I have been doing some research and reading on the new 2014+ MINI and the shared technology with other BMW cars. Is there a comprehensive list of what components are direct BMW parts to the MINI?

I had heard talk the the MIN is a re-skinned Series 1 BMW, others say it has more in common with a Series 2. Other claim the 2.0 motor (MCS) is a complete BMW motor identical to one's found in some BMW automobiles. Have also heard that the 2014+ MINI chassis is the same as ones used in some BMW cars.

One can certainly see the BMW heritage in the 2014 and later MINI's but was curious if anyone has a link to an article that discusses the shared components or if anyone have insight into this that they would be willing to share?

Just curious and thought it would be fun to find out how much German is in essentially an English car.

 

Forget the notion of this being a "British Car."

It's as British as Honda is American, i.e. that just happens to be where the assembly plant is, but not even exclusively.

Here's what's shared, to my knowledge:

Chasis: underpins 2-series Active Tourer and 2016 X1 (more to follow)

Engine: used in i8, 2-series, 3-series (both 3- and 4- cylinder engines!)

Wiring/Electricals: shared completely

Software Coding: identical

Parts/Components: many are shared

Equipment Packaging: identical

Others can chime-in.

In summary, yes, the F55/56 is essentially a BMW now.

 

But with varying amounts of horsepower and torque

 

USA-RET: Getting an actual list of BMW intellectual property will likely not happen. The best you can realistically hope for is to carefully comb through each target vehicle part numbers and hard point dimensions. The fact that most [all?] current BMW's along with the F55/56 MINI's use ESYS as a BCM/ECU comm interface should tell you quite a bit right there; they share software teams and likely the same MCU's in both the BCM and ECU, if not exact circuit boards, at least "blocks" of circuits relevant for each model.

The term "platform" is misleading for many people. It doesn't mean they have identical components per se, but certain design elements are shared and used as a foundation for quicker diversification. e.g. the quote in Wikipedia for the VW group MQB is quite articulate:

Until someone sits down and sifts through the part numbers of the 2-er Active Tourer and an F56 MINI, or physically measures and compares them side-by-side, it's important to think of the term "platform" as a concept and not something strictly literal like badge engineering from back in the days.


Regarding your engine comment, it's possibly valid circa this week, though the press releases about the F30 330i having the B48 appear limited to assumptions or possibly leaked info, but nothing official just yet. Prior to the 3-er LCI release, the 320i and 328i still use the N20/N26.

The transverse engine 2-er [F45] uses the B48, however the longitudinal 2-er [F22] uses the N20/N26 for now.

 

I specifically read THIS WEEK that the 2016 318i will use the 136 BHP 3-cylinder engine (from the MINI).

As for VW, MQB, the name itself suggests it's possibly a bit less specific than UKL.

 

I was talking to a German neighbor this afternoon (Berliner) and was told that BMW and MINI's are sold in the same dealerships in Europe.

While not a pure correlation between the two, one could extrapolate that they probably share enough in common to allow BMW service departments to maintain and service both types of autos without having to change hats.

 

They do the same thing here in San Antonio. I got mine from a BMW/MINI dealership.

 

The MINI I bought (well...am about to buy) came from a dealership that is shared with BMW as well. Two floors with different salesreps but one shared service department.

 

I did not realize that. Our only MINI dealership is a stand alone while we have a smattering of BMW dealers throughout our area. Learned something new every day.

 

*Edit* I'm reading the BMW international group press release and the specs of the 330i engine match perfectly with the 225i active tourer and F56 JCW....with the exception of the peak power and torque are up to 252HP and 258LbFt. Given that the N20/N26 and B48 use different bore and stroke numbers to get the same 2.0L displacement, it's hugely probable the 330i engine is indeed the B48. That bodes well that the JCW has easy power and torque headroom.

Furthermore, the 320i has the same 11.0:1 compression ratio as the B48 in the Cooper S, albeit with slightly different peak power and torque [likely just a minor difference in tune]. The 3-cylinder Cooper appears to match the engine specs word for word to the 318i, same power and torque too, so that's likely the B38 engine.

Funny how none of that info was in the USA press release.

Yup, my 1st new MINI [in 2003] was delivered at a BMW dealer's used-car lot. BMW's service bays have been able to service MINI's from the beginning, assuming the techs had the model-specific training and the smattering of special tools.

 

In the US MINI Financial and bank is BMW Financial and bank using an alternative name.

 

At my dealership they didn't ever bother with an alternative name. I asked to see what they could do for pricing on a prepaid lease and my salesrep replied, 'Let's see what BMW leasing is offering today...'