Obviously, MINIs are great cars. But we all know there are things we'd like to see different. I think it would be cool to collect a list of ideas that maybe, one day, MINI would consider. At least they can't say "you never told us." Anyway, here's two of mine:

1. Have full auto open/close for bot passenger windows and sunroof.

2. Configure the Sport switch to retain it's last setting. Since BMW apparently considers that a safety issue, have it lighted when on and either disengage or flash when traction control or abs activates.

 

3. Bring the burble back to the U.S.
4. Get rid of all the interior silver plastic trim, black would look so much nicer

 

1) Offer 17"wheels/tires as standard equipment
2) Fix the uneven gaps/shutlines around the hood
3) lower the ride height
4) bring back the burble
5) Offer a real temp gauge
6) Offer an option for a full slat front grill for the MCS (Aside from the standard honeycomb one)
7) If a rear "vent"opening rear window is never offered, bring back the full wraparound glass
8) re-design the center console
9) get rid of the cheap looking black stalks. bring back the higher quality silver ones
10) The time has come for a 1.8L engine (Better power, more tuneable, better heat management)
11) Instead of using a plastic chromed gas cap in the S, bring back the METAL chromed one from the previous car
12) redesign and tone down the silly side markers in both MC and MCS
13) the rear hatch protrudes more outward, yet the trunk doesn't offer any significant space gain over the old car (sans the new feature to set the rear seatbacks upright)
14) The interior "mood"lighting is overhyped. I was expecting to see the door card ovals with a soft glow of light coming out of them. When you change the color, it should also change the color hue in the instruments.
15) The exterior wheel arches are too thick. They make anything smaller than 17"look out of place in the huge wheel wells
16) re-design the goofy looking exterior rearview mirrors
17) Pull out the radio from the speedo assembly. There is plenty of space on the center console for it!
18) lose the fat rear bumper
19) bring brighter colors more in tune with what the MINI is all about. Gives us a real solid-non metallic BRG color

 

wow C4 have you been thinking about this very long...lol. good list.

 

I knew we could count on you, C4. Another obvious one: make the hood scoop functional, even if it isn't "necessary".

 

the "cheap looking black stalks" are very similar to those in BMW models in style and functionality. I personally like the look better than the previous gen Mini stalks and think they function very well.

 

What in the hail is a stalk? I thought only celery came that way

 

 

That's a load of corn.

 

I'd like a sportier sounding exhaust.

That's it ...I am good with everything else.

Oh, there is one other thing ...make it less expensive so I can buy more options.

dean.

 

Agreed. I'd also like to see a solid non-metallic black. I think that would look great with a white top and bonnet stripes.

 

Ok but seriuosly folks I really so want to know what a stalk is the non-vegitable variety

 

The sticks the lights, wipers and turn indicators are mounted on.

dean.

 

Have to chime in and agree w/ C4 about what I consider the worst change- the side light markers. They're actually a bit painful to look at on the R56's- both Cooper and S.

 

Ahh thanks. Never heard it called a stalk. I disagree on that one being changed back to silver. I want less (or none) of that cheap looking silver plastic that is so bountiful both gen's of Minis.

& what do you call the area at the top of the bonnet where the windshield wipers rest on the R56? What ever it is called on the new Mini it looks like a plastic coin tray. I wish they would change that back to body color

 

Well I don't have it yet so I can't give a definitive list but number one on my list would be bring back the burble

 

When it gets here you need to take the time to call MINIUSA & complain about your lack of burble because it was the complainers whoever those losers were that got it taken away so we need to flip the tables & have the complainers get it brought back to the U.S.

 

If MINI follows more or less the same product cycle schedule as it did with the R50/53, I think we should see a R56 "Facelift" around summer 2009. I hope that said facelift addresses the suggestions posted here so far. This makes sense as the R57 Cabrio will be introduced around that time.


The R50/53 timeline went like this:

July 2001: The MINI ONE and MINI Cooper are introduced for the first time in Europe.

March 2002, The Cooper makes is debut in the US market

May/June 2002: MINI Cooper S becomes available for the first time ever in both Europe and North America. First MCS deliveries take place in early July '02

December '02: Harmon kardon upgrade stereo is offered as an option for the first time

January '03: Silk Green metallic is discontinued from the Cooper

May '03: MINI announces revised suspension shocks to improve the ride quality and make it less jarring.

