I am about to buy a Mini Cooper Countryman. So far, I did test drive 2012 model only; the cabin noise seems much more noticeable than my previous cars. Now I am facing the choice between 2012 model and 2013 model. People on this forum have talked about the improvement on the interior of the car. I am wondering whether the car is getting any quieter. If you have tried both and see (hear) a difference, please share your opinion here. Thanks!

 

To the best of my knowledge, 2013 CM production won't start until next month.

 

A big factor for all that noise is the run flat tires! Ditch those, and the cabin becomes quieter.

 

What kind of car are you used to? The CM is not the quietest car out there, but it's not that terrible and it's part of the experience. If you're coming from a Lexus then yeah, it's going to seem loud.

 

Thanks. I drove Pontiac G6 and currently drive Prius. Yes I agree, I need to adjust my way of thinking and take that as part of the experience.

 

Oh, I don't know about that. Thanks! My current car lease expire in January. So I will wait.

 

Thanks. Should I check my tire pressure frequently after I get the new CM? Is there a low tire pressure warning light somewhere?

 

CM has tire pressure guage built in.

 

The 2013 Countryman currently doesn't exist. What people have seen is the 2013 JCW Countryman, and it's reasonable to assume that the interior changes will make it into the other 2013s. Also, those changes are relatively minor. Essentially the window controls have been moved from the center column to the doors. This has allowed other switches to take their place. Some see this as an improvement, some don't. I've seen speculation about bigger cup holders and some changes to the trim around the speedometer, but I couldn't see any larger cup holders and the trim changes are most likely related to the JCW trim-level.

Since none of that is going to have an effect on the amount of noise you get, I wouldn't expect any changes in that regard. As far as I know 2012 CMs are still in production, and they haven't been placing orders on 2013s. So I wouldn't expect the 2013s to show up until 2013. We've heard that there will be an initial production run on JCWs and Pacemans before the regular 2013 CMs, but that isn't exactly airtight information. (I think we all expected that JCWs and Pacemans would be in the wild by now as well from the information we had earlier in the summer).

Now, in that regard, I just picked up my CM last week and I haven't noticed anything that I'd consider a problem as far as noise. It certainly isn't the quietest car, but I wasn't taken aback. I will confess I've spent quite a bit of my time driving it so far with the sunroof open and the windows down!

 

The changes aren't only in the JCW Countryman, but in the "normal" too. Pics on the topic about interior improvments are from a Countryman One.

 

Thank you! That's very helpful. I think I am going to get one soon; am in contact with the dealer now. The APR is 0.9 for this month; I am not sure whether I should wait till I get zero APR again. I want bright yellow. Too bad it seems nobody on this forum like that color. Will keep you guys informed once I get a new car and definitely will post a picture.

 

2013 CM: New colors dropped today to the dealers. Brilliant Copper, and Blazing Red. The True Red is gone, and so is your bright yellow. Sorry.

Maybe more colors dropping Monday. 2013 Ordering starts Monday.

 

Thank you! That's so important. So that meant if I want bright yellow, I have to buy the 2012 model.

Btw, is the blazing red the same color as attached phone color? If so, I love it.

 

No one has any idea what the colors look like. The Dealer doesn't have pictures, nor color samples. The names for the colors just showed up yesterday. He said the ordering site, for the dealers, is just now populating with options and colors, so that the ordering can begin on Monday.

I would really like to know what the new colors look like as well.

 

Run flat tires are a type of tire built to still be drivable for some distance even if you pop the tire. (He's not saying they go flat). Mini does this as there is no spare on the car. The problem is, is that this is accomplished by the tire having an absurdly hard side wall, which makes the tire very hard and adds to road noise and a harsher ride. Get normal tires and the harsh ride and road noise is helped tremendously. You can keep a can of slim and some air in the car to help if you ever pop the non run flats. Until you get rid of the crappy run flats you can help the ride and noise slightly by bumping the psi up to 38. Its backwards logic to increase psi to help, but it gets the tire off the stiff sidewalls.

 

(QUOTE=PepeR60;3602898]Run flat tires are a type of tire built to still be drivable for some distance even if you pop the tire. (He's not saying they go flat). Mini does this as there is no spare on the car. The problem is, is that this is accomplished by the tire having an absurdly hard side wall, which makes the tire very hard and adds to road noise and a harsher ride. Get normal tires and the harsh ride and road noise is helped tremendously. You can keep a can of slim and some air in the car to help if you ever pop the non run flats. Until you get rid of the crappy run flats you can help the ride and noise slightly by bumping the psi up to 38. Its backwards logic to increase psi to help, but it gets the tire off the stiff sidewalls.[/QUOTE]

Thank you. That helps tremendously. Should I order "All-season tires"? It didn't say they are runflat tires on Mini cooper website.

If I cannot get non-runflat tires, should I replace all tires right after receiving my car to help reduce the cabin noise?

Thanks!!

 

The all season tires are runflats as well.

 

I search the Internet it says they are not on this site:
http://blog.tirevan.com/2012/07/12/m...un-flat-tires/


"As an option, the Mini Cooper can be purchased with all-season non-run-flat tires. When the time comes to replace those tires, you will find that they are even less expensive, and last even longer than high-performance summer tires. "

 

Yes, and I believe it has been required by law on all new cars sold in the US since a few years ago.

 

That hasn't been the case throughout the history of MINIUSA, and I believe that article is wrong. Check with MINIUSA to verify. You can order a MINI with all-season tires but they will be runflat (except for 15" wheels).

 

You're right. I just came back from a dealership. According to the dealer, the run-flat tires are safer and does not contribute much to cabin noise either.

They told me there will be 100 CMs made in chili Red color as limited edition with no extra cost. They don't have that blazing red color to show me yet. So I will wait for another one or two weeks to see all the available colors before I decide which color to order.

 

The Countryman at the Paris motor show is Blazing red. It's a quite bright metallic red.

 

Incorrect. The runflat tires are equally as safe as non-runflat, and non-runflat are noticeably quieter.

I swapped my 18" runflats for regular (high performance) all season tires, and the ride was much improved, the road noise was considerably less, and the grip went up. It's the first "mod" you should do to the car, especially if the road noise bothers you.

 

Incorrect. The runflat tires are equally as safe as non-runflat, and non-runflat are noticeably quieter.

I swapped my 18" runflats for regular (high performance) all season tires, and the ride was much improved, the road noise was considerably less, and the grip went up. It's the first "mod" you should do to the car, especially if the road noise bothers you.

 

Thank you so much for the suggestion! I plan to do the same thing. What did you do with the tires that you took off? Did you sell them? If so, who did you sell them to? And which brand of the high performance regular tires did you change?

I am new to all this sorts of things. I really appreciate your suggestions in more details.