Hello to everyone. I am new here and I'm looking to buy a used mini but have a question. what is the difference between an 06 and an 07 cooper S besides the bumpers?. the 06 looks much more simple than the 07 and thats the only difference I noticed. is the body or fender flares any different?

 

Complete body difference as it was a total redesign. They look similar by plan and because of popularity. Headlights are more upright on the 06. Scuttles are dfferent as is that side panel. Hood is shorter on 06 and scoop is placed differently. All panels are different. Engines are different and 06 is supercharged as opposed to turbocharged on 07. The 06 rides stiffer than the 07. The interiors are completely different on these. Some people like the 06 better than the 07. It is your preference. Early 06 have different size lug bolts -12mm vs 14 mm for late 06 and newer. Headlights raise with hood when opened on 06 and on the 07 the headlights stay with the fenders. Brakes are bigger on the 07. Mirrors are different sizes on both. You get the idea. The 06 and 07 are completely different cars. There are no direct similarities. Drive both and pick the one you like better, Good luck.

 

correct assuming we're talking hardtop as the body changed happened later for the rag top. Sometimes this change is called GEN1 vs GEN2 - first generation and second generation MINI (not to be confused with Mini)

GEN1 had a Daimler engine which in the S was supercharged; while the GEN2 has a Peugot engine which in the S is turbo-charged.

Some might argue that the 06 was the end of the GEN1 and had the most time to work out bugs; and the 07 was the first year of a new design . . .

 

2 completely different cars. The 06 is the best of the 1st Gen and the 07 is a first-year redesign. Given the choice between the 2, I would go with an 06 without hesitation.

 

The 06 is a great car.
The transmission has the right ratios.
The problems from the 02 & 03 models were gone.
IMO the 1st Gen. cars have a better design than 2nd Gen.
I would go with the 06 and enjoy it.

 

Nearly every single component is different. Brakes might be similar and a few others, but otherwise completely redone car.

 

The '07+ brakes on a MCS are equivalent to the JCW brakes that were optional on the pre '07.

I don't know but this might have been when the TPMS changed from rotational ABS sensor to give a flat tire warning to the actual air pressure sensor. The federal mandate was in 2007.

 

The changover was mid 07, early 07s still used the ABS.