Well, what a difference, between my GP and the loaner car. Steering and brakes both feel different, took some time to get used to, I prefer the feel in the GP, but the Clubman is certainly something one can learn the different feel. Turn signals interesting. Man, I really miss the HID headlights. Now I remember how nice they were in my '05 MCS. Alas, converting the GP to true HID would be too expensive for me, so I will make do! I am glad MINI continues to develop the line, and I am especially glad to be able to enjoy owning and driving the GP. No wonder the mechanic at the dealer always comments to me about how the GP's really feel special to him in comparison to the rest. Now, this is a GP forum, so I'm not looking to start a fight with all the others! All the MINI's are great cars, in comparison to the majority of driving experiences affordable out there.

 

After 36k of daily driving 365 days a year...I STILL LOVE MY GP!!

 

Different bulbs made a big difference in GPMINI; and no way will she get replaced by a current MINI ... maybe one day they'll bring out another MINI with the connection of a GP

 

I was reading about installing relays to increase brightness and protect electrical system, any tips on how to go about this. I do have stronger bulbs in already (80W/12V/H7)

 

I suspect you will not gain any benefit from adding additional relays for 80W bulbs. I believe the headlights are controlled with a 50A circuit in the Body Control Module (BC1). I do not know the details of the circuit within BC1 but I suspect it uses solid state relays. In any case the 80W bulbs only draw about 6 Amps each (at 13V) compared to 55W bulbs that draw about 4 Amps each. Thus, with two 80W bulbs you are only adding about 4 Amps on the 50A circuit.

The more common issue with using higher wattage bulbs is the heating of the wires from the relay to the headlights because of the higher current flow in same gauge wire. If the wire gauge is too small to carry the extra current, you will lose brightness and can cause the wire to melt/burn.

However, when I previously investigated the wire gauge used for the Mini headlights, I calculated that the stock wire gauge would be fine (plenty of margin) for 80W bulbs so I do not think the wire gauge will limit the bulb output.

 

Thanks

 

Just got my GP back. My oh my how happy I am to be driving it again. Wow, to me, a huge difference in several areas, comparing the GP to a 2010 Clubman S. The steering, feel of the road, driving sensation in the GP is very connected. And I don't feel like I'm wandering around the lane so much. And, there is more of a "playfulness" in the GP (although, at the same time, it is plenty of fun to drive at normal speeds, too). Well, I hope we all take care of these little GP's so that there are still plenty of them on the road 5, 10, 20 years from now!

 

connected
Yes, that's the thing I really notice too, when I'm back in the GP - and what I also was so disappointed in when I drove the R56 for those few weeks.

What kept the GP away from you for so long?

 

It was in for a week for them to get some odds 'n ends taken care of while I am still in the 4yr/50K warranty. The power steering still doesn't feel right, and I'm concerned about the motor mounts. Time will tell...

 

I don't own a GP (I wish they had made one with a back seat), but as a R53 S and R55 S Clubman owner I can tell you that MINI nailed the steering in the 1st gen cars (and about everything else) to perfection. I like the Clubman for what it is, but I would never sell or trade in my '05 R53 S for ANY of the second gen MINIs. There is no comparison whatsoever!

MINI diluted and softened the R56/55/57, etc car (while increasing prices) to make the product more appealing to the masses.

 

I saw a JCW R56 at Mini of Universal City here in SOcal while I was at service today. I have to admit it sounds nice, almost as nice as my GP, and I do like the red/black color. But I did have a lot of droolers paying the Garage Prince some respect. According to the JCW owner, his R56 keeps pulling past 150 and mine won't. Doncha love how everyone's an expert on these things?

Something tells me he's never driven a GP...not impossible but due to the rarity factor? It's much easier to find and drive a R56 JCW. For me the GP is about the factory spec of the vehicle, inside and out.

 

I have to wonder why somebody needs a MINI Cooper to drive more than 150 mph. As for the GP, we planned a section of MINI Takes the States, in West Texas on an appropriate long straight road with no ingress/egress for long stretch, and opened it up, fully loaded with my wife and myself, and it did quite fine at speed. But, we knew in advance, that would probably be the only time we opened her up. The GP (like my '05 MCS but even more so) is quite fun to drive at normal speeds. If somebody wants a high top speed "bragging rights" car, for goodness sake don't buy a MINI.