it freaks out way too easily.

Lastly, I think the wheels are ugly. I tried to warm up to these Corona wheels but I just don't like it. It looks hokey. I'm glad I have different 16" wheels on my SE that are lighter and better looking.

 

Thanks for posting this. I saw the new LCI changes, but I wasn't sure how it was going to affect the SE. That's too bad about the changes that highlight the electric-ness, I liked the yellow stripe across the front and the other badging. I'll hopefully be ordering one later this year and was planning to go all in on the yellow accents with some stripes to match, but now I don't know. Maybe my local dealer will get an island blue car in so I can see that in person.
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P.s. really glad that they're adding a heated steering wheel. That's the only option I don't have that I wish I had on my R60.

 

I feel like we should call it the LCI2... definitely like the blue, but what does everyone else think of the gradient roof?

 

I don't hate it, but I can't help but think it'll seem dated quickly.

When do they switch over to the new model year? It used to be around July/August, but did they move it up to March?

 

The 2022 MINI update press release suggests the new painting process just installed at the factory doesn't have complete control over how those different colors mix up on the roof (and implies that's a good thing):

The new Multitone Roof features a colour gradient from San Marino Blue through Pearly Aqua to Jet Black, created with a new painting technique and by extending from the windscreen frame to the rear. For this purpose, the three colour shades are applied one after the other in a wet-on-wet painting process. This paint finish, known as Spray Tech, is fully integrated into the mechanised production process at the MINI Oxford plant in the UK. Nevertheless, slight deviations in the colour pattern occur due to changing environmental conditions, so that every MINI with Multitone Roof is already unique ex works

 

Does anyone have a list of standard options for each trim level? I am thinking about ordering a 2022 but need more details.

 

The dealers are receiving information about what comes with the different trim levels, but the best I've seen online is MINI's 2022 Visual Guide. There's some kind of MINI Electric Collection package that's available only with the Signature Plus trim. I've heard the Island Blue and the triple-toned roof are not available with the Iconic trim. Does that mean MINI is trying to sell more Signature Plus SEs than Iconic SEs?

 

That's weird because all of those pics on their press release are clearly of an Iconic SE as it has all of the toggle switches and it has the triple-toned roof. Per the visual guide, there is only one option for the SE interior surface but if you look at the press release pics, that one clearly has the aluminum MINI Yours interior surface. Very confusing.

 

Welcome to MINI marketing. What is the reason MINI doesn't set up a comprehensive online configurator like so many other manufacturers do?

 

Koni FSD's as an option from factory... I like it !!



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Any word on how much the Electric Collection Pkg is going to cost?

 

This article says 35,600 euros.

https://www.electrive.com/2021/02/12...edition-model/

 

I haven't seen any final content list for the US version of the Electric Collection SE. Based on the Signature Plus trim level and missing a Panoramic Sunroof, I assume it must be less expensive than an Iconic SE. I'm puzzled why there's not an Iconic Electric Collection SE, too. Can the strange, faint, shortie stripes be deleted?

 

New member and first time poster as I am seriously considering buying an SE. My local dealer advised the US "Build Your Own" site for 2022 models wont be active until April 1st. But there is a UK Build Your Own that almost mirrors the US Product Guide .pdf he sent me. Minor differences are things like standard black leather seats for UK Level 3 but $500 extra for US Iconic, standard Active Cruise Control for US Iconic but £300 for UK Level 3.

 

Also new member and first time poster...we ordered a 2022 Mini Cooper SE this past week. Our dealer worked with Mini NA on the order since like Steve said the build sheet is not out in the US yet.

We ordered 2022 SE Iconic in Chili Red with black stripes, black tentacle wheels and a white roof with rails. Will be a 3rd/extra car for the family. First EV of any type. Should be interesting and fun!!!

 

Does anyone have any updates information on the issue of the SE’s battery overheating? I have read an article online regarding this concern and became even more alarmed when I read a section out of the Mini SE manual regarding battery overheating where the car will simply shut down completely. I was about to place an order when I stumbled across this issue. Would be interested to hear what others have heard.

 

Can you share where you read this? Does this occur with the I3, seeing as the Mini SE shares much of the drivetrain?

 

here is the discussion in the manual. And the article can be found here:

https://www.motortrend.com/cars/mini...d-cons-review/

 

I've owned 3 i3s (in Florida), which share a similar motor, and followed that car and the MINI SE pretty closely and don't remember any specific instances of the batteries overheating to the point that the car won't drive. Maybe it's happened, but I'd buy an SE without worrying about it.

The Motor Trend quote is probably for very spirited and/or track driving. If you look at Out of Spec Motoring's "One Lap" test of the MINI SE, Kyle says he'd been driving laps in the MINI SE, so when they did the "One Lap" test it was often limited to half-power or something, but that's an extreme example... actual track use... and just had reduced power, not shutdown.

 

I have to agree ... they must have been pushing the car pretty hard. As for the ride, I think it's pretty decent, definitely not flinty. Keep in mind, they have never been kind to MINI. I suspect they were not inclined to like it from the start. They were also very critical of the range, which tells me that they do not understand the niche that this car was built for.

 

Based on journalists who have taken the MINI Cooper SE to the track, it's not designed for extended hard driving. After a fast lap or two, they experienced the power gauge displaying only 5 of the normal 10 yellow bars, indicating only half of the normal power was available (just as happens in very cold weather without hard driving). However, I don't believe there have been any reports of the car becoming completely disabled.

Whereas the drop in available power after hard driving is an inconvenience, there's a more dangerous surprise awaiting MINI Cooper SE drivers: The Y-turn Power-Pause (I just made up this name for it right now--should Power-Pause be hyphenated?). It's happened to me a few times and MINI drivers on another forum have confirmed it's happened to them, too. It doesn't happen every time, but when it happens, I'm left sitting powerless, vulnerable to oncoming traffic.

Here's what happens: To reverse my direction of travel, I'll pull into a driveway, stop, quickly put my SE in Reverse, pull out of the driveway, stop, quickly put my SE in Drive, hit the accelerator pedal and...nothing...my SE has no power. The power loss lasts only a few seconds, but when I put my car in Drive, I expect to go and right away. I still perform this maneuver, but never when there's a chance of oncoming traffic. Because the Y-turn Power-Pause doesn't always happen, I'm faced with a problem that I cannot reproduce on demand.

Has anyone on this forum experienced this problem, can you make it happen on demand, and do you have a catchier, more sinister name for it than "Y-turn Power-Pause?"

 

Nope. To be honest, I am a little surprised how it will let you put it into D before the car comes to complete stop in reverse.

 

Backing up and quickly throwing my SE into Drive usually works for me, but yesterday I backed out of my 60-driveway rather quickly, switched to Drive, and had no power to move forward for 2 to 3 seconds. Scary. I cannot duplicate the problem reliably, so I cannot take it to my dealer for a diagnosis.