Im sorry for using some of our colleagues photos posted here, but i need to show them to point out this "R56 rear look" matter!
Well i realized that the rear of the R56 looks as if its stripped! What i mean is that the "control arms" and the exhaust, are viewed and not adequatelly covered by the rear spoiler. They are easily viewed even when one is following the car on the road! I dont know if the Mini design team did this on purpose, i hope not, but even if they did i cant think of a reason why, cause they did sutch a great job with the rest of the car!
And it gets even worse when you come to think that there are other cars, cheaper (Kia Ceed, Hyundai Accent, Golf TSI, Opel Vectra, Ford Focus ect.) that have their rear view, very well or at least better covered!
So take a look, id be happy to hear some advice on this matter cause its driving me crazy!

http://xs321.xs.to/xs321/07451/TheProblem.jpg
http://xs321.xs.to/xs321/07451/TheProblem2.jpg
http://xs221.xs.to/xs221/07451/TheProblem3.jpg

 

Seems like you have four options to choose from:

1) Lower your car.

2) Get a different rear bumper cover or diffuser.

3) Buy some fancy rear control arms and be proud to show 'em off.

4) Buy a Kia, Hyundai, VW, Opel or Ford and enjoy.

 

call me weird, but i like that look. most definitely.

 

I totally agree about the control arms. My wife asked me 'what are those things, anway?', which says a lot, because she's not one to notice such things. These things are really bright and shiny, and stick out like a sore thumb, in my opinion. I've been wondering what sort of black paint I could spray on them, just to disguise them.

 

I agree with Firebolt: What's the problem? The control arms look sexy. It is not at all uncommon for rear control arms to be visible on many cars. No redesign needed, in my opinion.

 

stamped steel is sexy??? maybe some nice h-sports down there would be

 

it makes the MINI look like an SUV

 

you mean aluminum.

 

even worse. stamped aluminum.

I looked at my pics to show h-sports on an R53 and they're completely covered, even when I was trying to take a pic down low to show tire tread. Surprisingly, the cars are that much different.

 

Mine all but disappeared after Danny at MiniCorsa installed Dan's springs on my R56 and shot the control arms with some black paint.

Really cleaned up the back end quite nicely.

 

Can you post pics so we can see if?

 

+1. I like the look.

But I think this is a preference thing. Not long ago a retiring colleague commented how he didn't like the look of open wheel designs today exposing the disc brakes ad calipers, saying, "Back in my day....."

 

apparently you haven't read the threads on NAM about the spindly stock arms failing. it's a bit scary, if you know what they do and what happens when they stop doing it.

 

Get some flat black rustoleum paint and shoot it at any offending shiny metal bits.

 

I am indifferent on how the MINI looks from behind.
I mean, come on, who cares what 2nd place thinks!

 

The only problem I saw in the photos was someone marked them up with some green/yellow arrows. Dunt(tm) know what is up with that.

 

I think the exposed control arms gives the rear a tough and manly appearance.

 

buy the jcw kit....here's mine

 

 

is it possible to take some pics of you mini from behind beeing up to 5m away from the car?

 

Yeah, get the JCW kit

 

+1

 

Care to enlighten us? I haven't read of any failures.

 

It's better tan a Ford:

 

I didn't bother to search for the other ones....but here is an example: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ol+arm+failure

In terms of the original poster....just buy coilovers and run 16 inch wheels with smaller than stock diameters (250/45 maybe?).....those two combined should get you low enough to hide the undercar. I don't have a problem with seeing the control arms.....but i do think something needs to be done cause i don't like the look of having your rear bumper 8 inches off the ground when LOWERED.