Hey all,
I have gone without a car since 2012 when I sold my 2006 R50. I despised the F56 when it launched and you can ask my girlfriend that every time one goes by I grumble and call it a "Fat MINI" but...


Something interesting happened on Saturday. I drove an F56 Cooper and...I LOVED IT. It was quick (the 3-cyl turbo ROCKS!), the clutch was super easy but precise, and it was way more comfortable than my old car. Feels like the original promise of a small, relatively affordable BMW is back after being watered down in the R56 period (I'm sorry, but that interior was so cheap-feeling!).


So, in spite of the issues I had with my R50 (power steering, transmission suicide, gutless engine, broken A/C) I'm mulling over buying another one. I'm in Boston now and I'm walking distance from Herb Chambers MINI so getting warranty repairs and maintenance is a cinch.


I'm looking for a basic 6-speed F56 Cooper without a sunroof and keeping the options pretty simple. I've had a hell of a time finding a definitive spec sheet for the standard features of the car aside from MINI's easily digestible marketing materials. What do I need to know about the new car before I take the plunge?


Related: Is auto start/stop standard on manual cars in the US? No one seems to know. How about rev matching for downshifts? Why is it impossible to find this stuff out online? Donut spare tire? GAH!


Also: How's the new sound system? The stock system in the R56 was awful compared to the excellent standard system in the R50.

 

I don't have your answers, but did you ask the dealer these questions? If they don't know or can't answer I'd find another dealer.

 

Hi! Thanks for your response! I've never met a dealer that knows the car as well as someone who owns one. Furthermore, of course an MA is going to tell me that the car's great and yadda yadda yadda. I'm looking for real-world opinions and answers!

 

I agree with you, seek out a salesperson who drives one. They are a good source of info. If you see them arrive to work in a Toyota, run away. Lol

The guy I bought from is a car nut, has photos of all his past cars at his desk and drives a Mini so I knew he had most of the info I needed.

Good luck!

 

I don't know about the standard audio system but the H/K system is very very nice. Auto Stop/Start and rev matching is standard on all models as far as I know.

I think you'll be very happy with the F56 Cooper. It gets insane gas mileage and is still very fun to drive.

Options that I would suggest considering
- Comfort Access - The car has keyless start as standard but not keyless entry. It is a bit of a pain to pull the key out of your pocket/purse each time just to open the doors
- Storage container in the boot - It's super cheap and the false floor is very nice. It allows you to fold the seats and have a perfectly flat area.
- Black Pearl seats (just my opinion). They're very comfortable, don't get hot and look great
- The H/K system is nice
- The LED headlights are worth their weight in gold. Incredibly bright at night. Much better than even the xenons were, and those are a huge upgrade from the standard halogens

 

The F56 Cooper with the turbo rocks acc to my MA. It's the equal in power of the R53 MCS. The autostart/stop is standard but you can disable it. Revmatching is standard too. Get the HK of course. Welcome back to Mini. Sometimes "quirky" (aka R50/53) isn't always good. Love the F56 interior and seats. AND..... you get a cup holders standard. No more of that add on hanging down gizmo!!!

 

Thanks!

Haha I removed that big cupholder first thing after I got the car and never really missed it. I loved the quirks of the first gen cars but I feel like the new car has quirks of its own that will take getting used to. When I tested the F56, I instinctually reached out to the bottom of the center stack to roll the windows down...oops!


It'll be the most technologically sophisticated car I'll have owned which is cool. But I love that the base model is still full of goodies. If I can't spring for the H/K system, I'm sure I'll be fine with the stock unit. I'm aiming for something around the base MSRP ideally, maybe 23K max w/cold weather pack.


Right now, just about everything seems like an upgrade for me since I've been without a car for 3 years!

 

Anybody else in here have words of 3-cylinder, turbocharged wisdom for me?


I'm finding plenty of complaints with the first-gen cars but all of them seem to be relatively minor. Having had my power steering quit on me in the middle of a turn while on a road trip, there's still a lingering wariness inside all my love for these fun cars.

 

I'll chime in. I have a base manual F56.

The engine is awesome, and blows away my old 2005 MC's anemic power-plant.

NOBODY has anything but praise for this engine, its power band, or it's suitability to the task. It's too easy to speed with it. Mileage is way better than the official stated numbers.

I've had ZERO issues with my car, and it's coming up on a year of ownership in a few weeks.

In a do-over, here's what I would change: NOTHING!!

I love, and would never give up:
- iDrive
- 8.8" Nav Screen
- Harman-Kardon Stereo -- A MUST!
- Heads-up display
- LED Headlamps
- Sport Seats. I have the vinyl seats, and I don't even mind them.

- comfort access

Do it/Get it. You'll be glad you did.

 

I've had 2 3-cylinder loaners, both with the auto. That engine is very impressive, gobs of torque.

You'll find everyone has their favorite options, which may or may not suit you or your wants/needs. I built out an F56, with the bare minimum options I'd want, and it came to about $27,500. That got me an F56 with a $500 paint choice, Sport, Media, and Cold Weather packages, Black Pearl seats, red color line, Storage Package, HK audio, and Comfort Access.

