Everywhere I look the consensus is that the r56 has much better, nicer looking, updated interior. I couldn't disagree more however.

My main issue is that the light gray buttons and dials on the r56 just look cheap imo, it looks over sized and awkwardly spread out. The CD player sticking out of the top looks ridiculous as well. Not a big fan of the speedo being even larger, and the radio taking up half of it as well. Finally, too many circles! Each one has its own trim which is just overwhelming.

I really like the simplistic, calmer look of the r53 interior. Its one of the main reasons I ended up with one in fact.


Am I crazy?

 

Count me in. With every new model the interior gets worse IMO.

 

I agree, i like the center console area 100 x more. i like how the stereo is separate from the center gauge. Although the r56 does have that cool "drug compartment" above the normal glove box! haha

-B

 

YUP...
Like the older one....but styles change...kinda like the Skinny jean and Boot-Leg gut thing reversing every few years.....

 

Well thats why the MINI is so awesome. There's no 2 quite the same and theres lots of room for finding what you prefer

 

+1 on the R53 interior. More refined, less busy. Can't stand the many "shelfs" in the R56.

 

Your opinion is bad and you should be ashamed of yourself.



But on a serious note, come on man do we to go down another R53 bashing on the R56 or newer rant again. This **** is so ****ing old. If you don't like the new interior cool that is your opinion but, don't come on here and rip on it. I mean if you want to go down that road we can do it.

 

Settle down. Where is the bashing? Voicing opinions is not bashing. Where else can we rip on piece of **** R56 interior then? LMAO

 

Porthos is right. While it may not be "bashing", per se, it definitely is inflammatory in nature. Discussions like this tend to turn into "us vs. them" situations with people in either camp getting defensive. I've had an R50 and an R56 and I currently have an R60. Each is great in its own way. The R50/53 is definitely a more raw, visceral experience, while the newer cars are much more refined and have more tech goodies. Each is unique, and still very much a MINI.

This should be about the MINI community, and not whether the BMW MINIs are "real" (they are) or the R56 et al are "pieces of crap" (they're not). FWIW, in 2011, the interior was updated, and all of the silver parts are now black, which makes a huge difference in appearance.

 

And again these are your opinions. It only turns into bashing when one or the other starts it. Nowhere in this thread do I see any bashing, only expressing opinions. I do see where Porthos seems to be getting upset which can and will lead to bashing. So lets keep emotions out and opinions in without be derogatory. Just my OPINION.

 

I welcome all opinions on the interior here, as long as at the end of the day everyone recognizes the R53 is more like the original MINI interior and aside from the "drug compartment" as someone called it, has way more functionality for storage (doors, under stereo, etc.).

Why are people so anti-discussion/debate/conflict these days? People decided talking about politics was taboo so people stopped following it and "we the people" all get screwed by all politicians who know we, collectively, aren't paying attention.

MINI is working on the F56 interior as we speak, having already gone back to the drawing board. If you think they don't read our posts about the interior, you're wrong. So I saw bash it out pros and cons of each.

 

One thing that I had on my R50 and that I really wish they had brought to the current MINIs is the Cockpit Chrono Pack. The additional gauges were great, and I loved the look of the dash with that option in place. It would be nice to see them bring it back with the F56.

 

Yup....
Less foucus on the gadgets, and MORE ON THE CAR!!
Let's face it, ANY tech in a car will be obsolete in a couple of years....
so having the interoir foused on the car, and less on a gps screen imo is the way to go....
Anybody ever drive a gen1 mini with a dead/oudated nav?! I have the chrono kit...but looking ahead, i saw what a pain an out dated radio was in an old car...
Nevermind half the dash.....

 

There are things I prefer in both generations of the interior, but overall I think I'd probably give the edge to the R56 era.

 

For the life of me I can't figure out why, for such a "driver's car", they went with flower petal/candy corn lights instead of sticking with the fuel guage. ...and the dopey sounding blinkers.

Just my opinion though...

 

Its not bashing at the moment but this topic is only started by r53 owners. I don't think I have ever hear any r56 owners talk down or bad about 1st gen cars.

 

Because they wish they had a 1st gen?

 

LOl, there could be some truth to this.

I personally like both generations a lot, I find that the interior is quite nice in both the r53 or r56 and would happily own either one but I do prefer the R53 overall, it just "feels" better to me. I will cede to the fact that the cupholders are better in the R56 but hey I still love my R53 despite the flaw.

Threads like this can be prefectly civil as long as no one gets their panties in a wad

 

hehe

 

You are correct on the cup holders. I think mine were designed for doppio espressos and nothing more. My dad has a '10 R56 Justa, mom has a '12 R56 Justa and my sister has a '11 R56 S. I like them all but mine is just way more raw, in a word.

 

This is exactly what a lot of R56 owners complain about.

 

As far as the interior itself, I present exhibit A.

 

Middle pic for me. LOL

 

Yep and here it begins. **** it I'm out.

 

I drive an R50 and I agree with this. I find the seats are much better in the R56.

Things I like about my R50 interior:
-Dash Layout
-Easy aftermarket HU swap
-Speedo

Things I prefer about the R56 interior:
-Everything else.