September 2003: First batch of 2004 MINIs are assembled at Oxford

March 2004: MINI Officially announces the all new MINI Cabrio. This is the first model variant ever to be offered under the new MINI.

May/June 2004: MINI announces the 2005 model year "facelift"of all hardtop models. Revised headlights, tailights, short gearing ratios, revised supercharger, ECU programming (Resulting in a power bump to 168HP in the MCS) and the introduction of the exhaust "Burble"in all S models. The dashboard now features 3 piece vs 5 piece construction. New colors and options are offered.

July 1st, 2004: 2005 model year production begins

January 1st, 2005: MINI introduces the automatic transmission MCS for the first time ever as well as second generation airbags with weight seat sensors. LSD is offered as an option on the S models for the first time.

June 2005: 2006 year production begins, new colors and options are offered including JCW performance package from the factory (Previously it was a dealer installed option only), and the Checkmate package. Last production year for the R50/53 hardtop MINI.

Early 2006: MINI announces the ultra high performance, limited edition JCW GP MCS. 2000 produced worldwide and 415 imported into the US. Fastest production MINI from the factory.

August 2006: First batch of reserved JCW GP's delivered in the US at the beginning of MTTS in Monterey, CA.

November 16, 2006: R50/53 production officially ends at Oxford. R56 MINI is officially launched in the UK and Europe.

 

agree with C4 on all items....plus

1. painted trim option from factory (my wish since day 1)
2. wrap around rear glass
3. side marker light/vent redesign....(sorry it cant be said egnough...It REALLY wrecks the new design singlehandedly)
4. eliminate bonnet gaps by integrating headlights and wheel arch trim to bonnet
5. make the tail lights smaller in and place them in a proper aspect ratio
6. narrow the plastic wheel arches
7. make the front fog lights smaller
8. rediesign cowl area so that leaves and debris cannot collect

Get the point?
9. Or how about a R56 performance upgrade retrofit kit for R53 models

Oh and one for the future....place the third door on the proper side....err I mean drivers side

 

Agreed, keep them black. My complaint with the new R56 stalks is that they feel flimsier when compared to the old ones. I dislike the electronic turn signal function as well. I find it to be annoying but unfortunately this is yet another BMW "thing" that has made it down into the MINI.

Oh baby, I HATE that plastic tray at the base of the windshield. The beauty of the old design was not to have one, but a fully painted extension of the body work. That looked slick. That design feature set the MINI apart from nearly every other car on the road.

Because of the EU pedestrian laws, not only BMW had to raise the bonnet/waistline of the car, but also that regulation forces the wipers to go ünderneath"the edge of the hood. The exposed wiper arms are considered to be a danger to the unfortunate pedestrian that happens to have a sudden encounter with a MINI (Like if that alone would cause the bulk of bodily injures ), so BMW sadly or happily (you take your pic) had to adopt a more conventional design approach and adopt the plastic tray that every car in the planet has today. The positive side of doing this is that the car is cheaper to manufacture than the old more curvy bonnet/bulkhead assembly

Could MINI have done a better job to minimize the visual impact of having a cheap plastic tray there? probably.

 

these are great suggestions.
1. i would like a better navigation. my girlfriend has the Lexus GS 350 and their touch screen nav is the best that i have used.
2. LED taillights!

 

bamatt Ive been thinking the same thing when people say stalk. Either that or I think stalker

Adding on to what reelsmith said, I would like to actually hear the turbo.

 

Instead of growing the engine size I think they should shrink it, at least on some models. Growing the engine size will lead to growing the car like every other small car goes. It would be exciting if they thought about a sub-MINI Cooper S (sMCS) that would be a 2 person smaller slightly narrower version of what they have now. 1.0 Turbo 120+ HP 2000lbs. 40+ MPG combined. They could have a sMC and a sMCD too. Leave the new R55 and descendants to handle 4+ people let it's engine and size grow big and fat over the years.

 

This is a good string, especially for those who obviously prefer the looks of the R53. So far, each is stating what they would like to change on the R56 without saying it in a slamming way. It's easy for me to absorb and understand without getting emotionally set off when the comments are written this way.

Personally, I'd vote for having even less storage space (or a longer car) in order to provide more leg room for those sitting in back.

On the other hand, maybe it would be best to think of this car in the manner of coupes from the early 20th century (no back seat). Then that back bench area could be thought of as a place where somebody could sit if they had to.

 

How about stop growing the car. Pretty soon it'll be bloated like most every other car.