I just bought a 2008 Mini Convertible in Nightfire Red Metallic. It so cool to drive it through some of the back roads on the north shore of Long Island.

However, I am confused by all the jargon:

1. What to all the numbers mean:56, 57, 58, etc.?
2. What years do the different generations refer to?

Thanks,
Mike in Stony Brook, NY

 

Hello Mike,

Congrats and post up some pics.

R codes like R56 , R57, R58 are the chassis codes.

Gen 1

R50 MINI Cooper (2002-2006) "Hardtop"
R53 MINI Cooper S / JCW (2002-2006) " Hardtop"
R52 MINI Cooper Convertible / S / JCW (2005-2008)

Gen2

R56 MINI Cooper /S/JCW (2007+) "Hardtop"
R55 MINI Cooper Clubman /S/JCW (2008+)
R57 MINI Cooper /S/JCW (2009+) "Convertible"
R58 MINI Coupe' /S/JCW (2012+)
R59 MINI Roadster /S/JCW (2012+)

R60 MINI Countryman /S/SX/JCW (2011+)
R61 MINI Paceman /S/SX/JCW (2013+)

Gen 3

F56 MINI Cooper / S (2014+) New Hardtop also called a 3 door.




Think the night-fire red was a rare color at the end of the Gen 1 R52 MINI Convertible:



Thanks