Hello everyone! Glad to be a part of this forum! I have loved Mini Coopers for quite a long time, but do not own one and my knowledge of them is limited.
Can anyone give me describe to me the differences in the different engines (R53, R56, F55, etc.) and about the models. I know of them, not about them. Any knowledge will be appreciated! Thanks everyone!

 

Your best bet is to Google R53 vs R56 vs etc.... That way you will get all of the info you want. In general the 1st Gen cars, R53 have supercharged engines, Gen 2 cars, R56, have turbo charged engines. There is a lot more info but that is a main difference. It will take a lot of typing to explain it all. (thumbsup). Good luck and welcome to the Miniacs.

 

http://new.minimania.com/MINI_model_designations

 

Good chart here: But does not show the engines and JCW models. But gets most of them: The R60 CM started in 2011+ though.

 

Note that "R53" is often used as short-hand for all 1st-gen MINIs, while "R56" is often used the same way for all 2nd-gen MINIs, and "F56" for all 3rd-gens.

All have their good and bad points.

In the 1st generation, all of the "S" models were supercharged, and all the others were naturally-aspirated.

In the 2nd generation, all of the "S" (and JCW) models were turbocharged, while the base models were naturally-aspirated.

In the 3rd generation, everything is turbocharged. The non-S cars have a 1.5 liter 3-cylinder, while the S and JCW have a 2.0 liter 4-cylinder motor.

 

Thanks everyone for the info! Really appreciate it! On my way to being a knowledgeable Miniac!

 

Thanks for starting this thread. I'm still a newbie myself having only had an R55 S for a month or so and already learned something new.

Time to get back on Google. :-)

 

In a nutshell...
1st gen S have a POS Peugeot engine. N12
2nd gen cars have a POS but better Peugeot engine N14 and N18
3ed gen cars have a BMW engine.


And yet I love mine... R56 with the N14...

 

Actually the Gen 1 engines are made by Tritec which is a joint venture between BMW/Rover and Chrylser. I don't think Peugeot had much of anything to do with it.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tritec_engine

The N12/N16 designation is for the Gen 2 justa. The Gen 1 was designated as W11 IIRC.

 

The Tritec engines were a joint venture between Rover and Chrysler, and made in Brazil.

I believe the Neon and PT Cruiser used the engine in addition to the Gen1 Minis.

 

Gen1 Minis have the Chrysler designed Tritec Engine (built in Brazil as a joint effort with Rover)

These forums, and others generally feel the Tritec engine is significantly more reliable than the Peugeot designed Prince engine of the Gen2s.

 

Gen 1 was the Euro Dodge Neon similar engine, think they shared the same block but different heads design.

Gen 2 PSA engine which you can find in a Citroen DS3 or Peugeot 207 in Europe. Hence some item said made in france.

Gen 3 BMW / MINI shared engine. 3 cyl. 1.5L shared some components in BMW i8

 

Mynah, my bad on the N12 and N16

 

The book NEW MINI by Robson (cr 2002) attributes the the GEN1 engine design to Chrysler of Detroit (p70). By the time the engine was being made Daimler had entered into their relationship with Chrysler so it was not uncommon to hear that the Brazilian made engine was a Chrysler Daimler product . . . code named the Pentagon, yes the basic engine was used in the EURO version of the NEON

 

Funny to see pics from Europe car sales sites with similar engines in the MINI.