For another $250 I could have added the Premium package and gotten the sunroof with the Storage package, HK, and Comfort Access. For $150 less than the Black Pearl seats, I could have spec'd the JCW Interior package and gotten striped cloth seats, the JCW steering wheel, anthracite headliner, chrome pedals, and JCW door sills. So it's really what you're going for, what your tastes are, and what you're willing to forego vs what you won't compromise on.

Go build a few MINIs, and see what appeals to you. Not a bad way to burn some free time

 

I migrated from my 2008 Automatic to 2015 Automatic..... I could not be happier....the new engine and technology behind it and the turbo engine just blows me away. This engine is also to be used in BMW cars. The redesign is a delight. The only options I bought were, Automatic, Heated Seats which comes with a Sunroof in Canada, and LED Lights. Those LED lights just blow me away.....it actually takes the car to a whole new futuristic dimension. Something I think that should be standard on the build. With these options for me, I couldn't be any happier. I have not had any issues. Go out and treat yourselff. You will be smiling every time you get in and drive. You will love it !!!!!

 

I have the MCS with the HK and that Stereo is pretty nice (not the greatest, but still quite nice IMO). Driving a loaner with the standard Stereo. It's okay, plays music okay but not impressive. Admittedly, I have not fiddled with the tone and fader as I have in our MCS, but imagine the standard stereo is what it is (not great, but not horrible).

I too avoided the sunroof. Florida is hot and our loaner has the sunroof and we notice a temp difference (hotter) with the SR (even when w/ shade pulled) than with the solid white roof.

I opted for the Wired package and the HK stereo. Since I'm in the car when I drive, I want options for my entertainment. Stock headlight are fine as is the standard entry, pushing a button to open the car is not a deal breaker IMO. $400 for the JCW interior was worth it for me (again, I'm in the car when I drive so I can enjoy it). Added the storage option for the extra storage (probably could have saved the $200 now that I have it), but it was only $200.

Added the DDC for a softer ride across the range of driving choices (again a comfort option for me) and the 17 inch wheels.

6 speed auto is quite nice and a solid performer.

Factor in what is most important to you and choose those options. Everyone has their own opinions and rarely will you find two that match.

 

Thanks for your feedback! I'm probably going to get a car that's prebuilt rather than building my own...that way the temptations are fewer and I'll probably spend less.


The DDC sounds awesome on paper but I'm worried about how much that'll be to fix in the long run. Added complexity and all that... I found the stock suspension a refreshingly taut, yet comfy blend compared to my rock-hard 2003 Cooper S SS+ that I retrofitted onto my R50. With 17" Enkei wheels and low-profile tyres, it might as well have been made from rocks.


And on the subject of keyless entry/comfort access...I don't mind unlocking from the key fob one bit. It's actually a bit freaky to me that there's no key to slide into the ignition, and they've even done away with the UFO docking port in the dash. The new car is more than a decade away from my R50 and yet it seems like it's from the next century!


While I liked the sunroof in my R50, the extra headroom is more appealing to me at this point in time. I like to sit upright in the MINI and at 6' 4" with much of my height in my torso, it's a change I found myself wishing for on road trips after slouching for hours. Moreover, the big sunroof makes the car a bit heavier on the top, and I'd rather have all the car's weight down low for improved handling. Reduced greenhouse effect inside the car is a nice bonus

 

Plenty of headroom with the seat adjustments @ 6'2 and long torso, I've got plenty.

 

Thanks for your help everybody! I think I've learned about everything I can at this point. A couple final questions for all y'all:


1) The car in stock that most closely fits my requirements is a Dutch Born/Nedcar-assembled vehicle. Has this made a difference to anyone? It's a little sad that my new car wouldn't come from the Oxford Cowley plant (which I had the extreme pleasure of touring in 2010, just as the coupe/convert twins were coming online) but I trust that the Dutch can assemble a car just as well as the Brits.


2) The dreaded oil leakage problem seems to apply to both the 3-cyl and 4-cyl engines. Has this been fixed?


3) Is there a way to verify that my car will have the latest software applied before I take delivery?


Thanks everybody!

 

How can you tell if a Mini is built by Born/Nedcar? I knew Mini was going to shift some production to the Netherlands with their partner, this is the first time I've heard of one being in the US already.

 

It's especially easy when the window sticker's still on the car haha :P
If I buy this car does it mean I'll have to change my username to MiniNL15???


By the way, answering a couple of my own questions that I had...the Cooper does have a four-speaker standard stereo now. There are two in the doors and two under the seats...pretty weird. Moreover, the car still comes with a spare wheel! Woo hoo! Glad I'm probably buying a car before they just finally switch over to all runflats. I thought they had already done so but this car has non-runflat all-weather tires on it. Auto start/stop is standard on all cars, and so is auto climate control from '15 onward. All manual transmission cars appear to have rev-matching for downshifts.

 

Speakers under the seats are subs

 

Correct. And thanks for clarifying that.

I just think it is so odd that in 2014/2015, MINI equips it's "premium" vehicle with a standard stereo that does not have rear speakers.

 

I don't know if the oil leak issue has been fixed but it isn't very widespread. Or rather, mine is an April 2014 build (3 cylinder) and it hasn't had the issue.

 

Welp...here it is at home! Barebones except for cold weather pack. And I get the second date deal, too! Free gas!!




Thank you all for your help!

 

Love PW/B on the F56, let us know how you get on

 

very nice!